Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-10-31
Two Companies Of N. p.


police, numbering $50 enlisted men each.
The First Company is from Pittsburg,
and the Second. from Philadelphia, Pa.
The personnel of both are picked men of
extraordinary stature, professional po-
licemen and fremen Many of the mill
tary police are ex-state policemen, which
insures their caliber. as the Pennsylvania
State Police Force ranks with the Cana
dian Northwest Mounted as the two best
bodies of soldiers in the world
Detectives ire Force.
Many detectives arc also included in the
organization The curtains are drawn
tightly over the inside workings OF the
force and the utmost secrecy guards
their every move. Not only is this true
in regards to the rest of the guard ana
the inquisitive outside world, but #ithln
the organization itself, Verify, me Ilsnl ,
doeth Often one of the men VIII ne
called to the head Of the street, away
from the canteen, or from friendly game
OF craps in which he may have DECIDED
business interest Suddenly, from the
midst of his fellows, he vanlshes. he IS
under secret orders. He may be IN NAME
dressed as a citizen, or he may go TO taI-
ifornia, and pose as deserter. nat
ever he doVs, and wherever ne goes, ne
represents the long arm OF Uncle sam,
and has the entire government behlnd
him. EIe may be gone q day-he may be
gone a month.
pears among his fellows again ana taxes
TN the camp life where he left 1t Off.
None know whence he comes, or where
he was sent No one knows what duty
sent him off, and, knowing the futility
of the question, no one asks IN mat
secret mission for the government. the
nature of which possibly only he and his
commanding officer knows
Absent Without Leave.
soldier NAV be absent without leave
for nine days, twenty three hours and
fifty-nine minutes before he constitutes
passes the secret service ice is trailing
him, nor does it relax It's vigilant search
until the culprit is safe in the guard house
awaiting his court martial.
The activities of the Military Police are
not confined to police and detective du-
ties, however. The men, as body, are
trained as fire fighters, and under the d.
vision fire marshal, answers all fire calls
from any part of Camp Hancock. COM
prehensive and efficient system of fire.
fighting has been worked out, and the
well drilled firemen have already proved
their metal in combating blazes.
Much stress has been laid upon this
important point as the mess nails and
other buildings throughout the camp are
constructed of yellow pine, wood that
is especially infiammable. and owing to
their proximity and positions, a small fire
starting in one of them might sweep down
an entire line, destroying half a hum
dred.
Organized This Year.
The Military Police, as unit. was
organized in May, of this year, and at
tached to the headquarters Train. Pre-
yiously, their duties were detailed to
selected provost guard chosen from men
OF the ranks. Virtually every man in the
u4.it has had military experience and
training, prior to entering this branch Of
the service. They wear the yellow hat
cord, with leather bucl-strap pulled to
their chns In addition to the duties out
lined above, they will be required, in
actual war conditions, to keep open all
lines of communication between the yari-
GUS troops, and between commands and
their commanding officers.
Roster of Officers.
The headquarters of the Military Police
are at Sunbury, Pa. Captain Jackson w.
Study adjutant of the unit, whose home
is in Philadelphia, has been sent to
France, to study war conditions During
his absence Lieut.. James r. Ward, of
the Second Company, is acting in his ca
pacity. he complete roster of officers
of the Military Police is. as follows:
Colonel (vacancy); major, Command
jutant. Jackson w Study detailed to
foreign duty; first lieutenant (vacancy.
Assigned from Medical Corps-Major,
vacancy: first lieutenant, (yacancy);
First Lieut. Charles L. Schaeffer.
First Company Pittsburg, Pa.-Captain
J. Clyde Miller Homestead, Pa; First
Lieut. Ebert Shults, Pittsburg, Pa; Sec
ond Lieut. Frank r. Burgard, Sunbury,
Pa.
Second Company, Philadelphia Pa
Captain Henry Crofut, Philadelphia, Pa;
First Lieutenant. (yacancy); Second Lieu
tenant, James T. Ward, Philadelphia, Pa.