The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-07
1900 FEET ACHE IN
P"LATTSBURG CAMP
Rockies DO Two Days Work
in One to Make Up for
Rainy SPELL.
PRAISE FROM OFFICERS

~PLArrsBuRo. N. Y, June s.-The
weather man took on a %pleasanter mood
to-day. for the heavy rain stopped at
dawn and let the sun struggle through.
AS a result the military training camp.
which threatened for a while to develop
into a ava cruise, got under way with
a rush that made up for lost time.
There are 1900 pairs OF aching feet
under canvas tonight. but their posses.
sors are proud as peacocks. They have
done W days work In one. caught up
with the Incorporating schedule set
for the months training. mt they have
the word Of their officers for It. Few
companies there were that on the re-
turn from the long, gruelling hours OF
drill, did not get "A word Of commenda-
ton as pleasing as being mentioned In
dispatches"
They started out at 7 A. NJ. as soon
as breakfast had been tucked away.
The company and battalion streets were
stu ankle deep In mud. and the drill
fields were little better. so the company
commanders spread their men along
United States avenue. a State road, as
the only acceptable footing. Until an
hour before lunch they were instructed
in the elements OF close order drill. the
school OF the soldier and the school OF
they squatted Oh the asphalt and
smoked pipes and cigarettes.
Lost Their SLOUGH.
But they came back a different lot Of
t,Nap uhnV m 1anoar alntshad dt6i.
IDENTIFY. but strobe ahead confidently or
m~anpuvred In snappy fashion when
their officers barked orders.
The came thing went or after lunch.
and a short rest. Many of the men
spent their period for relaxation In the
short swim in Lake Champlain. and those
who did. earned MEMBERSHIP I'm the snow
Birds, the Polar Bears. or any of the
ether winter swimming schools for their
hardihood. Champlain Ia one degree
colder than the Arctic Sea at this time
Of year.
This time the Rockies started away with
their Springfeds. ~bayonets and empty
ammunition belts. They were initiated
into the intricaciee OF the United States
service piece and developed an Increasing
respect for the potential possibilities n
tie instrument OF steel and wood that
they had such a hard time cleaning OF
grease yesterday.
They shouldered. ordered. ported, pre-
scented and otherwise manipulated K
standing. marching and at double time,
until several companies had to fairly
run into camp in order TO he IN line In
their company street for retreat cere-
mony at 10 +. NJ Then mess again
and p lecture on sanitation by Major
Herbert Shaw. chief of camp surgeons.
Capt. Jones and Capt. Smith and they
were dismissed until taps.
According to Capt. Porey. personal
aid 10 MaJor-Gen. Leonard Wood and
commandment u last years camp. the
General Is due In Plat,sburg Thursday
and the men are making a strenuous ef-
fort to astonish him with their progress
when he frst reviews them.
II Is believed that rain has passed
over camp for the rest OF the month.
but It fired a last shot IN leaving that
caused discomfort in Company X. About
. O'Clock this morning something broke
in the draining system about the ON
pany street and the water poured into
the tents, swamping baggage and
threatening TO undermine the centre
poles. Lieut.. Gunner. in command, as
semblcd his squads in bare feet and
pajamae. and they beat the food back
to the trenches by the light OF lanterns
The examinations for physical fitness
we're completed to-day. OF the 1900
citizen soldiers only three were rejected
as UNIT 10 stand the grill OF four
weeks under arms. Several more were
Put on probation men who work In
doors are 70 get a chance 10 harden up
and stay NJ camp.
An interesting point about the rockies