The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-07
CROWDS AT MILLS
SEEK SOLDIER KIN
Relatives Call to Incoming
Troops Filing From Train
in Darkness.

A vociferous welcome was given to the
soldiers when the first troop laden ferry
boat warped into the Long Island slip at
Long Island City about 4 AS o'clock.
crowd estimated at more than 5000 was
packed in the space about the entrance
and about 1000 were in Front street.
Ropes were stretched marking of n lane
some 200 feet long from the ferry en-
trance to the depot, and lines Of police
men standing shoulder to shoulder kept
this space clear OF the crowd, except
those who had a pass. Crowds had also
congregated at the entrance to the Long
Island Railroad yards at Vernon ave-
nue., on the Vernon avenue viaduct. and
on the Hunters Point avenue viaduct
which overlook the yards.
A military band that had been OBJ
tained by residents Of Long Island City
greeted the soldiers with Home. Sweet
Home.' as the first boat entered the
slip, and then the crowd turned itself
loose with cheers and waving OF flags
and banners Col Andrews of the 105th
Infantry and his stan were the first to
walk UP the ferry clip and through the
depot to the trains, and they were fol-
lowed by long lines OF soldiers Ten
trains had been provided by the Long
Island Railroad TO carry the men to
Camp Mills. and the first one pulled out
at 5:15 O'Clock, with soldiers hanging
out of the windows exchanging cheers
with the crowds. Tho yards in the
neighborhood OF Third street and Van
Alst avenue. where there were no police
lines, were so crowded that the engineer
had to stop the train to allow the people
to get OF the tracks
The trains followed each other on six
minutes Roadway. The first one reached
Camp Mills at SIS o'clock. and was
greeted by another big crowd that had
been collecting since ! O'Clock in the
afternoon. Although Il was too dark for
any one in the column Of troops TO be
ecognized people In the crowd kept
shouting the names of relatives. and In a
few instances they were rewarded by
answering shouts from the detraining
troops The soldiers were marched To
new barracks near the Liberty Theatre
and to the Recreation Hall, where hot
supper was served. and then started
through the delousing process. II IL ex-
pected that this will be completed by to-
day at noon when 80 per cent OF the
| troops will receive passes for New York
The rema iuder will be allowed liberty
on Saturday and Sunday. so that by
Sunday night every soldier should have
had n chance TO visit his homo folks.
The troops that reached Camp Mills
were the 105th and 1osth Infantry regi-
repts, four companies of the l05th Ma
chine Gun Battalion. Medical and Ord
nance Detaohments, the Divisional Head
quarters Troop. tho Headquarters Troon
OF the FNfty-third Infantry Brigade and
troop OF Military Police.
While the first contingent was detrain-
ing Msjor-Gen. William L. Kenly. head
II the Air Service of the United States
Army. and Major William Ocker landed
from an airplane near Camp Mills. They
had flown from Washington in an hour
and forty-one minutes. Half an hour
later another airplane arrived bearing
Capt. Francis. United States Senator
Pittrap. Re representative Cornwell and
Bennett Crowell, Assistant Secretary OF
War.