Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-25
PLANS ARE PERFECTED
. FOR AMBULANCE COMPANY
Captain Lewis Is Assured That His
Men Will BE Immune
From Draft.
EXPECT TO GO TO cAslP LEE
AS Soon as Quarters Can Be Provided
at Camp, Company Will Undergo
Period Of Intensive Training Near
Petersburg.

Considerable satisfaction is felt
among those interested in the ambu-
lance company being formed in this
city under the auspices Of the local
chapter OF the American Red Cross.
Captain c. Howard Lewis. tho COM
manding officer OF the company. has
just returned from Washington from
Red Cross headquarters. where. after
lengthy conferences with Lieutenant
Colonel c. n. Conner, who has charge
OF all Red Cross ambulance work In
the United States. and also with Major
II. II. Johnson and Captain G. L. Brown,
who have charge of similar work in
the surgcon-generars ONCE. the matter
was threshed out practically to The
last detail. For some time past such
units as ambulance companies, ambu-
lance corps and base hospital units,
which were in course of construction,
but not quite ready for active SER
vice. have stood in the awkward POSI-
ton of having large number of their
enrolled personnel absorbed by the
draft at each successive call. without
being empowered to protect themselves
from this partial disIntegration by any
| recourse.
This condition of affairs resulted
| from the abolition OF the so-called
enlisted reserve" several months ago.
Prior to that time a sanitary unit could
enroll and enlist its men into the en-
| listed reserve. which protected the
unit from depletion from any source
save discontinuance OF the unit as
| such.
When the order OF abolition was en-
acted, no such protection remained.
However, Captain Lewis comes back
| from headquarters with the glad news.
that the enlisted reserve has been re-
| opened. and he is now in position
to guarantee his unit immunity from
further trouble OF this nature.
WILL BE ORDERED
| TO CAMP LEE SHORTLY
Better news still, perhaps. to the
boys OF No. 46. Is that they will be
ordered TO Camp Lee. Mt Petersburg.
IN about three weeks for intensive
| training, or just so soon as the camp
can offer them quarters.
Captain Lewis also was ordered into
active service to remain in Richmond
as mustering.in or enlisting officer for
| his unit. which ONCE he will fulfil
Just as soon as the enrolment justifies
| such action.
The local chapter Of the Red Cross
is lending its unstinted and entire sup
port TO the company down to the ul-
innate detail. and options and pur-
chases OF equipment are such that no
organization Of this character will go
into the field with a better or more
complete outfit of ambulances. truck,
motorcycles and touring cars,
4 number OF vacancies still exist
! In the ranks. but with removal of the
possibility OF draft dIsorganiZation q
short time will in all probability see
tho quota full and overfowing.
Nevertheless the company has def
mite orders to move into camp, wheth.
err tho quota Ia complete or not as soon
as Camp Lee is ready to receive 1t;
In which case tho company will be re-
cruited up to full strength, after en-
| listment
Captain Lewis is still In need of ex-
| perienced cooks. whom he can offer
considerable inducements above and
beyond the pay they ordinarily receive
from the government, Those inter.
| ested will apply ut ambulance com.
pany recruiting headquarters, North
Boulevard, to 10 a. a., to 2 P. NJ,
and to u. NJ. or by appointment.