Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-22
A PLATTSBURG FIND
Real Soldier With Victoria Cross
on Way Home to Boston

than Is years old, and in tho sudden in
flux Of leave men from the training camp
he found himself all at once surrounded
by men wearing shoulder straps, talking
much and generally occupying space.
He shrank back into his corner and
seemed to be trying to efface himself
There was not much getting away. On
| one flank was Maj. Barlow. the actor
| soldier; On the other. Capt James s. s..
Richardson. formerly was correspondent
with Pershing. Directly in front was
Bozeman Bulger. erstwhile a metropolitan
baseball writer.
It was Bulger who discovered the Eng
lish soldier. He spoke to tho boy and
asked what his outfit was. The Mon
| treal Rifles. sir" said the youngster COM
| ing to attention and saluting.
He told them his name was Budford
and the crowd promptly christened him
Bobby Budford. Details Of his career
in the Army were dragged out Of him one
at time. it presently developed that
he was twice wounded and had the VIC
toria Cross in his pocket.
Finally somebody said: what part Of
Canada do you come from, Mr.. Bud
ford?"
Canada, hell" said the boy. I'm
from Boston, Mass. and I'm on my way
home
Turned Loose on the Town
When $500 Of the 500 students at the
| training camp are turned loose on this
| town. the result is impressive. The two
principal hotels choke up at the dining
room doors. and their piazza rails become
dadoes Of bootsoles. The shops are full
Of olive drab and the streets are slow
moving, smoking. jaw-wagging process
sion.
The whole camp was on leave Saturday
night, though only about half the men
came to town. This half is trying to en-
JOY a change from camp. that is about
all there Is to it. There are two or three
movie shows Of the most un!nteresting
kind; there are half dozen places where
one may eat; there is the always wonder
full Y. NJ. c. A. hospitality. The SHOVE.
baths are working overtime.
But beyond this, the program Is for tho
most Of the men to bu cigars instead
itch eternal cigarette OF the soldier;
to fill the pockets with sweets and TO
lounge alon gthe streets, munching,
+ chatting, drifting.
Highest Brewsd Soldiers Yet
! The salocn-keepers stand with wlstful
looks at their doors, but no student en-
tiers. The girls of the town occasionally
smile and sometimes the cadets respond.
But mostly. II one sees a soldier with
woman on the street or in the motor cars
or sitting in the hotel, the girl Is his wife
or the wife Of a brother eihcer.
It is the softest spoken. highest brow
accented soldier crowd that ever invaded
town.
instruction Stacked off dead before
noon Saturday There wee the odds and
ends Of getting settled in the barracks.
especially in those who have just got the
new two-story hunks. There was the last
bit Of missing equipment to get from the
oua rtermaster. There was a certain
amount Of paper work to be done. There
was typhoid prophylaxis to administer to
the first bunch Of those who have not had
IT..
! Considering these things, the two ma
iors commanding the wings OF the camp
shut up school early. Each summoned
his regiment into a grove and gave II
heart-to-heart talk. Maj. Stewart, ad-
dressing the New Englanders. told the
men what he expects Of them. in much
the same terms that he gave to the COM
mandine officers Of the companies sew
eral days ago.
Training to Train
They are TO be trained to train, rather
than learn to do. They will learn to 90
only so far as it is necessary for them TO
be able to explain and show. They were
warned as to methods. to explain and to
analyze thoroughly before attempting to
make their pupils go through the thing
that Is being taught.
Mai. Stewart said that 1t was not over
stating to say that 20 per cent. OK the
time allotted for teaching a given stunt
might we'll be spent in explaining 1t be-
forehand.
The men were specifically forbidden to
visit Canada Saturday. There is a law
on the subject, but it Is not generally
known. and the officers believed that
embarrassments Of all sorts might result
II men in uniform took the notion to cross
the frontier. It will probably be allowed
later on.
Nearly 100 newspaper men at the camp
were to hold meeting Sunday morning
for organizing.
ProphyIaetie Fan
Tho prophylaxis was productive OF the
usual humorous incidents. There was al
ways the big husky who tainted when he
saw the needle thrusting into his flesh
and the bigger husky who didn't even get
so far but passed away while still In line
! waiting his turn.
As always. there was the ingenious
and humorous surgeon. who took advan-
tage of a mans being "out" to TAB
him in the arm before he could come to
again.
The officers have been very much
pleased the way the men have gone into
the work and said as much to them to-
day. They limited, however. that the
Growing glee over the easipess Of this
camp in comparison with last years
will not much longer be possible At pres
ent they are waiting for the boys to get
their second wind.
0D1uAUA0 Ann