New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-23
co. E LEAVES ON INITIAL
LEG OF JOURNEY TO FRANCE
Marches from Armory and
Entrains on Commercial
Street for Trip to Yale
Field, New Haven.

SMILES OF COURAGE
FORCE TEARS AWAY
Mothers, Sisters and Sweethearts Bid
Gof1speed to $50 of New Britain's
Finest, Going to Make "World Safe
for Democracy''-March Over Route
of 1898 and Summer of 1916-Camp
Funston a Memory.
Grimly attired in the garments OF
war, but each mans face wreathed In
smiles at the prospects of an early
opportunity to fight for his country,
members Of Company e, First Con-
necticut Infantry, in barracks here
since a state Of war was declared with
Germany, left the armory early this
morning and at $3.50 entrained at the
railroad station for the mobilization
camp at Yale Field, New Haven.
They expect to be sent to the training
camp at Charlotte, N. c., by the mid
u
the boys of Company E was marked
by a patriotic demonstration at the
depot and, as the final farewells were
said, the grimness Of war was more
apparent than heretofore and as the
long troop train steamed slowly out
there was hardly dry eye among
the several hundred mothers, fathers,
sisters, sweethearts and friends who
had assembled there. The soldier
boys themselves appeared cheerful,
but beneath the mask of a smile and
cheering words there must have been
a feeling of sadness as they saw the
familiar sights Of their home town,
the town whose honor they have en-
listed to defend, fade rapidly into the
distance. Company I, New Britain's
other crack infantry company, en-
trained at Willimantic this morning,
and arrived at the New Haven mo-
hiliza. ton camp a short time after
Company E.
Company e Leaves.
Camp Funston at Walnut Hill park.
where Company E men have been hv-
ing for the past few weeks, IS no
more. Yesterday afternoon and last
evening, when the order came to en-
train this morning, the men proceed
ed to strike their tents and pack their
camp impediments. This was done
under the direction of Supply Sergeant
Walter Boder and his detail. The big
tents, trunks, kitchen utensils and all
other equipment, other than that
which each man carries for himself.
were loaded onto automobile trucks
and sent to New Haven. The soldiers
spent their last night in New Britain
at the armory and at o'clock this
morning Bugler Gregory sounded the
call that woke every man for the ac-
tivities of the day After a hurried
breakfast, an inspection Of equipment
and the roll call. Top Sergeant James
Kelly formed the company. Lieuten-
ant Ashley J. Griffin. acting captain,
then gave the order for which the
men have been waiting inpatientlv
since April It was: Company, fall
in" Instantly every one OF the $50
men stood erect, eyes and head to the
front. Then came the series of COM
mands which brought the soldiers out
OF the armory and into the street.
where they we're given a big ovation.
The march from the armory to the
depot was one never to be forgotten.
The procession was headed by
OF Police William J. Rawlings, who,
As a lieutenant, marched out to the
Spanish war at the head Of his com
pany and over the same route 19 years
ago. The others in the platoon were
Of1cers Clarence Lanphear, Alfred E.
-Atwater, Michael J. Cosgrove, Charles
Mccarthy. Charles Johnson, Denis
Nealon. John J. King. Fred Wagner,
Patrick Quirk and William Hayes.
Then came the American Band, play
ing martial airs. Sergeant William
Rice. another Spanish war veteran.
carried the National Colors and then
came Company e, headed by First
Lieutenant Ashley J. Griffin and Sec
ond Lieutenant Robert V. K. Harris.
Down Arch street hill and into
Main street, over the same route that
the Spanish War volunteers marched
in 1898, over the same route they
themselves marched last summer
when they went out for the Mexican
border, over the same route that
Company I marched early in April
when they left town last time, the
boys marched. They presented
most inspiring sight.
Sad Scenes at Depot.
At the depot the company was
drawn up before the cars and then
there was a short interval given the
men during which time they had an
opportunity to say good bye. Crowds
of men and women surged around the
khaki clad men, There were many
heart-rending scenes. One mother,
who has two sons in the company,
broke down and wept piteously as she
kissed each one good bye. A father