Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-29
IOWA SOLDIERS
READY To LEAVE
FOR THE BORDER
THOSE NOW IN CAMP ARE FULLY
EQUIPPED RUSHING THE
MEDICAL TESTS.

Des Moines, June 27. The first
contingent of Iowa troops is ready to
start for the border when called.
The Iowa battalion of artillery reach,
ed camp early this morning. Orders
were received at camp late last night
to muster in and examine the artillery
batteries ahead of all other forces. All
the doctors in the camp will BE put
on this job Immediately upon the ar
rival of the gunners.
The orders concerning mastering
the artillery were taken to mean that
the guns are needed Immediately on
the border by the military men at
Camp Dodge.
Late Yesterday Col. George H. Nor
gan, U. S. A., who is in charge of the
Iowa militia, reported to Washington
the First regiment had been mustered
in, half had been examined and the en-
tire regiment of 1900 would be ready
for movement anywhere the govern
ment wished by late afternoon today
Expects Orders Today.
The colonel expects marching or
ders for the batteries and the First
regiment today All that is necessary
to move the companies after the mus
tering and examination Is the approval
of the examination papers by Mai
Kent Nelson, U. S. A. medical corps.
Major Nelson Is expected early today.
For awhile yesterday 1t looked as
though the First regiment would be
held back to await the arrival or the
extra company at Grinnell to take the
place of Company L Of Keokuk.
During the mastering yesterday
morning the Keokuk boys, half or
whom have enlisted within the last
few months, refused to take the oath
for federal service. Their reason was
an order placing Capt. Frank LIE Bron
of New York City, formerly In COM
mand of the company, back in his pos
ition, vice Capt. Clarence E. Powell.
Captain Rescues Company.
LIE Bron resigned his commission
two wears ago when he left Keokuk
to enter business in New York City.
Powell was chosen to succeed him.
Most of the members of the company
enlisted under Powell and refused to
serve under anyone else. Powell was
agreeable to the change at all times.
Had it been made he would have been
reduced to the rank of first lieutenant.
Yesterday afternoon, however, Cap
tain Powell turned in his resignation
from the guard and then called MS 1or'
mer company together, -.s 80
He thanked them for their loyalty
to him. but urged them for the sake OF
the regiment to take the federal oath.
His appeal was successful. Late last
night the company was mustered ln
Powell will return to keokuK.
~. Few Men Rejected.
The First regiment reported with
1915 men and forty-two officers I'M,
mediately after muster yesterday ooo
of the men. were given a physical eX'
animation, and less than score were
rejected, Gen. H. A. Allen reported
During the afternoon the Second
regiment reported with the largest
roster of the brigade. The Second
regiment will report over 1900 men,
General Allen said last night.
The Third regiment, which in
cludes the two Des Moines companies,
was the smallest of the brigade, re-
porting only l,043 men and fifty-two
officers.
In Company Of the Third regi-
ment eighteen men refused to take
the second OATH After tattoo, how
ever. while, Colonel Morgan was
mastering Company B into federal
service twelve of the eighteen ap.
proa ched and notified him they had
changed their minds.
None Out of Machine Company.
None of the men in the machine
gun company from Des Moines
dropped out Of line when the muster
roll was called. In Company B, how
ever, there were five "slackers."'
The last companies to arrive yes
terday were the ambulance company
from Sioux City, which arrived at 8
O'Clock, and Company B from Ida
Grove.
There we're only about twenty
slackers in the entire two regiments
examined yesterday. Company X Of
Washington In the First regiment had
fifteen at first. Most of these, how.
ever, changed their minds and EN-
tered for full service. g..
Companies NJ and l. in the Third
numbered a few slackers apiece, and
Company G of Ottumwa had two.
The men Of the Third regiment
were put through the stiffest drilling
they have. yet had yesterday. For
seven hours in the early part of the
day they were put through al! sorts
Of maneuvers, and in the afternoon
did some marching before lining up
for muster.
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