Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-20
KEYSTONE TROOPS
WOULD GO ABROAD
Men at Hancock Enthuse
Over Intimation of Early
Service in France
MAKING UP LOST TIME
First City Troopers Still Worry
Over Possibility of Being
Converted Into Artillery


CAMP HANCOCK, Augusta, Ga, Sept. 90.
Lacking only thirty men OF full war
strength. Philadelphia's three infantry regi-
rnents are undoubtedly the best equipped.
most efficent units on the drill grounus.
This is the opinion of officers who have
watched the men work these last two days
and II is an opinion which Brigader Cen
eral Stllwell, in command. heartily in
dorses
The men were the last in camp and
the last to start training. but already the
Sixth Infantry has made up some of the
time lost by working an extra hour each
day and the First and Third are the first
units prepared for the spectacular bayonet
work next week. Men of the Sixtieth vol
unteered to work from Z o'clock in the
morning until half an hour longer than the
other units, in order that they might not be
behind the schedule at the end of the first
week. 1t is likely this plan will be adopted
by the other two units, and it 1t also likely
that all three regiments will drill on We'd
ncs6ay and Saturday the two half-holidays
granted in the schedule.
The Fifty-hfth brigade, General Stillwells
command, has personnel Of 5995 officers
AID men. 1t is expected that thirty recruits
will be gained in a short time. This is a
good opportunity for Philadelphians who
desire to enlist in the service Recruits are
being received here daily, but the number
does not meet the demand of many units,
the perso;.a,l of which is far below war
strength.
Camp Hancock is a camp Of rumors, and
these rumors have had the effect of making
the men enthusiastic over their work. Dur.
ing the last few days it has been variously
reported that the division would move in a
short time, II inspectors considered the men
Mt to cross the water and finish the six e
teen weeks Of intensive training in France.
When this report was bruited about the
company streets the boys arrived at the
conclusion that the harder they worked
the quicker they would get into action, and
accordingly there was an immediate de-
sire to tackle the course OF work and, II
possible, finish It long before the set time.
This morning every one in camp is dis
cussing report that the Pennsylvania s
division is to move out of Camp Hancock
and that the New York Guard will move
In. For years there has existed keen COM
petition between the forces of PENNSYLVANIA
this report pleased the soldiers, as they feel
certain it means that they will get to
France before the soldiers of the Empire
State. OF course, nothing official has been
received to this effect
Brigadier General Price will have his
hands full during the absence of Major
General Clement, for the General has de-
cided to retain active command of the
artillery brigade while he is on duty at
headquarters as temporary commander Of
the division. The absence Of Colonel Ham
tlton d. Turner, commander OF the Second
Field Artillery, will have no effect upon the
training OF that unit The officers and men
will go on with the ordinary schedule which
the Colonel supervised before he left camp
on sick leave.
These are not pleasant days for troopers
OF the First City Troop. because they can
not find out just what is TO become of them
majority of the men are pleased with the
assignment to the remount. but they do not
like the idea of being transformed into
artillery service. All indications are that
the entire cavalry regiment will be trans
ferred to that branch Of the service. on
GERS declare this would be unfair to many
of the men who enlisted for cavalry SER
vice. and they insist that the Government
give them square deal by granting them
their discharge II it is decided not to send
cavalry regiments to France. Neither the
officers nor men like the troops new desig-
nation. The unit is proud OF it's title, First
CITY Troop but division headquarters does
not recognize that name. All communica-
tions addressed to Captain Thayer bear the
address Troop E