Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-07

NO FLIES BOTHER
GRETNA SOLDIERS
Authorities Put Into Effect Les
sons Learned During
Spanish War


Camp Brumbaugh, Mt Gretna, Pa.
July l. - There have been no flies
In the Rational Guards mobilization
camp and while there may be bases
Tor complaints of various kinds the
disease breeders, which were the
cause OF havoc in the CAMPS of the
war eighteen years ago. have not
been on the list. This is due to the
careful preparation of the camp site
and the thorough policing and sani-
tary inspection. The authorities learn
ed the lessons in the Spanish war.
Some of the Guardsmen here, and
good many former Guardsmen not
here. can recall what an intolerable
nuisance flies were in the camps of
years ago and how they carried dis
ease in the corps camps at Chick
mauga, Alger and other places.
AS soon as the war signs began the
state authorities got ready here. Col.
l.. V. Rausch, the working head of
the property end, came here and laid
water lines and cleared sites, while
the men from the State Department
of Health inspected everything. When
the soldiers got into camp they ran
up against a new officer, the sanitary
inspector, who not only looked after
dietary matters, but surroundings
and whose word was law. Everything
that could be protected from flies was
covered or screened ana everything
that would breed flies was destroyed
Smoke from fires burning up refuse
was to be seen at almost every hour
of the day and bits of paper and
rubbish were ordered cleared up,
while the men were encouraged to
keep quarters clean. AS a result the
flies which everyone breads, and SOL
diers about to go on active service
hate, were lacking and there was COM
fort as well as safety.
There was an endless variety of
mascots with the organizations, but
not many of them were put on trains
General Clement, an old soldier him
self and with a very sympathetic feel
ing toward the men in the ranks, be-
came deaf when asked If the men
were to be allowed to carry a mis-
cellaneous collection of dogs, mice
and goats. Consequently there was
not regiment which went out which
did not have some pet, which will
probably die when it reaches the
severe climate on the border. A
couple of the dogs were taken as much
care of as the horses and wore with
resignation covers on which were in
scribed the names of the organiza-
tions which had adopted them. One
regiment had goat which was frisky
and used to wander into the officers
quarters and there were rumors of a
pet skunk, which turned out to be a
grounding.
Somehow or other every organiza-
tior of soldiers demands the right to
chalk up the sides of cars with the
name of the unit and name of the
the home station and always some in
scription. Railroads do not allow
anyone else to chalk up cars. Some
of the things written on the cars were
funny. There were declarations of in
tcntion to go to Mexico or TO bust"
Pictures of Carranza with benevolent
intentions to get him chalked beside
announcements that the men were
on the way to "ketch Villa"
The decoration of the tentage was
not permitted and hence the efforts
on the cars. The soldiers let out their
spirits by escorting rejected men to
the stations, songs and cheers being
the accompaniment. and with hazing
OF men who refused to enlist which
at times became brutal. However, as
tfe men say, no man had any business
in the Guard who did not mean to "go
through" and pleas that people were
dependent, that business would suffer
and that spirit was willing but flesh
weak, did not go. 1t was enlist or get
out with rocks flying in the rear.
Some of the farewells to the men
who were rejected by the doctors in
their efforts to get only soldiers fit
to stand the rigors of the border were
impressive. Bands and colors would
be brought down with the escorts and
the men who tried, but were stop
ped" were cheered to the echo. This
always made the rejected men let go
their feelings and the strange spectacle
of grown men in uniform crying be-
cause they could not go to war was
common. The escorts would sing
patriotic songs, give a dasn of Tip
porary, assure their comrades of their
sympathy and cheer. The men in the
cars would look glum and wipe their
eyes while the racket went on outside
for their benefit.
One of the most striking farewells
was of some rejected artillerymen. All
hands sang God be With You Till
We Meet Again" A B. H.