New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-18
CADETS DISARM
FOR SHAVE DRILL
Hundreds of Tents at Lake
Mohansic Camp Amaze
Farmers.
From . s,ae Correspondent Of n. Tribune

lPeekskill, n. Y, Aug. Ion the
shore of Lake Mohansic, where hun
d,eds Of little, squatty brown tents
had sprung up, to the Amusement OF
native farmers, Colonel Morton r.
Smith, commandant of cadets at West
Point, was shaving. Most Of the 900
student soldiers, cavalrymen. artillery
men and engineers were following the
colonel's example. At 3 p. m. the camp
resembled an outdoor barber shop.
Between dabs of the brush and
scrapes of the razor, Colonel Smith
talked about the annual hike. He
has $50 cadets, the entire West Point
battalion, with the exception of the
second class, which is on Through. A
detachment of field artillery, detach-
ment of cavalry, an engineering squad
and a hospital corrs complete the oUO.
Nineteen United States army officers,
under Colonel Smith, are in charge Of
the hike.
In place Of John Purroy Mitchell,
Dudley Field Malone and other clti-
zen rockies who add glory TO the
Flattsburg camp, he West Pointers
have one notable IT. Lieutenant Col
cnel A. W. Brewster. of. the inspector
generals Office in the War Depart
ment. As long as he hikes and in
srects, everything pertaining to camp
from husking Westchester green corn
to polishing belt buckles must be done
according TO the regular United States
army standards.
They filed down the hill from the
Military Academy yesterday morning, a
long procession, with two mountain
guns, 1870 horses and many wagons.
Tents were pitched last night at the
Peekskill state camp, just across the
Hudson from this town. To-day'E
march took Colonel Smiths men over
Cannon Hill, six miles toward York
town, and they found a camping site
on property controlled by the State
Hospital for the Insane.
Muscoot reservoir is next in order
on the schedule; Lake Mahopac for
Thursday, Lake Oscawana on Friday
and back to West Point Saturday.
with our field problems every day
we will cover seventy miles" added the
commandant as he dipped his clearly
shaven chin in a leather bucket Of
water we separate into two forces at
7 a. m. and run through actual ma
nnuvres involving infantry, cavalry
and artillery. Our aim is TO give the
cadets a taste of practical war prob
lens. Twenty engineers in the recon-
noissance detail go ahead of the COM
mand, making a survey OF the country.
In the afternoon they assemble their
data on & complete map of the territory
covered in the days march"
Physicians in the medical corps had
installed filters for stelilizing the lake
water within a few hours after the
men arrived at Mohansic.
Captain ]. r. Lindsey is in com
mand Of the cavalry. Captain W. =.
Ennis of the artillery and Colonel NJ.
L. Walker has charge of the practical
engineering work.
For the cadets this hike is an enjoy
able combination OF duty and pleasure:
"We sometimes get little weary of
routine over in the gray buildings"
one of them said, as he unfolded his
tent. This is a real change, this
open air stuff, and. believe me, 1t
seems good! OF course, they work us
pretty hard. but it's a vacation Just
the same. and
you've got so cents worth of eats
in you-that's why you're talking so
much" interrupted his next door
neighbor.
Eyes. and | could stand so cents
worth more" replied the cadet, cycling
a large pile of ears of corn IN the
kitchen tent.
The mixers will return 10 West Point
on Saturday. the furlough class comes
back Monday and Wednesday recita-
tons start again.