Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-11
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CAMP MEADE GETS
MEN FROM AFFAIR
Three Newcomers, One From
Alaska, Answer Call of
Country.
MARTIAL SPIRIT SHRS
MARTIAL
IL SPIRIT sT,RS

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
CAMP MEADE, Admiral, Nd, Decem-
Der 1.-THE same. spirit that prompt
| ed the Minute Men of the Revolution
airy war to drop their civilian tasks to
shoulder muskets entered the breasts
| of three members of the 27th Engi-
neers at this cantonment.
| They were buried far in the wilds of
| British Columbia and Alaska when the
news of the big conflict that we have
entered reached them, months after
| the actual declaration of war with
| Germany.
AS Gen. Putnam left his pillow to come
| to the defense Of Bunker Hill, so did
these men drop their mining instru-
| ments picks and shovels, then began
| to 'mush" across a frozen land, endur-
ing all sorts of hardships while travel
| ing hundreds of miles TO the nearest
recruiting office. at Seattle. Wash.
They reached Camp Meade week or
two ago, and are now working faith
fully and diligently for Uncle Sam at
$50 per month Ali the garrison of the
camp points with pride to these sol
diers.
800 Miles With Indian Guides.
The clarion call came to Private Will
liam Rochester. a mining engineer,
who was doing geological work on the
headwaters of the Mass river. in Brit
ish Columbia. Immediately he quit his
work. resigned a good-paying position,
hired Indian guides and began a march
of 800 miles to Seattle.
iar,r
just when the snow was melting. and
he and his companions were forced to
construct many crude RATS and pole
themselves across the big lakes that
rose from the snow water and beset
their path. Then they tied on their
snow shoes. and slushed across the vast
and Wild country, only to meet other
diff1culties too numerous to mention.
1t took lust three weeks to make the
trip" said Rochester. "And before 1
had enlisted l found that the trip cost
me a round $500. Today 1 am making
$50 per month. But this is what ex-
pected. and feel contented with my lot
in Uncle Sans Army"
Another Heard Call in Alaska.
The second man. Corp. Richard Ma
guire. heard the call to arms while
prospecting along the tributaries Of the
Alsac river In Alaska He decided TO
take his chances against the Huns, and
started afoot on 135-mile hike alone
10 the nearest coast town, whence he
listed.
The other man holds the long-dis-
lance record of travel to join the col |
ors He is Private H. E. winfrey of
California. Winfrey was in Fairbanks,
Alaska. which is about $50 miles in
land. when he "hit the trafl' to shouI- |
der gun for his country He broke
records in high powered motor car
Tor $50 miles to the nearest railroad
The 18th Engineers is one of the new
engineering units being organized for |
service in France. At the present time |
IL Il mas roster of a little more than |
zoo men. largely recruited from mining
sections of the country. The men are
duartered in the barracks in the rear |
of the camp, some three miles from Adj
miral station.
Visitors Forbidden in Barracks.
new general order affecting visitors
vision headquarters It forbids all |
visitors from entering company bar
racks at any time. This was inter- |
preted as hardship by the men of the |
Capt. Lombard Of B Company has |
asked as a special privilege to have |
the mothers and friends OF the Dis
trict boys assemble in the clubroom
the barracks of his company, prom |
ising to pay special attention, that na
violations of regulations are commits |
TED. 1t is thought that Brig Gen. will
ham J. Nicholson will approve of the |
request and amend his order to comply I
Lombard.
The necessity of this is especially |
congregating centers in the camp |
where visiting mothers may walt to |
meet their sons. Since the weather /
mas become SO intensely severe some |
regulations of character similar to |
that suggested by Capt Lombard will |
be necessary to care for these persons |
A trip to the cantonment, under the |
present system. would cause untold
hardships for women and men alike |
not accustomed to the sweeping winds |
and zero weather in such an exposed |
location as Camp Meade. At the pres
emit time the only shelter offered is |
in the buildings of the 7. M. c. A..
the Knights of Columbus and the new |
Y. w. c. A. bungalow.
Some interesting changes are being |
made In the garrison of the Liberty
Division. which are yelled by the camp
censor for good military reasons. They |
involve large number of boys from !
the District The exact nature of the |
news will be released in a short time |
for general publication.
cd. c." Now Mules Name.
The new headquarters detachment of |
the District Machine Gun Battalion |
took part in a merry chase yesterday |
when a mule in their stable broke |
loose and started on a cross country |
run toward Portland. not being over
hauled until the soldiers had raced |
for miles up hill and down dale, led |
by their superior, Stable Sergt. Victor |
Olmsted
1T was a new form of exercise that |
beats anything the regular training |
course" commented one Of the soldiers |
The blamed thing was heading |
straight for Washington. and no doubt |
1t IL a long-eared friend from the cap |
itaf added another khaki-clothed |
youth from one of the local boards
Anyhow, the incident won for the |
mule the name of I'D. c." and It's new |
title will stick until the days Of serv- |
ice are over.