New-York tribune., 1910-08-21
NATIONAL GUARD NEWS.

Many of the enlisted men who performed
the ten davs duty at Pine Camp declare
that the rations while for the most part
of excellent quality. were lacking n guam
titv. and that there was great shortage
Some companies Jared much better than
others. and the fault for any shortage, Ii
is said. was due entirely 70 the incompe-
teucy of the company cooks and the COM
pany uuartermaSIer sergeants. All ra-
ti1ns are sold to organizations at the
post commissary, ana they get just wnat
they ask and pay for. and no more. say
those who are satisfied. and If men go
hungry il remains, it is said. wholly with
the company and is not the fault or the
army commiSsary. Some of the men ue-
clare the coffee was very bad- ana lhal
old potatoes were issued to them, large
portion of which were rotten, ana the
onions are also said to have been very
ancient Upon investigation II was 1ouhu
that some of the complaints were justlhed
and that officers admitted that they had
bought extra food for their companies OH
account of the shortage OF the ration di-
lowance, which they declared was lnsuHl-
Cient 10 feed the troops properly In some
connanies il was also found that the men
chinped in from 10 to 10 cents a day from
their pay for extra rations- The water
sunn1v was insufficient and on some days
shaver baths could not be taken because
there was no water. This was due. 1t is
said. to the pumping system not being
powerful enough.
When the 22d. 18th, seth and list regi-
rnents and other organizations arrived at
camp the post quartermaster could issue
Los- hoI ,aolrA
ard the men for three days had 10 sleep
on the ground. while all the enlisted men
of the army were sleeping on comfortable
camp cots 1t seems the War Department
supposed that the state would supply a
camp cot for each enlisted man on duty
and accordingly had made no provision
for supplying straw, and consequently
none was to be had Finally, owing to
the pronounced discomfort over the situa-
ton, permission was asked from General
Grant to have the bed sacks of the men
filed with hay. and this was done on the
fourth day The succeeding troops were
provided with straw.
The question of company cooks. II is
pointed out. is very serious one to the
national guard when il takes the field.
Each company is supposed to have an en-
listed man trained as a cook who does
duty in the ranks for regular term OF
enlistment. There are very few who carry
this regulation out. as it is said to be i'm
possible. Just before camp a company Sc
cures a man for cook. and he enlists for
the time being. and is dropped from the
rolls after camp. Men thus secured fire.
quently know very little about cooking the
army ration and avoiding wastage. and
the quartermasters of the company usual
" know little about what TO order and
the amount Between the two. under the
say those who are compe-
tent to Judge there is bound 10 be an un-
experience with the rations.
Major David Wilson. commanding the
lst Battalion of Field Artillery. has de-
cided that there will be no camp at Van
Cortlandt Park over Labor Day for the
lst, I'd and Sd batteries. as proposed The
major says that as the men gave up the
Fourth of July for duty. they are entitled
TO Labor Day TO themselves.
Very nearly all the organizations OF the
national guard in Manhattan and Brook
lyn will be represented In the matches at
Sea Girt, n j., which begin next week.
Squadron A will have a strong team. as
will also the list and the Tth regiments
The 18th will also be represented. as we'll
as the ssth, 2sd. sth. 9th and I'D regiments
and probably some OF the other organisa
tons.
The rife team to represent the New
York National Guard at Camp Perry.
Ohio, In the national match. started for
the shooting ground, under command OF