The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-10

"Pm finished Only passed the remark
wanted to fight"
Send him to quarters" ordered IN,
major.
Before any one could carry out III,
order the grizrlcd corporal, who hat
served in the Philippines and was on,
OF the types for which the regulars are
famous, roared out. TO he'll with 'em
fours right, march"
Punishment Light.
And head held high, alone he strobe
off the field in the direction OF hi,
quarters. Later, when the "old man
found out what il was all about, there
was a queer twitching OF mirth around
the corners OF his mouth, Discipline
demanded punishment but it was lgh,
In the language Of the corporal, They
pulled my belt for thirty" meaning
that he had been fined thirty days pay
adding "lndade, it was well worth II
to let EN- know my feelings"
Cloud, OF dust filled the air OF the
camp and the white, winding road into
the city Jew days later Bundled
into huge army trucks, some motorized
and some drawn by "jarhcads" and
"hard,ails" (pet names for mulcs), the
regiment, its units cheering, rumbled to
the railway freight yards. where four
complete trains were standing or the
siding, waiting to move the aggrcga-
/ ,
from regiments left behind at camp
stood in little groups and gazed with
undisguised envy at the last OF the dis
appearing troops.
Equipment Carried by Men.
Here in the freight yards was a
prime spot to look around and briefly
outline some OF the equipment carried
by each individual soldier. Box
lockers" the trinket holders OF the
Army which correspond to the "ditty-
boxes" OF the navy, were left behind.
Jackie takes his home with him when
he goes to a foreign port The soldier
does not The "barrack bags" long,
blue -colorcd canvas sacks, in which a
soldier put, his change Of clothing
were carefully tagged and stored in
the baggage cars, some 500 OF them
to regiment Not a word about the
ordnance carried that is military infor-
nation and not to be written Any
pen held by an American should refuse
to chronicle all details as to guns, al
least for the present
But there are articles OF personal
equipment borne by soldiers common
to all armies OF this can write and
you can read, for the subject is one in
which the country has universal inter
est and profound pride, and its telling
conveys no military secrets TO the
enemy.
"Papoosc" for Field.
Chief to enumerate is the "papoose,
or field equipment, strapped to the SOL
der's back 1t has three sections, the
first OF which is the blanket roll, -
which besides the blanket holds one
suit OF underwear, two pairs OF socks
onehalf OF shelter tent, five SHELTER
tent pins, one shelter rope, one shelter
tent pole, toothbrush. comb, cake OF
soap and a small housewife" holding
buttons. needle and thread and a wee
pair OF scissors. The second section
holds the mess kit" consisting OF an
aluminium meat pan, knife, fork and
spoon, while the third section holds
the reserve ration kit" comprising
four packages Of hardtack, a can OF
bacon and can filled one-half with
coffee and one-half with sugar In
fantrymen carry 100 rounds Of sm-
nunltlon for their rifles in their belt,
with bayonet and scabbard, but artil-
llerymen and cavalry men carry pistols
and pouches containing twenty Zone
rounds OF ammunition each.
The boys looked business as they
filed into the tourist cars.
From the Mexican border to the At
antic seaboard i, Is approximately $500
miles, one third OF the hike to France
There are various routes and which
one we travelled is information that is
the property OF the war department.
The time Of the rail trip was six days
| owing to difficulties in making connec-
| tionS between some OF the four dlf-
icrent railroad systems over which the
troop trains passed. give few Of
the details OF the overland trip as rep
reSentative OF the movement OF an army
unit to salt water.
Soldiers Given Daily Exercise.
Two or three times a day each train
stopped for water and ice, arrange
ments for the same having been made
ahead Al least twice day the sol
diers were given an exercise run on
terra firma, keeping their military
formation Residents OF the small towns
thus honored seemed quite stunned by
the sigh, Of real soldiers in their midst
Beng regulars" the absence of poSies,
parade and praise-of intense, solemn
interest there was plenty shown on the
staring. mute faces OF the villagers
recalled the lines of famous army
poem
They aln't no tear. shed over him when
| he goes 10 war;
lie gets no speech nor prayful preach
from mayor or rovernor,
lie packs HIS little knapssck tight and
| trots OFF on the run
To start tho fight and start II right
Inside the cars as we rolled along
three men were allotted to a section
torty-iive in a car Rations, including
cooked meat and vegetables, came from
| kitchen cars located IN the center OF