Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-30
MARINES SPEEDING
ACROSS COUNTRY
Nine Trains Move 1900 Men
of Fighting 9th Toward
Ship for China.

Nine special troop trains. carrying
the 1900 men of the recreated 9th
Regiment of Marines for expedition
airy service in war-torn China. were
racing across the continent today by
various routes to San Diego.
The advance guard of three "spe-
Gals from Quantico and Paris Is
land, S. G. were nearing New Orleans,
when the last of the six additional
trains, loaded with fighting equip
ment, pulled out this afternoon from
Philadelphia and also from the Vir-
ginia marine base.
Reminiscent of 1917 war days, when
the old 9Th Regiment showed of for
France, crowds of curious and cheer
ing people gathered in the small
towns of the South and Pennsylvania
as the troop trains Numbered past.
Only today, instead of the once fami-
liar ITO Berlin" chalked upon the
sides of the cars, most of them bore
new legend, Bound for China"
Activity at Barracks.
Marine barracks at Quantico and
Philadelphia were bustling with &C
tivity early today as last moment
preparations were made for the de-
parture of the remaining forces. BY
$40 o'clock train No. from Quantico
was under way for the port of EN-
barkation, where the Marines will find
the u. s. S. Henderson awaiting them
on their arrival Sunday. Six officers
and 1870 men, comprising the special
service company, and casuals from
Quantico and other posts left by this
train. Meanwhile. the fourth Quantic0
special" was being got in readiness.
1t pulled out at about 100 o'clock with
s officers and 119 men, including the
9Th Regiment Band, the brigade head
quarters and Casuals.
AS the last train left behind anxious
wives and sweathearts who stood on
the platform f1uttering their hand
kerchiefs and trying hard to smile
bravely, the bandsmen provokingly
struck up Goodbye, Girls, Good bye"
But 1t was a serious-minded bunch of
fighting men, nevertheless, bent on
doing a quick job If possible, that
waved their last farewells as the bar
racks and crowds at Quantico gradu-
ally disappeared from sight.
Quantico Force Totals 500.
|. The total force mustered from the
Virginia base comprised 81 officers
and 500 men, not including 40 senior
officers under Maj. Edward Moses,
who reported last night to regimental
headquarters at Philadelphia. Maj.
e. 3. Long of brigade headquarters
was placed in command of the four
trains of artillery, aviation and troops
from Quantico.
The Artillery detachment which left
Yesterday was composed of s officers
and 1870 men, with / medical officer,
while the aviation unit carried Of
ficers and 1913 men with the observa-
ton planes.
The navy yard at Philadelphia was
quiet today except in the vicinity of
the Marine Barracks, where final ar
rangements for the 'get away" were
made. Four trains, carrying approx
mately 500 men and Col. Harold c..
Snyder, regimental commander, were
due TO leave shortly after / O'Clock
over the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore
& Ohio and Reading Railroads. going
through the heart of the Middle West
to San Diego. With the 40 officers
from Quantico, the last attachments
arrived late yesterday, consisting of
"a men from Newport, r. L.. and Ga
from Boston.