Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-26
VISITING AVIATOR
INTERESTS CAMP LEE
Major Roy S. Brown, With PasSen-
ger, Makes Flight From Lang
ley Field in Hour.
IMPROVEMENTS AUTH oKIzED
More Than Million Dollars to Bc
Expended on Additional Hospital
and Quartcrmaster's Buildings.
Artillery Range at DutcI: Gap.
Especial TO The rimes,pixpatch.l


from Langley Aviation Field. near
Newport News. Major Roy s. Erown.
OF the aviation section Of the signal
corps. spent a short while with friends
AT Camp Lee this afternoon. He stated
that he was making a personal trip
to Petersburg. anu shortly after tho
arrival Of the big Curtis bipianc he
motcrcd to Petersburg. Travelling with
him was a mechanic. Sergcan; William
T. Volkmer. rhc trip Of ninety miles
from Langley Field was made in sixty
minutes.
The machine arrived at l:3o just as
SO "roohics" were arriving from
Western Pennsylvania for military
acrvicA
Major Brown was at the wheel on
the trip. He called at division head
quarters 20 pay his respects 10 BriGa-
dierGeneral Brett. his personal friend
out that officer was absent from the
division. He was welcomed. however.
officially by Brigadicr-Gen Heiner,
in command OF the artillery brigade,
who suggested that more frequent
visits he made in order that the men
might learn more OF the use Of air
planes in war. The one visiting the
camp to-day was Of the bomb dropping
variety. and is used in the instruction
or embryo aviators at Langley Field.
CAMP ACTIVITIES STOP WHEN
MOTORS WHIR IS HEARD
When the wnir of tho motor was first
heard. activities in camp were stopped
Circlinr =; height Of 5000 feet. which
was the height at which tho trip was
made tho pilot soon determined on
the drill field Immediately in the rear
OF division headquarters. NolplaninS
and circlinE at dangerous angles.
landing was soon safely effected. At
O'Clock the return trip was begun
For ten minutes the aviator. with his
passcn5ct. cir.lcd. rose TO dizzy
height. then volplancd back towards
the earth. 10 the satisfaction of the
thousands OF men who witnessed the
performance. Then. rising to height
Of probably 5000 feet. he hcadet to-
wards his poin, Of destination.
START work OF VAST
IMPROVEMENTS At CAMP
Work was begun to-day on improve
mcnts that will rcccssitatc tho cxpcn-
diturc of 81 100000. ~ the Ease Hos
ri.ai twclvc convalcsccnt barracks
will be built to care for patients dur
ing their cooperative DAYS. This is
IN addition 10 other Improvements AZ
rho HOSPITAL.
In connection with these in.DrS%e-
lncnis the convalosccnt barracks VIII
be built around \ rcst-r"or' tha' is
TO be constructed at cost Of $1,000
by the Rcd Cross. Here the m"n viii
b. cntnrtairSd and served Gel!cacics.
IN assistant G"ld director OF tho Ecd
Cross will also be or duty at tho hos
pital 10 care for the comforts OF the
mon and write letters and perform
.inilar tasks.
Twenty stornhouses tor the division
"adquar;crs' department are also in
cluded in the improvements. y hotc!
1T the entrance 10 Camp Lee is con-
icmplated. Additional roads the screen
ing Of every building IN camp, tho
proper drainage Of the artillery sec
ton Of The camp and improvements
Of other nature arc includcd IN the
program approved to-day
This work will be don" under the
general direction OF Captain Ira j.
Hooks. who was to-day appointed con
:truct;nS puar;ermaste-
In addition 10 the $1,000 600 improve
mcnts which were begun. divisional
hoard has recommended additional inn
provemcrts no: included in the orig
inai plan. which will cost approx.
nately 100000
Camp Lee is already the :cccu,i larg-
est camp in the United Statcs.
DUTCH GAP WILL. BE
ARTILLfRY RANGE SITI:
II was definitely announced at dvi-
sion headquarters that Dutch Gap will
he the location OF the artillery range.
Pending tho rcccip; OF an allotment for
the purchase the artillcrymen have
been engaged in practice on the rifle
range. The island is approx ina tely
two miles long and one mile wide.
Where the big guns will he placed for
firing has not been definitely deter
mined. The island is merely pocket
to receive the shells when they arc
fired. The targets will bc on tho
island. and land near the island is
needed for tho guns.
Within a few weeks regiment OF
artillery will go 10 the range and
camp for It week. In addition To the
target practice. the field experience
will be valuable for officers and mcn 1t
is probable that pon;oon bridge will
he built across the .tppomattoX River.
which will shorten the distance TO the
range six miles.
First Lieutenant G.. Bcllangcr. OF the
French army. arrived here yesterday
20 aid in instructinG the artillerymcn.
He comes here from Fort Sill. Okla.
Lieutenant BellanGcr arrived in this
country last November.
MANY TURNED AWAY
FROM OPENING SHOW
Although the Liberty thcatcr has a
seating capacity OF more than 5000
more people were turned away from
tie oncning performance than could
he crowded into the building last
night. The box Office opened at 4
O'Clock. and within two hours every
scat was sold At one time. after
every sea; was sold, there was II crowd
of more than 1000 men masscd around
the entrance seeking admission. To-
night every seat was also sold.
In spite OF the crowd at the show.
the churches in Petersburg had their
usual crowd of Sunday night soldiers
The car company announced to-day
that their records show that there were
more soldiers hauled yesterday than
on any preceding Sunday.
Princess Pat" was the opening
show. 1t delighted the audience. Fair
and Warmer" will open on Thursday