The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-20

SAAO 4
Riley. Built Tor and occupied many
years by a regiment OF artillery anu
one OF cavalry, 1t is now popuia1eo Dy
q few officers. Only one troop OF the
when the main body left for Mexican
border duty, and even this troop IS
encamped alongside the guardsmen on
Pawnee Flats. They will take the reg
ular course OF training along with the
citizen soldiers Of Kansas.
General Martin was highly compu-
mented by regular officers upon the
skill with which the state troops ralseo
their camp. Tents were put up WINE
gale was blowing, and the regulars
had nothing on the home boys Tor speed
or accuracy. The Kansas troops are rec
ognized as being closest to regular
army perfection of any central-West- /
ern state. The ranks OF the on1cers
are not padded and they hold the rank
they would hold in case or war. FOR
instance. Missouris militia has over
20 assorted brigadier generals, ana |
Kansas has the necessary one. Other
militia organizations are overloaded
with gold braid in the same way.
Rivalry Between Towns.
The Kansas camp is about half way |
between Manhattan and Junction CITY,
and these rival burgs are bus1ly en-
gagged in extending the glad hand to
the warriors An interurban line, built
from each way, is almost competed
and cars are run from each town TO
within half a mile of camp Every
night the representatives of the two
towns drop in with cordial invitations
to come over and see some free picture
shows and other entertainment. MAN.
haitian dated them up for one party,
and then a delegation of Commercial
club boosters. headed by Mr.. B. Rock
well, an influential miller and merchant
of Junction City, came around with
few remarks to the effect that Junction
could beat Manhattan as an enter
tainer with one hand tied. They have
a date for tomorrow night.
It was by courtesy of this same Mr..
Rockwell that the war correspondent
got an enjoyable night ride away
from the battlefield and into town. II
Mr.. Rockwelrs effort was sample OF
Junction City hospitality. the Kansas
soldiers will be satisfied with their
treatment there.
That Rcximental Chaplain.
One Of the busiest officers on the job
is the regimental chaplain, Captain Alex
McKeever, of Garden City. He keeps
some entertainment en- for every night.
Boxing and wrestling matches were
staged last night, and lectures and
speeches will be intermixed with the
bouts for other nights. Chaplain Nc
Keever does not pull of swatting-fests
to the exclusion Of religious services.
but as a side line thereto.
Inc pOS1llOu Oh the camp Ol 1dWACo
Flats gives a view Of the surrounding
country for miles to the south and
east. The original Kansas state house
| is near one corner Of the camp on the
river bank, and the west and north
!; views include the hog back ridge of
green hills. Directly back Of General
| Martins headquarters is round hill
So symmetrical in shape that it might
have been built under the supervision
of a civil engineer.
| The township Of land comprising the
Fort Riley military reservation is one
of the finest COW pastures in the coun-
try. Some day Friend Government may
| solve a small portion Of the high-cost-
of-eating problem by filling that string
of hills and valleys full of bossy-cows
and their big brothers. With a little
training, the cavalrymen could become
expert cowpunchers. and chase the fes-
tive T-bone steaks, hither and yon.
Then, on other vast reservations in the
west, other Herds could be browsing and
producing beef. In time of war ma
neuvers the lowing kline might be
moved t. remote point on the reserva-
ton. away from the smell of burnt pow
der. OF course the artillery practice
might sour some of the milk, but it
wouldn't sour the steak.
There is plenty of music in Camp
Martin. The First and Second regi-
mental bands are on the job each even
ing, taking turns at spreading every
thing from rag to grand opera. The
soldiers have a pet theory that the
bands hate each other like poison. and
were their heavy horns loaded with
buckshot instead of melody, the
slaughter would be terrific.