Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-07
mo KICK ON FOOD
HEARD AT GRETNA
Quartermaster's Department
Sees to 1t That Men Get
Plenty
[From a Stan Correspondent ]

Camp Brumbaugh, Mt. Gretna, Pa,
July Z. = OF all the things to kick
about the question of food has been
the least in this camp. To be sure the
fare has not been what men were ac-
customed to at home, but it is what
the chemists have worked out as best
for men who are going to the Mexican
border and they have gotten what was
coming to them and with one excep-
ton, which was trif1ing, everything
was trifiing. everything was good.
Quantity and quality never lacked.
The quartermaster's end was one
place which was prepared, although
the motor trucks were slow in get
ting here and men had to haul wagons
by hand on some occasions But this,
1t is claimed. was the fault of the gov
ernment which did not authorize mo-
tor truck companies for the Guard.
But, next time, the men at the head of
the Guard will have their hands on
trucks and will commander them If it
becomes necessary. Strange it is that
the State which makes so many motor
trucks should have so few when its
soldiers take the field. But it had not
1AlS elSl OpldhGS anu guns,
which our State manufactures, either.
They were not authorized. The result
of this mobilization will be to take
what is needed even if authority is tied
up with red tape. With all the les
sons from Europe it does seem strange
that there is not authority to act in
time of emergency The next Legisla-
ture can remedy it and undoubtedly
will.
Returning to the food, there have
been provided here tons of provisions
and they have been weighed out with
the utmost care and just what the gov
ernment ordered was given Col. H.
fC. Trexler, the chief quartersmaster,
one of the industrial geniuses of the
state, evolved a system over night and
gathered around him the best qualified
men in the service. He lacked some
facilities SO he brought UP his own
motor cars, his clerks and other things
and it is lntimated that he cut through
some red tape. But he fed the troops
and seems to have at the last analysis
made what was the fall down" of the
last war a success here. If the men
ran short on the trains it was because
the War department only ordered so
much and the regimental officers did
not know how to regulate the issue.
The War department tried to cover
up on the seeming shortage on five
days rations by ordering ten days ra-
tions for trains for the border and
after half the troops had gone sent
an army officer to give instructions
how to issue them. If this instruction,
and some instruction on how to make
up muster rolls and other forms on
which the War department dotes, had
been given right at the start there
would have been less trouble for the
sorely tried mastering officers and the
much worried commanders. But these
things, like the order for tourist cars
after men had gone out in old day
coaches, three to two seats, are part
of the Washington policy of watchful
locking of the door after silver has
been taken away.
Col. Trexler had the help of Col H.
L. Haldeman, Col. H. S. Williams,
Lieutenant Colonels F. M. Vandling
and L. A. Anschutz all experienced
officers; the volunteer services of Lieu
tenant Colonel Benton Long, of the
governors staff and q host of others,
all good men in business affairs with
brains that did not become wound with
red tape, while Major j. NJ. McCourt,
assistant United States district attor-
ney, looked after the legal end of con-
tracts and such, with Captain ]. Rod
erick Taylor, who owns q big depart
ment store in civil life, handling trans
portation. There were others includ-
ing Captain ]. c. Shumberger, of Har-
risburg, who knows accounting from
beginning to end, all working from
dawn until late at night
If there are any bouquets coming
they are due to the colonel's organiza-
ton. 1t does not deserve brickbats,
that's sure.
In regard to the car service the rail-
roads handled that The government
does not expect men to go to war in
compartment cars. Neither should
any State allow its men to travel like
sardines or immigrants. This is one
branch in which there was much fault
to be found and is where there will be
an improvement before the Novem Der
election. That is also sure. A. B. Fl.