The Republican journal., 1909-01-28

ings and grounds for the weekly inspec-
kept in 'apple pie order for that as
well as the numerous visits of Inspector
Generals who take it into their heads to
drop down onto camp at unexpected
times, these things occupy most of the
working hours, with an occasional 'hike"
OFT across country many miles in ''heavy
marching order" bridging rivers, climb
ing mountains, coming back dusty and
weary, but hard in muscle, and in condi-
ton at any time to take the field in active
service, should occasion arise. During
target season in the early spring is a
busy time with officers and men. 1t takes
three weeks or more for each man to
complete his practice with pistol, rifle.
and machine guns. Those of each COM
pany making the best score are sent to
the Department Competition, and the
three best shots from each department
go to the Division Competition at Manila
the best shots on the Division team are
sent to the United States to contest for
place on the Army team. This team
completes yearly at the great national
match at Creedmore, New Jersey.
In other months outside the target sea-
son the duty is not hard the men having
leisure hours each day to spend in the
amusement rooms; in reading, in stroll
ling about the country and adjoining
town, or in baseball and football, which
are favorite games in every post; and
each gets an occasional ''pass" for a
hunting and fishing trip, or visit among
friends in Manila or other camps.
Every company boasts a few musical
instruments as well as the ever popular
monograph, and some fairly good min
strel shows are furnished by soldier tai
ent. During the first months of our tour
at Camp Wilhelm, we had portion of
the 9th Infantry with us, which contain
ed many good MINISTRIES and musicians.
These We're relieved by battalion of the
26th coming from Fort Sam Houston,
Texas, commanded by Major Hatch, a
former Waldo county boy.
The major was greatly surprised, one
day soon after arrival, on examining his
mail to find Republican Journals other
than his own gathered up by mistake,
and investigated the address at once,
curious to learn of another Waldo county
subscriber in this far-away land. He
told US of his visit the previous summer
to his old home in Liberty, of his interest
in The Journal, and laughingly remarked
that he had never risen in rank with the
editor, his paper being forwarded to
Lieutenant Hatch, the same as when
first received after entering the army
many years before. When my husband
was down in Samar three years ago, he
was for some months with another
''Maineite," Allan S. Fletcher Of Bel
mont, Lieutenant of Scouts. They had
many talks of the old home towns, of old
time people familiar to both, and copies
of The Journal in my husbands possession
We're eagerly scanned by Lieut.. Fletcher.
The world is small after ALL
The 18th was at Camp Wilhelm but a
few months, then being sent to garrison
Camp Daraga, which is situated at the
base of the famous volcano Mayor. This
volcano is never quite lulled into quiet,
we are told, and rumbling and 'tremblers"
are of almost daily occurrence.
Speaking of earthquakes, we ex-
perienced something quite pronounced in
that respect last year at this place. 1t
was my first personal acquaintance with
"quakes, New England not being much
given over to that sort of thing.
About five in the morning was slowly
awakened by the gentle rocking Of the
bed. AS it increased in violence, the
sound of creaking, drawing timbers and
swapping of nails suddenly aroused me to
full realization of things and with a
cry of Earthquake" sprang to my feet
and made wild dash for the front porch,
my husband following more leisurely
and striving to calm my fears, he having
passed through many such, and even
more severe quakes during former tour
in the Islands.
AS staggered to the rail, clutching it,
and looked about us, the house settled
down into perfect calm, and in stupid
bewilderment noted the beauty of the
early morning, and the loud twitterine