The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-24

E
lazy
Chigger hill is one of the locations
at the reservations worthy of special
mention. Chigger hill is located about
the center Of the reservation. II was
on the crest of this knob that the
battery commanders station was
placed one day during the week
The war correspondent was the 6rst
TO make the acquaintance of a Fort
Riley chigger- One began operations
lust above the top of his boot and was
given a hearty reception One CHG
thing TO be cherished-no outing IL
complete without him So the cor
respondent treated him kindly and did
not dispute his right to bunk under
the top of the boot The grass was
wet and cold and maybe the chiggSr
got chilly. But back at camp the
war correspondent was peeved when
he found that the chigger had SNUG
gled his wife and family of active
youngsters onto mis- person
Doc Hammel was the next to start
an entertainment Doc was discovered
on his bunk painting his shins with
iodine and as busy as a one-arUed
pa perhanger with the seven year itch
all diplomatic relations between men
and chiggers and was about as So
ciable as a Hindu funeral
As a police court is 10 a city so Is
kanSarOO a
campment. Here minor violations of
camp rules are taken to the bar of
judgment via two lines of Inen armed
with army belts The punishment IS
effective despite the fact that it is
unofficial and has police court or the
tabled Indian gauntlet skinned forty
ways from glory
The Kangarooers face each other
and form a narrow lane down tie
company street The kangarooees run
are hit-by crickety-where the cloth
is worn thin by the saddle. First
year men are compelled to be Kan
garooed on general principles and are
thus initiated into the shrine of the
company. Only one man refused to
run the gauntlet during the encamp-
ment- He showed signs Of fight 70
back up his declaration Doc HamTnel
had a patient
All work and no play makes Jack
a dull boy. is Uncle Sans motto in
training his soldiers Members of the
battery in the field were given from
noon until three o'clock and from six
o'clock until nine for recreation Bell
games. boxing matches and other
amusements fill up this time.
Between the National Guard and the
regular troops there is q constant riv-
airy while in the field. Last Sunday
a number of Battery D tents were
blown down while the Topekans' tents
were not damaged save one mess tent
Members of the Topeka organization
were free in criticism OF the regulars
while semi-gloOm prevailed in the lat
ter camp. However, two nights later
a regular artillery man fought a mill
itiaman to a standstiu in four-round
mill and the stain was wiped out.
No camp is complete without a mas
cot Doc" a white and tan rat ter
rier was the idol of the officers and
men during the Fort Riley encamp-
ment this year He is owned by DR..
Hammel
In the mimic war at the reservation
the Topeka organization was schooled
by Battery D. which returned from
the Mexican border about two months
ago Battery D is in command of
Captain Butner, a veteran in the artil-
lery branch of the service.
Shakespeare Wflson-so called
owing to his weakness for the COM
position of poetry-is first sergeant of
Battery A 1t is known that Wilson at
0ne time for reasons best known to
himself. turned down a lieutenant's !
His control of the men
S nearly perfect
Strung out on the march the battery
IS an imposing sight with horses, guns, (
i'm bers and other equipment forming
line more than a half mile in length. 4
The signal gang is the hardest riding !
arm of the organization. In times of
var its work is ticklish. The duty of /
his detachment is to do scout duty. /
pick out the road for the battery and I
string field telephone lines. Telephone f
inc apparatus carried by the battery I
nay be connected onto barb wire /
ence, the small high powered tatteries
making long distance communication f.
perfect in this manner.
Next years encampment will prob +
ably be held either at Fort Riley or /
Fort Sill Then the problems of this /
ear will be disregarded and new ones I
more advanced will be worked out.
Meanwhile officers and men will be
Housed in the armory on Quincy street
md continue the practically thank
ess-but necessary-work of building
Battery A of Uncle Sans second line
roops to a higher efficiency
elIRE lii WAS @ FEET +