Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-01

the water for a day or So To many
this has been real hardship as the
men are enjoying their swims i'm
mensely.
Our hospital is badly handicapped
here because of lack Of supplies and
quite a few men have had to be sent
to Laredo for treatment. We are so
isolated from the world here that an
outbreak of serious sickness would
cause many deaths before sufficient
help could reach here.
IT'S lazy life we are leading and
every man of us will be worth very
little for some time after we reach
home. The sun just saps the vitality
out of a man. Some of our men have
lost many pounds in weight and if 4
few of them don't get home pretty
soon there will not be enough of them
left to recognize. However they will
, have to go some to Guido Mexican
who hangs around here a great deal.
| don't know how he hangs together.
He has nothing beut skin and bones
left.
CavaIry's Rest.
Our cavalry left July 10 for Laredo
for a little rest. They We're a happy
bunch and | don't blame them as there
is as much difference between Laredo
and Zapata as between Augusta and
Eallowell and that is quite some. We
are to have a few cavalrymen from
San Ygnacio to do patrol duty up and
Gown the river.
| Cool Quarters.
AS soon as the cavalry moved out
we, the officers, moved right into the
building and some quarters too. Cool
clean and comfortable. l have always
heard that regulars were a mighty
clean and particular bunch but from
the looks of their quarters they will
have to look to the militia men for a
real example of cleanliness and neat
ness.
| Married Men.
! At the first drill July 20 the captain
read orders to K men concerning the
opportunity of men with dependents
Applying for a discharge. AS things now
look we will lose nearly so per cent of
our men. l think this will be true for
the whole battalion. The idea as
understand it is to ill the vacancies by
recruiting new men at home. Most of
these men are tickled to death to think
they have an opportunity of getting
out of the whole thing. Cannot
lame them much, 50 cents aday for an
enlisted man is not very promising
inducement to a man who is accus-
toned to making $500 and better. In
my estimation the army and guard
|
have only themselves to care for. In
time of real need the married men will
rally to the colors and do it gladly.
First Battle Practice.
| K Co. had their first bit of battle
practice last Thursday. The company
was split in two parts and one platoon
was given 10 minutes to get out of
sight. When the time was up the 9th
er platoon started the hunt and 1t YVES
mighty interesting working out the diff
ferent formations of advanced guards.
points, nankers and reserves. We
found our enemy, of course it is diff
cult to say which side won but the
practice did the bunch good. 1t was
hard work but not a man complained
as it was different and interesting.
BY giving the men change you can
get twice the work out of them. We
lost a corporal but by the time we
had searching parties organized for the
search he showed up. Said he had
struck thicket of thistle bushes and
was obliged to go around which TOOK
him along ways out of his course.
Swimming Trouble.
Some Of our men have been swim
inc To he
river The governor of the state lust
opposite to us informed the major that
unless the practice stopped he would
call troops to the border to stop il.
Seems to me they are mighty touchy
when someone else innocently treads
on their toes but 1t IS a horse Of anoth-
er color when their men come over
here and raise thur der. Every man
here would like chance to clip their
wings bit.
Serious Accident.
At last the long looked for serious
accident has occurred. An IL" man
shot hole through his hand. The re-
port of the gun brought everybody to
their feet. The bullet passed between
the long bones Of the palm making a
nice clean hole. He lad his hand over
the muzzle of his gun cleaning it and
must have hit the trigger with the
other. He was breaking one OF the
strict rules Of the camp by having his
gun loaded without command. His
hand was filled with powder and II is
mystery to me how he escaped hav-
Ing mis- whole hand Down off. Reports
around camp have it that he did the
stunt Intentionally so that he would
De sent home. l rather doubt such a