Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-09
|PAY DAY IN SIGHT i
AT CAMP 0RDWAY
Money Now Available, Gen.
Wood Sends Word to
Gen. Harvey.
SOLDIERS MAY RECEIVE
THEIR WAGE TOMORROW
Prospect Brings Relief to Many Men
Who Have Been Worrying About
Their Families.

1ne1r Eam1l1eS.
Pay day is in sight fo[fxe Distric,
troops encamped at Camp Ordway. Fort
Myer. Money for the payment of the
men here Is now available. according
to a telegram received last night by
Gen. Harvey from headquarters of the
Department of the East at Governors
Island.
The message came too late for it to
become generally known within the
camp, but when the troops hear of it
today it will lift a great weight off
many of their minds. 1t has been the
one big question in the minds of the
troops since they came here, and has
been growing bigger with the monotony
of laying around camp here with the
prospects of an early getaway to Bis
bee. Ariz., not very bright
Troops have not received one cent
of service pay since they have been in
camp. Some have received no pay from
their employers. while others have re-
ceived very little, particularly from
employed by private firms have Jared
far better than those in the employ
of Uncle Sam.
Prospect Of Pay Is Cheering.
Those who have left families and de-
pendent relatives at home, with no
visible means of support have been
worried for days about the pay. while
the government machinery moved
slowly to assist them in alleviating
any of the suffering caused by the
mobilization of the troops.
The payment which will be made was
due June 80. as soldiers are paid once
month. Gen. Harvey said that it
probably would be paid tomorrow. if
the arrangements can be completed.
have been in the hands of the head
quarters for some time, for the or
ganization commanders lost little time
attending to this detail Being close
1t meant to get what little pay the
men will receive for the short time
they were in camp before June 80.
With the way paved for money pay.
the way there will be little delay for
the troops in receiving their pay for
the subsequent months they are in the
field. When militia Is called into serv
ice there are always rough places to
be smoothed over before the first pay
ment could be made, and the mobiliza-
ton coming near the end of the month
made it necessary to rush to a certain
extent to make payments.
Reports From Medical Examinations
Reports Of the results Of the medi-
cal examinations of the men of the Sd
Infantry are beginning to come into
brigade headquarters from the sur
geons who made the examinations I'M
der the direction of Col. W. o. Owen.
United States Army Medical Corps
Three companies were reported. Com
pany c lost thirteen men: Company D.
ten men. and Company F. fourteen
men, 1t is possible that some of these
men will be given determinations.
This is an average of twelve and IL the
percentage is maintained throughout the
regiment 1t will mean a heavy loss to
the command. 1t is possible that some
of the companies may lose more men on
account Of physical defects than the
first three. and this will increase the
average.
The tables Of organization issued by
the War Department call for ffty-two
officers and 91S enlisted men to a regi-
ment Of infantry. Reports to headuuar-
tiers yesterday showed that there were
ffty-two officers and 1.l41 enlisted men
in the Sd Infantry. including those alb
sent for various reasons. This liz the
number on the rolls. and includes prob
ably some men who have failed to an
swer the call to the colors.
Other Men to Be Let Out.
This leaves a small margin to go out
on physical examinations and for other
reasons. such as men discharged without
honor on account of fraudulent enlist
ments, men with dependent relatives,
who will be permitted to go under the
orders of the Secretary of War excusing
them, men whose time is up on account
Of expiration of enlistment. This latter
includes large number. because many
men enlist just before annual enca mp
ments in order to take part in them.
Figures on the number of married
men who will come within the scope
Of the order issued by Secretary Baker
excusing those with people dependent
upon them are not available In fact
the order has not come to this camp
through the Department Of the East
Until 1t is read to the members of
the various companies. after it is Off
cially received. there will be no way
Of knowing the number Of men who
will go out for this reason In view
Of the small prospect of an early de-
parture of the troops now in camp
here for the border. IT Is probable that
will use this as an excuse to get out of
the militia.
One going through the camp hears of
many married men and others with de-
pendent relatives awaiting the receipt
of the order of Secretary Baker before
putting in request for a release from
further service Of their enlistment
Some few men. in fact. already have
sent in their applications for release
under this order, but of course, thew
cannot be made official until notice ia
received through the Department of the
East.
Enlistment Being Encouraged.
In the meantime everything possible
is being done to encourage men to en-
list in the guard. and no good scheme
is being overlooked by any of the Off
GERS in the camp. They are anxious to
recruit the command to full peace
strength. 80 that they may be reported
to the Department of the East as being
ready. and give the department q
chance to send them to the border.
The issue Of clothing to men OF the
Sd Infantry was begun late yesterday
afternoon. and when friends OF the
troopers come out today they will And
many of them fully QUILTED In new
clothing from head to foot. The issue
will be continued, and before the end
of next week every man will be well
QUILTED with the modern summer
dress of one of Uncle SANS soldiers.
All OF the troops were pretty well
tired out last night after the all-day
job of improving the sanitary condi-
tion Of the camp. when they went GU,
with picks, shovels. axes and entrench.
| ing tools to NIL bitches. except drain.
10