The Washington times., 1916-10-14
DISTRICT SOLDIERS
FORCED TO REP|TCH
ALLQF THEIR TENTS
Third Regiment Men Fail to Get
Their Canvas Homes in Line
/. at First.
BY Staff Correspondent.

SAN ANTONIO CBy MaiD. Oct. 10
General Hard Luck stalked through the
camp Of the Third Regiment today.
The militiamen were just getting set
tied in their canvas homes when Col
Giendie B. Young and Lieut.. Col. Anton
stephan made a tour of inspection and
found that the lines of tents were not
straight. An order was issued at once
Tor all tents to be dropped and re-
pitched. The soldiers had to pack all
their belongings on their cots and car
ry them outside. and dig new bitches
around their tents after they were re-
pitched.
Digging trenches in Texas gumbo Is
no child's play, as the blistered hands
OF the militiamen attested after the
camp was remade. In the coal black
soil. which In as tough as gum timber
are mixed thousands of small rocks
which make II all the more difficult to
drive pick or shovel through. The
miliuamen' took their hard luck good
naturally. however. and remade the
camp In short order.
Camp on Same Line.
The District soldiers established their
camp on practically the same lines as
those of the Eighth Illinois Regiment.
which It replaced. As n result the Ma
tional Capital citizen soldiers fell heir to
"a number Of emblems and insignias
which fitted their organizations exactly.
The Illinois soldiers spelled the names
OF their commands on whitewashed rocks
placed in little parks outside their tents.
This made II easy for the District SOL
diers to locate their camp site and the
exact position of their tents.
Major j. r. HodRson, commanding the
First Battalion. had his tent pitched
behind a park decorated with red. white
and blue rocks. lettered First Bat
talon" Only Il moment was required to
make I'D. c." on the rocks where lli-
nois had been. Major Wallach Nc
Cathran. commanding the Second Bat
talon, and Major Alexander summers,
OF the Third. were equally fortunate.
as were practically all the company
Each of the companies has been given
twenty-gallon canvaa bag In which to
keep its water supply. The bag serves
as filter and cooler:
Five faucets are attached to 1t and
the bag is suspended from tripod so
as to keep dust or dirt from getting
INTO it.
Eating Arrangements Good.
The eating arrangements at Camp
Wilson could hardly be improved. Eacn
company has long kitchen and dining
hall. The halls are constructed with
nne screen wire. which keeps out in
sects and allows the breezes to fan the
soldiers as they eat. The kitchen Is To-
Gated in one end of the hall, while out
side Is walled-up incinerator for the
disposition Of refuse.
The District militiamen's dining halls
are on line with those used by the I'LL
nois. Wisconsin, and Kansas regiments
forming the Twelfth division, COM
manded by Brig. Gen. Henry A. Greene
The halls are of uniform size and shape
There are 156 of them in line with the
District militia's.
While the District soldiers appreciate
the excellent view from their camp site
they regret they were not placed nearer
Fort Sam Houston. Their regrets are
purely mercenary. 1t costs 60 cents fol
them to make the trip from their camI
to San Antonio and back. whereas II
they were within walking distance they
could ride to the city on street cars fol
5 cents.
Capt. Edwin w, Fullam, adjutant OF
the Third, Is making strenuous efforts
to obtain a motorcycle. One of these
vehicles is assigned to each regiment
camped here.
Captain Fullam was thrown from his
horse near Fort Myer about week be-