The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-25
I'VE Want To Get Home"
Cry of Md. and Va. Boys
Reaching Newport NeWS

little thinner than we used to be-but
boy. we're home. That's all that
makes any difference. We're home!
Hard Conditions.
! You never would have thought. from
| the spryness with which those ma
chine gunners swung their sixty-five
pound packs onto their backs, and
. literally ran down the gang plang
( that they had spent nearly eleven
! months living under conditions such
as no civilized man was ever meant
/ to live. During many long weeks,
! without intermisSion, over there, they
: were barred even the soggy comfort
| of dug-outs. They called themselves
The Suicide Club" and. in a meas
/ ure, il would seem. from their record,
that they tried to live up to the name.
! For, while artillerymen were back
! of the lines, and even the "doughboys'
had al least the protection of
trenches. these boys of the 312th were
out in front, lin line of skirmishers,"
hiding behind a chance stone, and
/ fallen tree-in a shell hole-wherever
| or whatever offered-and sometimes,
I just in the open, their only protection
depending on their ability to lie close
! to the ground. Even then, according
10 their officers they kept their guns
going.
Their losses were heavy, but both
officers and men believe they made
Fritz" pay at the rate of twenty-te
one.
Forget HaFdshIps.
But. those hardships were of the
/ long ago. so far as the men are con-
cerned today They tripped down the
gangplank like seven year-oId, kid
running to meet its dad. A few hours
later. and they had, started. through
the delousing process. And their i'm
patience to- get through. with. it" re
minded one of a race horse at the
barrier.
1t will be at least twenty four
hours before they possibly can be
started on their journey to Camp
Meade. Possibly forty-eight. There
are. all. sorts of. army regulations to
be observed; some having to do with
red tape; Others having TO do with
sanitary precautions. but all like the
justly celebrated law of the Modes
and PersiSns.
So delay in the final Homecoming,
or rather home going, is inevitable.
And the men know il. But this
doesn't make them one whit more
resigned.
Want To Get Home.
We've had enough of France, and |
lighting, and the army. and every |
thing else-for a while. anyhow"
said a big corporal from Font Royal. |
Va. What we want to do now is |
just get 'home."
The writer told the corporal of |
large plans for a gala welcome be-
ing made in Washington.
Fine" said he laconicaIly 1--WE |
appreciate it. It's mighty fine Of the |
folks. And, of course. well like it
but-we want to get home /
The 312th Machine Gun Battalion !
was one Of the first organizations |
completed at Camp Meade. Orig |
inally il was composed entirely of !
men from the District of Columbia,
called in the first draft, and report
ing at Meade September 3. 1917. At
that time it comprised three com
panies. A. B., and c, numbering $50
men each. --.r. /
Physical reflections and transfers 1
to various branches of the service by
reason of peculiar fitness thinned the
ranks until it was necessary to call 4
on men of the second draft to bring 4
the outfit was still kept a sectional /
one, for only men from Virginia and |
Maryland, and a very few from the
nearer districts OF Pennsylvania were |
chosen.
Major Zane. an old cavalry officer
Of the regular army. was the first
battalion commander Shortly be-
fore Christmas, in 1917, he was sent |
overseas, and was replaced by Major
Henry Janney. q Baltimore attorney.
hailing originally from Virginia. and |
a veteran Of the Spanish-American
war. in which he won special men
ton in dispatches. for bravery.
Another Unit Added. 4
Shortly before the battalion was /
sent overseas, il was increased bv /
the addition Of another company. D. /
the men being transferred from the
Cloth Machine Gun Battalion, which |
was broken up and its men assigned |
to the 3llth and the 312th.
While overseas the 3I2th men
were. in turn. brigaded with the
French ana the English. and also
fought as an individual unit The
entire battalion was twice mentioned |
for ga!lantry and efficacious work.
especially on the offensive