Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-17
DIRECTING SOLDIER
GIVEN THREE YEARS
Virginian Refuses to Obey Orders.
Asserting That fills Church For
bid Participation In War.
IN ARMY SINCE SEPTEMBER,
Mothers OF Men in 31Sth Infantry
Regiment Will Organize Clubs in
Cities OF Statc-DiviSion Buys
Thrift Stamps.

Especial 10 The Times dispatch
CAMP LEE. March Is-Corporal Ed
die Robinette. of the Five Hundred and
Eleventh Ser"ice Battalion has been
sentenced TO three years at hard labor
for refusing to obey the commands OF
his superior officers, both commissioned
and noncommissioncd. He left here
this afternoon under guard for Fort
Jay. New York, where his sentence
Will lie served He was also sentenced
TO diShonorablc discharge from the
army. but this was held in suspense
by order OF Major-General Cronkhite
Rob!ncttc was sent TO the camp from
southwest Virginia last September.
lie made no claim for exemption. and
his work here resulted in his being
promoted to a corporalship in the negro
service battalion. In January he was
given a iive-day furlough. While at
home he asserts that he discovered that
the creed Of the church 10 which he
belongs forbade his participation in
war. Accordingly, upon his return
he refused TO obey orders. Two sDe-
ellie instances were rccited for the
court. On January 81 he refused 10
Obey u command from Captain Edward
a. Keys. and on the sameday he re-
fused to obey command from Ser
Gcant William :. McCabe.
He was originally sentenced to five
years at hard labor. but Major-General
tronkhitc reduced this to three years.
The draft law stated that mon who
were members of religious creeds that
forbade their participation i'm var
hn1 n Mr. for D,
iIcnt should define as noncombatant
Concerning this General Cronkhite
said:
He raised no objections to military
service until after a visit home in
January. 1918. when he claims TO have
discovered that the creed of the church
10 which ne belongs forbids participa-
ton in war. AS a matter Of fact the
creed Of this church does not forbid
its members 20 participate in war and
even If i; did soldier could not be
permitted TO raise such a question after
serving for a number of months with
out objection. The sentence is ac-
cordingly approved. but the connnc-
ment is reduced 70 three years"
Private Charles w Russell. OF Com
pany +. Three Hundred and Fifth Am
mnnition Train, thought that If his
legal wife refused TO live with him
he was no longer under any legal OBJ
legations to her or their child. .Ac-
cordnGly. when he was asked by an
officer. he declared that he was not
married. For making this false state
nent he was sentenced to six months
at hard labor. However. upon the
recommended ton for clemcncy by every
member OF the court and because he
a
guardhouse for a long period. General
Cronkhite relieved him from serving
the six months at hard labor
The mothers OF the Three Hundred
and Eighteenth Infantry will organize
clubs AT various cities in this state
me mon who compose the Three Hun
drcd and Eighteenth include the draft
ed men from Richmond. Pctersburc
Norfolk. Portsmouth and the entire
Eastern section OF the state Mrs. L.
T. Norrilow. wife OF the commanding
cficer of the regiment, and Mrs Bessie
Grabowski. Of Richmond, will aid in the
formation of the clubs
MOTHERS. CLUBS IDEA
ORIGINATED IN PITTSBURGH
The idea of organizing the Mothers
Of the Regiment originated with Col
onei Frank Cocheu. commander OF the
Three Hundred and Nineteenth Infan-
try. Recently he and several other
officers OF his regiment, with the regi-
mental band, went to Pittsburgh,
where the mothers OF tho Three Hun
dred and Nineteenth were formed into
a club.
Members Of the Eightie,h Division
have purchased $1,000 in thrift stamps.
There has been no systematic effort to
induce the men to purchase these
stamps. though they are on sale in
each Of the twenty-five post exchanges.
MINSTRELS PRESENT TWO
SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCES
The ministries of the Three Hundred
and Eighteenth presented matinee
and night performances in Petersburg
tonight. The show is the best organi-
cation that has yet been presented by
soldiers from this division The matt
nee performance was not originally
planned, but every seat in the Academy
of Music was sold several DAYS ago
and. to take care Of the crowds il was
necessary TO have the matinee per-
Torrance.
The show plans visit TO the princi-
pal cities in this state. On next Satur-
day ii will so 10 Richmond Later
Norfolk, Newport News and LynchburE
will be visited. The company is COM
posed of eighty Nirginians. besides it's
regimcntal band Of forty pieces.
Firing began this afternoon on the
To lei