The Washington times., 1916-08-02
MARYLANDERS LIKE
EAGLE PASS CAMP
Captain Clayton Says Every
thing Is Fine But the Heat.
Few TiarantuIas Found.
Co. X. First Maryland Infantry. =
EAGLE PASS. Tex. .Julv "a. 1919.


Tho Editor Washington Times:
Two copies Of The Times have been
delivered to me for the past three days
and passed them down the line, as this
company comes from Montgomery
county, and many Of us always read
Tho Times when at home. Thanks for
this Kindness on the part of some good
friend. which may be yourself. 1t was
thoughtful and acceptable.
The camp at Eagle Pass is as fine a
place as ever saw. barring the heat
and the taste OF the alkaline water. The
health OF the troops under this change of
climate. water, and living conditions Is
wonderful. unless you know something
OF the fine sanitary practice of the
army. We have the supervision. ad-
vice. and constant inspection of the
army sharks on sanitation. and keep
our camp and our men In condition, even
better than any militia camp ever took
part in: Speaking Of heat. say. we
know what heat is now. Camped on the
desert. all chapparal cleared off. and
the sun shining on the white soil. 1t Is
some warm.
Thermometer Often Over 100.
Temperature. by the coloners Their
mometer In the shade OF his tent up to
no sometimes. often over 100; but re-
member two occasions when the colonel
called me up for little conference
about things when the temperature
seemed to be 200 in the shade, and II
looked cooler outside In the sun.
The food has been good, and we have
always had enough. Some Of the boys"
have been writing home. telling about
being starved. ! have heard; but these
cases are usually connected with a re-
quest for money from home, which is
usually spent for pie, /. Ice cream, or
some stuff like that, at the regimental
canteen.
OF course. some Of them go to town
and buy a flagon or so of Texas beer,
and some use the cash In learning pen
ny ante"-or trying to learn II. Don't
swallow the hardship stories without
. proper amount of salt.
Wishing for the Third.
I see the Third District Infantry Is
stfil at Fort Myer ana having hard
Job to get full ranks. wish them
good luck. and q quick departure for
tho 'front.' for have many friends in
the District Of Columbia brigade. hav-
) ing served ten years in that outfit
before moved over to Maryland.
I suppose ! ought to mention the
tarantulas. rattlesnakes. ETC.. but they
don't seem to be plentiful enough here
70 DO worth WrltiHR ABOUT ne boys
20 out hunting for them when they are
on duty. but have not had much luck.
They got q few OF each in nearly
month. and they seem to have ac-
counted for the whole crop. in this
section at least
The hills of Mexico are in plain
SIGHT Of the camp. across the Rio
Crane. but the Mexicans 30 far have
failed TO start anything. From the
lot We see round camp. think they
arc moro liable to ask for a square
meal than they are TO shoot across
The river.
Almost Like Militia Camp.
w have bridge guards. outposts. and
interior guard constantly. and things
look very peaceful. except that each
Infantry soldier has his belt full of
ball cartridge and two bandoliers fun
besides. Some ammunition. that-3l0
rounds per man. / never saw ball am
munition in a militia camp. but other
wise We feel very much at home.
Officers and men eat, the same rations
here. as OFFICERS have to get their food
from the company kitchen cooked by
the company cooks. served by an en-
listed man. who Is paid q little extra
by the officers for his services. This
Is plain field condition. and no militia
frills. We are helped and instructed
daily by the regulars. and fast be-
Equipment is sometimes rather hard
to get OF the right sizes. but we
eventually get what we need.
r. B. CLAYTON.
Captain First Maryland Infantry.