The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-29

In connection with the recruiting
| campaign which is being carried on
in all units of the Kansas national
guard, the Howitzer company of this
! 18th Infantry regiment, located at
j Topeka, is making a vigorous attempt
| to complete its roster to war strength
1t is claimed by the officers and
men of the Howitzer company, that it
1 offers many attractions 10 the way
of military service which are not af-
forded by tany other branch of the
service.
The howitzer company uses small
gun, of thirty seven millimeters. cali
4 Der, firing a one-pound shell, and a
/ trench or Stokes mortar, using a shell
weighing ten pounds and eleven
ounces. Tho Topeka Company is
| equipped with two OF each of these
weapons.
Nest Accurate Gun in Use.
4 The thirty-seven miIlimeter gun is
use in the United States army 1t is
/ used in places where quick. effectual
action is needed, especially in wiping
out machine gun nests. The accurate
range of the gun is 2.40O meters
t nearly one and a half miles, The
gun is mounted on wheels and hauled
by mules. The entire personnel of
! the company is armed with automatic
pistols instead of rifles Lieutenant
| Fastino Domingo of the Howitzer
company, received much training
! with the thirty-seven milIimeter gun
while in service with the A. E. F. in
| France.
The Stokes mortar has an extreme
range of 500 meters, or about one5
half mile. Its SHELF is three inches
| in diameter and fifteen inches long,
filled with high explosive, which
has a bursting effect of 200 yards.
| Its principal use is in trench warfare.
| The howitzer company is a specially
| lied unit attached to an infantry regi-
ment, and is used to support rifle fire
Every man is a specialist, and on this
| account receives many privileges not
| accorded to members of other units
| in the infantry regiment. The how
| itzer company men perform no guard
| duty when in camp.
Many New Recruits.
The Topeka unit has enlisted fiji
| teen men within the past few days,
! and there are still vacancies which
| will be filled before the campaign
| closes. At full strength the organiza-
| ton consists of two officers and sixty
| three enlisted men. Out of the sixty-
| three enlisted men there are five
sergeants, seven eorporals, one fourth
class specialist, one fifth class spe-
| cialist. three sixth class specialists,
| and fifteen privates first class, all of
| whom draw a higher rate of paw than
| the private soldier
| A private's pay amounts to $1.25
for each drill period of one and one
| half hours. The drill is carried out in
the company armory at Sixth and
Kansas avenues, over the CapitoI
Building Il Loan association offices.
Captain Smith In Command.
The howitzer company is now com
| manded by Capt. William A. Smith. It
was formerly H company. of the
Fourth Kansas infantry The COM
| pany was mustered in November 26,
| 1918. Under command of Capt. John
| A Ashworth it saw service in the coal
| strike at Pittsburg in the fall of 1918.
On May I, 1921; the regiment was
reorganinzed, and II company became
| the howitzer company, then a new
unit to the national guard. Captain
Ashworth was transferred to the re-
| serve in July, 1921, and Capt. Ray
| mond T. Mckinney was given COM
| mand of the company. AS he was
| loeatde at Wichita, he never assumed
/ active command, and the company was
| commanded by Lieut.. Faustino Do
mingo up to August Is of this year.
Wins RegimentaI Flag.
The howitzer company has been
| awarded the regimentaI flag, as the
best drilled company in the regiment
for the past three successive years. At
the Fort Riley encampment last sum
| mer, the howitzer company made a
score of 1917 per cent on sanitation
! the best record ever made in the kan