Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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 h’BS' S 'F ; r v •* T W IyY ?\y t- ”Y'. ~' ■Ww Ijs bYa. I Y. \ ■ H'-At SB *■ Ylk '' IB SSMi Ift ■ r- ‘ H. _■' 3HHS r Wlil lift Xty|K W rffeii j.'.k...' • ....H -.. v . .--- --T- ■--* ' -- . .... 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. I 8 I I H Page 5