Evening journal., 1916-10-24
BRINGS Good REPORT
OF Delaware TROOPS
General WickerSham Found
Them Healthy, Comfort
able and Contented
MAINTAINS >ILENCE
REGARDING HOME TRIP

Bringing back with him nothing
save good impressions Of the men
constituting the two Delaware battai-
ions IN camp at Deming n NJ, Adlu-
tant General I. Pusey Wickersham, OF
the State Militia, returned last night
from an official visit OF inspection
taken at the instance OF Governor
Charles r. Miller. That the troops
are healthy, contented, well housed
and well clad. and also that they have
established reputation for good CON
duct among the people Of Deming
will be the contents OF General Wick
ersham's official report TO be present
ed to Governor Miller.
General Wickersham was found at
his desk in the State Arsenal this
morning. getting a line on military
matters again after his absence DC
cupying a prominent place IN his Of
fee was a basket Of dozen yellow
chrysanthemums bearing the card OF
Governor Miller
when will the Delaware men re-
turn to their home State?' was one of
the first questions asked by the re-
porter for THE EVENING JOURNAL.
General Wickersham smiled and
shook his head THAT is q matter
upon which l must maintain silence"
he replied Il cannot talk upon that.
even though l realize il is uppermost
in the minds of the people here
General Wickersham said, however,
that the men in camp at Deming are
to be outitted with stoves for their
tents and winter clothing. This can
be interpreted as an indication that
the men are to be retained on the bor-
der. or not. just as one views the situ-
alton. General Wickersham would
not comment on this at all
Il left Wilmington September 2S
for Deming" said General Wicker
sham. arriving there on Sunday
night For a period of eight days 1
was with the troops. looking into
their physical welfare and investigat-
ing their camp life. The visit was a
satisfactory one viewed from every
standpoint. and have only words OF
praise and commentator for every
one and everything connected with the
camp.
"The men are we'll provided for in
every way. Their camp site could
not be improved upon. The situa-
tion is grand. the altitude being 1850
feet above sea level. and the city of
Deming is a bustling. up-to-date com
munity with good stores and bust
ness houses. hotels. and a popula-
ton whose welcome 20 me was. per
haps, little more hearty than ] h2d
any reason TO expect, due to the fact
that 7 came from Delaware.
"With modern kitchen equipment,
SCREENED mess halls, clean company
streets. board floors 10 all tents and
system everywhere. the sanitary con-
dition Of Camp Deming is above re-
proach. For their comfort. the men
have water tight tents. cots and
blankets. and when I left arrange
ments were being made to install
stoves in the tents. TO board up the
mess halls to protect the men from
the severe sond storms and winter
winds while at mess. and the de-
partment was preparing to issue
heavy clothing. The. camp is amply
equipped with horses and mules, and
motor trucks arc available whenever
needed.
Deming brought forth only good words
for the Delaware men. They have
lived adjacent TO that city for many
weeks now and still the reputation
they made for good conduct when first
they went there has been rigidly main
tained. Delaware is well thought OF
bv Deming people and all on account
of the excellent conduct of her mi
litia.
THE day following my arrival in
Deming an inspection of the two bat
talions was ordered This was CON
Quoted by three or four regular army
officers and was most thorough. the
inspection not only included an exam
nation into the knowledge OF the men
on points of drill but went further
than that and took in paper knowl-
edge Inspection last all day, and
while | have received no official re-
port of the findings of the inspection
officers, I have every reason to believe
that it will be one highly satisfactory
TO the participating battalions.
"Ohicers and men are all working
hard and the life i'm camp is not play
by any means. From $50 o'clock 10
II O'Clock each morning drill. trench
digging and military maneuvers are
the order of the day. The afternoons,
TOO. are given over to hard work. and
In addition 10 this Il must be remem-
herd that the troopers are their own
housekeepers and must care for their
mess outfits. their tents, rifles. etc.
Every day, too. the men are obliged
10 take an hours hike over the coun-
try. They enter into their daily tasks
with an enthusiasm that shows their
interest i'm the work. But they have
their recreations. too baseball. etc"
Speaking of the health Of the men
in camp. General Wickersham re-
ferred feelingly to Major William E.
Lank. who is in the hospital suffering
from injuries received in a fail from
a horse during review. Major Lank
Is improving. but slowly, and Is anx-
ious to get back TO his duties again.
General Nicker-ham learned Just how
the accident happened when he arrived
AT the camp. Major Lank was mounted
on strange horse one OF those quick
half-tamed western horses, having loan
cd his personal mount 30 Colonel II. j.
Roberts. Of the regular army, who had
been assigned TO duty at Camp Deming
The strange horse SHE'D and threw
Major Lank. who fell heavily, then the
animal kicked him.
Trnon General Nickorgham'e arrival