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Dec. 24, iyi7.
BIZ-BANGS FROM
BENCH MORTAR BATT.
Private Frasier’s Bride Arrives
Five Hours Late, Prefers
Cavalry Command.
Doesn’t it seem funny to spend a
Christmas when it is nice and warm and
snow on the ground back north, but in
Augusta the folks seem to enjoy Christ
mas as the Northern boys enjoy the
Fourth of July, Decoration Day or Mer
chants Picnic day. Now we have not
been here long enough to get acclimated
to the manner in which the Southern
people celebrate th© Yuletide season, for,
where we come from Christmas day seems
far different from any other day in the
year: because there is snow on the ground
and that is what makes a Christmas.
Now that we are in the South we will
spend Christmas by going in town to a
movie show, getting a coca-cola, (not
an advertisement) and then returning to
camp. But if we were back North we
.know many places to go that are far more
suitable than aforesaid movies. For in
stances, we know numerous voting ladies
that would entertain us for an afternoon,
or probably an evening. Then we know
where our male friends hang out—that
is as a secondary convenience.
But last Christmas we were away
from home in a sand storm down in Tex
as and this year we hope that we will not
have to suffer with aforesaid storms. So
the next best thing is to play true sol
dier and forget about “modern conven
iences.’’
Then another Christmas present that
has recently come into our view, seems to
be very nice and that is, to get married
a few days before Christmas, as did one
William A. Frazier, a private in the 103 d
Trench Mortar Battery. We have known
“Bill” for some time, especially hi* ath
letic career as a ball player. When he
was not tired he would pitch a wonder
ful game of ball, but when he was tired,
far be it. from him to exert himself.
Well, as the story goes, one Esther Job
son, who hails from the metropolis of
Loch Haven, Pa., wired “Bill” that she
would arrive Sunday morning at 9:05 and
he should have all the credentials ready
for a wedding ceremony. Verifying that
old adage: “Two can live as cheaply as
one.”
Bright and early Sunday morning Bill
had the proper credentials ready for the
marriage, ceremony and everything ready
but the woman, who, as we have said,
was to arrive on the 9:05 but the train
was five hours late, which is nothing
unusual. All morning our Bill roamed
around camp like a lost sheep, but im
mediately after dinner he hied himself
to town and when the train arrived in
the station—well, we don't have to tell
what happened, but anyhow she was aw
fully glad to see Bill. The way it look
ed to us. Then after a consultation the
couple headed their way to some Augus
ta parsonage where they had that knot
tied, and tied tight. We have not seen
Bill since that day, and when we see him
we are going to congratulate him as
though we actually meant every word
we say.
First Troop, P. C. C.. is now in the
103 d, Trench Mortar Battery with a dele
gation of M. troopers and B troopers.
Everything seems to be going along fine
with the Philadelphians tn this new
branch of service, excepting “squads right
and left.” Now we don’t care about
“squads right and left” as well as we care
for “fours right and left,” and oh, how
we enjoy hearing that command!
We wish to inform our readers that
Dallas Koons got his furlough and by
this time is enjoying life in Philadelphia.
Also, that Huber and Dunlap got their
furloughs.
John C. Groome, Jr., is first sergeant of
the 103 d, Trench Mortar Battery, Serge
ant Groome was formerly mess sergeant
in First Troop, and when this troop was
transferred to the Trench Mortar Battery
he was appointed first sergeant.
111TH MTGrBAffAUON
DEFEATS EIGHTH BAND
The 111th Machine Gun Battalion
played the Sth Band a very fast and
interesting set of seven games of volley
ball. Because of their experience the
111th Machine Gun won the series. The
Sth Band had fast players but were in
experienced. Next week they expect to
get another strike at the 111th Machine
Gun. Both teams have just started
and they expect to put on a regular
schedule. Y. M. C. A. 76 will have match
games of volley ball after Christmas.
.All interested under the direction of
building 76 see either Hughes or Keller
at the building, and other teams who
would lik eto book games call also.
DRILLING.
It's drill, boys, drill!
Do it with a will.
Os all that stuff we have our fill.
Attention! Squads Right!
As you were! Left oblique!
Good-night! Can’t you ever do it
right?
On right into line!
Can't you see that sign?
No matter how good, they never say
it’s fine.
Halt! Right about! Face!
Don’t be a disgrace.
Forward! March! Remember this is no
race!
You are standing at ease!
No talking there, please.
I wonder if they’ll allow a fellow to
sneeze.
Then the bugle sounds recall,
The sweetest notes of all.
Everyone is happy as into line they
fall.
And when the day is done,
They all proclaim as one;
That drilling on a dusty field, surely
is no fun.
—Private Walter A. Anderson, Co. E,
112th U. S. Infantry.
fRE NC H AND CAMP
ANOTHER TRIO OF BROTHERS
SERVING UNCLE SAM
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The Hogencamp Brothers.
In last week’s issue of Trench and Camp appeared a cut of the three
Young brothers who are serving the United States, and above we reproduce
another set of brothers doing similar service for Uncle Sam. A unique fea
ture of the trio is that the two standing are twins, the youngest brother be
ing seated. Two of the boys are at Camp Hancock with the 109th infantry,
while the third is serving in France. From left to right, they are: Millard
D. Hogancamp, Alfred A. Hogencamp and Milton Hogencamp. Alfred
and Milton were with the troops on the Mexican border, Millard enlisting
June 4, 1917. NEXT!
DIVISION AND 109TH
PLAY SCORELESS GAME
Supremacy of 28th Division
Still Undecided. Ball Within
One Yard of Artillery Goal.
On Saturday last, Warren Park w’as
the scene of the best football game staged
in this section this season. The game
had been arranged several times and
postponed and therefore was. much looked
forward to by the followers of both
teams. That the game was one for blood
w r as noticeable from start to finish, and
that the teams are evenly matched is
evident from the final score.
During the past week the division team
under Coaches Walter Camp, Jr., and
Major Thompson, had worked ■ hard and
were confident of retaining their repu
tation as a division team. The artillery
team has worked equally hard under
Coach Brown and much credit is due him
and his men. That a regimental team
could cope with a team picked from the
entire division was unthought of. The
artillery team not only defended their own
goal but during the last half were on
the offensive the greater part of the time
and continually threatened the division
goal. The artillery goal was in danger
but once, w'hen at the end of the first
half, the whistle blew' with the ball one
yard from teh artillery goal.
The line-ups:
Artillery. Position. Division
Davies Moore
Right End.
Enke (Captain) Webster
Right Tackle.
Randall Reilly
Right Guard.
Morgans Elpern
Center.
Plefka Bennett
Left Guard.
Permicter Huhns
Left Tackle.
Leader Thorn
Left End.
Coons Lyttle (Captain)
Quarter Back.
Hahn Henderson
Right Halfback
Evans Harper
Left Halfback.
Jones Yeager
Full Back.
Officials: Umpire, Lieut. Chandler: ref
eree, Lieut. Scott; head linesman, Lieut.
Alexander; time keeper, Lieut. Bixby;
time of quarters, 15 minutes.
Substitutions: Croker for Randall;
Madajewski for Permicter; Gill for Reilly:
Groboski for Madajewski; Gillan for
Leader; Bennett for Wolfe; Nolan for
Hahn; Maruk for Yeager; Hughes for
Evans.
CHRISTMAS AT THE
RASE HOSPITAL
An interesting program has been ar
ranged for the observance of Christmas
Day at the Base Hospital, and the oc
casion promises to be an enoyable one
for both the enlisted men and patients.
At 9:30 o’clock in the morning the en
listed men will assemble in the plaza
that section of ground between the
second and third rows of wards, where
they will be addressed by the com
manding officer. Major Rov C. Hefle
bower. Afterwards, gifts, which have
been provided by the American Red
Cross, will be distributed among the
men by a committee of ladies from Au
gusta. Later, these ladies will visit
the various hospital wards, bringing
messages of cheer and presents to the
hundreds of patients confined in this
institution.
A special menu has been prepared
and the dinner for patients and enlist
ed men will be a distinct achievement.
The afternoon also be eventful
for it is expected that there will be
many visitors. At 3 o’clock an ad
dress will be delivered in the plaza
a speaker of prominence, and at the
conclusion of this a splendid concert
program will be rendered by one of
the regimental bands.
One hundred Connecticut men on
duty at the Base Hospital. Camp Han
cock, will assemble at the Partridge
Inn ory Christmas Eve, for a banquet
and entertainment. These men com
prise a regular army medical unit
which was organized early last June
in Hartford, Conn. From that city
they were assigned to duty at Fort
Ethan Allen, Vt., and last October they
were transferred to the Base Hospital
at this camp. This will be their first
get-together affair, and indications
point to a big success.
Major Roy C. Reflebower. command
ing officer of the Base Hospital, is
planning to hold a series of entertain
ments for the enlisted men and pa
tients, one affair to be held each week.
A vaudeville performance was present
ed at the hospital one evening two
weeks ago, and it afforded such general
pleasure that it was decided to con
tinue the entertainments. Mrs. Hefle
bower, wife of Major Heflebower, has
interested herself in tIMEe and is ar
ranging the prograflb
Random Pills From
111th Field Hospital
•
Under the new schedule of intensive
training, the boys are rapidly becom
ing as well drilled as any company of
“Doughboys on the “Big Lot.” The
big field back of the Underground
Hospitals each morning presents a
spectacle of unprecedented activity.
“Squads to right of ’em, squads to left
of ’em, with sergeants before ’em mut
tering and thundering.” Reverting to
the well-known ridge vernacular. “A
great life,’’ but we aren't weakening,
although some of us will be keenly dis
appointed if we don’t get the regula
tion new Springfield and bayonet with
the blue hat cord for Christmas. The
boys were quite enthusiastic about
the big review on last Friday after
noon. After being shaved and dressed
up in the woolens,—which we donned
only for special occasions, with the
shoes all shined up the bunch looked
quite spick. We were first on the field
but had to keep moving briskly to stay
out of the way of the other three hos
pitals when they started their maneu
vers. Finally we were marched back
to camp, and now every one of us
know just exactly what Raymond
Hitchcock meant when he sang, “All
Dressed Up and No Place to Go.”
The spirit of Christmas awakens
strange thoughts in the minds of some
of the fellows. “Gibby” Weiss insists
on harking back to the days of his
youth, when he trundled a little red
wagon around Pittsburgh. It certainly
is a far cry from the carefree days of
adolescence to the stern (?) duties of
the latter-day “Pill Roller,” eh Gibby?
(Perrysville, Pa., papers please copy.)
Anderson has just returned from a
furlough in Pittsburgh. He reports ev
erything in the old town as just about
the same, except for the fact that since
July 15, 1917, demands for and sales of
writing paper have increased just
about 750 per cent. Can anybody offer
us the correct solution to the ques
tion.
We wonder who coined that phrase
about “the Sunny South?”
Laffel expects to be in Pittsburgh
for New Year’s Eve. “Herm” says ho
has been asked to lead a watch meet
ing at both the William Penn and the
Athletic Club, and he is undecided
which one to take. We (used editorial
ly, of course) would advise the Ath
letic Club, Herm —for obvious reas
ons.
"P-I- - - TT-!” What happened to
those “Ihn"-gatherings of the sons of
Pitt. How about it, fellows? Let’s get
together.
Mr. Vox Populi rises to inquire,
“Why does an issue woodpile for
kitchen, use only diminish so notice
ably over night?” For once, Vox, we
are without a word to say.
Krapfel must have a new nick-name
(or should we say “nom de guferre”?)
immediately. “At ease” used to fit
him like issue shoe-strings or issue
hatbands, (have you ever noticed,
that’s about all that ever does fit a
chap) but since he has started to work
for Lieut. Hibbs,—well, he has the
busy bee beaten at its own game.
Since the Ford has been sold Du
mont and “Johnny” Hines have been
wandering around camp aimlessly,
owing to the lack of something to sat
isfy their craving for something me
chanical to tinker with. A guard has
been placed around the Vietrola, but
we tremble for the ultimate safety of
the new range in the kitchen.
We are losing one of our “regular”
chaps—Gordon, has been transferred
to the M. P. And from there, expects
to “go higher.” We surely hate to lose
him, but when “they” come along and
drag him out, what are we going to
about it, eh?
te When the Sun Goes
Down In Dixie”
When the sun goes down in Dixie,
And twilight steels o’er the way,
And the evening shadow’s turn to gray,
It’s then .1 wish I was home again
In the dear, old state we call Pa.
When the sun goes dowm in Dixie,
And the evening sky wears crimson hue,
And somehow you’re feeling blue,
It’s then I wish I was home again
Yes! back home again to you!
When the sun goes down in Dixie,
And the after glow is red
And your heart feels as heavy as lead;
It's then I wish I was home again
When the sun goes down in Dixie.
While looking through the tall and
gloomy pine,
With its million needles sharp and fine;
It’s then I wish I was home again,
And it’s Pennsylvania for mine!
When the sun goes dowm in Dixie
And the gloomy darkness is spreading
o’er the land
And from the distance is heard a mili
tary band—
Hark! sharp comes the command;
Attention! and forth ’peals the national
anthem
As the sun goes down, in Dixie.
The sun has gone down in Dixie,
And from the soft blue sky above
The silvery stars are peering through
It’s then I wish I was home again
As my thoughts go hack to you.
PRIVATE M. A. HOGENCAMP,
Co. E, 109th U. S. Inf.
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