The Washington herald., 1917-10-30
DISTRICTS men.
LEAVING MEADE
FOR OTHER WORK
Pennsylvania and Maryland
Soldiers Take Machine
Gun Soldiers Places.
By ANDREW r.. KELLEY.

Camp Meade, Admiral. Nd. Oct @.
Within q very short time the Dis
trict men in the s12 Machine Gun
Battalion will have as barracks bud
dies soldiers from Pennsylvania and
Maryland, for the three Washington
units are being greatly depleted by
departures for other points in the
country-a group moving today and
another being scheduled for depart
ure tomorrow.
1t means that the military ma
chinery operating the 18th division is
running smoothly with respect TO
finding out what particular kind Of
work the men of the new national
army are particularly ftted for TO
give the best service to the country.
Under the system in vogue. every
man is questioned by a personnel
board, which records his work in
civilian life, his preference for service
in the army and the experience he
has had TO ft him for work of his
choice, or in some other branch where
he can be more useful than In his
original assignment.
@square Pegss Fitted.
| IN Olner "OTOS inc SQudIt ptES dI &c
| being fitted to the square holes and
/ the Washingtonians have sacrificed a
number Of their most intelligent men
| because they have been moved to
other units where they can give mors
| efficient service than as machine gun
ners.
This classification has been COM
pleted to the point that the expert
. ffrniGtG accountants yngrhiniEGE AND
men with some professional educa-
ton have been listed and orders to
move for these soldiers are coming
along daily.
Their assignment or destination can
not be published and only an over
night notification will be given, in
order not TO disrupt discipline. But
the Washington men were OF a hiCh
| order of Intelligence and in proportion
to their number, those to depart will
be greater than that of either Penn
syIvania or Maryland.
In the exciting farewell given to
the colored troops from Washington
few forgot that they were ex'
pected TO take the train on Sunday
morning and landed in the camp
today. Some more are still miss
ing, and further delay wiE mean
that the guard will round them VI
and bring them down here. Thcil
absence has already been reported
to Adj. Gen. Donovan and he vii
have the cooperation of the police
in finding them.
Kuhn Inspects Camp.
Mai. Gen. Joseph r. Kuhn today
made an official inspection os thai
section OF the camp assigned TO tn
colored soldiers. He was greatly
pleased with the condition Of tn,
barracks and mess halls and found
the preparation for speedily cOmplct
ing the routine FOR the men and
starting the drill work well undo:
way.
On the tour OF inspection, Gen
Kuhn was accompanied by his entire
stan. They visited the mess halls
and sleeping quarters whore 3.2ot col.
orcd men are now learning the eie-
mcnts of military life.
Everything in the spare moments Of
the three Washington companies now
centers in the Halloween entertain
r1cnt which all three units will stage.
While the day also means the pass
ing Of old John Barleycorn in the Dis
trict. the present indications are that
very few OF the men will leave the
camp and the dances. entertainments
and "eats' that will feature the can
tonment celebrations. Visitors from
Washington will be welcomed without
passes and big delegation OF moth
ers. wives and sweethearts are coming
down for the celebration. which Will
be as enjoyable as it will be temper
ate.