The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-17
SOLDIER BOYS GO 70
THEIR HOMES TO-DAY
Order OF First Regiment Has Been
Excellent, Not Single Case Of
IntoxicNtion Here.
BAKER SENDS MESSAGE
i. secretary Of War Expresses Appre-
citation Of Splendid Service Done oy
virginians ON Border.

The First Virginia Regiment of In
fantry completed their service yes.er-
day with the Federal government I'M
der the mobilization order OF June
IS. 1915. and returned to the National
Guard status. The final muster out
Of Nil Of the men was completed iate
yesterday, and last night the Rich-
mond Grays returned to their MONIES.
This morning the remainder OF tue
troops will entrain for their nome
stations, where hearty welcomes a~ai'
them.
At $40 o'clock this morning Cole
mel William j. Perry, regimeniai COM
mander. will leave with the members
Of headquarters company FOR Staunton'
The company from that city and the
Charlottesville contingent will also
leave at the same time. They will
travel over the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway Company's road. A big re-
ception and celebration awaits the
troops at Charlottesville, where there
viii be a parade, led by Colonel Per-
w, the regimental band and head
quarters staff. At Staunton similar
welcome will be held. and the various
cities will all greet the returning
troops on their arrival.
viii Leave This Morning.
The companies of Lynchbnrg, Ros-
noke and Covinston will leave this
morning over the Norfolk and West
ern Railroad. the Danvilie company
returning over the Southern, while the
Alexandria and Fredericksburg con-
tingents will leave over the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad Psrades will he held in the
cities imme diately on arrival, aftet
which the troops will he given their
freedom. their period of training I'M
der near-war conditions coming TO
close.
The work of mastering out the men
snd distributing the $4,000 in pay
proved a big task for the officers yes
t@rday. Starting early in the morning
the muster out was started. and after
an all-day grind the work was stu
incomplete at O'Clock YESTERDAY
evening. Before o'clock. however,
the last man had been paid and
mustered out, and the officers relaxed
from the strain Of the final DAY All
Of the officers will leave the city TO-
dav. with the exception of the supply
company and several of the United
states officers, who have yet some
property matters to complete. This
will occupy their attention for several
days
colonel Perry last night highly
commended his men. lie had already
declared that they proved themselves
border. The officer said that he had
been advised by the examining Of
fcers OF the United States army sent
tere for the muster out. that they ma d
not seen q command in better ply
sttal condition. and was especially
81 satisfied with their showing.
Not One Case of Drunkenness.
Colonel Perry stated that he was
especial happy to report that not
single case of intoxication has oc-
Cured in the regiment since the
troops arrived in the city. and the ex-
smining officers stated that they did
not md a man who had even been
drinking. This is an uncomm only
good record. and COLONEL Perry was
very proud OF the character Of his
men
The regimentsl commander also
sfsted that the dicipiine of the men
since their arrival in the city had
hAkn excellent He said II was in
only one or TWO isolated cases that
he had been called on 10 use corr
r*ctive measures, and even these were
mild.
As a parting word Colonel Perry
declared himself gratified with the
support given the First Regiment by
the press and made the request that
the newspapers he equally good 10
them in the future"
Colonel Perry stated that the oues-
lion OF designations OF the officers OF
she regiment jue to law that 10
person can receive two pays from the
government. was only casually men
stoned At the reEimentai officers meet
anE. and nothing can be said definitely
3r regard to the matter until he had
put the question up to the Militia
Eureau. and received a ruling Tn
der the military bill last passed the
occupations OF none of the First Regi-
uent officers are on the excepted list.
and it IL probable that what the Mill
sia Bureau has to say in the matter
will put it in different light Colo
mel Perry expects TO take the matter
UP Immediately
Secretary Rake~ Writes.
Yesterday the following letter was
received from Newton u. Baker. Sec
retary OF War. addressed to Colonel
Perry:
Headquarters First Va Unity.
Richmond, Va. Jan. is. 1917.
General Orders 2.
The following letter from the Sec
rAtAry OF War Ia published to this
regiment prior to its muster out OF
the Federal service:
War Department
washington, D. c., Dec 90. 1916.
The Commanding Ofhcer.
First Infantry.
Virginia National Guard
Cir;
wish to thank you and the officers
and men OF your organization who
went to the border in response to the
call Of the President. for the valuable
service which you have rendered to
the country. When the National
Guard was called into service of the
Federal government. the lives of men,
women and children along the frontier
were In grave danger, owing to the
formidable bandit raids from the
Mexican side OF the boundary. 1t is
not too much to say that had these
raids continued, there was danger of
international war. From the time of
the arrival of the units OF the National
Guard on the border the raids ceased.
and the tension between the two coun-
tries began to relax. II is the hope
and belief OF the government that the
presence of the units OF the National
Guard. together with the units of the
regular army. on the border and in
Mexico and the presence in mobiliza-
tion camps of the units of the National
h