Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-27
PLATTSBURG CAMPERS
MADE ARMY REGULARS
FOR GREAT WAR GAME
Civilian Rockies End Three
Week instruction Period by
Starting on Eight
Day Hike
EACH BEARS so POUNDS
By a StaG Correspondent

PLATTSBURG. N. Y, Aug. 27.-Like a
great flock of BIRDS flying southwark
for the winter, swoops up in the early
dawn to resume its course, the 1900
rockies in the instruction camp here
swung out on the road to Beekman-
town today for the first days march
on their eight-day hike.
Reveile sounded at $50 a. m., and an
hour and half later the tent city, which
for nearly three weeks has housed moro
than thousand men, was as silent and
lonely as n deserted village, with not a
sign of life in evidence except an occa-
sional sentry pacing silently back and
forth on his beat.
The hike will last more than a week.
1t will embrace a distance of nearly
hundred miles and will be the climax of
the three weeks military training that
has been the sole interest of the scores
Of men from every walk of life who have
been here since the 10th of August.
Last night the recruits assembled here
lost their identity as students and be-
came a portion of the 1st brigade, 1st
division, of the regular army. Until a
week from Sunday, in connection with
5000 troops of various kinds whose life
work Is military service they will live
actual warfare as it is possible to pro-
duce in time of peace.
The single exception is that they are
| not to be required to cook their own food.
The recruits are not experienced enough
as yet to do that without a waste of
time that would be a considerable handi-
cap. But in every other respect the stu
dents on the march might just as well
be part of a warning army in Europe.
Even the orders for their movements
are not known until few moments be-
| fore they are to be executed. The entire
force has been divided into two sides, and
| from the moment the troops left camp
| this morning a state of war existed from
which there will be no let-up until they
| return.
There is scarcely form of military at
| tack which will not be conducted at some
time or another. In this way the men
will get an opportunity to apply practi-
| cally the theoretical instruction they have
been receiving during the past weeks.
The students are playing only a small
relative part ia the maneuvers which are
prescribed as an annual event for the
regulars. They are outnumbered three
to one. Those who have seen 1000 men on
parade can readily realize the magnitude
of a war game carried on by such a
number.
Each of the rockies carries an equip
ment totaling in weight 80 pounds. Each
man carries a half of a shelter tent, one
blanket, one entrenching tool, such as a
Spade or pick; one poncho, mess-kit
food can, a canteen, underclothing, toile
articles, a gun and a bayonet. They
have become more or less accustomed to
the weight however. as they have been
worked up to it by easy stages during the
drills of the past weeks.
Fifty pounds does not sound like great
deaf, but strapped to the back and car
ried for hours at a time. much of which
is spent in various tactical movements
executed on the run, 1t becomes a con-
siderable factor.
The recruits realized they had hard
week ahead of them. but were anxious
TO get the experience of real fighting,
insofar as II could be simulated.
The troops will return to Plattsburg
Sunday, September 5. The camp will be
broken the following day, to be immedi-
ately reorganized, for the next instruction
camp similar to the present one will open.