Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-23
CAMP LEE HONORs
NAME OF WASHINGTON
Three Large Events Given by Diff
fcrcnt Organizations Fea-
lures Of Day.
BISHOP o'CoNNELL THERE
Delivered Sermon at Knights of Col
umbus Auditorium = Negro Sol
diers Hear l'iyc-Minute Talks by
Prominent Speakers.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch.l

Especial to The Times Dispatc
CAMP LEE. VA. February 22.--Al-
though there was no divisional celcbra-
ton here. to-day. George Washington'a
birthday was httingly celebrated by
various units within the division. 1t
was Il day OF rest and every soldier was
permitted to observe the day as he saw
1T. This. of course, did not apply to
the 2C2 men who have volunteer for
service with the tank division, which
will be used by the American forces
in France. These men were bid good
by by several thousand OF the enlisted
men who were at the depot when the
train pulled out. They go TO another
camp for training.
There were three different celebra-
lions Of the day by three different or
CARNATIONS within the division.
nISHoP o'CoNNELL BREACHES
SERMON OF OCCASION
This morning at 10 o'clock solemn
high mass was celebrated In the main
X. OF G. auditorium, which was attend
ell by more than 1000 soldiers Above
the altar was suspended the American
flag. and even the mass Itself had a
touch of the military. At the consccra-
d
soldiers. with fixed bayonets. headed by
the color-bcarer. approached the sanc
tuary. and during the impressive cere-
mony. the khaki-sarbed soldiers stood
at attention while the colors were
dipped. The Catholic chaplains in the
camp omciated. and the sermon was
preached BY Bishop O'Connell. OF Rich
Inond. who culogized the name OF
y In, r,f .
was the music by the soldiers choir.
composed entirely Of enlisted men. with
Corporal Earl Mitchell, Of Company c.
32oth Infantry. presiding al the organ.
At the close of the service. the Papal
blessing was bestowed upon the congre-
cation by Bishop O'Connell
Seven thousand negroes, members of
the training and service battalions on
duty at the depot brigade, heard five
minute war-aim talks. by representa-
tive men Of both races. sang patriotic
songs. participated in athletic events.
heard Washington's farewell address,
read by Captain w. G. Somervilie. for
before their commanding officer and
and friends n Washington tea party in
Y. NJ C. a. Building SO.
Sp great was the throns OF negro
soldiers who wished to attend the
morning exercises and hear the war
aim talks that 1t was necessary that
the speakers deliver their talks before
two audiences.
DR.. William II. IIudnut. president of
Ohio, explained to the negroes ,"Why
We Are at War"
Rev. Robert Bryce Miller. of Pitts
burgh, explained The Objects Which
Our Allies Must Obtain"
President J. NJ Candy. of the Vir-
ginia Normal ami Industrial Institute.
Of Petersburg, gave the members Of
his race wholesome advice when he
explained What the Negro VIII Gain
by the War" The discipline of the
army is OF inestimable value to the
negro. It makes him more manly. and
the rigid care that he must take Of
his health, will not only make him
better man physically. but will show
him what he can accomplish by the
a higher respect Tor authority and
law after he is dismissed from the
army.
L
NJ c. a. SO, a negro. presented a SER
vice flag to the 51oth and 5l1th Engi-
necr Service Battalions. who expect
early oversee orders.
A negro band drawn from the Eighth,
Ninth and Tenth Training Battalions
furnished music.
This afternoon the principal address
OF the day for the negroes was made
i,I-D
College, Baltimore. who spoke on
Washington. DR.. Pickens's speech was
full OF advice for the negroes. He is
m excellent orator, having won the
Ten Eyck medal when he was a stu
dent at Yale.
Camp General Secretary E. NJ. Willis
Vile, OF the Thirty fourth Company.
Ninth Training Battalion, read Wash
ngton's farewell speech.
C. y. Lew, a negro. physical secre-
tary for Y. NJ. c. A. work among ne
groes, directed various athletic events
He is a graduate of Massachusetts Ag-
concluded with review of the negro
troops.
ENGINEERS TRAINING SCHOOL
HAVE GREAT CELEBRATION
Licutenant- Colonel Dewitt C. Jones,
commandment OF the Engineers Training
School was the principal speaker to-
night at tho Washington exercises held
in the y. NJ. G. A. auditorium by the
embryo officers Of the two schools
An excellent musical program had
been arranged. which included several
selections by Madame Malta Wittkow-
ski. formerly principal prima donna or
! Covent Garden. London, and more re-
Gently of the Metropolitan and Chicago
Grand Opera companies.
Sergeant a. w. Browning. Of the
line officers school. also sang. Cor
poral Earl Mitchell. of the 320th IN
fantry. presided at the piano az ac-
companist. and also gave several piano
solos.
Major Charles r. Peusnet Dies.
Major Charles p. Peugnet, Of the En-