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SEND THIS PAPER HOME I X V '^* S ®lF Published Under Auspices of National War Work Council Y.M.C.A. of the United States Vol. 1. PASSING OF FIRST CAVALRY REGIMENT Historical Pennsylvania Unit Loses Identity and is Ready to Be Transferred to Service Designated. Saturday was a day that will not soon be forgotten in the minds of the members of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, for, on that day, the historical regiment passed out of existence as a cavalry regiment, and now remains ready to be transferred to the branch of service designated. It has had a long and eventful career. A past that has been recorded in the pages of his tory, bearing a reputation that is hard to surpass. During the revolutionary war, a troop of cavalry was organized by Philadelphia men and they volunteered their services to the United States gov ernment. Their services was accept ed and they served diligently and loy ally throughout the war, returning to Philadelphia where a permanent or ganization was authorized. This troop was given the name of First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry and they re tained that title until they served on the Mexican border last summer, when they were given the title Troop E. From the time of the Revolutionary war until 1871, First Troop was the only troop of militia cavalry in the United States. In 1871, the state of Pennsylvania authorized the organization of another troop. This troop was organized in Tyrone, Pa., and was given the name Sheridan troop, in honor of the great American general, Philip Sheridan. This organization is the second oldest organization in the United States. They e’iminated their narX on the border, and became known as Troop B. Dur ing the Mexican trouble, this troop came into the limelight very bright. They were pronounced by the officials of the War Department, the best caval ry organization in the entire militia body. Slowly but surely, troops were or ganized in the various cities, until finally a squadron was made. Then another squadron, and then a battalion of the old Twelfth Regiment was turn ed to cavalry and a regiment organ ized. The First Pennsylvania Cavalry was the pride of the Pennsylvania Division. There was an air to the regiment that made it the least bit “different from the rest.” It seemed to be chiefly in the officers, for they manifested a great pride in their organizations. There was strenuous competition in the race to be known as the “best troop" in the regiment. Fondled in its childhood days, it matured and grew strong and healthy and now, it has a past beyond reproach. The regiment is in command of Col onel John P. Wood, whose home is in Philadelphia, and who practically grew up with his organization; a military man honored and respected by all his men, from the second class private to the highest officer, as well as by the officers whom he comes in contact with. The order from the War De partment that calls for the dismem berment of this organization, is felt more by him than by any other man in the universe. Why shouldn’t it be so? It was his pride, and he handled it as a parent would fondle a child, and to see it leave him, is like tearing a child from a mother's arms. The men hate to see it pass into eternity, but they are awaiting eagerly to step into the branch of service des ignated, and to build up an organiza tion similar to the First Pennsylvania Cavalry. The last rites were administered to the regiment Sunday evening after re treat, when Troop A assembled and marched up the cavalry street, with the “corpse” of the organization. Head ing the procession was a man with his hat resting on his left breast, followed by six men carrying a stretcher with the supposed corpse. They were fol lowed by a man carrying a saber an* scabbard. Then came three black horses led, and in their rear were three men carrying a saddle, saddle THE AUGUSTA HERALD Edition for CAMP HANCOCK Augusta, Ga. blanket, bridle and feed bag. Two cornetists headed the mourning sec tion, playing the death march and ap propriate music for the occasion. The mourners were marching slow ly, with their heads bared and hung, their hats’-resting on their left breast. As they passed each troop street, mem bers of the other organizations “fell in” in a column of two’s, and joined the procession. They marched to the head of the street and countermarched, delaying automobile traffic for almost fifteen minutes. It was solemn and im pressive, yet, jocular to the spectator, but in the hearts of these men, they knew that they are losing something that is going to be hard to replace. It is quite probably that the regiment will be transferred to artillery, that is, they will take the different troops to the artillery regiments that have vacancies, and fill hem up. For the men who are remaining, their disposi tion is not known. The officers of the regiment have not been asigned, nor do they know where they will be placed. The regiment is composed of the fol lowing units: Troops A, D, E, G, Headquarters and Supply of Phila delphia; Troop B, of Tyrone; Troop H, of Pittsburg; Troop F, of New Cas tle; Troop C, of Harrisburg; Troop M, of Dewisburg; Troop L, of Belle fonte; Troop K, of Bock Haven; Troop I, of Danville, and Sanitary Detach ment, Bellefonte. SOLDIERS’ CLOTHES REPAIRED GRATIS Ladies Will Meet at ‘Y’ Build ings Each Week for That Purpose. The Fosdick Commission, Mr. Frank C. Wood, has arranged for five committees of women, one for each of the Association Buildings, to repair the soldiers* clothing. These women will meet one afternoon in the week in each of the buildings and sew on buttons, repair rents, make alterations, and prforem any other service in their power. Some of the ladies were even willing to darn, the socks of the boys, but since army regulations prohibit of wear ing darned hose, this was found to be irnpractible. The soldiers will bring their clothing perfectly clean to the Association Bulid ing before the time stated, and will be able to secure them again at any time after 5 o’clock on the day when the wom en get busy. The difficulty arises with the fellow who has only one shirt, but probably some of his comrades will supply him with one while his is being repaired. The committees for each building will be headed by the following women: No. 75—-Mrs. J. W. Benet. U. S. Arsenal. No. 76—Mrs. W. H. S. Ellis, 1303 Fif teenth Street. No. 77 —Mrs. George F. Lamback, 250 No. 78—Mrs. Eugene Greneker, 705 Greene Street, No. 79 —Mrs. Charles Bowen, Central Avenue. LIBERTY”_OAN VICTORY CAUSES REJOICING Great rejoicing in Camp and probably in trench followed the report that more than five billion dollars (whatever that may mean!) has been subscribed for Lib erty loan bonds. Following closely on the three billion bond sale, this is a good record and it is perfectly clear, even to the Kaiser, that we can do it again when needed. To be sure, four per cent, is a fair rate of interest- Also, there is not a shadow of a risk. Then, too, it is prob able that when the war is over the bonds will sell above par. So that the degree of patriotism reached by wealthy people, who invest in safe four per cent, bonds likely to enhance in value, is almost neg ligable. They make no sacrifice. With the soldier boys it is different. They are facing the supreme test of their patriotism. They risk life itself in the great adventure for democracy and world wide Brotherhood. And yet, they have subscribed for the loan in immense sums in every camp, cantonment, fort, bar racks and isolated post in the United States. That they laid aside from their pay one and a half million dollars for the use of Uncle Sam in the conduct of the war. shows a monetary interest in its success, which is phenomenal. Thrift, foresight, good judgment, the ability to sacrifice in a good cause, thtjse qualities —foretokened by, this praiseworthy show ing-will help them in fighting this world war to a successful conclusion. OCTOBER, 31, 1917 THE ORDNANCE DEPTS WORK AT THE CAMP Supplies 2 Btli Division With All Material Not Included in Quartermaster’s Issue. Men from Civil Life Admitted For First Time. The Ordnance Department supplies the Twenty-Eighth Division with all material not included in the quarter master’s issue. Under the general head of ordnance comes all small arms, cannon and artillery caissons, saddles and horse equipment, target materials, and the repairing of all firearms. Such articles as are issued by this department do not belong to the soldier to whom they are issued, but remain government property which, in effect, is borrowed for the enlistment, or until it wears out, when it is replaced. The present is the first time in the history of the country when men are taken into the ordnance department di rect from civil life. Heretofore the pri vates of that organization had served two or more enlistments prior to transfer, but owing to the pressing needs of the new “overnight” armies, universities and colleges have instituted what is known as the “Ordnance Stores Training Course,” in which men are fitted for the non-com nisssioned ranks of the department. The University of Pennsylvania was one of the first schools i ntho country to foresee the necessity of such a course, and the first to open such a school, Pennsylvania Classes in Augusta. After six weeks of the study of the theoretical side of ordnance storekeeping the Pennsylvania classes are sent to the arsenal here in Augusta, where they re ceive an additional course and receive the practical training. There are now eighty U. P. graduates stationed at the arsenal, and another class will arrive within the next two or three weeks, after the pres ent one is sent out. The student pays for the university course, at the end of which he enlists in the army and receives the governmental instruction at the expense of the nation. All enlisted men in the ordinance depart ment now at Camp Hancock are gradu ates of the U. P. he department is in the able hands of Captain Vernon Barcas, U. S. A., who will have charge of the re organization. The new army organiza tion tables call for a company of one hun dred men and five officers. At present the work is being done by five enlisted men and two officers. Many College Graduates. A greater portion of the new personnel of the ordinance department will be taken from the graduates of the U. P. training course and the remainder will be trans ferred from the various regiments of the wenty-Eighth Division. There is a need for skilled mechanicians and saddlers, and an effort will be made to obtain these within a short time. After the formation of the new company the unit will become a part of the division encamped here. Under the old regime, it is the "camp ordnance depot,” and al though it works with the Twenty-Eighth, it is not a part of it. An ordnance repair shop has been erect ed, where the guns and small arms will be kept in order. When the division moves to Europe, probably in the spring, a mobile field repair shop will follow their movements on the battlefield, in or der that no time may be lost through broken parts, especially of the artillery’s weapons. e Three huge powder magazines have re cently been completed, in which will be stored , all kinds of ammunition, from the four-point-seven and three-inch shrapnel to the .30 U. S. Springfield shells for the infantry. Heavy guards with loaded rifles and automatic pistols will protect this war material from meddling hands, and any one found within the limits of the “dan ger zone" of the magazine will be com pelled to give a satisfactory account of himself, in lieu of which, he may expect trouble. Within a short time the artillery com mands of the division will move out to the range, where they will engage in pe riodical target practice. At this time they will use a great amount of powder and shells, and a constant stream of large calibre ammunition will be main tained between the base of supply and the camp storehouse. The men of the Ordnance Depot are busy making room and accommodations for the coming hundred, who will find their camp entirely prepared for them. Under Captain Barcas the new members of the command will be quickly whipped into shape and receive training previous to their, departure for the front. None of the state officers of the ord nance department are now in that unit at Hancock. ONE CENT POSTAGE ARMY NEWS FOR ARMY MEN AND THEIR HOME FOLKS THIRTY-FIVE MILLION To Be Raised in One Week, Nov. 11th to 19th —Penn- sylvania One-Tenth. At a meeting of the executive board of the Pennsylvania War Work Council, Edward K. Bok, editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal, was elected chairman, and Joseph M. Steele, vice-chairman of the committee to secure three and one half million dollars from Pennsylvania during the week of November 11th to 19th. Plans were perfected by which the state may raise its share to provide for the activities of the Y. M. C. A. in camp and back of the firing line, not only among American troops, but also among Russia, and Italy. At this Aseting Mr. W. Lowell Bald ridge, of Bbllidaysburg, announced that he had laid aside all business and will devote his entire time to interesting busi nessmen of his own and adjacent coun ties in this movefnent. Fifteen .thousand boys in the associa tions of the state are to be pledged to earn sl6-00 each to contribute to the war work fund. This phase of the campaign will be under the direction of H. J. Schmidt, state boys’ secretary of Penn sylvania. A speakers’ bureau to cover the state is being arranged by Religious work Sec retary Dreshman. Meetings have been held in a number of Pennsylvania cities setting up the campaign. At the Harrisburg meeting Mr. Israel stated that no less than twelve Y. M. C. A. secretaries have been chop ped to pieces while in action with the men. And that two secretaries, when the crisis came, led the men over the top when the officers fell. In another meeting it was stated that one Y. M. C. A. hut was so near the firing line that it was totally destroyed by a bursting shell from an enemy’s gun. In another hut a secretary who has lost an arm deals out writing paper to the soldiers with his remaining hand. . Madam Schumann-Heink has been giving recitals in Pennsylvania cities. In the afternoons she holds receptions to which admittanace is given to those women who have near relatives enlisted in the war. The fund must be secured. The Army Y. M. C. A. activities are indispensable in army life. Christian people always have met a demonstrated nJ*jd and will do so again. CAPTAIN FRENCH On the transfer of Captain Frank D. French, assistant quartermaster, to an other camp, ope of his associates pays the following tribute: A man of the ranks, his own person ality plus inherent ability alone accounts for the two bars on his shoulders. As depot quartermaster with offices at 662 Broad street, Captain Franch appeared on the scene long before the troops. To him fell the lot of paving the way for the onrush, of providing for their re ception, of providing even for their healthy appetites. Day and night, unas sisted except by a few more or less ex perienced clerks, the work went on. Con tracts for stores, staggering in amounts, were prepared and the vast amount of preparatory labor completed. The thor oughness with which it was done is found in the praise of the camp by those of ficials who have visited it. Later the captain appeared as assis tant camp quartermaster at Camp Han cock. To him fell the task of detrain ing the troop contingents arriving at the camp. Again he made things hum and congratulations from Major General Clement himself attest to the way they were done. But all this was merely in the per formance of official duties, duties it is true well done but ordered. It Is in his personal relations that Captain French has earned the greatest respect and even love. The men under him literally swear by him and he’s worth it. The comfort, the interest of- “his boys” has always been paramount with this officer. Discipline of course has been maintained, but discipline applied as it should be with no touch of overbearing and with a whole hearted conception of the rights and feel ings of the enlisted men till it has become even plseant in its application. And so these are the traits of Captain French, a big man who goes -to a big place. The camp quartermaster detach ment knows he’ll succeed wherever he goes, thank him for what he’s done and been, and wish him that success that is his just due. MOUNT HERMON MEN. Alumni of Mt. Hermon School in Camp Hancock are forming an organization for the purpose of some good times later. Any not already in touch with Mr. Tom linson, Camp Secretary of the Y. M. C. A., or Corporal Hague. Company K, 110th Infantry, should send their address to the latter at ono. . P’l I ‘-<7 n TO* I'll I L V \l \Y ’ ♦ v 1 * \ V > » | ii' No. 4