The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-06
SHOES
SSUEDTOMEN
At WESTF|ELD
Equipped with Winter Uni
forms and Overcoats
ALL COMMANDS FILLED
Distribution of Vermont Soldiers to
Fill Vacancies Caused by Re-
jections Continues.

Transfers Of men from the ranks
of the first Vermont infantry to the
1O4th infantry to replace men who
have failed to pass the physical and
mental tests continue to be made at
Westfield. Inoculations were in pro-
gress yesterday throughout the camp
for typhoid and para-typhoid and Of
ficers and non-commissioned officers
from the 109d Infantry were busy
checking up and inspecting property
in the 1O4th Infantry. This has al
ready been done in the 1O3d Infantry
by officers and their assistants from
the Eighth Massachusetts,.
Supplies are being received and is
sued gradually. Yesterday trench
shoes, the kind with hobnails and
iron heels, were given out. There
has been plentiful distribution of
underwear, extra clothing and the lat
est issue has been overcoats. These
were received with whoops of joy for
the nights have been cold and the
men have suffered as the temperature
dropped on the high plains after sun
down. Most Of the companies had
their overcoats packed in boxes,
since there has been no call to use
them since late in the spring. They
were shaken out of the camphor to-
day and guards were garbed in the
long woolen coats tonight.
The camp has settled down to
routine. This morning there we're
regimental and attached divisional
| units drill. The infantry went out
with arms and went through evolu-
| tions in the school of the soldier.
| squad and company. Each day the
program is extended A half hour is
devoted to each division and move
ment so that the frequent change
makes the work interesting and keeps
the men from firing. They have been
trained so far under a program which
is gradually increasing every day.
Company commanders gave tho new
ly acquired lieutenants from Platts-
burg chance to show what they
could do and they acquitted them.
selves most creditably.
Thirty-four members of the attach
ed Sanitary Troops of the First Yer.
mont Infantry were sent to Camp
McGinnis at birmingham yesterday.
Others of the Vermont Infantry will
be transferred to take the places Of
the men failing in the physical tests
OF the 104th Infantry today.
There are now three bears at Camp
Bartlett as mascots. There is one
| in the Maine Camp, another with the
| Vermont troops of the Ammunition
Train and the largest of all with
IL Co. of Montpelier of the First Yer
mont. This last bear has Il special
perch which the men have built and
is glutton for honey. As the men
were paid recently they spend no
small part Of their money on sweets
for the bear. He is favorite with
the regiment and is making friends
with everybody in the Depot Brigade
The medical staff has been i'm.
creased somewhat by transfers from
New Hampshire and Vermont units
to the Maine and Massachusetts
troops, but there are still too few
physicians at the camp. More are
expected soon.
1t is easier to locate the company
streets and the officers than It has
been. On each mess shack is the
9 company designation, made in al
manner of elaborate fashioners, bu
nevertheless plain. Most of the off
GERS have pointed signs on their ten
poles telling whose home each ten
is, and the chaplains' quarters ar,
designated by blue flag and whit,
cross, while the national colors ar,
flown in front OF the quarters OF th
\ commander of each unit. The hospi
u tails and dispensaries are marked witt
the familiar white flag and red cross
and company flags mark the head an
!, foot Of each company street