Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-20
LOCAL BOYS AT
R0SECRANS ARE
ON HEAVY Guns
Reports Are They Are to Get
Speedy Training and Then
Go TO France.
ARE IN COAST ARTILLERY
Physical Reiectments Made lndi-
cate Quick Route TO Ac-
tive Service.

me 100 ROCK ISIduQ StItC'iNtS
at Fort Rosecvaus may see foreign
service even before drafted men
Who preceded them to training
camps.
This is the report which comes
from the California fort where the
neal boys are IN training in the
coast artillery service. under the
direction OF veteran regular army
officers Colonel Pourie is com
maudant OF the fort Major Gun
ulueham is in charge of the traiu-
Ing % the men.
Reports are that the men VINO
trained al the fort just previous 10
the arrival of the local selectiyes.
were only given a three months
course and then were dispatched
ID France. being transferred from
She coast artillery service to the
heavy artillery with the american
eNpoditionaTy forces overseas. Ru-
m0TS a Fort RoSecrans are that
The local boys viii receive their
preliminary instructions in the
handling OF the guns. ranging II
size from TO Is inches. then viii
be transported across the sea and
later viii be placed in the service
of handling the field pieces which
are moved and operated on rail-
road cars at the front.
Another indication that the local
men are to be hurried through a
complete training eourse is indi-
do S1f
the California fort.
Reject Four or Five.
AS far as can be learned four or
five men from this city have al
ready been rejected because of the
very stringent physical test given.
Men rejected expressed the opinion
that had they been sent to an ordi-
nary cantOnment they would no.
have been relieved from service.
The Rock Island men are still
in quarantine. There are only $40
men in training at the fort The
camp is near the fort, the boys
sleeping in tents. They have show
er baths and other comforts pro-
vided for in the regular national
army CanSOnments. The men are
in four companies of about one
hundred fifty men to a troop.
The fort is across the bay from
San Diego. The city is 10 miles
distant. Although still in quar-
antine and facing an intensive
training course. the boys no doubt
viii be given a chance occasionally
to visit the city. A government
boat will carry them across the baY
to san Diego without cost to them
or they can ride on a passenger
boat or trolley line for 10 cents
Near them is a naval quarantine
station and Camp KeaFney, a ma
ti0nal guard training camp: also
on an island in the bay is an avia-
ton field.
BusinesSlike Methods.
The boys were impressed with
the businesslike methods in which
everything was done. There be-
ing only $40 men in the contingent
which arrived at the fort, they re
ceiyed more individual attention
than otherwise might have been
given them. They were placed in
Immediately upon ar
rival, but no uniforms were given
out Instructions went to the COM
pany captains TO wait until the
period, which ends a
week from tomorrow, is over be
fore the uniforms are given, be-
cause the plan is to discharge all
men not up to high standard
More rejectn.ents are
looked for because Of the desire of
The officers in charge OF the fort
to prepare a battalion of men ready
for active duty within the course
Of a short time.
But while everything vas bust
nesslike, the Rock Island boys
at the kind treatment ac-
corded them. They found their Of
dcers ever willing to help and ad-
wise them, and although there were
some sore arms from the inocula-
tons given against disease, they
Immediately got into the military
spirit Of the camp ana began learn
ing their duties with prom ptness.
All Of the boys agreed that the
government knows how 10 handle
is men. The trip was pleasant,
even though long. They we're well
ied and cared for with all the nee
possible to receive while
III the train.
Among the boys discharged be-
calIse OF physical disability are:
Arthur c. Mccarthy. Fred Gegen-
1eimer, Frank Z Percy and Viii
liam Jacobs. They have returned
home.
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