Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-13
DESCRIBES DAILY LIFE
WITH CANADIAN FORCES
a. II. w. 'Mackreth Writes OF Expert
encos In Training Camp
mt Kingston.
ENTERS ARTILLERY SERVICE
Expects Early Orders to Go to
French FrOnt-OtIlcrs OF English
Party Leaving for England Enter
Aviation Corps.

rarity Leaving for England Enter
Aviation Corps.
The following letter has been
ccivcd in Richmond from a. II. w.
Mackreth, of The Times Dispatch staff.
who recently went to Toronto to en-
list In the Canadian overseas forces.
MIR. Mackrcth. with several other Eng
lishmen who have nade their homes in
Richmond. Is In the artillery service.
and expects shortly to be sent to
France for active duty.
His letter follows:
KINGSTON. ONTARIO. CAN. May c.
This being Il day of restto. III take
my first opportunity since being boot
cd. spurred and uniformed for His Ma
jcsty's service to remember all OF you
with "A brief account OF my Eo;ngs and
cominEs and OF my present fate.
Seven Of us-all came up from To-
ronto together--took the oath and lis
tened TO a long recountng of the pen-
altics-mainly dcath-for violation OF
It's provisions. and afterwards were put
to work cleaning carbines. In the after
noon got our fatigue uniforms. and
Kits. consisting. among other things,
OF a toothbrush. razor and knife.
which Is at once weapon. "a tool AND
an article OF general utility. Justice
CrutchRcld would send down for
thirty days for carrying IL. We also
go, each a housewife. She has 81 lot OF
sewing things for repair. In the az
ternoon we were fitted for our dress
uniforms. which we got the next day.
Spurs. shoulder insignia, lanyard and
several other things we have TO buy
ourselves. I think am nov complete
except in knowledge of all my du
HORSES RECEIVE:
MORE CARE THAN MEN
Eeveille Is At c. We begin the days
work by deyotin2 our undivided at
tcntion to the horSes-2J0 of them. They
receive more care than the men. Sta
BILE duty reminds me of barnyard work
at home and Of my cattic-ship expert
cnce. Breakfast-meat. vegetables.
bread, butter and coffce--is at $50.
After breakfast comes routine. Din
ner Is at 1890. For that we have
meats. vegetables and coffee. In the
afternoon comes more routine. then
stable duty and such other work as
may be assigned to us: and supper be-
gins at $50 For supper we have
bread and jam and butter and cheese
and tea. We have pudding OCCASION
ally. This morning we had eggs for
breakfast. ] knew IT. was Sunday, be-
cause we had eggs and because we had
TO 20 to church. The men march TO
the parade grounds, where they are
divided into squads. Each squad goes
to the church of Its faith. Church
going is compulsory. but got the bet
ter of the officers and the parson by
going TO sleep. With the exception of
stable duty at 4. we have the after
noon and night off. 1t is II welcome
surcease.
have become fairly well accustom-
ed to the work now, but Will he glad
when the military routine begins We
haven't been given drill yet because
the Royal School OF Artillery has had
horses. We begin this week. and
will catch it hard ut Camp Petawawa,
where we are to go on the :5th. The
battery WAS very much depleted when
got here because of a draft recently
sent overseas. Another may go in
six weeks, and ] hope to get in that.
The drafts go TO England for six
months intensive training before he
ing sent to France. and in England we
may be changed into any branch OF
the service before being sent 10 til.
ARTILLERY OFFERS QUICKEST
ROUTE INTO ACTIVE SERVICE
chose the artillery because IL was
the better class of men and because IL
offers the quickest route overseas. Ia
Toronto could have gotten into an Of
ficcrS' training school, but enlistment
seems TO offer fair advantage Just
now. and certainly one may The sooner
see action We have good officers.
thoroughly trained and experienced
men, ana scNcrai nave seen service at
the front.
This battery is morse artillery. which
is used a short distance behind the
first line. All the men ride carrying
light equipment and revolvers for side
arms.
BY the way. before forget it. Nc
Kay is here. He is now in the Off
GERS mess. not being able. nc
officers mess. not being able. on ac-
count Of recent operation, TO engage
In. ..tit ,,itr inc
linn in Toronto. and the next after
noon accidentally met Day. Guild and
Thornton. They failed on examination
in Montreal. and got in the Royal Fly
ing Corps as groundmcn, which is to
say, as mechanics or clerks Draper
and the two Soamcs passed the test
and were just in time TO join an over
seas draft. l suppose they are in Eng
land now.
On entering Canada one is impressed
Immediately with the fact that the
country Is at war. Soldiers are every
where. The first paper / opened con-
tanned long casualty list Of Ca
nahians, and on the streets in Toronto
my eyes We're greeted with manned
and crippled soldiers sent back from
I'rance-a fair enough prospect for a
man just before enlistinS. But. of
course. war is what Sherman is re-
ported TO have said it is-and more.
INTfiRNED GERMANS
TAKEN TO CANADIAN CAMP
The other day | had the pleasure
OF seeing $50 interned Germans and
Austrians removed from their camp at
Fort Henry, near here. and taken on
their way TO summer camp some-
where in the interior. They were all
smiles and gesticuations, and seemed
TO be happy enough. The other day
one of them threw his plate and con-
teEts into an officers face because he
didn't like the way in which one of
his own German cooks had prepared
the meal fe sentenced to two
years in prison. In Germany the SEN
tence would probably have been fir
ing squad and place under the sod.