The Washington times., 1916-06-07
2,6O0FEETA ACHE IN
PLATTSBURG CAMP
Rockies Do Two Days Work In
One to Make Up for Rainy
Spell.

LA hobOENSs Juht ahO |
weather man took on n pleasanter mood !
yesterday. for the heavy rain stopped
and let the sun struggle through.
As result the military training camp,
which threatened for a while to develop |
into naval cruise. got under way ,
with q rush that made up for lost time. 4
There are 1.Soo pairs OF aching feet
In camp today, but their possessors are |
proud as peacocks. They have done two |
days work In one, caught up with the |
incorporating schedule set for the |
months training. and they have the |
word OF their officers for II.
Few companies there were that on
the return from the long, grueling hours
OF drill. did not get word OF common ]
dalton as pleasing as being mentioned
In DISPATCHES"
They started out at a. M. as soon
as breakfast had been tucked away.
The company and battalion streets were
eids we're attS Setter So a the eo@ a
commanders spread their men along
United states avenue, a State road. as
the only acceptable footing. Until an
hour before lunch they were instructed
in the elements Of close order drill, the
school OF the soldier and the school OF
the squad. with only a few letups when
they squatted on the asphalt and
smoked pipes and cigarettes.
Lost Their SLOUGH.
But they came back n different lot OF
men. They no longer slouched diff
IDENTIFY. but strobe ahead confidently or
Unanswered In snappy fashion when
their officers barked orders.
The same thing went on after lunch
and a short rest. Many of the men
spent their period for relaxation in
the short swim in Lake Champlain.
and those who did, earned member
ship In the Snow Birds, the Polar
Bears. or any of the other winter
hood. Champlain is one degree cold
ell than the Arctic Sea at this time
This time the Rockies started away
with their sprin gfields, bayonets. and
empty ammunition belts. They were
initiated into the intricacies of the
United states service piece and de-
veloped an increasing respect for the
potential possibilities of the instru-
ment of steel and wood that they had
such hard time cleaning OF grease
yesterday.
scented. and otherwise manipulated II
standing. marching. and at double time.
until several companies had to fairly
run into camp In order to be In line In
their company street for retreat cere-
mony at $40 p. m. Then mess again and
lecture on sanitation by Major Her
bert Shaw. chief OF camp surgeons:
Captain Jones. and Captain Smith, and
they were dismissed until taps.
Plan to Surprise General.
According to Captain Porey. personal
aide to Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood. and
commandant OF last years camp. the
general Is due in Plattsburg Thursday.
and the men are making a strenuous
effort to astonish him with their prog
ress when he first reviews them.
| n. L. nj that rail- haa al
over camp for the rest OF the month.
but 1t fired last shot in leaving that
caused discomfort in Company X. About
2 o'clock this morning something broke
In the draining system about the COM
pany street and the water poured into
| the tents, swapping baggage and
Threatening to undermine the center
poles.
| Lieutenant Gunner, In command, as
sembled his squads In bare feet and pa
jamas. and they beat the flood back TO
| the trenches by the light OF lanterns.
The examination for physical fitness
were completed today. or the 1900
| citizen soldiers only three were rejected
as unfit to stand the grill OF four weeks
under arms. Several more were put on
probation; men who work indoors are
to get chance to harden up and stay
| at camp.
An interesting point about the rockies
thirty-four years. with the oldest a well
set enthusiast OF ffty-hve and the
youngest eighteen. The latter is John
+. Fitzgerald. jr.. son OF Honey Fttz,"
former Mayor of Boston. Compared to
the average found in army enlistments,
eighteen to twenty-five. the Platts-
burgers antedate the regulars by twelve
| or fourteen years.
To Select Sub Officers.
Under present arrangements. which
are temporary. the non-commissioned
officers have been selected from the
veterans OF last years camp and
those first year men who have had
other military experience.
| Within few days the company
officers will have selected the best
men in their ranks, either on gener-
al performances or by competitive
drills, for permanent appointments to
these honors.
There Is a scarcity of regular army
officers, owing to the fact that the
Mexican expedition has drawn prac-
tically every available man with a
commission from the Eastern depart
inent, which will result In many
cadet commissions for the students.
Magistrate Corrigan has not yet ar.
rived. but II Is understood that he
Will be on hand In n day or so. The
camp administration has not yet
made out the roster of the companies.
80 that II Is possible there may be
many more from who's Who" in
cognito.