Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-21
V|RG|N|ANS LAND
AT NEWPORT NEWS
Soldiers Stoke Boilers and Race
Two Steamers Day and
Night.
MATOIKA SPRINGS A LEAK
Arrives in Port With Several
Feet of Water in Her
Hold.
SPRINGS A LEAK
I spee.al 70 The Times pispatch. |

Especial 10 The Times Dispatch1
NEWPORT NEWS VA, March 20
Nirs!nians and Carolinians arriving
Today on tho transports Rijndam and
Princess Matoika raced over 1000
miles OF ocean for the honor OF being
the first boat back 20 America. those
on the Rijndam winning by three
quarters Of an hour because the Ma
,oi8a sprang leak and came in with
Severai feet OF water in her holds. IT
was reported. Troops on both ships
went into the fire room as stokers.
ano fuii head OF steam was kept up
n'ght ana DAY from the time the ships
ictt ST. Nazairc until they dashed into
inc harbor this morning.
od ne ne captain Of the Rijndam inform
shore leave unless they beat the Ma
ioika into port.
The soldiers took a hand on both
day and night after night the two
ships plunged ahead at fun speed. the
Mat9ika understanding the Rijndam
until she sprang a leak
NItGINIANS CLAIM
FIRST ACROSS RHINE
virglnians in the Thirty-seventh
engineers claim the distinction of be-
ing the first American troops TO cross
the Rhine
The Thirty-seventh went 10 Coblenz
immediately after the arrnistice was
signed and remained there about three
weeks. The men were not allowed to
fraterniZe with the Germans. but say
while the Huns treated them civilly
they gave the Impression of desiring 10
stick Il knife in the back Of one and
all OF their conquerors.
The Germans of Coblenz had ample
1000, but conditions in the interior
were terrible. according to reports
reaching the Americans.
The One Hundred and Fourteenth
Machine Gun Battalion, composed OF
Carolina and Tennessee troops mostly.
came back on the Rijndam:
Division. There were nine citations
and two decorations in the battalion
and twenty eight men were killed out
right and more than 200 more or less
severely wounded.
MEN WHO BROKE LINE
RETCRN FROM FRANCE
The One Hundred and Fourteen tn
! fought with the remainder Of the
Thirtieth Division when the Hinden-
burg line was broken by American
troops near ST. Quentin. The follow
Ing Vtrginians returned:
On Sthe Rijndam: Major Robert c.
tol; First Lieutenant Eugene B. Chase.
Newport News: Nurse Cecilia s. Tur-
mer. lilS Hume Avenue, Richmond
Moore. Petersburg: Louis J. Weidner,
e2s South Eighth street. Richmond
Joseph u. Smith, Campbell; F'itzburgh
'.humDicS, Madison; Ernest STAN bach.
Roanoke.
ON The Princess Matoika: Giles +.
puckett. Roanoke; William T.. Brown
ley, Newton; Walter II. Whitacre,
Iirimes: James l.. Poston. Marion;
Barfoot, l3: South Cherry street.
Iuchmond: Ira NJ. Candy. Montclair;
William Hempston. Lcesburg; Nal
COLIN l.. Borkcy. Bowling Green:
Lawrence c. Jensen. williamsburg;
Edward +. l'anslcr. Woodstock; Oscar
+. Martin, Fine Creek Mills: James b.
Parker, 116 South Pine Street. Rich
mond; Ollie j. Herrin. Hanover;
Grover c. Poston. Marion; James \.
Avis. 915 Randolph street, Richmond;
Henry NJ. Chandler. Ashland. Ralph
b. Goode. Mosely Junction: Lee o.
Gee. South Hill; Thomas b. Johnson,
Trigg; Charles Phillips, Alexandria;
Robert T. White, Exeter; .. l.. Rus
tad, Forge; Andrew q. Wootton.
Amelia; Thomas II. Edwards. Law
renceville; Charles L. Young. Ferrum:
Frank NJ. Wright. Bedford; Kenneth
Tomlinson. 306 North Meadow Street,
Richmond; Marion ~ Pcmberton, -
Temple Street Richmond; Robert
Woods, Charlottesville: Lieutenant Lee
II. Williamson, Charlottesville: John
Z. Barrett, Wytheville.