The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-09-21
|bR|T|SH TROOPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Open MOST TERRIFIC DRIVE OF THE WAR
CHARM Of
AMERICAN LAKE
KROH, OF MOSCOW, PAINTS PEN
PICTURE OF GREAT TRAIN
ING CAMP

Odlup Lewis, wash, sept. 10, 1915.
I have put off writing in the hope
that 1 would first know definitely
whether l was to stay here or not,
but things move so deliberately that
1 have decided to write anyway.
We are now settled in Co. d, 361st
Inf, after moving from Co. Ii to Co.
F, then to Co. D. There are about
40 men to each barrack, which are
made to quarter one company of 250
by filling in with the incoming drafted
men; $4,000 are due beginning next
Wednesday. There are about 2500 here
now besides 1900 or more officers,
along with some of the regular army.
Work so far has been mostly getting
quarters in shape and cleaning up
the grounds, with very little military
drill. Very easy life-mostly lying
around, eating and sleeping. The
lights have been going out at O'Clock
in Co. D and we get up at 6 in the
morning. Each company barracks
has it's own kitchen and we do not
even have to wash our own dishes
as yet.
When we arrived the dust was two
or three inches deep but Friday morn
ing, day after we arrived, rain fell,
and we have had more or less rain
since. Today was very warm and
bright, as was yesterday also, and
everyone feels in fine shape.
The camp is about two miles from
the lake on a level spot entirely sur
rounded by a dense growth of fir and |
pine The cantonment itself has, ! |
should think, about 500 buildings and
extends in a great "U" much over a
mile long-parade grounds inside. The
reservation on which the can
tonment is placed comprises over 70,-
600 acres. To the east is a glorious
view of Mt. Rainier, rising right out
of the lowlands it appears, snow COW
cred far down it's sides. Tacoma lies
north and east about 16 miles with a
perfectly paved road.
John Cramer and | went in yester
day afternoon, as we did also the pre-
ceeding Saturday. Good automobiles
take you there in 4 0minutes for 35
cents The road is crowded with cars
and trucks of all kinds-one can count
them by the hundreds in the space Of
an hour; trucks either empty or load
ed with supplies OF soldiers, the pleas
ure cars usually loaded with civilians
and khaki-uniformed men, often hang
ing six or eight ON the outside.
There is little of interest in Ia
coma. 1t seems less city than Spo
kane. The stores charge generously,
so much so in fact that many officers
and men are going to Seattle to buy
ETC., particularly the officers
,wo hours from Tacoma by boat or
,ail
Later pass from camp will be more
difficult to get so we -intend to go
lround little while we can. There
S alsa a trip up Mt. Rainier which
would be good. Cars go up and back
n a day-not to the top of course, but
ar above the snow line.
There are a great many university
nen here, many fine fellows from east
nd west. There are also some fairly
tough lockers" but on the whole a
oily, good-natured lot and practical
Y no complaining is heard. The Of !
GERS treat the men we'll, but will !
ighten up soon and work us hard.
PRIVATE KROH. S. j.,
Co. D, 361st Inf.
S. J. Kroh is 1914 Idaho man." who,
ince his graduation, has been an as
istant in the chemistry department at
he university. He is "pre-medic"
nd if accepted for military service
opes to be transferred to the medic
| corps.