Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-30

a little over an hour of rest they
again entrained. There were three
train loads of troops leaving the For
est city at s o'clock for the long.
hard haul up the Mountain Division
of the Maine Central Railroad,
through Crawford Notch and thence
over the lines of the Boston and
Maine and the Central Vermont to
the Fort. Although the run was
made through the Notch during the
dark hours OF the night. the very
outlines of the mountains were suffi-
cient to give the Maine boys an idea
of the wonderful scenery of that Sec
ton.
Under the conditions necessarily
prevalent on the train, 1t was DIM
cult to sleep and in addition, the
temperature was rather low, but in
spite of the discontinue the troops
were able to get some sleep. Sup
per and breakfast were served on
the trains and the large boxes with
their ample supplies proved very
popular.
The troops arrived at the Fort be-
tween $50 and 1880 Saturday morn
ing and Immediately marched to the
camping grounds. Here the lines
for the tents had already been staked
out and marked with the company
flags. so that each company COM
mander easily located the place
where his company would be housed.
The mess halls and cook houses were
already built and screened. but the
paulins had not been placed over
them to protect them from the
weather.
The members Of the Headquarters
Company, Seth Infantry Brigade of
Augusta. were the envy Of all the
other outfits in camp during the last
part of the morning. Nearly 90
members of that company had driv-
en- trucks and motorcycles through
to the camp and had arrived on
Thursday evening. These boys aft
err arriving had pitched the tents for
the entire company and Cook Man.
ley Haskell and Supply Sergeant
Robert Morton were already en-
ployed preparing a mess. which IL a
sample of the food to be eaten by
the company during the 15-day tour
of duty. proves that they are mas
tiers at the art Of stretching the
government allowance to meet the
demands of six course appetite.
Because of this fact. the Headquar-
ters Company boys were enjoying
their mess before the other COM
panies had more than thought about
eating.
Details were Immediately made up
to secure ice and other necessities
and to do the other things required
to put the camp on a permanent ba-
sis. Each man at once secured his
cot and bed sack. and after filing
the latter with straw, inviting beds
were made up and occupied as long
as possible during the day.
The men who came TO the camp
early suffered several minor casual
ties but nothing of real Importance.
Major William c. Goodwin strained
the muscles Of one leg while climb
ing down an embankment. Major
Goodwin is obliged to walk on
crutches for a day or so. put his
always present smile has not vanish
ed and he is as busy as ever direct
ing the work of his department in
the field.
Corporal Walter True OF the
Headquarters Company. while as
sisting with the unloading of some
motorcycles. caught his hand on the
running board of one in such a way
that bad cash was cut in it. He
Is not Connned TO MS quarters out
because of the nature of his work as
company clerk he is relieved from
duty for a few days.
With the major part of the work
OF settling the camp completed Sat-
urday night the boys retired. look
ing forward with keen anticipation
to the morrow. which was passed
quietly with only the necessary de-
tails being called upon to work. The
actual training for the various du-
ties OF the soldier began Monday
with special instruction for the diff
ferent classes of troops which is be-
ing given by competent instructors.
The hours of instruction have been
so laid out that there is little work
for the men in the afternoon so that
they may avail themselves of the OPP
portunity to visit the many places of
interest in the vicinity of the camp.