The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-15

the Fifth Corps Area, though ex-
pected in camp today, had not ar
rived at late hour this afternoon!
Camp officials are busy on the
telephones in@an attempt to locate
!: the missing general but no success
has yet been. reported.
Competitive drills, planned for
Companies "A, 3 and c, and which
I were to be given in honor of the
general, Will probably be held any
way should the generals plans be
changed, it was announced this
afternoon. The band of course.
has been eliminated as part of
the entertainment for the COM
handing officer when he comes.
Mules Expected
The arrival of six mules for use
in machine gun maneuvers is eX-
pected this afternoonor tomorrow
morning Company D, the machine
gun division Of the battalion, will
be in charge of these drills and
t will practice shooting up targets
every afternoon the rest of the
week from 1 to 4 O'Clock.
Bayonet drills and special in
struction work were taken up this
morning. The soldier lads OF
Companies A, B and c. were in
Z
hard at work learning how to deX-
terously insert a bayonet-blade be.
tween their opponents ribs with
out exposing any vital portions Of
their own anatomy to danger.
Mai. C. A. Wood ofCharleston.
United States property and dis
bursting officer. was in camp this
morning. inspecting the financial
reports of the camp. He made no
statement as to what he found but
there was a smile on his face all
morning, so apparently the whole
works was, all right. He left the
camp late this afternoon.
Lotsn Fun in Evening
There's just lotsa, lotsa fun
around Camp Read in the evening.
Company D has a number of noted
singers in it's midst and they make
the camp merry with their round
alays. OCCASIONALLY. though only
occasionally. they feel religious
and cause the populace to wonder
if Homer Rodeheaver has broken
loose from Billy Sunday and is
directing the vocal music of the
camp.
Company c leads the whole
camp in It's fstic entertainm ents.
Nearly every evening the ring
trot out to try out their puSilistlcI
skill. After every one has a black
eye, youngsters from Barrackvillel
and vicinity, are given an oppor-
tunity to go and do likewise. The
kid encounters all have strange
fascination for the soldiers and at
tract more interest than the reg
ular scraps.
These are not all the athletic
stunts OF which the camp boasts,
however. Today the various in
fantry companies were going
through strange field maneuvers
Closely contested was pack-a..
back relay race between two ofl
the companies
About dozen men are lined up
and. at the word CO. the first
man takes the second on his back
and carries him about fifty yards.
At the line the second man rushes|
back and picks up the third man
and so on through the line. The
race was neck and neck TINS
morning and both sides claimed
victory.
Company . Some Bunch.
Company D is some bunch! The
reporter spent couple hours in the
orderly tent this morning, inter
viewing various members OF the
company and trying to dig
world War heroes who belong
to the machine gun outfit. Most of
the fellows are modest and won't
talk about their own exploits but
are perfectly willing to relate SONS
ones else.
About four-fifths of the men in
the company are veterans Of the
Great War and many Of the non
CONS in Company D were commits
stoned officers overseas.
Included in these are Sergeants
Pat Koontz, Edgar Needham and
Phil Herscher, all Of whom We're
captains in the World War; and
Corporal John Hart and Sergeant
Thomas Jackson. who were first
|lieuteEants in the World War. Cor
porai W. E. Staunton was also a
first lieutenant, in the marines.
Bull" Smith With Elm
Not least among the men in
Company D is L. o. ("Bull'')
Smith, one of the greatest backs
who ever graced a football field
for West Virginia University and
formerly mem Der of the Pitts
burgh National League Baseball
Club.
Bull Smith Is we'll known
through Pennsylvania and West
! Virginia. In late years. he has
played in various baseball leagues.
in this section. was member of
the old Clarksburg City league in
the nineteen-umpty-te and for
some time conducted an indepen-
dent team at that city.
He is now the owner OF a large
lumber business in Charleston and
is considered a frst-class citizen
and a more than successful bust
ness man by the residents Of that
city.
Have Croix De Queries
Capt. Samuel "A. Palmer. com