Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-12-20
FROM CAMP LEWIS
December 1, 1917.

Our company is under quarantine,
just at present, for Spinal Meningitis,
one case having developed here about
ten days ago. The sick man was taken
| to the base hospital and hear that
he is on the road to recovery. We are
not allowed to leave the yard except
to go out to drill. We have infantry
drill first, but the last few days we
have been getting the regular artill-
cry drill, dismounted of course. There
is a rumor that we shall be sent to
California soon, to get our mounted
drilling. I like the infantry drill fine
with the exception of the gas mask
practice, which is very disagreeable.
Usually the first thing after break
fast we have about thirty minutes of
what they call "setting up" exercises,
which are intended to develope the
muscles of the entire body, then
marching and infantry drill until
noon. In the afternoon we get more
drill until $3.50, and then we generally
have games of some kind, finishing at
4:30. Retreat is played at 500, when
all assemble outside, all dolled up. The
while the captain salutes the colors,
and then we are dismissed for another
day. We have weekly inspection of
quarters Saturday morning, when we
are required to scrub the floor of our
barracks and dust off the shelves and
window sills, shave ourselves, and, in
fact, appear as spick and span as pos
a
up outside for personal inspection.
Every man is required to look his best
on this occasion; have his best clothes
on, be shaved, have his hair trimmed
closely (behind, at least), keep his hat
on straight, and he may be fairly sure
of getting "called" if he doesn't OBJ
serve each and every one of these
rules. Saturday afternoon is a holi-
day and Sunday we have no forma-
retreat at night Each day. men are
detailed as K. p. to wait on tables and
wash dishes. I drew this job last Sun
day, and was lucky enough to have to
stand guard half of Thanksgiving day
Inc rain fell in torrents on that day
but we have good raincoats issued to
us, SO one doesn't mind it very much.
We certainly had a great dinner
Thanksgiving day, and then pulled a
smoker" in the evening, some of the
boys being very good at singing and
fun making in general. We were to
have had a relay race to Tacoma that
day but it fell through for some rea-
son. Of course we Headquarters boys
could not have taken part, anyway,
on account of quarantine.
Our equipment is to consist of three
blankets, one quilt, one suit or uni
form (including blouse and two pairs
trousers), one hat with cord, one pair
of gloves, one overcoat, one rain coat,
two pairs of shoes, one pair of leggins,
three suits underwear, three shirts,
five pairs of sox and one half tent
We have it all now except one pair
trousers and the quilt. We have spring
cots to sleep on and by using our
overcoats our bedding is sufficient.
Our Captain says he thinks this
regiment will be motorized but if so
he doesn't know just how many men
will be assigned to each truck, nor how
many guns each truck will pull
Several thousand men have been
sent from this to other camps-S,O
going in one week. These men were
taken from the Depote Brigade, which
is strictly a training brigade. It is
composed of companies but not or
ganized into regiments. These men
have infantry drill and the organiza-
tion is for the purpose of training men
who are to be drawn by other organ
izations as they are needed.
The men of our regiment gave
big 4rodeo" three weeks ago with all
kinds of riding and roping stunts. We
had an audience of about $4,000 and as
the admission was so cents for sold
iers and S1.90 for civilians we had a
profit of several thousand dollars
which went into the regimental mess
fund.
Sam F. Peacock,
Headquarters Company, 34Sth F. A,
Camp Lewis, Tacoma, Washington.