The Washington herald., 1917-10-16
men AT MEADE
BUCKLE TO WORK
Districts Soldiers, Put
Through PAGES, Show
Proficiency.
ny ANpREM r. KELLEY.

Camp Meade. Admiral. Nd, Oct.
I5-District men buckled down today
to the first real tough work which
the men of the s12th Machine Gun
Battalion win undergo In the task of
becoming real soldiers.
The routine Of the day began ear
lier and It lasted longer and the brisk
hike that featured the afternoon pro-
gram for all three companies, left al
most every man who engaged In it.
a tribe worse for wear but still en-
thusiastic because they are keen for
acquiring the elementary moves in
the school of the soldier and getting
down to the less tiresome and more
interesting work with the machine
guns and side arms. And each day
brings them nearer to the goal.
Begin Work at 7sso n. m.
The days work commenced at 7:s0
a. m, instead of 8 a. m, and almost
the sntirs morning was devoted to
drills and lectures 4
Chief duty Sergeant Olmstead had
the honor Of putting Company B.
OF the a2th, through their PAGES
while Mai. Zane in charge of the
Battalion watched his work. olmstead
has won his spurs over a number of
regular army men, and unless ali
signs fall he Is on the right path
to shoulder ornaments. which desig-
nate the commissioned officer.
After the noon mess. the men were
hard at II again. After an hours
work in squad drill. the word was
given to take to the road. They
marched over the new parade field,
to the detraining station at Disney,
thence to Admiral and back to the
barracks.
Officers Set Pace.
Ths officers set a stifr pace and
when the men arrived back at quar-
tiers they had an opportunity to relax
while they were given a lecture on
the manual OF the interior guard, in
fantry drill regulations and the man.
ual for the noncommissioned. Then
more drill and an hour Of leisure be-
fore retreat.
Men from the District now have to
take their turn at guard duty In the
cantonment. The Tenth New York
Infantry have been doing this work
but since their departure for some
other point in America the work has
been distributed among the remain
ing regiments in the Camp.
Each company supplies a sergeant,
corporal and nine men for this duty
every three days. 1t is the first time
that any of the District men have
handled guns and they acquit them
selves like real "Saunmies'' after
brief instruction in the manual of
arms
Expect Rifles Next Week.
Beginning next week, the District
boys will have enough rifles to begin
work in squads on the temporary
ranges. They will he given instruc-
ton without ammunition in the prop
er aim. squeezing the piece, and pull
ing the trigger and il they acquire
proficiency in these things, which is
no easy task-they viii find them
selves in line to become expert marks
men.
-Four men of the District showed
up 26 hours late after their Saturday
leave. They were not relocated to
the guard house, but after their first
day of discipline, no doubt they wish
they had been so punished. Early
this morning they did kitchen police
duty, but that did not excuse them !
from drill. After drill they were
handed picks and shovels and set to
work filing in a good-sized gulley in
one Of the company streets.
Then the noon mess. After that |
work on the company wood pile. |
Then some more drill and a hike. |
Back to quarters and after all others !
were relieved for the day and found !
time for amusement they were set
to work again with the picks and
shovels. 1t was a strenuous and tire !
some day and must have more than
onset the good time they had during
their absence from camp.
Putting II on the Girls.
A number OF other men were mildly
disciplined for absence at retreat"
on Sunday night, and the Washing
ton girls are to blame. They took
the boys for a stroll around the camp
and neglected to remind them that
they must report at D. m. at COM
pany headquarters. The absence OF
the men will bring them a little
extra work this time and more serious
punishment If repeated.
Company A did not like some Of
the food that was served for break
fast, and Capt. Taylor. who heard
Of the complaints, agreed that the
boys were justified in voicing objec-
ton to the hash" As a result he
ordered the kitchen police on duty
In the future at 4 a. m. which means
that everything cooked for the morn
ing meal must be put on the stoves