Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-08-23

exchange views in regard to matters
political. business, or as the case may
be. These impromptu conferences are
educational and destined to have their
broadening effects upon the men.
Most of the time the men forget their
years and skip and hop like boys of
twelve. Strangely enough our gray
haired boys seemingly had the most
pep!
ON THE RIFLE RANGE
For four days the men of the regi-
ment. to which the writer was as
signed, were on the rifle range. Owing
to lack of time it was necessary to
shoot for record without having pre-
viously been given preliminary practice
with the gun. 1t goes without saying
tina most of the rockies were taken at
disadvantage since probably not more
than five per cent of them had ever
done any shooting let alone having
handled rifle. However, there was
no help for it and the men, being good
sports, went into the work with will
Ten shots, slow fire, and prone were
made at 300 yards; ten shots slow fire,
and prone. at 500 yards ten shots slow
fire and prone at 600 yards; ten shots.
rapid fire during 80 seconds, sitting
or kneeling at 200 yards; and ten shots,
rapid fire during two minutes, prone at
800 yards. That was the program.
All things considered the men did very
well. After the men have completed
the range work for the day, they are
detailed to work the targets in the
"butts" or ''pits' as they are called.
Immediately beneath the SO double
targets is long cement trench about
II feet deep and 20 feet wide. Here
the rookie gets real taste of trench
warfare in all it's realities. Spat, and
then the crack of the rife heard half
second later tells him that the bullet
in travelling it's 900 yards per second
reaches it's mark long before the man
in the trench hears the report of the
gun from which that bullet has sped.
All sorts of weird sounds are made by
the flying stee-capped bullets. Often
a stray shot will shower sand and peb-
bles upon the hand of the target mark
er But he soOns gets so used to this
that be is disappointed if ricochet
shots don't put in an appearance once
in a while. An afternoon in the
"butts' is an unique experience which
one never forgets Though it is filled
with thrills it exposes the rookie to no
danger save that due to his own care
lessness and inattention to direction.
THE HIKE
| The hike took eight days Not
counting the forced marches necessary
t to perform the maneuvers the distance
t covered was about rs miles. Four
| regiments of about 1000 men took tn e
trip and played the war game as
J though the sham battles were real
5 engag ements. The troop left camp by
r the south road along Lake Champlain
returning by way of West Plattsburgh
] Occasionally, the metal road would
be followed, more often, however, the
5 way was through the underbrush, over
2 roads three to six inches deep in heavy
sand, over stone walls, fences and the
: like. Usually the men marched fifty
I minutes and rested ten. Though the
5 canteens were we'll filled the rockies
= were cautioned against drinking much
n water while on the march. Most of
| those who fell out along the road were
: found to have disobeyed this sage
2 advice. A man can soon learn to
t travel long distances and under the
S most trying conditions, and yet not
t drink a drop of water.
s Each man had a 37-pound pack to
t carry besides his eight-and- quarter
D pound rifle and his belt containing so
e rounds of blank ammunition. There
8 were also attached to his belt his first
: aid pouch and his canteen. The pack
= contains one meat can with knife, fork
' and spoon one bacon can, one condi-
! ment can, one poncho, one blanket, one
shelter half, five tent pins, one in
2 trenchment tool, and one bayonet
J Though the pack is probably neces-
r sary evil, it can be characterized as
! nothing less than a curse One never
] gets used to it, furthermore, it not
: only drags the man down, but it makes
, him fret and stew as long as he is
burdened with it. When thus going
) into action the soldier is fearfully
handicapped, for at the moment his
: nerves should be steady, his whole be-
ing alert and his body able to respond
, to instant direction, milestone, as it
were. is persistently and surely dis
organizing his every effort.
When camp site is reached and the
men Of a company ordered to pitch
, tents, two men work together putting
up their pup or "dog' tent Each
man carries half tent so the two men
have a whole tent The temporary
shelter faces the company street, has
triangular front the height of the rifle
and about seven feet deep. The rear is
also triangular IN shape but much
smaller than the front There are
front and rear flaps which button to
together SO that the rain may be kept
out. A ditch is dug at the sides and
back to catch the wat er so that none
may enter the tent.
The poncho is provided with buttons
on one side and on one end so that with
the two blankets given him man may
make himself a water proof sleeping
bag. The poncho also serves to keep
| out the cold and inquisitive little hugs
After fellow has cupped out little
: place under his poncho where his hip
! bone is to go he is already to chit the
t hay" though there may not be any
! hay.
t The next task set the rookie after
L n