The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-02-08

ehiel ldCtS anu tHe mOSC import
ant except one and that is the
First North Dakota regiment act
ually showed the U. S. regulars i'm
maneuvres and in the different
hikes. Whether this is believed
or not. but when the boys get
nome more can be learned than
space will allow me to tell of.
The boys arrived at Mercedes,
Texas on the goth of July at one
O'Clock in the afternoon and
marched out into the outskirts of
this little city and was told to
pitch camp. 1t was still raining
and the grass in spots was as
high as five or six feet. Into this
the boys all fell to work anu
started to make their home which
proved 10 be their permanent
place for seven long month of
drills, hikes and road making.
draining the camp. In this grass
were numerous bugs and insects
of all kinds.
About two weeks the larger
part of this preliminary work was
done and. everything in fairly
good shape. Proceeding this I
stated the sanitary conditions of
the camp of ist N. DIS and this is
the reaso why:
The boys tell of the Texas
rangers as a ''bunch of exaggerat
ed numskulls,' who shoot first
and then ask questions. They
ride around in the day time with a
big gun on their hip and say
much, but at night sleep in
hotel with the doors securely
locked, so as to he safe from any
dangers. AS an example a boy
from Co. C of Grafton got into al
argument with one of them and
he pulled a gun but he didn't last
long for the little fellow hit him
so hard the chin that he measur-
ed his carcas on the ground. The
regulars on the border and the
National Guard have no time for
any of them.
The boys have gained on an av-
erage Of i2 pounds PR man.
Two old timers of Co. I '98
Philippine Island veterans: Geo.
Fleming and Charles H. Anderson
were renewing old acquaintanccs
today and reviewing the old times.
Fleming is now a member of Co.
I, while Anderson called to see if
any of the old timers were here
and he met the 19 officers and
men of the regiment that saw SER
vice i'm the Islands. Anderson is
now a residen! Of Portal. n. D.
Fleming will be rcmebcrcd by Il
number of Wahpetonians. as he
worked for Doc Purcell for three.
/; years.
To sum up the entire trip home
i'm brief it will suffice To say towns
where the boys stopped. stops be-
ing made twice daily, averaging
an hour. the people marvclled at
such we'll behaved fellows. A.
Albert Lea the boys )araded up
town with only IL nOn-commission
cd officer in command and not Il
man fell out of ranks or caused
any trouble.
What have the boys achieved?
First place from coast to coast in
the manual, maneuvers and Sani- :
tation. and most of all not an
other regiment of better behaved
fellows i'm the world. all cheerful.
courageous and realization Of
true fellowship.
They have made a name for n.
d. that will stand on record that
nothing can remove. Now is tn.
time for the citizens Of North
Dakota to- extend TO them rccoy-
milton that never can be re-
moved from their memories.
The boys are bringing home
with them many curios. including
pictures of the great maneuvers.
drills. one especially of littlc
lad who was seen daily about the
camp. Scenes of MeXicans being
shot.
They will tell you Of insects into
Mexico. down to the Gulf. If I
were to- mention all it would
spoil the c"lIcrtainmcnt that you
are sure to llav" when you get a
chance to speak to them per-
sonally.
MorlnA Kelley