The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-06-30
LETTERS FROM CAMP
History Of First Week at Camp Ferris
by Major M. j. Phillips.


Camp Ferris, June 2S.-Governor
Ferris was deeply touched by the
signt of so many men in uniform,
and by the reception which they
gave him. He referred repeatedly
during Tuesday evening to the fine
physical condition OF the men and
their evident courage and good
spirits.
Handling the rifle in offense con-
sumed the Wednesday morning drill
hour. The companies, as skirmish-
ers, threw themselves prone on the
turf and at the command of their
officers fixed their sights, aimed at
an object somewhere in the front
and snapped them at command.
For the reason that there is simply
no time for it, there has been no
practice with ball ammunition. The
company commanders are so over
crowded with work in teaching their
recruits the mere rudiments of SOL
diering that rifle practice cannot be
attempted.
The probable disposition of the
Michigan troops and their duties af-
ter leaving here are problematical.
1t is assumed that they will not be
sent to the firing line for at least two
months and perhaps three, after go
ing ito the border or the vicinity of
the border, as 1t is absurd to think
that companies containing so per
cent of new men, many without uni
forms or rifles, will be employed in
fighting. Until these new men are
drilled and disciplined and assimilat-
ed into the units to which they be-
long, they would be worse than USE
less as soldiers. Undoubtedly there
will be opportunity for target prac-
tice on the Texas prairies.
The Michigan Central has furnish
ed all the necessary cards to move
the 31st Intirmary south-if the
31st is first to be sent-and they
clutter the sidings at Grayling and at
camp. Alternative routings have
been furnished the camp quarter
master by the central division. The
troops will go from Grayling to Chi
cagol via M. c., and then, If they are
to make Nogales, Ariz. their head
quarters, the Santa Fe will be taken.
The Rock Island If San Antonio Is
the objective will be the route.
The officers and men who submit
to physical examination are kept in
a state of suspense which in some in
stances has lasted for three days.
The Medical Reserve Corps surgeons
who were detailed here to make the
examinations have no authority to
announce their decisions until the
papers are submitted to the regular
camp until Wednesday. He has, al
ready, several hundred sets of rec
ords to review, and 1t may be twenty
four hours more before his decisions
are known. OF course some of the
officers receive intimations that they
are not physical wrecks, but the in
formation volunteered really
amounts to little more than they
know themselves.
This is the descriptive blank which
is filled out for each soldier and Off
Ger. who takes on" with Uncle Sam:
Name; rank; age (years and months)
height, (feet and inches); complex
ion, hair and eyes; where born
town, county, state or kingdom; oc-
cupation; married or single; resi-
dence; name and address of person
to be notified in case Of emergency,
giving degree of relationship: if
friend, so state; date OF expiration Of
present commission or enlistment in
state service; home station or COM
pany rendezvous; date Of appearance
there at.
Captain Colladay Of A company,
Flint, sent a similar message and ex-
planned that pursuant to a rigidly
enforced order of cleanliness it is
necessary for each man to have at
least two suits Of underwear and
sufficient supply of socks.
Several recruits of each company
were taken away so suddenly that
they were unable to obtain the neces-
sary clothing.
George Osborne and Alfred Kill
lian, privates, were detailed to
guard duty Wednesday in II COM
pany.
Two brothers, Frank and John
Hursh, were detailed to stand guard
in A company, Flint.
Private Anderson of Coldwater,
of A company, 32nd infan-
try, was severely injured while play
ing baseball late Tuesday afternoon.
First aid measures were administer
ed at the regimental infantry.
Captain Wright. Lieuts. Snow and
and Sergts. Long and
Meyers of ID company, 32nd infan-
try, Kalamazoo, worked all night
long preparing the muster rolls and
at reveille the books were in such
shape that every member of the COM
pany had signed his name before
mess, or breakfast.
Privates Dean and Dunham were
assigned to stand guard for ID COM
pany. The entire company spend six
hours practicing close and extended
,rder drilling on the parade grounds.
(Contnued on page seven.)