New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-30
Seventy-fve From Brooklyn
Regiments Are Missing
Two Days
Seek Old Commands
Absentees Liable to Death
Penalty; Men Engage in
Practice Fight
TsiAr Corrspondencel

CAMP MILLS, l.. l., Aug. TO- ~ 0''
us situation has been created st Canl
Mills by the action of about one nun
1,ed members of the 165th Infantry
Who have deserted the camp unless
hey return within twenty-four hours
formal charges of desertion probably
will he preferred against them.
Seyenty-fve Of the men, all Of whom
vers members Of detachments sent &c
loin the old seth from the 23rd ano
iAth infantry regiments Of Brooklyn
,aye been missing for two days. To-
,;gbt AZ roll call the number OF ao-
,entees had jumped to about one hun
ired. ,
number Of the men from the l4th
Today went to Sheepshead Bay where
yb.ir old command is encamped' aho
,leaded that they be transferred BACK
Colonel Hewlett Of the 14th hurried
n Camp Mills late this afternoon 70
discuss the situation with Coionei
aine Of the l65th.
What took place at this conference
a not known. Colonel Hine refused 70
discuss It beyond stating that he had
urged the absentees to come back 10
heir new regiment immediately
Colonel Hewlett would make no state
nent.
Liable To Courtmartial
With the United States in state
II war, these absentees have placed
themselves open to the charge OF de-
,ertion and subsequent court martiai
oroceedingfs, carrying with them a pen
,Itv OF death in time Of war. Ofhcers
here. however, influenced by the fact
hat most of the absentees are boys
who do not realize the gravity OF their
offence, are inclined to deal leniently
NTH them. II they return at once, IL
vas learned at camp to-day, they prob
,blv will be reinststed in their COM
Danies and disciplined with minor pun
shments.
Should they persist, however, in their
defiance Of military authority, II Is
rot at all unlikely that instead Of 60
mo to France with the 69th the best
shey can hope for is a term IN FORT
Leavenworth, Kansas. il is said.
Five Of the missing men returned 10
camp tonight. They were told 70 re-
bort to Colonel Hine, who sent them
20 their tents. Their cases VIII De
passed on tomorrow.
II has been known for some days mere
that there was dissatisfaction among
The men who had come to JOIN the ola
s9th from various other new iork
Guard units. Some Of these men have
heen grumbling since their arrival here
At the fact that they had been Obliged
10 give up the comradeship they en-
loved in their old commands. Nothing
Is being left undone, 1t Is KNOWN 70
ind the missing men.
Dinner to Regiment
The men of the seth simply raced
through their work to-day, for they
knew that a "send-of" dinner was
waiting for them at $3.50 mess. call.
While the other New York Guardsmen
we're dining in their respective arrno-
ries, the boys here were getting the
,ame spread II included young turkey,
corn on the cob, vegetables, soft drinks,
cigars, cigarettes and ice cream, all
treats for men In camp.
And following the "send-of" dinner
md evening parade, delegation from
the Lambs, under the direction OF
Percy G. Williams, came to the camp
and gambolled for the soldiers. Inc
talent included Andrew Mack, Emily
Steyens. Hilda Hawthorne, Genevieve
robin, Tom Moore, Harry Puck, Peter
Murray, Coakeley and Dudley and the
Kaufmanns.
Three hundred and fifty men were
rkilled" and four hundred made
prisoners" early this morning in the
irst battle fought by the 69th.,
The SIGHT was staged on a hilly heid
near Camp Mills, and was umpired by
Major William J. Donovan, who with
Captain William Kennedy drew up the
plans for the man9uvre.
Companies A and formed the de-
fensiye in a long ditch hidden By grass.
Companies C and d attacked: when
Major Donovan blew his whistle 70 be-
yin the fight Company D advanced in
itraight line 10 engage the enemy. The
fortunes of war were from the begin
ming against this unit, and the men
we're told that they were merely can
non fodder, 20 be sacrificed to pave
the way TO a complete victory.
Just as soon as the Company o men
rushed into the enemy's trench and en-
gagged In a hand-to-hand combat Com
pany c, commanded by Captain Ken
nelly, dashed forward in platoon col
umns.
When these FIVE wedges struck the
trench the enemy became completely
demoralized, although they made sew
eral attempts 10 rally and save tho
day. But all hope for victory ws'
given up when the men saw that theii
captain, big Tom Reilly. had been capt
ured and made prisoner by Captain
Kennedy and his men.
Honors to Cs Platoon
The second platoon of Company
won special honors, having been tn
first across the enemy's lines. Ser