The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-25
SECOND REGIMENT
SEASONED BY SERVICE


the state encampment grounds Sun
day, saw the soldiers and witnessed
the guard mount and evening parade,
two events that are worth going far
to see.
The guard mount took place short
ly after p. m. The Tampa company
went on duty, and it was pleasure
to see how profciently and efficiently
the men went thru their duties. 1t IS
one of the biggest companies in the
regiment, and as 1t came up to head
quarters one could not but admire the
free, swinging step of the men and
the precision with which the company
moved. 1t was noticeable that it took
but a few minutes to inspect arms,
and each mans rifle was handed back
to him and the next taken with
celebrity that showed the weapons
were in excellent order.
The parade followed guard mount,
and was an imposing ceremony. The
men assembled iii their company
streets, and at the word moved for
ward in columns of tours out on the
parade grounds. First joining in bat
talions they drew together in entire
regimental formation, and after going
thru several evolutions formed in line
across the ground in front of head
quarters 1t was the first time the
writer has seen a. full regiment on
parade in several years, and to him
the contrast was sharp of the olive
drab line, which even in few hun
dred yards seems to melt into the dull
tints of the parade ground with
cleaning array of blue and brass and
glittering steel chat marked the pa
rades of former days.
The closing ceremony was one to
make an American heart swell. The
Second Regiment band, which played
all thru the evolutions, took its place
to the right of the regiment, and sent
forth the strains of the national an
them. Slowly, very slowly, the Flag,
which had foated in the breeze all
day, began to descend from its tower
ing stated. Note after note of the
inspiring tune thrilled forth as the
Star-Spangled Banner came down
yard by yard to the reverent hands OF
the color guard, and as the last bar
floated out on the evening air thou
sand rifles came as one to present
arms, and, what probably meant more
the undisciplined civilians who stood
around by hundreds barred their heads
A minute later the band broke out
with "Dixie," the ringing battle tune
Of the dead nation that ever lives in
hearts of the people of the Southland
now the most loyal and American sec.
ton of the Union, and the regiment
wheeled from line to column, and
moving round the parade again, broke
into battalions and companies, which
re-entered their company streets
from which for the last half hour had
emanated savory odors that told the
cooks were busy preparing the eve
ming meal.
The regiment shows the effect OF
over two months camp life and train.
ing. The men are all a husky and
vigorous bunch. They look like they
can stand anything. They are bronzeG
and tanned, and some of them look as
rough and tough as twisted light
wood knots, but they move like they
were on steel springs. They are wei
taken care of. Some little things are
lacking, but in the essentials they are
well provided. They have learned q
great deal of the duties of soldier
and some of the duties of citizen
They have attended most useful
summer school, and war or no war
are much the better for the training.
The men go out loaded with equip
ment on hikes of eight, ten or twelve
miles, and come in almost as good as
new. Three months ago such stiff ex-
ercise would have put many of them
III bed for week, but now they en-
joy it.
The greatest criticism to make on
the camp is that the men have not
been supplied with ammunition fol-
target practice. The men have been
tried out to ascertain who are the
best marksmen, but that is all. Some
of them have never fired their guns
and none have had much practice in
this the most necessary part of their
training. Thanks to heredity and
natural American adaptability, the
men, if they had to go into action
against the same number of Mexicans
tomorrow might be able to hold their
own. If they were called to meet
some of the troops now fighting in
Europe, they would be like children
primary school against college
graduates.
There is very enthusiastic ma
chine gun squad, but they have no
gun, and most of them probably have
never seen machine gun. Another
ridiculous inadequacy of the war de-
partment.
The boys of Company A are vel
and cheerful. Only one of them was
in the hospital Sunday, and he for a
minor complaint. Captain Drake
Lieuts. Campbell and Marsh and all