Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-29
LOCAL REGIMENT
WINS PRAISE OF
REGULAR OFFICER
Colonel II. II. McMaster Of United
states Army Lauds One Hundred
and Twenty-third Artillery.
HAVE THREE MONTHS TRAINING
Changes Over From Infantry and Be-
comes Efficient In New Branch in
Short Period.
Especial TO The Argusl

Camp Logan, Houston, Iexhs, Dec.
2g.-Rock Island boys with Battery +,
one Hundred and Twenty-third field
artillery at Camp Logan have found
smoke bomb practice is a neat little
dodge 10 save expensive shells In the
early stage OF training Of artillerymen
in "spotting" hits.
Bombs charged with black powder
that make smoke puff when they
burst are tossed over, short of, to one
or the other side Of, or onto designated
targets by a detail of men. Away down
the range, perhaps mile or two miles
away, the school of officers stands.
Geld glasses glued to eyes, calling the
hits and misses and corrections Just
as though the smoke bombs were
bursting shells from guns belching
them out close at hand. They keep
data sheets for comparison with the
record that the officer in charge of the
bomb beavers keeps. If they check UP
on the majority OF shots, well and good.
n they don't--they have to keep on
plugging until they can.
Incidentally Colonel K. II. McAIaster,
taciturn, sparing Of praise that he is,
had good word to say for the 123rd
Field artillery.
4 think It is about time to tell the
world that the One Hundred and
Twenty-third heavy artillery is making
progress and making good" he said.
Then be went on to explain that the
props had been taken away Chose
we're not his words) in the form Of
officer instructors that had been loan
ed the 123rd from the other regiments
OF the brigade Colonel Charles G.
Davis and his field officers are in
structing and running the artillery
regiment without outside aid now, and
Colonel McMaster is satisfied that they
are quite up to 1t.
That sounds like left-handed com
piment TO the colonel, the majors, the
staff, line officers and the regiment in
general. Those who know the circum-
stances Will not get that mistaken
idea.
To those who do not know, be Il
known then, that the One Hundred
and TTenty-third heavy field artillery
was trained regiment of infantry in
the Illinois National Guard-the Sixth
regiment.
It came Into Camp Logan on Sept
L. as an infantry regiment. That
very day the colonel, his adjutant aud
major were sitting on camp stools
watching the tents rise, with feelins
that something queer was up, since
they had been put into section bull
for artillery. A slight, soldierly fig.
ure rode up, dismounted and approach
ed the group, now standing at atten
ton. He had single star on eacl
shoulder.
The visitor went straight to thu
point-a characteristic of his-and in
troduced himself with My name il
Todd. l am brigadier general com
handing the Firty-eghth artillery bri
gade. Your regiment will be convert
ed into artillery | want to welcom
you into my brigade.
Regiment Began Over.
That was the first authentic infor
nation Colonel Davis had that his reg
iment was to be cast into a new mold
In three months a 12-company in
fantry regiment has been remade int
siX-battery heavy artillery regimen
and trained TO point where it is com
pIimented by the colonel Of the regu
lar army who is instructing the bri
gade-a man Of few words and non
at all Of undeserved praise.
The One Hundred and Twenty-thir
as all Camp Logan knows, was for
time the problem, the unsquared cir
Gle, the prodigal son. of the Fifty
eighth artillery brigade.
There were heartburnings when Gel
tain officers had to be left out in tn
reorganization. Men from one Illinoi
Town put under a strange capital
when merged with company from al
another town TO form a battery of al
ullerymen, took time to adjust then
selves TO the new commander, the ne
associates Particularly they toe
time to learn the unfamiliar artilIer
work. All this made the latter end
the One Hundred and Twenty-thiI
regiment seem somewhat doubtful.
Colonel McMaster's pronouncemel
mas eettled the destiny OF the problem
atical regiment 1t means that
things keep on going as well as the
nave been going the One Hundred al
Iwenty-third heavy field artillery
going to stay In the middle of the rot
that leads to distinction.
There were ruts, and mudholes, al
she'll craters, and blockades enough {
The first and steepest part OF tn
road.
The regiment was slated first to
light field artillery. The officers stu
led tables and data for the three-in'
gun,
The wind shifted and the news bic
IN that the three-inch gun was not b
'ng worn this season, nor in the o.
Hundred and Twenty-third regimen
at least, and 1t was to be decked out
trench-tailored six-inch howitzers.
be acquired after the regiment c
abroad.
All this while the men were drill
with wooden dummies of guns, clevt
iy built, so that they could be elevi
ed. trayersed, and, in civilian languai
aimed" They had no horses, so t
men pranced about In battery drill
supplying the missing horses vi
two-legged substitutes. Then hors