River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-03-28
At Camp Grant


to the place seems a rather prosalc
affair unless one comes to visit rela-
tives or friends But a chat with a
sightseer here the other day con-
WINGED US that even the everyday IN
cidents Of camp life are apt TO prove
novel and interesting to the uninlti.
ated.
If our visitor arrives before six a.
m. he will hear the revielle bugles
and watch the camp come suddenly
to life and see the men turn out for
roll call and setting up exercises
before the grand ''soap and towel"
rush that precedes morning mess.
Then another blare Of bugles brings
the men out again for the actual
work Of the day.
Down one street he may see a
couple or three hundred men, wear
ing blue overalls over their khaki,
welding shovel and pick in road re-
pair On nearby parade grounds
platoon or two of rockies are get
ting their first lessons IN the school
of a soldier. Perhaps they have just
arrived. and are still in their civilian
clothes. A small squad of men, fol-
lowed by armed guards may be seen
going out from the guard house for
their day of fatigue work.
Along the line of warehouses of
the quartermaster's department and
the storehouses of the different reg
iments long lines of monster auto
trucks and two and four-mule power
supply wagons may be seen starting
out with their loads of army supplies
of all kinds. Now and then Red
Cross ambulance will whizz and
clang past enroute to or from the
base hospital.
Out onto wide asphalt road will
swing a long column of soldiers,
abreast, 5000 or more in all, led by
their colonel and his staff on horse
back. and the regimental buglers
and drummers marking the pace.
Off into a field they go. and are soon
deploved in battle formation. then
assembled and deployed again, over
and over. every man in his place and
in incredible short time,
Over yonder is field crisis
and zig Jagged with trenches. In
one section is big detail of men
digging more trenches. Nearly a
regiment is in attack deployment
advancing upon an enemy" sector.
Far up the hillside is a detachment
practicing with hand and rife
grenades, under the instruction Of a
French or English officer.
Rows of SUSPENDED and prone
dummies among the trenches,
series of hurdles and wire
entanglements mark the bayonet
course where may be seen the most
strenuous of all army training.
Out on the range, on the banks OF
the Kishwaukee river, another regi-
ment is encamped. long rows of
shelter tents marking the line of
each company The outdoor kitchens
are set up and the noon meal is be-
ing prepared therein. At 1l:45 the
soldiers will form in line, with
their mess kits alert" and each will
receive his share of the mess as he
passes the pots and kettles. Each
company has its own kitchen and
these also are placed in align
ment.
Across a wide stretch of valley
signal men NAV be seen wig-wagg-
ing messages to each other. A de-
tail of map hounds" cross back and
forth in the neighborhood pacing
and sketching the battle ground. "
Across stubble, plowed fields and
through fences and up and down
sharp ravines. advance and flank pa
trolls are leading an attacking"
column in an advance upon enemy"
territory. At secluded corner q
bunch of soldiers are practicing put
ting on and taking off their gas
masks.
At the range proper the bows in
the pits are practicing slow and rap
id fire at bull's-eye and figure tar
gets. while in sniper's posts sharp
shooters are *sniping" suddenly ap-
pearing and disappearing targets.
From another section comes the rat
tie and spit spat of machine guns
and automatics, and occasionally
from still farther across the field
comes the boom of the field artillery
pieces.
Back in camp the remounts and
mule barns and corrals provide
scenes of action and interest. There
are in the neighborhood of 100000
horses and mules here. and besides
the care of them, which is no small
task. there is also the more spectac-
ular work of the cowboys who tame
the broncos. Cavalry troops may
be seen practicing in the larger
fields, and in the artillery sections
men and horses are being trained
with the field pieces and cassions.
A visit to the base hospital is not a
source of pleasure, but it discloses a
wonderful system for the handling
of sick and wounded and also the
treatment of about every ailment to
which mortal man is heir. 1t is a
monster establishment, every part of