The Tomahawk., 1916-08-10
MINNESOTA GUARD
GIVEN FIRST TEST
MAKE TEN-MILE MARCH-TROOP-
ERS CARRY ONLY GUNS
AND CANTEENS.
STUDENT BATTERY IS DOOMED
Gets Orders to Return From Border
September - President Vincent
Pleased - Says u. S. Does Not
Want to Interrupt Studies.

| Mercedes, Tex.
! Facing a ten milo hike, Minnesota
troops sought their tents early in pre-
paration for their first real test since
coming to concentration camp. Com
| pany commanders have been taking
their men on short practice marches
| each morning to harden them for long
err marches and extensive division man
euvers which are to come later.
| Every man in camp except those in
| the field hospital, the camp guard and
| the cooks and kitchen detail, was re-
| uuired to make the marches. Rifles
and filled canteens were the only equip
ment carried. The hike was the first
taken by the Minnesota regiments as
units, most of the work heretofore be-
ing by companies.
Sec Mexican Soldiers.
Colonel Luce decided to take the
| First south to the Rio Grande, offer
! ing the men their first opportunity to
see the main border and Mexican sol
diers. The Second regiment march
ed through Mercedes and thence north
while the Third turned West along
the railroad.
Regimental parade was held for The
first time by the First on the drill
grounds west of camp which the men
have been engaged in clearing.
General James Parker, commander
Of the Brownsville district, visited
camp on O. tour of inspection.
X X
Student Guards to Return,
Two hundred men, comprising Bat
terry F, the University of Minnesota
unit in the First Minnesota field artil-
lery, will come marching back from
the border shortly after Sept. 1, as the
result of an announcement in Wash
ington by Secretary of War Newton D..
Baker Men in other guard units who
wish to return to school, or who are
to enter school, also will be released
from service.
Units Must Be Permanent.
The announcement means the sepa-
ration Of the University of Minnesota
and other college military organlza-
lions from the national guard, the rea-
son given being that the guard cannot
include units that are not permanent
Federal recognition is to be withdrawn
from the college organizations as
part of the guard, and all guard equip
ment is to be returned to United
States arsenals. The order will not
Interfere with the university having a
cadet organization.
Vincent Pleased.
Il am glad the boys are to come
back to school," said President George
E. Vincent of the university. "Ihe
government evidently does not wish to
interference in the continuity of their
studies except in great emergency.
"When Battery + is mustered out
we probably will reorganize it as
part Of the cadet corps, separate from
the national guard. Under the old law,
the battery could not get up to date
military equipment unless it was a
part of the guard, but | have been told
this will be possible under the more
recent statute.
81 hone the boys will get home in
time for the opening Of the university,
Sept. 81"
Parker Inspects Camp.
Gen. James Parker, United States
commander of the Brownsville dis
trict, was at camp on an inspection
tour of the troops encamped here ana
at other points along the border. While
here he visited each regiment to eX-
anime into the condition and equip
| ment of the men, the sanitation state
of the camp and the progress made in
drill.
Major Lee of the brigade staff has
requested permission to enlarge an
old target range three miles from
camp for the use of the Minnesota
| troops.
Guards Recover.
All cases of ptomaine poisoning in
| the Third regiment were reported
| much improved and majority have
| already left the field hospital. Cor
| poral Frederick A. Chubb, Company F,
| First regiment: Oscar Johnson, Com
| panv L., and A. D. Cummins, Company
M, Third regiment, were sent to the
| base hospital.
While drilling in slSirmish forma-
ton Corporal Chubb bruised his left
leg and it was found that the cover
ing of the bone had been injured. He
was sent to the Brownsville hospital,
which has better facilities for treat
ing such injuries. The other men were
sent in for general diagnosis.
| X X
Battery Fully Recruited.
| A battery, First battalion. First
| field artillery, finally is recruited up
to peace strength, it has been an
| nounced at Camp Bobleter. Thirty
five names were signed during the
day. Only twenty were needed. Twen
ty men were accepted after physical
| examinations. The others will be &C
| cepted, too. if they pass, as the OIL
GERS hope to recruit their commands
I'D to war strength at once. With each
| ls&f Tcar,,itnH IN