Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-08-23
BOYS IN FINE
SHAPE, FRAME
WRITES Hanna
Governor Will Try to Get Gov
ernment to Pay Railroad
Fare. .-
MEN DISCHARGED MUST
MEET EXPENSE NOW
Likely That Students in Ranks
Will Be Released About
Sept. /.

steps to see II 1t is possible for the
boys who will be relieved of duty to
attend the University to he furnished
with transportation from the border
to their homes. He has taken the
matter up with the war department.
When men have been relieved upon
application they have been forced to
pay their fare, home President Nc
,Vey of the university took the matter
up with Governor Hanna, who laid
the situation of the students release
before Col. J. H. Frame of the First
North Dakota regiment.
The guardsmen who desire to re-
turn to school probably will be re-
lieved of duty September 1, 1916, un-
less the military situation becomes
more acute than it is now. In an in
teresting letter to Governor Hanna,
Col, Frame gives an account Of con-
ditions at the front. The letter fol-
lows:
Government Policy.
"Yours Of the 7th inst, enclosing
letter Of President McVey relative to
student members of this regiment Is
received. Of course, this is some
thing can do nothing about TIE
government adopts its own policy, but
it strikes me that policy is in ac-
cord with the desire of President Nc
Vey, as: a reading Of a letter from the
adjutant general of the army to the
commanding general of the southern
department, subject: Students in the
National Guard dated July 29, 1916,
would indicate that bona fide students
who can show bona fide intention Of
entering, or returning to schools in
the fallsof 1916 will be discharged as
soon as practicable after September
/, 1916, unless the military situation
at that time is such as to render their
retention in the service necessary.
81 know you will lbe interested in
hearing of the conditions surrounding
US and the situation here as l see it.
We are located one-half mile from
the depot at Mercedes, Texas, town
of six or eight hundred people, plat
ted and run originally by the Ameri-
can-Rio Grande Irrigation and Land
company, five miles north of Rio
Grande, and are in camp alone, being
about three and one-half miles east
of the balance of the division at Llano
Grande. The soil here is a silty de-
posit with 'dobe characteristics, the
ground very fiat and when it rains,
which, so far, has been practically
every day, makes it unpleasant to get
around in, and we are having some
trouble in getting any kind of drain
age. Such of our officers as are en-
gineers have borrowed transit and
have run lines, and about every wax,
ing moment, outside of drills and
other military work, the men are
ditching, SO that l. expect within day
or two we will have all this storm
water taken away by means of these
bitches, when it will be much more
comfortable.
.. In Good Health.
"The men are in good health and
spirits with the exception of a few
who have had diarrhoea. incident to
the change of water, food and eli.
maate, but this is being eliminated
We have none dangerously ill. The
men are making fine reputation for
themselves and from what have seen
of other troops and heard from regu'
lar officers, the universal opinion
down here is that this is the best reg
iment on the border. know it sounds
bombastic and iboastful to send this
word home and, realizing that other
regiments are sending similar reports
to their own homes, but can assure
you that this statement is not based
entirely upon my, own opinion.
I'VE are still short some clothing
but received some yesterday and in
few days will be much more com
fortably situated. We also will re-
ceive some tentage and in due course
of time will receive such tentage, Sc
that not more than eight men will oc
cupy each pyramidal tent. It would
be delightful if you could find time
to come down here. l know every
body would be pleased to see yau and
know that in your own inimitable
way, upon your return to the state
you can tell the parents how comfort
ably their boys are getting on and
what a world Of good this will do fol
them.
Eating Sheds.
I'VE have lumber now on the ground
to make enclosed kitchens and eat
ing sheds for the men. AS soon as We
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