The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-07-04
WISCONSIN TROOPS
OFF TO THE FRONT
Badger State Soldiers Sent to
San Antonio, Tex.
TO BE HELD FOR EMERGENCY
Last Days at Camp Douglas Are De
voted to Hard Training to Make
Men Fit for Active Service
on Border.

units of the Badger states soldiers
were pronounced ready and orders
came from the central department In
Chicago for the men to entrain at
once. The First regiment was the first
infantry unit to be mustered into the
federal service and was the first to be
ready for the move TO the front when
the orders came. The other units max
ing up the Wisconsin brigade were not
far behind
The Wisconsin troops were sent first
10 San Antonio, Tex, where, ii was an
nounced by General Funston, they
would be held for an emergency. 1t
was announced that the men would
encamp at Fort Sam Houston until
they are ordered to the border.
For days before the orders for entrain-
ment came, the men at Camp Douglas
had been eagerly awaiting the time
when they would start for the front.
Officers and men alike were impatient
TO be on their way TO the border where
they might have a chance to see active
service. The time spent in camp was
well utilized, however, for when the
movement to the border began, the
troops were thoroughly equipped and
supplied with ammunition. At the
same time the training or both the old
members of the Guard and the new
recruits continued without a minutes
waste of time.
Much Target Practice.
For days a continuous stream of
lead and steel was poured into the tar
gets on the military reservation.
From sunrise until sunset the bluffs
surrounding the camp echoed and re-
echoed with the thousands of reports
from the firing line. Most deafening
was the roar of the machine gums,
squirts, as the troops call them, as
they sent steady stream against the
rock bluff. as a stream of water comes
from a hose
The machine guns were all working
perfectly, and the members of the COM
panies are well drilled and thoroughly
familiar with their work.
The riveting machine up on q sky
machine gun sounds like only the guns
work a little faster, shooting as many
rs 700 shots per minute.
General Holway was determined to
give the recruits as much target prac-
tice as he could crowd into the days
remaining before the troops moved. He
gave them practice at 100 yards and
zoo yards. slow fire, and rapid fire at
200 yards. The rockies" got their
first lesson in how to fire when they
have to shoot fast to hold off a charg-
ing line of foes.
instructed in Horsemanship.
All the mounted officers of the brig
ade, about siXty-tive, were given in
struction in horsemanship by an ex-
pert in the workout on the parade
ground in front of general headquar-
terS. This is another of the many i'm
p0rtant things in warfare. Mounted
officers and men must be master rid
ars TO handle their mounts in battle
All officers and men who are armed
with the 40 caliber automatic army
pistol were given range practice and
the reports from their weapons added
10 the din that could be heard for
miles.
Well equipped, well armed, and
above ALL trained and competent fight
ing men. is what Wisconsin has sent
out. The officers wanted only the
best TO leave the state so that the
reputation of the Guard would remain
what it has been in the past-the best
Medical examinations eliminated
many from the ranks. Private John
&. inland, former Milwaukee police
man, member of the First field hos
pitai company, commanded by Mai.
Charles IL. StOddard. Milwaukee, was
discharged because he was over the
weight limit and because he had an
attack of appendicitis here and had
had one previously, He weighed go
pounds.
Weep When Rejected.
Big, strong and apparently healthy
men who were rejected for defective
eyeSight. hroken-dOwn arches or other
disabilities went TO their tents and
wept like children when they were in
formed that they could not serve with
the colors. Married men refused to
forsake their flag, and single men who
are losing well-paying positions
through the mobilization and Subse-
Quenr service refused to take the prof
fered discharge.
In drawing to determine what reg
iments would receive the new army
equipment, the latest army model. Col
onelS John 2. Joachim of the First and
Randolph Richards of the Third were
successful. Their regiments received
entirely new equipment. This differs
from the old principally in that the
equipment is carried in a pack on the
back, instead of in a roll over the left
shoulder, in haverSack and canteen
All Of this material is combined into
one bundle and strapped to the back
in the new issue. Even the bayonet
which ordinarily is carried on the lief,
flank, is in the pack.
New interpretations.
The Elks' Fishing and Hunting club