Gunnison news-champion., 1912-07-26
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Il CaasIemen bay. which had Gun
nisoa IN the threes os exeltement snd
pleasure fr two DAYS. came the
Khaki clad soldlers u the Foursh
Field Artillery. L ;. A. Tuesday Il
this wsek, remaining until Thursday
morning The visit rs part Of the
practice hike being engaged in by
Uncle Sans mountain scrappers.
and ct several points along the line
Of their itinerary tho batterymea
have engaged In practice shooting
with harterins scores.
The Fourth comes from Fort
Russell, Wyoming. aud has been
marching and camping for over .
month nov. Their journey has
taken them into all sorts Of country
the prairie. the city, the small
town, along moantsin trails and over
mountain passes. The resl test of
readiness for emergency call came
when the troopers left the San Lsis
valley. Previous 10 then they had
been going over good roads.
Arriving at Lake City from
Creede, after passing over the
mountains at en- altitude Of nearly
1900 feet, the officers were pleased
10 find the men and animals in good
condition, proving that 9 call 70
battle could be responded to in .
moment, ~ far ss condition Of mea
and animals and skill at arms we're
concerned
A severe test of Workmanship
was given the men who handle the
field pieces, over in the Lake Fork
country. The Wild and nosntaino~s
surroundings in that nsishborhood
afforded ideal conditions for shoot
ing practice with the mountain guns.
The officers say that the men proved
their skill in every requirement
The Fourth wss given camping
ground in Gunpison right in the
town. Two squares Of ground on
Boulevard near the old Ohio street
school were shown Lieut.. VIM. j.
McClesve, the qaartermsster, ard he
pronounced the location ideal In
five minutes after he had scanned
the field, he was giving orders TO the
engineers to lay out the camp.
At the north end was placed the
oticers quarters, and to the left was
located the hospital corps and
Surgeons hesdqsartsrs The four
batteries were stationed to the south
and here and there ives marked spot
for the camp kitchens
All around the camp are town
bitches in which water runs contin-
soasly. This proved invaluable TO
the camp. and was frequently COM
mented upon by both officers and
men. In fact, the officers, from the
colonel down, pronounced the camp
the best they had had since leaving
Fort Russell.
In order to be sure that the
visitors would lack nothing in
courtesy and material needed, Mayor
+. NJ Nourse conferred with Lieut..
McCleave during the stay Of the
troops, and arranged TO nave con-
venient TO the camp, wood and other
necessities. For this attention the
officers expressed deep appreciation.
During both days everybody in
town and many people from the
country visited the camp and we're
welcomed by officers and men with
fine courtesy The mounted field
pieces were explained to them and
they were permitted to wander over
the camp TO their hearts content.
Aside from the guns perhaps the
most interesting part Of the layout
was the pack outfits. Superintend-
ing this important part of the camp
work was Capt. DAILY, chief govern
ment packer, whose headquarters are
in Washington but who has been
assigned 20 duty on this hike because
OF its importance as part Of the
annual manouvers Of the army.