Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-07-18
LETTERS. FROM OUR
SOLDIER BOYS
From Different Posts And Train
Ing Camps Of Uncle
Sam.
From Robert B. johnson.

Fortress Monroe, Va, July 6, 1917.
There was report that submar-
inc was in the bay yesterday and last
night some of the companies stayed
up. Battleships and destroyers were
parading all around and they had all
the searchlights working across the
Bay.
Chester Nelson was a visitor here
again on the 4th. Edward Penning-
ton, a grain inspector of Willmar was
also a visitor here. He was on some
business to Washington and came
down to see US. Believe me, it sure
was fine to see fellow from home.
We tried to get a pass for him into
the fort, but the Major General was
not in his Office the 4th Of July. We
spent the evening of the 3rd and the
4th with him and ~ left on the boat
for Norfolk from where he was going
back to Washington and from there
home. He sure is some sport to come
down to see us and we were very
sorry we could not get pass for him.
Aeroplanes are flying around here
every day, as they have some aviation
field not far off.
The neighb0r company Is leaving
for fort on Fisherman's Island at the
entrance to the Bay, and tomorrow
we are going to move into their quar-
ters.
noticed that the Russians had cap
tured about 10000 prisoners. Hope
it is so and hope they capture that
many each week.
We may organize base ball team
here, as the other day, the lieutenant
asked for the names of all who would
partake in any athletics and what
kind.
The past week we have been on the
range and Joe Holmberg was the only
Willmar fellow who made Marks
man." He made 155 out Of possible
! 200. The requirement is $50. Mon
day, the first day of practice, I took
Is shots from the 200 yard line, lay
ing, kneeling and standing, and
out of possible Is made 81. Then
took 10 shots from the 300 yard line
and made "a out of so. Next time
had 10 shots at 200 and 10 at 800 with
battlesight, (this sight shoots straight
at $50 yards), so we have to aim more
than two feet under at shorter ranges,
so it makes it kind Of hard. This sight
is used at the rapid fire and we had to
get used to it, otherwise we have the
privilege to use either sight. Next
made "a out of so both times, making
60 out of 100. We then had rapid fire
and l made "a Of so at 200, and Al Of
so at 800, making Is out of possible
100. This would have qualified me,
in all 229 out of 325 in practice, and
1 thought I had good chance to
make $50 out of possible 200 when
we came to shoot for marksman to-
day, but fell down just like fellow
always does when he tries the hard
est. l made total of 120 out of 200.
However, any one having 120 or over
is what they call "a first class shot"
so made that anyway. In rapid fire
fellow has to fire 10 shots in min
ute kneeling. at the 200 yard line,
and in one minute and 10 seconds lay
ing at the 800 yard line, but you have
to be in standing position and when
the target comes up kneel or lay down
as the case may be, and as the rifle
holds only 5 shells you have to put in
one clip also in that time. So fell
low has not much time to aim.
Tomorrow, being Saturday, we have
most of the day off. Well, guess I
will have to hit the cot for the night,
as we have to get up without fail at
o'clock every morning.
ROBERT B. JOHNSON