The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-07
MILITARY MOVEMENTS
IN VIRGINIA PLANNED
Adjutant- General and Governor in
Frequent Conferences Work Out
~ Details Against Necessity.
.RrCHMoND DEPARTMENT BASE
Believed Practically All National
Guard. i'm Virg inin Would Conccn-
frate ut Fair Grounds--Richmond
Strategic Location Ideal

While neither announcement nor In
dication as to what course will be talk
en- with the Virginia militia, as to
whether they viii be called out in the
near future, or what military move
will be made in Virginia. was made
public yesterday by Governor Stuart
or Adintant- General Sale. il is known
that those officials are1in frequent con-
suitation and that everything necessary
for prompt movement Of the troops,
when the time comes. is being made.
Nothing was received here yesterday
regarding the change IN plans for the
entrainmen, Of the Second Virginia
regiment or infantry Information
from Brownsville that the troops. which
were due to leave the border today.
would be kept there for some time
further. was without confirmation by
the governor or the adjutant general.
II IL believed. however. that they will
be retained tn Texas for several days
more. due TO certain plans now pend
ing with the war department.
City as Army Headquarters.
These. II Is said. are in regard TO
establishing the headquarters OF the
South Atlantic department In Rich
rnond, in the event or hostilitles. II
has been stated by military men that
Richmond would be an ideal location
for such headquarters. and with ample
accom- odations for the troops. In sd-
dition. strateEtcally. this city Is unusu-
ally well located. since II would be
through Richmond that all eastern
movement Of troops north and south
would he made. Handling tho soldiers
through this city will give direct
routes, whereas in the event OF other
cities being selected. II would result
In delay in the transportation Of troops
and munitions,
IT ts also believed that practically all
of the national guard Of the state would
be concentrated here for the protection
Of munition plants and important
bridges across the James river. and
also that they may be in close. touch
X p the seaport towns
Tor this reason IL Is said that all
three regim ents of infantry, the ar
filierv, cavalry and other commands
will he located here.
Fair Grounds Concentration Point.
The state fair grounds would be the
logical place for such a concentration,
and there are also ample armories and
other buildings that can be secured
for the accommodation of the troops
and supplies That tho fair grounds
viii be turned over for the use Of the
troops is certain. Notwithstanding any
objection that might be made TO their
use In such e necessity there would
hardly be any waiting on permission,
Jnwonted activity was noticed In rhs
office Of the Acknowledgements yestsr-
day. During the day many conferences
were held with military men. and Il r.
believed that several arrangements
were perfected for the handling 81 'he
troops should they be concentrated
here. General Sale stated Last night
that he had no Information regarding
tho proposed establishment OF South
Atlantic headquarters here. and that
nothing had developed during the day
that carried with II especial sisnif-
canoe
t. r n. Myers. Jr.. a weil-knop-n
civil engineer Of this city. called at
the office 81 Governor Stuart. and ten
dered his services 10 the state IN the
event Of war Engineers are Of "x-
IRENE importance I'm handling troops.
and X war ES declared. f. VIII he neces-
sary to organize a.vsral companies.
As yet there ts only one y the military
OF the state. this company being now
on the border