The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-31
D. {. SOLDIERS GET
REAL WAR TRAINING
Climate Of Border Teaches
Militiamen Something Of
Hardships of Service. q,
BY Staff Correspondent.

CAmf WlLSON, SAN ANIONio'
Tex, Oct. Is (by maiD.-If the District
mlltlamen should go into real action
before they are mustered out OF the
Federal service-and all Of them are
anxious to cross the border-the din of
battle will not be new to them.
-, The Officers OF the Third Regiment
say living In a camp where the tenn
perature is IS degrees during the day
and IS or 70 at night Is also good train
ing for service In the variable climate
OF Mexico.
The Officers and men read the news
pspers with 10 ,Ss %n pa
and the Atlantic City peace conferepce.
They say they have found nothing so
far to indicate their early departure
northward. Most OF them believe they
are. destined to remain here a long time
or be ordered to some station along the
border for an indefinite stay.
Reminders Of War.
Coupled with their own military ac-
tivities. the District boys have remind
ers OF war on all sides OF them every
hour OF the day. Almost every day the
Seventh Field Artillery. U. s. A.. made
up largely of the Third! from Fort
Myer, practices cannonading In the
woods near the camp. and the roar OF
guns Is heard for several hours. The
Virginia artillery also participates In
the practice. Several days each weei<
various infantry organizations are
given problems TO work out, and the
crack OF rifles. discharged In volleys
and at will IL reverberated over the
camp, reminding the listener OF battle
in the distance.
Major Charles II. Luce. chief medical
officer with the regiment. says the
open-alr life the soldiers are leading
here, coupled with the fact that they
have no money. and. therefore. retire
early, has improved them immeasur-
ably. Not single case OF serious ILL
ness has been reported at the regimen
tai innrmary since the militiamen came
here.
Good Heath Prevails.
The excellent sanitary conditions
maintained by the medical officers. as
sisted by the entire personnel OF the
regiment. Is said to be responsible fol-
the surprisingly good health record.
Major Luce. Lieut.. Francs GIBBS
In inspecting the camp Kitchens. tents
and company streets. They also de-
liver lectures each day to the various
companies, emphasizing to the mer
the importance Of personal cleanliness
teeth cleaning, frequent bathing. hav'
ing their hair cut short and payinG
particular attention to their feet.
Although about fifty militiamen ou
Of the thousand In the regiment an
swer sick call each morning. most Of
them are suffering from swollen oil
blistered feet. according to Major Luce
Thus far iodine and quinine have beer
practically the only drugs with which
/ the soldiers have been treated. although
| the infirmary has an apothecary shoI
| attached I'm which almost every know
| drug can be found.
Gets New Blackboard.
Capt VIII II. Chase. of the suppl!
company. created a sensation in caml
today when he appeared at headquar
! ters in his new army blackboard draw
by two long-eared mules. driven b.
Samuel White. his orderly. Captain
Chase has considerable running aroun'
to do In his days work. and he put Il
! a requisiton for motorcycle with
side car attached. Instead OF tn
motorcycle he wns issued the buck
board. and ordered to furnish hi
own mules. All OF the officers jeere,
and booted at him as he made tn
rounds OF camp In the new vehicl
with the big nickle buckles on his mules
harness binding all who looked at then
! captain Chase took a number of tn
officers for ride In his easy-goin
blackboard. and they expressed n bet
1
trip.
Sleep More Comfortably.
The District soldiers are now SLEEP
ing more comfortably than they did a
Fort Myer. bed sacks having been IL
sued to them.
The sacks were filled with condemne
hay and converted into soft mattresses
/ which the soldiers consider much bette
| than the raw-Stuffed sacks thew ha
at Fort Myer. For the first few nigh,
the hay stuck through the sacks an
gave the soldiers the feeling OF sleepin
on pins and needles. but now that tn
forage has gotten sh<Sen down they al
more comfortable than ever.
Lieutenant Gibbs. who drills the san
tary troop. says the members OF III
command have become proficient
litter and first aid work. and II
mounted members of the outfit ha,
mastered the art of carrying wounde
men back from the field on their horse