The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-07-20
FOURTH REGIMENT
AWAITS ORDERS
PREPARATIONS BEING MADE FOR
CALL WHICH WILL SEND MEN
TO BIG BEND
COMPANY IN BESTPHYSCALC CONDITION
Last Federal Examination Left But
Few Men Above Minimum
Requirements

requirements
The latest reports from Redfeld in
dictate that the South Dakota troops
will not leave for at least forty-eight
hours and possibly not for several
days, no orders having been received
for moving, and it will take thirty-six
to forty-eight hours to get under way
after orders arrive. A telegram was
received from the war department to-
day advising the commanding officer
that all troops not under way will be
held at mobilization camps until com
pletely equipped and ready in every
respect to move.
This week the regiment will be given
its third shot of prophylactic. Pay for
officers and men for June was received
Saturday night. Combat problems
working up from companies to regi-
ment in attack and defense will be
taken up this week.
Company c. B~rookings
Company c lost but two men in the
physical examinations, this company
being considered the best from a ply
steal standpoint in the regiment. Two
have also been lost by detail, IN to
the supply and one to headquarters
companies. Two Of the Company C
boys are on the regimental ball team,
Starlin Burton at first and Robert Gill
bertson, center fielder.
The State college football squad, in
order to make the best out of this en-
campment, is practicing daily and get
ting into first class shape. Nightly
workouts are being held under Captain
l.. J. Stevens, those in the squad being
Salisbury, Erp, Gilbertson, Mix and
Matheny.
Minimum Number Men
The regiment today was just able to
crawl over the federal requirements as
to numbers of men 90S being on the
rolls at the end of the day to meet fed
eral requirements of a minimum
strength of 906. Counting those in the
sanitary troop the total stands at 927.
Need More Men
With this condition prevailing re-
cruiting officers are rounding up every
available man they can with the result
that a few are in sight, but more are
wanted. The last examination given
by. the federal government made a
heavy inroad on the list of men.
To meet the needs of several of the
companies who were left without the
required number of men several COM
panies have been broken up since the
encampment was started, the most re-
cen being the division of companies
B and G.. These companies had more
than the required number and to fill up
the ranks in those companies which
were deficient some Of them were par
celed out to the others. This action
brings the number Of men in each COM
pany down or up, to the minimum re-
quirement of IS men to a company.
Er%roneouos Impression
Many people have found in this &C
ton the basis for considerable critic
ism, most of which is unfounded. AS
soon as the recruits come in they will
be assigned to the companies that were
shy of men and old members will be
redistributed to their former COM
panies. For the time being the ar
rangemcnt has some drawbacks but 1t
also has advantages for it makes the
numerical strength of all companies in
the regiment equal. In fact, however,
the men are not taken away from their
companies for n considerable length
Of time. The men realize this and
have grown accustomed to it and have
no objection to making the temporary
change.
Bio Bend Destination
AT the request of Mr.. Norbeck and
others Senator Sterling has had a con-
ference with the Secretary of War, at
which he urged that the Wal Depart
ment send the South Dakota National
Guard to the western border rather
than to the eastern coast OF Mexico.
when they are ordered to the border.
uo was informed by the Secretary that
troons are not needed on the west
,d that the South Dakota boys
will be sent to the Big Bend region OF
Texas, where climatic conditions are
NOT had, Senator Sterling was assured
that all possible precautions in santa
tion and training will be taken SO as
% conserve the health Of the men