The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-12
News from Camp Moore.


tnan another marks the good soldier
1t is that Of order and cleanliness. the
will and ability to keep his body, his
clothing, arms and equipment fit
amid adverse circumstances. Already
officers here can distinguish the born
soldiers among their men from the
inadaptables by their reactions to this
|instinctive passion. Also it may be
said that company commanders are
judged and justly so by the appear
ance and bearing of their men on or
derly or guard duty. 1t is only the
rawest Of recruits who imagine that
soldering under canvas implies or
even sanctions unkemptness or frow-
illness.
Swimming Holes Popular Resorts.
Congaree creek, bold, clear and
deep, flows past the camp at quar-
ter mile distance and its sand bottom
ed swimming holes have attracted
scores of men daily. They were re-
sorted to especially by members of
the Second regiment before their
shower baths were installed. Bath
ing and clothes washing are of course
done only below the water supply in
takes.
| Cavalry Tents Resist Wind.
| Troop has worked out an in
genious application of the stake and
ridered fence principle in order to
overcome the vicious habit tent guys
have Of pulling up their stakes when
wind sweeps this high plateau. They
weight the stakes down with stout
saplings which themselves are secured
by large stakes across and imbeded
deeply in the sandy loam Of which
the soil is composed.
When in Doubt, Sec Puttecs.
| Equipment c is not a snowy outfit
and In the universal prevalence Of
olive drab hats, shirts, breeches and
leggings. differing but slightly in cut
and material, the uninitiate visitor
finds 1t not easy to distinguish officers
and men. The officers hat cord is of
black and gold unless he be a general
In which case 1t is gold, and except
In the case Of a second lieutenant he
usually wears collar device indicat-
ling his rank-two bars for a captain,
an oak leaf for a major, an eagle for
a colonel and so on, but the enlisted
man, desirious Of judging whether or
not he shall salute a passing stranger
looks first at his leggings. If these
be OF leather he knows they mark the
commissioned officer or else a civilian.
But the civilian may be quite easily
distinguished by the experienced SOL
dier from an officer, even though he
wear khaki riding breeches and
leather puttees, which most Ameri-
leans do when living outdoors.
- Magazine Pistols Issued.
Sergeants are wearing, some with
considerable swank and swagger, the
newly issued pistols, As calibre Colts
OF magazine type. They are ugly,
vicious. heavy and complicated, but
exceedingly efficient. Seven cartridges
are carried in the gun and two spare
clips of seven cartridges each, q
rounds altogether, are In canvas
pouch at the belt. The pistol swings
low down at the right, convenient to
the hand. A narrow strap encircling
the thigh prevents the holster from
banging against the leg.
Capt. Sclayer's Work Praised.
Capt. Isadore Scnayer of Columbia
has handled sanitation problems iri
the Second regiment, in so far as they
were under his control, in a manner
which drew hearty and spontaneous
commentator from Maj. j. C. John
son. U. 8. A.. who came to Camp
Moore as representative Of the in
spector generals department.
Regulars ION the job" ,.--
| Army officers attached to this camp
are going about their work in such
fashion as to win from the militiamell
nigh admiration of the efficiency of
the regular service. Capt. Graham,
the mastering officer; Maj. Miller, the
camp surgeon, and Maj. Johnson, In
spector general, have shown not only
that they know their business, but
that they are possessed also of great
physical endurance and almost mex
haustible patience and tact. They toll
rar into the night-Capt Graham has
come to regard 2 a. m. as a reason
able bed time-yet they are up, blithe
and ready, at reville and come to
breakfast shaven. trim and i'm
maculate. Maj. Miller's assistant sur
1