Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-13
LEAVES RULING UPSETS
PLANS OF CAMP LEE men
Thousands Had Planned to Visit
Home Christmas Denied by
War Secretary's Order.
SEEK MODIFICATION or RULE
Four Thousand Men OF Camp to Be
Transferred TO Regular Army.
Much Insurance Carried-NIedical
Corps Wants Men.
SEEK MODIFICATION or RULE
IL" a STAFF Correspondence J

tB:' staff CorrespoudentJ
CAMP LEE. VA. December 1o-Dis-
appointment at tho action OF Secretary
OF War Baker revokin. the previous
order OF the department giving Christ
mas leave 10 all tho men of the Ma
iionai Army is kecnly felt in Camp Lee
tonight. After weeks OF preparation
during which time the men have CEN
tered their thoughts ON holiday fur
!ouSAs. the unpleasant news that they
vii! not he allowed TO visit their
homes during the Yuletide season
threw them into the depths OF despair.
y, division headquarters this after
noon nothing had been received from
the War Department regarding the
ruling which will deny leave TO men
who live further from the camp than
can be reached by trolley. 1t was just
after a conference Of railroad officials
and officers OF headquarters tina; the
information reached the camp that no
furlouShs would be allowed. This was
Immediately communicated TO Brlsa-
dier-General Lloyd NJ. Brett. command
ing the camp, who stated that he had
received no word on the subject.
The conference was called for the
purpose OF arranging for the large num-
bcr of men who had made application
to return home "a; Christmas and New
Years. Realizing that 1t would be
something of problem FOR the rail
roads TO handle such large number
oil men. the matter was taken up with
the transportation companies. and ne
Gotiations had been under way for some
time. ], had been arranged to have
special train take the Pittsburshers
10 their home. and various other plans
were under way- to meet the situation
adequately.
Willie il is realized that the move
mont OF thousands OF troops at Christ
mas would cause congestion OH the
roads, the men are sorry that they
were not told some time in advance.
As il is. all OF them have made their
application for leave either at Christ
mas CIR New Years. and plans are
complete for their homecoming.
1t is known that pressure will be
brought 10 bear in some quarters to
have Secretary Baker Withdraw his
order. or at least modify it in some
way so that the men can visit their
homes during the holiday season.
Four thousand men arc 10 be trans
ferred from Camp Lee 10 the regular
army. This has been announced. and
the transfer will be under way shortly.
The men will be taken in equal num-
bers from all of the reg iments in camp,
thus prev venting any one command suf-
fcring from having large number OF
men withdrawn.
This transfer of 1000 men will! be
!elt worst o: all by the PENNSYLVANIA
regiments. Already these commands
have had a; least 1000 men each taken
from them. and placed in service else
where. TO have organizations thus
torn apart interfcrcs with the progress
of the regiments. Due to such trans
fers. the two Keystone State commands
VIII be reduced to about 2.20O men
cact. The Virginia regiments have not
suffered as nave the others, and the
trrsfcr OF -" quotas from the two
VirG inia regiments will not be seri-
ously felt
Insurance under the new government
p!ar il such & popular thing at Camp
Lee that it is believed that this can
tonE:ent will equal If not exceed the
average per capita os the National
Guard or National Army camps in the
country. and also the regular army and
navy.
In one command. Company G. OF the
Three Hundred and Seventeenth Infan-
try. commanded by Captain Conway
Cooke. OF 1;ichmond, the per capita is
$3.50. The army average TO date Is
$500. and while the entire figures for
Camp Lee have not been completed. It
is said with confidence that the aver
age viii be above $4,000.
The base hospital here has sounded
call for recruits. 1t wants 1000 men
for service at the hospital and also in
all OF the ambulance and medical de-
partments at the camp. These men
must be clerks. stcnographers, ambu-
lance drivers and OF any occupation
that would fit them for service with
the hospital. Men within the draft
ages must be enlisted before Saturday
night. They can either enlist at the
camp. or apply at their home station.
getting a. transfer TO tho camp after
enlistment. All must report here BY
the 18th.