Middletown transcript., 1916-08-12
HARD WORK IN
HOT WEATHER
Maryland Men Are Kept Busy
at Camp Ord.
BUILDING THE MESS HALL
Troop A Men Learn To Use Wash
board-NightIy Boxing Bouts-Ser-
0eant Reduced To Ranks
Electric Lights Installed.

Eagle Pass.-Some Of the men who
left Baltimore with a considerable
knowledge about life's luxurious ease
are going back to their old haunts one
of these days as horny-handed so1 OF
toll.
This observance was called forth by
watching the members of the First
Fourth and Fifth Maryland Regiments
going out to fatigue duty. Hundreds
of them from the three regiments were
assigned to building mess halls, dig
ging bitches, cleaning camp and doing
other tasks.
The best thing about it all was that
the men went about their work con
tentedly and cheerfully. They shouted
and laughed and joked as they welded
the pick and shovel. Because they
were so cheerful they did their work
/: much more quickly and efficiently.
A few weeks ago there were many
who complained of this work. They
declared that they had come down
here to fight, not to do manual labor.
The guardsmen forgot that in times o.
war the Government could not very
well transport an extra army of work
ing men to clear the roads, dig
trenches and to tackle the thousand
and one things that have to be done
II victory is to be assured.
They have been given new ideas of
soldering. They are not yelling LET
George do it," They are being bene-
flied physically and mentally by it.
Camp life, in one sense, by reason OF
the rigors of military discipline, is a
great place for the triumph of demo
cratic ideas.
Over in Troop A, while the three
regiments were pegging away, some OF
the men who have never been pitched
for pocket money at home were down
On their knees scrubbing away on the
good old washboard. The men of the
Field Hospital and the Ambulance
Corps were learning how they must
take care of their brethren if fighting
comes. The only diversion of the day
was a mule chase by members of the
Fourth. Some of them went after the
mules in Wild West style, trying to
lasso them, but didn't succeed. The
mules were captured when they could
not run any more. With their wind
gone, they made strategic surrender.
Captain Riggs Of tie Machine Gun
Company of the First has been greatly
disappointed in one of his mules. This
mule, according to Captain Sam, was
so philosophical locking that he was
called Diogenes. Diogenes showed
other tendencies when the men es-
sayed to ride him. He tossed the rid
ers off his back so consistently and
sent them so high in the air that the
Captain in disgust changed his name.
He is now known as Dynamite.
The Fourth has nightly boxing
bouts, several good fights being always
on the program.
Lieut.. Charles Zinzer has been as
signed to the Machine Gun Company
Of the Fourth. He will look out for
the feeding Of the men in that com
pany.
Captain Hummel, Of the Fourth, has
a new hobby. 1t is riding burros.
The severest penalty meted out here
yet to Maryland soldier was imposed
by the courtmartial which tried Sergt
Mackenzie Lufrio, of the Machine Gun
Company of the Fifth. Lufrio was
fined $40, reduced to the ranks and
sentenced to serve term in the guard
house. He was charged with conduct
preiudicial to military discipline
The order Of the men in all the regi-
ments has been excellent. Major Poe,
of the Fifth, saw few recruits in his
battalion the ether day acting in a way
he thought merited correction. He told
the men that their duties were as sol
diers and asked them If they wanted to
act as soldiers. They said they did.
The Major evidently made deep i'm
preston, for the conduct of the men
reproved has been beyond reproach.
Electric lights are being installed in
all the tents. The men pay 10 cents
month for this comfort. They jumped
at the offer.
Trooper Sinclair killed a scorpion.
For the peace of mind of those at
home, be it said that the sting of
scorpion brings painful results for
few minutes, but there is nothing dan
gerous about it; at least the scorpions
down this way are not dangerous.
Troop A In Mock Charge.
Troop A had another thrilling fight.
This time it charged up hill on horse
back. The men flashed their revolvers
menacingly in the air, and altogether
thew looked Us if they could Go some
dreadful things to an enemy who
might cross their path. The exercise
was difficult enc and the boys were
glad to give their muscles a rest after
they got back home.
The guardsmen who did not get in
the fight remained at home, putting up
a mess hall. Some of the friends of
these carpenters and builders would
have been agreeably surprised at the
work done by them.