Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-07-16
Camp Notes.

One of the most interesting things
about the camp are the machine
guns which Lieut.. Bagby and his de-
tachment brought along with the
battalion of the regular infantry.
These weapons are an object OF
much interest to every visitor to the
camp, and one or two of the soldiers
are always busy explaining the mech
anism to them. The guns are of
the Vickers-Maxim type, an English
gun which the government has
adopted. Each gun has only sim
gle barrel, through which the balls
are fired automatically at the rate
of six hundred minute. The shells
are inserted in long belt, which is
placed on the breach of the gun
above the barrel. A soldier sits
down on a little saddle on the rear
tripod-leg, with his fingers holding
! in a couples of handles at the rear.
He presses in spring with his
thumbs, and that is all. The gases
passing out through the muzzle
strike deflector in front which ut
lilies their velocity to work the
breech mechanism. There is a reg
ular device for sighting the gun, and
this part can be done with the accur-
acy of a rifle. Around the whole
barrel is water-jacket, which is fill
ed when the gun is in use to keep
the barrel from getting over-heated.
! Altogether the rapld-fire guns are
beautiful little machines, and fully
repay the attention that. is given
them. To cap the climax, it is not
iceable that each of the guns, with
it's full accountrement of ammuni-
ton and coverings goes on the back
of single mule. The whole detach-
ment which runs the guns consists
of Lieut.. Bagby, twenty-one enlisted
men, and ten mules.
Guard mount consists in relieving
one shift of guards and putting the
next on duty. A guard is on duty
two hours out of every six for
stretch of twenty-four hours and
labout once in five days. The gener-
|al orders given to guard are to
walk his post in military manner. OBJ
iserving what takes place in sight or
hearing. =:
Brig. Gen. M. A. Hildreth arrived
in camp yesterday from Fargo, to
|stay during the whole encampment.
Col. Truemann has gone to LIE
ISueur, Minnesota, on leave of alb
Esence for several days. At present
Lieut.. Col. J. H. Frame is in COM
Inland of the camp. Col. Frame 'is
a splendid disciplinarian and though
decidedly gruff and stern in his man
ner, holds the respect and admira-
|tion of the men under him. He has
known active service of the most
strenuous kind in the Philippines. h
| Many Of the boys are remarking
lon the difference in the drill require
ments of this year: from those of last
year at American lake. Here they
are on the field at nine in the
morning and the total number of
hours spent in drill per day is four.
lat American lake they we're on the
field at seven with total of six
hours per day. 'f<.E
| Every day following will see all
1.-The regular life of the camp in full
order. Yesterday, 50 far as posi-
lble, each detail of the military re-
lgime was carried out. Guard
mount in the morning, battalion
ldrilI and a band concert in the af-
ternoon were some Of the details
which viii be rigid1y observed from
nov on. 5s=s
/ Battery Ais in camp with some
forty men and twenty horses. Cap
ltain Wells IS IN command Of the
iguns, and is very proud OF his turn