Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-11
VETERANS LEAVE TO-DAY
I FOR OTHER HOSPITALS
First Consignment OF Sick and
Wounded Quits Institution at
81 Wcsthnmpton.
LEAVE ON SPECIAL TRAINS
All Overseas Men Will BE Conc by
~-Saturday and Others Will Come
for Distribution to Other Sections
a.. of Country.

The FIRST consignment Of sick and
wounded soldiers from overseas to
leave United States general hospital
No. %. At Westhampton, for other
hospitals in various parts OF the coun-
try will cntrain to- day. The special
from which they may be transferred
TO other hospitals will run into the
Westhampton grounds on the spur
track laid when Richmond College was
built five years ago.
The second train load OF wounded
veterans Will be sent away on Friday
and the third on saturday. BY that
time the hospital here Will be cleared
of overseas men and Will he ready
10 receive others, who VIII be taken
from hospital ships at Newport News
and sent here
The $40 overseas men who will leave
tho hospital this week arrived on
December in speciai train and
within forty minutes after arrival were
assigned to quarters, So efficient was
the system employed by the officers
and enlisted personnel of the general
hospital. The work OF classifying tho
men according 10 the nature OF their
injuries and the special treatment re
CURED for each began Immediately and
was completed within four days. This
might be reassisned 10 other hospitals
for further treatment and final dis
charge from the service.
RETAIN no MEN FOR
The hospital at Wcsthampton will
/. continue TO he used as a clearing
: house" for sick and wounded No men
from overseas Will bc retained there
for treatment but Will be sent where
there are special facilities for caring
for the various diseases from which
They arc suffering.
ass Major Crosbic, commanding officer
ft4 the hospital. said in an interview
%that lie had no idea when the next
Eroup OF overseas men would bc sent
hal Ina.
some time next week. here are ac-
comm odations for 1000 men at West
hampton Nearly every bed has been
taken during tho last ten days. due
10 the fact that there were about 800
patients in tho hospital undergoing
Treatment when the overseas men ar
rived.
...."They are a fine bunch of boys"
Satd Major Crosbie yesterday. Il am
RQt surprised that the people of Rich
spend liked them and took them into
nhsir homes and entertained them in
many ways. They deserved all the fine
treatment they received They viii
hospitality with which they were
ALL ARMS Of SERVICE y
REPNESENTED IN GROUP
When asked what branches OF serv-
ice were represented, Major Crosbic
replied that there were men of every
branch in the number. Some OF them
were in the regular army when war
was declared. some OF them were mem
2 DerS OF national Guard units. still
-pthers volunteered and were sent over
'Tseas and others awaited the operation
OF the selective service regulations, he
said.
Nearly all of the mon AT Westhamp-
ton wero able to walk, and after be-
ing confined for short time for quar-
antine purposes We're allowed TO come
into the city. They mingled freely
with The crowds and always attracted
great deal OF attention, seldom Lack
ing an audience if they showed de-
sire TO tell Of their experiences. Near
~ all of the thcaters admitted them
free OF charge and many who owned
automobiles took them from place to
place.
No men who came here we're suffer
ing from she'll shock or any form OF
mental trouble. All such cases were
cared for at the Fort of Emba rka ton
hospital. near Newport News
. 1t is understood that the same pol-
= teS Will he followed at Westhampton
IN handling other constituents Only
!, those who are able TO walk, either
~unRided or with crutchcs. will be re-
/ ccived, and after classification they
w.ll be sent to other hospitals for
charge.