Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-25
|lIFJ)L ADEIJS
D SELECTED MEN
DChing Scenes Mark De.
arture of 400 for Camp
in Georgia
ROwDs AT STATION


II Further answer to Prussianism from
lndelphia's youth swept out of the
~ today. when more than 400 Sc
1--we men went to the National Army
n<onment at Camp Greenleaf, Ga.
3amming the platform of the Balti-
{6fe and Ohio Railroad station at
smut and Twenty-fourth streets,
q gtfflowing on to the bridge over the
tfAcks and climbing to the top of the
Iron fence surrounding the rails, thou
sands of persons, besides families and
eweethearts of the men, cheered and
waved their adieus to Philadelphia s
newest soldiers.
Three bands scattered over the station
platform filled the air with wartime
notes, mementarily catching the spirit
~ the music. while the crowd gave evil
dence of demonstrative joy.
Where there had been bravely fought
tears, there now appeared in eyes
naances of syncopation-produced glad
ness.
For some the ordeal was too much
F>ight as they would against the onrush-
ing waves of tears, many women went
down to defeat. One woman. standing
at the edge of the police line. held
wee baby in one arm and with her free
hand wiped tear after tear until she
was overcome by the strain.
s39 fearful Farewell
Her face pressed against the iron bars
forming the fence along the tracks, a
Nktle wife talked rapturously to her
young husband. the all aboard of the
conductor brought them to the parting.
A hurried kiss and he was gone. Watch
ing the car into which he entered the
wife began to tremble, shaky left hand
slowly was raised. Her lips rested for
brief moment on the plain gold band
around her third finger. She began to
waver A friend put her arms around
the heartbroken woman and helped her
t. street car.
Fathers, suppressing their own feel
inga. tried hard to buoy up the
spirits of mothers and sisters of the de-
uartfng men. When the train left the
torrents that had been more or less in
check broke through the outward cain
Of the girls and women and in all parts
- the station there sounded the crying
OF mothers, wives and sweethearts.
Swinging to the station in orderly
marching columns. the seiectives we.e
met by their cheering relatives and
,frlends. with many strangers who were
there to see what might happen. The
hands heading some of the boards con>
tingents enlivened the arrival for a few
minutes prior to departure.
Police quickly roped off the crowd
from the gate leading to the tracks.
The twelve-car Pullman train which
II carrying the men to Georgia was soon
the scene of many visits for the favored
allowed to pass the police line.
Given Fruit and smokes
Fifteen girls and women from the
Mrs. George W. Childs Drexel Red Cross
canteen, Locust and Eighteenth streets
answ ering an emergency call, appeared
a the station with baskets filed with
cirarettes and fruit for the seiectives.
he canteen workers were in charge of
16xo. Robert L. Montgomery.
& 1Ihe following boards sent men,
District 3. 165; District 10. So; Dis
Men from the Nineteenth and
Ywsntieth districts were given cigarettes
and chocolate by the Lancaster Avenue
Business Mems Association.
Nearly an hour was allowed the men
II the station to wave farewell to their
relatives and friends, and at 9:22 o'clock
pFecisely the train moved out of the sta
tion.
Balks at Being Left
How the spirit of patriotism and the
desire to fight for the country have
gripped the city Is strikingly illustrated
BY the fact that the Nineteenth District
Draft Board, having called one too
K many men, had difficulty in finding one
who was willing to be left behind. He
consented reluctantly, and then only on
assurance that he could go July s.
Sixty-seven men had been called, and
4 the quota at this time was only sixty-six.
More than forty of the siXty-seven were
asked to stay behind before one con-
sented-
The men who left today come from
several district draft boards, as fol-
Iews; Ninth district, Twentieth and But
tenwoed streets. 165 men; Twenty-sec-
Ohd. Fifteenth street and Snyder ave-
nue.. 131 Nineteenth. Thirty-ninth street
and Lancaster avenue, sixty-six; Twen-
1ieth. Tkirty-nnth street and Lancaster
avenue, forty: Twenty-third Thirty Sec
ohd street and Woodland avenue. three.
The Nineteenth and Twentieth districts
s mem paraded from Thrty-ninth street
and Lancaster avenue to the station.
Comfort kits, fags and tobacco were
: Given them. The men are making the
trip In tourist sleeping cars.