New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-21
Fighting Goth Starts
On the Road to France

for the soldiers when they reached the
ferry at Thirty-fourth Street II was
here that the police had to fight their
hardest TO keep the crowds from rush
ing through the lines. For many at
the ferry had foregone the pleasure
OF seeing the parade and were waiting
here for one last farewell
But Chief Inspector Dillon had is
sued orders that none but the soldiers
were TO be permitted on the boat
The soldiers sang "Goodby. Broad
way. Hello France" as they tramped
on to the boat They leaned over the
ratings on the upper deck and waved
their hats in farewell As the boat
swung out into the river tugs and other
river craft footed their whistles.
Perhaps the saddest scenes were In
the railroad yards at Long Island City,
The trains which. were TO carry the
troops to Camp Mills were lined up in
four sections. Five hundred relatives
who wanted TO get last glimpse of
the lads were waiting here. There were
no police lines, and men, women and
children rushed TO the cars, hung to
the steps and tried TO climb through
the car windows.
The locomotives footed warning
blasts. and the women cred silently as
the cars moved out.
There was no delay in the run to the
camp. The troops reached there at
o'clock. A fleet Of aeroplanes from the
aviation field at Mineola met the cars
a mile from the camp and lowered over
while they detrained.
The camp was ready for the soldiers.
Captain Merle-Smith and the men in
the detachment which went TO the camp
last week had seen to that. As soon
as the troops landed they pitched into
dinner. Then began the work of
Strengthening out equipment.
Colonel Hine in Command
Colonel Hine, the new commander,
was waiting at the camp for the troops.
One of his first acts was 70 formally
take over the command of the regi-
ment and announce that "the proud
traditions of the regiment will be re-
spected and perpetuated, and all exist
ing appointments, all current instruc-
tions and established regimental Gus
toms will continue in effect until fur
thor orders"
Colonel Hine announced that he
thought the camp had been established
very smoothly, and paid tribute t.
Lieutenant Colonel Reed, who, he said.
"has done much to. make the 69th what
u is" Lieutenant Colonel Reed had
said as he left the armory that he
would rather be second in command
of the seth than the head of any req
ment in the world" Captain Powers.
according to announcement from the
camp headquarters, has been retained
as the regimental adjutant.
Yesterday the men were occupied
stra ghtening up the camp, but no time
is to be lost in getting down to actual
work. To-day they will begin drill
work. and stiff schedule is being
prepared. 1t will include the inten-
sive training which is TO prepare the
69th and other units in the First Ram
bow Division for action shortly on, the
front. The other units, which INCLUDE
Guardsmen from twenty-slN sta'es'
will arrive this week.
Hundreds of visitors to the camp
Yesterday were not admitted. Sentrles
warned them away and constaoles ana
deputv sheriffs kept the motor cars
which cluttered the roads around the
Announcement of visiting days will
he made shortly. But, as one of1leer
said Yesterday. these boys are going
10 be kept so busy there won't be much
time left for visiting
Picked Men in Regiment
In the ranks of the seth yesterday
were $50 picked men from the itn. a
| like number each from the iZth. l4th'
! 23d and list regiments VIII ION ny
! Goth late this week. Other National
/ Cnard units from various states OF the
/ IIn;on will be detraining at Camp Mllls
! CONSTANTLY during the next ten days.
| II will probably be two weeks before
| the Rainbow Division is up to its full
| strength. e:.,, :,
There was little of the confusion IN
| Camp Mills yesterday which usually
| attends the influx of a large body 81
/ troops into a cantonment. Inc hrSt
/ essentials had been looked after by
| the advance guard. Pipes had been
/ laid and connected. The cook shacks
were I'D and thin clouds of smoke pro-
phetie Of the hot dinner that was wait
ing for the men were pouring from me
stove chimneys when they detralned.
Work on the company streets was
completed just before dusk last night,
and while the thorou2hfares are not
as smooth as Fifth Avenue they aren't
much worse than Broadway.
Camp Mills is about in the centre OF
Long loldnQ. ana INC men VIII nv "
able TO reach either the Sound or the
ocean on the South Shore conveniently
But there will be no scarcity of water
for bathing purposes in the camp. Two
hundred showers were up yesterday
and more will GO up to-day.
The commander Of the 69th has re-
ceived a cablegram from Colonel Delan-
zier, commanding officer of the 69th
Regiment of France. II reads:
French comrades, officers and sol
diers of the 69th Regiment, very much
touched by your congratulations, send
their heartiest thanks to the officers
and soldiers Of the 69th New York Reg
iment. They are certain that from the
common effort will arise the decisive
victory"
The message was a reply to con-
gratulatory cablegram from Lieutenant
Colonel Reed to the colonel Of the old
Irish units namesake in France.