The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-08-08
one WEEK IN A
TRAINING CAMP

q &c
Making Ready a Great Army fon,
Duty Across the Sta = ithlct-
ic Training Has Been the Best
Ever.
FOREIGN OFFICERS COMING
Men Must Pay Their Debts
Formation of A New Division
Sending Parcels to Soldiers
in France.
Camp Dodge, Iowa, August 8,
1918.-Putting the finishing
touches on the 88th Division Of
the National Army has called in
to action all Of the reserve fore
es of officers and men. Every
detail has been looked after and
there has been an enthusiastic
response on the part of the men.
Every unit has been placed at
full strength by taking men out
Of the depot brigade. It is in
teresting to note how nicely the
men fit into the special work as
signed them. In the machine
gun companythe other day there
were pointed out to us men dis
tinguished in many different pro-
fessions in civil life, but who
have taken Up the duty of ma
chine gun operators from choice.
They are husky fellows because
that particular branch of the
service makes large demands up
on physical strength and endur-
ance. For instance, a machine
gun weighs around forty pounds
and the tripod weighs about the
same. Then ammunition and
other equipment that goes with
the machine will weigh any num-
Der of pounds, but not less than
25 if only moderately supplied.
This makes about 100 pounds
that a gunner must carry. In
addition to this he must have his
regular equipment, including gas
masks, and all of this weigh re-
quires a man Of strong physique
to be able to carry the burden.
Then he must, have reserve
strength to set up and use the
machine gun after making a
dash for the enemy. Human en-
durance is taxed to the limit.
This splendid company of men
is made up of fellows from Min
nesota, Illinois, Iowa, both of the
Dakotas and a sprinkling from
q half dozen other states. To be
found among the men are such
fellows as Rainsburger, of Du-
luth, who holds the worlds re-
cord as an oarsman, having won
this title at the international
rowing meet few years ago.
Another machine gunner of re-
nown is Duncan, of Somewhere
in Illinois," who is one of the
greatest pianists in the United
States. He carried an insurance
policy upon each of his hands
for $4,000. Another prominent
character in this division is Slat-
ter who holds several records in
the athletic world. He is from
Minneapolis. This company has
been under the instruction of
Prof. Seymour, at the head of
the athletic department at the
State Teachers College at Cedar
Falls, Iowa, for many years, but
who now holds the rank Of cap
tain in the National army. The
inspection of every unit is care
fully looked after. Capt. Percy
Bordwell, formerly a professor
in the Iowa State University, has
been promoted to major and as
signed as camp inspector. He
was formerly assistant division
inspector. Inspector is an i'm
partant matter because the con-
dition Of barracks, all sanitary
regulations, the neatness of the
men and numerous other details
are involved.
Many Soldiers Made Wills.
Having ia mind the getting in
to the thickest Of the fight in |
France many men have had wills
properly drawn up. Since q rel
cent division order by which en-
listed men and officers here were |
notified that the services of the
division judge advocates Office
We're at their disposal, Mai. WI
a. Graham, Judge advocate and |
his assistant, Maj. "A. T. Wallace. |