Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-03
PAY DAY ADDS TO JOY
OF LIFE AT FORT MYER
Hnrd-workinE Student Omcerr Made
Happy on Saturday by Walking
of ."Ghost."

WASHINGTON. July 2.-Twenty-
three hundred men in training for COM
missions as reserve officers In tho big
camp ut Fort Mycr were made happy
Saturday because they received their
pay promptly. During last week the
top sergeants Of the thirteen companies
In camp were busy making up the pay
roll. The mcEaphone call from head
quarters Of tho various companies Fri
day might. Come in and sign the pay
roll.' was pleasant music to the young
men.
The camp at Fort Myer Is consider
ed by the War Department the prize
outht among the sixteen training
camps. Colonel Charles w. Fcnton.
commandant of the camp. has been
told that the reports from the Fort
Myer camp have proved more satisfac-
tory to War Department officials than
any of the others. The fact that not
one complaint has been recorded
against food. quarters or treatment is
tribute TO the system instituted by
Colonel Fenton. In this he has had
the hearty cooperation OF Captain Sid
ncy Haight. who was adjutant when
tho camp started. and OF Captain Con-
rad Babcock. the present adjutant.
Last week was 4 busy one, not only
in camp drill and trench digging. but
in the execution of practical problems
SktrmfshfnE parties were sent through
out the outlying country in the direc-
ton of Rosslyn. Alexandria and else
where. 1t was assumed that an enemy
had taken UP certain location. Sim
| ulating actual warfare, various units
from camp were deployed under COM
mand of student officers to go out and
meet the enemy. The company 10
structors acted umpires. In play
ing this war game various units from
the camp took up the defense conduct
through the woods. AS result sew
eral men in camp are painted like In
dians with iodine to counteract too
close acquaintance with poison Ivy.
A curious incident happened Friday
night in the headquarters Of the Sec
ond Battery of Field Artillery, when
three men in talking with Ton Ser
geant John A. Hanley, Of Arlington ~
j.. discovered that all four OF the party
had seen service in Mexico under diff
ferent revolutionary leaders and that
all four had served as staff officers.
NUMBER OF MEN
HAVE SERVED IN FRANCE
number of men in the camp have
had service in France with the Ameri-
can ambulance. Clark Lindsay, OF
Charlottesville. Va. who is in the first
battery. received word this week that
the French war cross mas peen con-
ferred upon him for bringing out
wounded under fire. John Letcher Har-
rison. of the University OF Virginia,
who is In the second battaron, served
for nine months with the American
ambulance. He is spending his week
end holidays in giving lectures at Gull
pepper and Orange. Va. to raise money
to send two ambulanceS to France o.
w. Budd. Jr.. Of the fifth company, was
in France when the war broke out ana
served twenty-three months with the
American ambulance. Since he has
been in the Fort Myer camp he has
raised sufficient funds to send an equip
ped ambulance to his former COM
pany.
Sergeant instructors are being with
| drawn from military colleges and State
universities. a number OF these have
been detailed as assistant Instructors
at Fort Myer. In the intensive train
ing now in progress these men can
devote more personal attention to the
| individual candidates for commissions.
Harry c. Stuart. nephew or the
Governor OF Virginia, is a member of
the Fifth company and has charge OF
one of the bayonet drill squads. having
| been a member OF Captain koehler's
strong arm squad" ever since he has
been in camp. He is 1rst sergeant OF
the Fifth company and is being used
| as an assistant instructor There are
many Virginia Military Institute men
in camp who are being used as asss-
tant instructors of squads for their
companies. on account of their previous
| military experience.
1t is not "all work and no play" at
the camp. Each evening. after mess
and before study hour, the candidates
| crowd around one of the paddocks,
! where boxing bouts and other athletic
contests are held.
There are three bouts every evening
These are conducted under the direc-
ton OF the strong arm squad" This