The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-08-11
TROOP ) IS BACK
 FROM ITS HARD WORK
Encampment Is Successful in
 Spite of Heavy Rains
TRAINING EXCELLENT
Army Omcers Present Said Squadron Conducted Itself More Like the Regulars Than Any State
 Militia They Had Seen
BY JACK BETHEA


 1 The First cavalry squadron. which has | been encamped for the past week at Ox- l ford lake, near Anniston. broke camp | yesterday morning at o'clock and the | troops returned to their respective homes. | Troop D arrived in Birmingham yester- | day afternoon on a special train. The | troop left Anniston at 10 o'clock and should have arrived here at 12. but for an accident to the special engine. Between
 Pell City and Weems the bolt on one of the driving rods was lost and the train | imped into town with only one cylinder | working. An attempt was made to repair | the mshap, but 1t was impossible to do so, and as result the train was consid erably delayed.
 The boys of the troop were tired but jolly. The past two days have been strenuous ones for the troop. Tuesday
 morning there was battle which occu-
 pied the entire morning. Troops A, B, and,
 D were pitted against Troop and the Anniston company of infantry. After
 much skirmishng the Red army was or
 dered to storm Rand's hill. From three
 sides the troopers rushed up, and after
 severe firing succeeded in overpowering
 the defenders. The last drill of the camp
 was held Tuesday afternoon after dress
 parade and was a stiff one. Another bat tie was fought Tuesday night, an attack on the camp being made. The fight was
 cut short by tremendous rain and wind storm that came up. The soldiers were | ordered to break camp and did so at 4 do,rc of l, ,-I 1 At dress parade Tuesday afternoon
 Major Noble complimented the squadron
 on the camp and spoke highly of the | drilling and ability of the men. thor I ough inspection was held Tuesday after noon of the equipment of the men and all | troops were complimented on the neatness of their quarters.
 The corrals were especially well kept. Troop D's corral was in charge of Ser geant J. Adam Phillips of Birmingham. The Birmingham troop was the only one to have veterinary surgeon in charge of the stables. The troop had occasion to congratulate themselves on their fore sight marry times as the horses were sad
 dled and unsadded at each drill. The troops horses were in better shape at
 the end of the camp than they were when
 brought to the quarters, and in addition
 to this pr. Phillips attended to the sick
 horses of the other troops.
 Major Noble and the other officers spoke very highly of the gentlemanly qualities displayed by the soldiers and the citizens also commented freely upon the difference of the conduct at this from former encampments. Although there were a number of visitors daily to the camp, there was not a single difficulty reported between q soldier and a civilian. In return for the courtesy of the troops
 the townspeople did everything in their
 power to make the stay of the men pleas ant, and many expressions of regret at the
 early departure were heard.
 In the opinion of the officers, Camp
 William H. McKleroy has been decided success. The squadron has clearly demon
 strated its efficiency and usefulness.
 Army officers present expressed the opin-
 ion that the squad, on came nearer dril- ing and conducting itself as regulars than
 any state militia they had come In con-
 tact with.
 Naturally, there was a great deal of
 comparison of Camp McKleroy and the
 recent camp at Chickamauga, and the men were unanimous in their opinion that
 Camp McKleroy was fully as instructive as that at Chattanooga. The men say
 they were fed better at Oxford lake. and while a great deal of work was done 1t was distributed more judciously. That the camp was a success in spite of the bad weather was shown by the cheering
 troops as they fell into line and went swinging to their trains.