Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-07
H0W|TzERS LEAVE
FOR CAMP TODAY
Expect to Entrain for Fort Ogle-
thorpe About O'clock
Tonight.
FIVE MORE MEN ARE NEEDED
Captain Myers Makes Last APP
peal in Order to Leave With
Full Ranks.
FIVE MORE MEN ARE NEEDED

Everything is in readiness for the de-
parture tonight Of the Richmond
Virginia Field Artillery. which leaves
for Fort Ogle,horpe. Ga, for a period
OF intensive training which prefaces
service with the other American troops
hghting on French soil.
The only obstacle TO the departure
Of the Richmond artillerymen was re-
moved last night with the Information
from Norfolk that the batteries from
that city and Portsmouth were ready
to go
This morning, the work of loading
The Howitzers tentage and other equip
ment at the Norfolk and Western Rail
way yards Will be begun. and early to-
night the men will entrain for Fort
Oglethorpe.
While the exact time of the depar
;ure of Rich,nonds first massed con-
tribution to the American lighting
forces is indefinite, II will probably be
around or {. O'Clock. The movement
Will be timed so that the section car
ryinG the Ri 'hmond contingent will
leave Petersburg just ahead of. or just
following, the sections bearing the Nor
FOLK and Portsmouth troops. In this
order. the three troop trains will pro-
ceed to Fort Oglethorpe. where. bar
ring unforeseen incidents. all will arrive
at approximately the same time Sun
day.
WILL PARADE TONIGHT
on WAY TO STATION
The march of the Howitzers from
their armory TO Byrd Street Station
tonight will be routed through the
principal downtown s r.ets, and the
artilierymen will be accompanied by
their band. Whether or not any addI.
tional ceremonies will precede the de-
parture of the batter, IS uncertain the
move coming SO quickly after the or
ders 10 entrain were received practi-
cally precluding any pI earranged dem
onstration.
On the trip to Fort oglethorpe the
Howitzers will b. in command Of Lieu
tenant Edward C. Reese. assisted by
LieutenantS James c. Pollard and
George II. Myers. Captain William NJ
Myers. the company comma nder. was
Yesterday granted leave OF absence
by the commanding officer of the East
ern Department. in order to arrange his
personal affairs in Ri' hmond. Captain
Myers will join the bar,-,; in Fort
OElethorpe in a few days
With only few hours remaining
until the Howitzers arc on their way.
the battery complement is just five men
short OF war strength. While the usual
activities attending troop movement
VIII make any extra efforts 10 get re-
cTuits matter of impossibility, it is
thought that the necessary number OF
mon will be in line.
ONLY FOUR PASS
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
There were twelve applicants for the
nine vacancies in the ranks of the ar
tillerymcn yesterday, but only four of
these were able to come up 10 the re.
CURED physical standard
The officers of the Howitzers uere
naturally disappointed at being unable
10 bring the command to war strength,
but by reason OF the fact that the
number of applicants showed such
great increase over previous days. feel
highly optimistic over the chances OF
securing to-day the few recruits that
Howitzers as a purely volunteer Or
ganization.
we simply must have these men by
Tonight. stated Captain Myers last
nlght, and ] hope tnat the youth Of
Hlrnlnond viii not fail us at This time
True. we have only few more
hours TO remain here. but then, TOO,
VIC are asking for only hve recruits.
ana there must be that number OF
men who Will be proud 10 enroll them
selves under the banners of Rich
mond's first command to &c forward.
speak for the battery when I say
that l hope our ranks will be filled
by noon to-day"
REPORTS GOOD QUARTERS
AT FORT OGLETHORPE
Glowing reports Of tho camp and
the reception accorded his detail on
arrival at Fort Oglethorpe were re-
ceived last night by Captain Myers.
from Lieutenant Wood. who left here
on Sunday night in charge of detail
which accompanied the Howitzers' gun
merry equipment. The train bearing the
advance guard Of the artfllerymen
reached Fort Oglethorpe on Monday
tered. awaiting the arrival of the re-
mainder Of the battery
New uniforms were issued to the
How:zers yesterday, and the shoes.
which were delayed in transit, are ex-
pected to reach Richmond to-day
Inc Howitzers, with the Nor
folt Blues and Grimes Battery, of
Portsmouth. comprise the First Bat
talon, under command of Major T NJ
workman, OF Richmond. The Norfolk
and Portsmouth batteries kave just
been mustered into Federal service, and
While their strength is matter OF
conjecture It is Supposed that numeri-
caily speaking they are in as good
shape as the local battery.
SO far as can be learned, the Vir-
ginia battalion Is the first that has
been called into active service. and
is expected, as result. that the vir-
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