The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-08
FINE SHOWING IS
MADE BY TROOP D
Men Standing Rainy Weather
in Good Shape
GOOD SPIRIT IN CAMP
Visitors Are Very Numerous to Oxford
Lake Near Which Camp McKIeroy
Has Been Established-WiH
Return Wednesday
BY JACK BETHEA

BY JACK BETHEA
Camp McKleroy, August 7.-(special)-
The First cavalry squadron. Alabama
| lake, near Admission.
Troop D, Capt. C. H. Mandy, arrived
| first on the grounds at Camp McKleroy,
and had their tents up before the Selma
and Montgomery troops arrived. Camp
McKleroy is one of the quickest camps
in the history of the Alabama National
Guard. Although the Selma troops did
not arrive until after o'clock, by morn
| ing every tent was stretched and the men
peacefully sleeping. Practically every
man in the four troops turned out for the
first mounted drill Thursday morning.
Camp Site Ideal
The site of Camp McKleroy is pro-
nounced ideal by officers In camp. The
camp is on a gentle slope toward the
east. Headquarters, the commissary de-
partment and the hospital tent are pitched
on the elevation with the troop tents on
the slope. The tents are easily kept dry
as with the smallest amount of ditching
the water runs off and the men are
kept dry. Every tent has been thor
oughly ditched.
| The sanitary conditions are excellent
| and there have been but few men In the
hospital Every precaution has been taken
| to safeguard the health of the troops
| In order to run no risks the water for
drinking purposes, which comes to the
camp in pipes, is boiled before being
| issued. The kitchen is inspected daily
and kept in the very neatest order. The
quarters are also policed daily and no
paper or rubbish is allowed around the
tents. With $50 men in camp here there
| Is not scrap of waste in the entire camp.
Heavy Rains Troublesome
Considerable trouble has been caused
by the continuous heavy rains that have
fallen since the camp was formed. When
Troop D "hiked'' out to the camp on
Wednesday morning the dust was shoe
top deep. That afternoon it rained for
two hours and has rained every day since.
This has caused the men much discom-
fort, as they are forced to work in the
water only partially covered by their
ponchos AT dress parade Thursday aft
ernoon heavy shower came up and
practically every man in the four troops
was drenched. The rain has also been
very hard on the men doing guard duty.
A very enjoyable feature of the en-
campment Is the hand. There are 81
pieces in charge of Sergeant Ed Ma
honey. They arrived in camp Wednes-
day afternoon and at once prepared
quarters. Every afternoon the band
plays at dEess parade and at night
l<~txr
have been highly complimented on their
work and the band of the First squad
ron Is conceded to be one of the best
| military bands in the south.
The men have been well fed while
in camp and there has been but little
grumbling. The commissary Is in
charge of Lieut. Temple Boiling, who
has been very liberal with the men.
The menus consist of ham and eggs
for breakfast, bacon and vegetables for
dinner and ham and beans for. supper.
Troop d has Jared well, having an
efficient mess sergeant.
The rain has kept many of the vis-
itors away from the camp but num-
Der OF ladies came out yesterday and
this afternoon for dress parade, which
takes place at o'clock. Preparations
were made for the large party Of Wis
itors this afternoon. Accommoda tions
for visitors are excellent, there being
grandstand at the north of the
grounds and hill at the right where
visitors may see all that is to be seem
Tie pavilion in the park Is also in
plain view of the drill grounds. VS.
itors to the camp yesterday afternoon
were delighted with some fancy riding
by the troopers. The occasion was en-
tirely unlocked for but greatly enjoyed
nevertheless. The lot of horses Sc
cured for the use of the troopers are
Nod
ers In the lot and some of the men were
unable to stick. Fortunately the ground
Is soft and no one has been injured
Yesterday afternoon at dress parade
Troop d man drew one OF the ngly
horses The horse bucked and kicked
but the trooper stuck. AS a last re-
sort the horse rolled over but the
trooper stepped off in approved cowboy
fashion. The horse was at least mas
tered and the trooper drew a round OF
applause from the grandstand. Yester-
day morning Troop A man had tho
same experience with bucker.
There have been no entertainments
for the soldiers as yet, but 1t is TN
derstood that there will be severai
have been very nice to the soldiers
and their treatment Is greatly appre-
ciated by the troopers.
The troops are being drilled In oil
manoeuvers both on horses and on
foot. Friday was slrirmish work Sat
urday extended order, and today the
troops were instructed in scout work.
The troops break camp Wednesday, aft
ernoon and will probably leave for
home Wednesday night. Tuesday there
will be instruction in rear guard work
and Wednesday morning at dawn Will
come one OF the featares Of the camp.
an attack on the Damp. Two troops
will probably be selected to make the
attack and two to defend 1t. The at
tack will come at down.
Trosp DIS Fine Showing
Troop D, from Birmingham, has made
Captain Mandy and Lieutenant Hamilton
feel good over the work done. OFFICERS
present have spoken very highly of tho
drill work Of Troop d. oonceding that
they were fully up to the standard set
by the other troops One regular Off
GER present even went far as to say
that In two weeks time he would have
d drilling like regulars. When 1t is con-
sidered that Troop d has q number of
men with the troop that are infantry
men, their work has been great.
All the boys are jolly and there is no
grunnhling In the tents. With good food,
good quarters and good beds the men
stand the wet weather fine. They take
water philosophically and do the best
they can. One thing in Troop ID that has
been commented on is the spirit of the
troop. They are all together and work
ing with one another for the best In
terest Of the troop. There is no surer
than to do something that will call down
t1,o h Of oA<st,o - ,t,,s<