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March 13.
The Machine Gunners’ Hike
Five days and four nights last week
the Machine Gunners of the Twenty
eighth Division including the 167th, 108th,
and 109th Battalions, and the Machine
Gun Companies from the 109th, 110th,
tilth and 112th Infantry regiments. under
the efficient command of Major John W.
Foos, enjoyed the experience of hiking
through Georgia. Judging from the Pep
shown by the dusty column as it march
ed singing into, camp at 2:45 Friday af
ternoon there can be no doubt of the
fact that the men enjoyed the hike and
called tt a big success.
The first day’s march starting at eight
in the morning, was rather roughly treat
ed by Old Jupiter Pluvius, who did his
best to dampen both clothing and spirits
with a regular downpour; he was suc
cessful so far as the clothing was con
cerned, but was quite unable to stop en
tirely the singing of some outfits, For
tunately the rain ceased in time to allow
the clothing to dry before camp was
pitched at two in the afternoon on the
artillery range across the lake from the
108th Artillery camp. It was necessary to
divide the into two parts, with the
107th and 10?*.i on the hill to the left of
the ravine, and the 109th and the infan
try companies on the right.
At this time Secretaries McArthur and
Martin of the Y. M-. C. A. Building 232,
got into action, offering a good supply of
stationary, post cards, stamps and ath
letic material at their headquarters,
where a small Vitcrola struggled brave
ly to make itself heard throughout the
camp. The men soon found this outfit,
many expressing their appreciation of the
service given, and made good use of the
supplies. During the four days when the
men had time to write more than 3,000
sheets of paper were handed out to those
who asked, and about 550 letters were des
patch?' 1 ' ’ -nigh the courtesy of Chaplain
Dollm- hose services were greatly
appre The secretaries hiked with
the me. 1 found the experience most
interes.ii.i and valuable because of the
many pleasant relations formed among
both officers and men.
Tuesday morning was devoted to Ma
chine Gun drill, with a rest in the after
noon in anticipation of a night march.
At six o’clock the column was formed
and set out on the most interesting march
of the hike, covering almost sixteen miles,
ever a wide variety of roads one of which
gave the men a marsh sand but again
there was no silencing the peppy singing
of the outfit. The novel experience of
pitching camp at two in the morning,
on a big field near Sandy Creek, by the
light of lanterns and candles will not soot)
be forgotten, nor can credit be withheld
for the speed and precision ■with which
the work was done; when viewed by
daylight, later in the morning, every
company street was straight and orderly.
Wednesday was a rest day, a most nec
essary and thoroughly enjoyable provision.
After the bugler who sounded first call for
reveille at 6:15 had been properly sub
dued by. Major Foos himself the camp
slept peacefully for another hour; then
began the procession along the road to
Sandy Hook, half a mile away, where a
friendly mill dam prodded a most at
tractive shower bath for dusty soldiers,
and never was a shower bath more wel
come. Evening brought a large Assort
ment of camp fire centers of song and
jokes, until early bed time seemed advis
able in view of the orders for reveille at
two in the morning.
This early morning march on Thursday,
the column being in motion by three
o'clock, lasted two hours ,but it was
more or less unanimously agreed that
two hours from three to five are the long
est in the day, also the hardest for
marching, For some reason the rest for
breakfast was prolonged until about
eight-thirty, allowing plenty of time for
those unlucky outfits that had not been
issued rations to grow still more hun
gry. After another two-hour march camp
was pitched on a fine level field along the
road about one mile this side of Ber
zelia. within -sight (and sound) of the
Georgia Railroad. The ’beautiful pine
woods on the edges of the field provided
finely for officers’ quarters, also for the
Y. M. C. A. headquarters which did es
pecially good service at this camp. Dur
ing Thursday and Friday life was made
spley (as well as more or less salty) by
the order that the men live on the re
serve rations of salt pork, potatoes, onion,
bread and coffee; but some mor fortun
ate and wealthy individuals were able to
add fresh eggs, canned fruit and crack
ers to the menu. causing a most remark
able rise in the price of these staples
in the vicinity of the camp.
Further variety, excitement and event
ually. amusement, was provided about 5
o’clock in the afternoon when the sound
ing of officers’ call and fire call in close
succession spread the news that there
was a great forest fire five miles back
where the halt for breakfast had been
made. In less time than it takes to tell
it, a most heterogeneous cavalcade of
mounted men, braying mules, banging
wagons and clanging pails, clattered pell
mell down the r£ad to the cheers of the
populace of the camp, who were ordered
to be ready to follow up ir necessary. But
the efficient fire brigade proved 'loo much
for this forest fire. The procession re
turned in time for a late supper, and
just as full of pep as when they started.
The morning of the last day dawned
clear and cool, puting the men in fine
spirits which never drooped through a'J
the dust of the sixteen miles homeward
march. A halt of thirty-five minutes at
noon was long enougn for the experi
enced soldier to build his fire, fry his pork
and potatoes and generate thereby suf
ficient steam to carry him home, also to
make a regular bargain day rush on the
Belair village store. A complete list* of
the songs used (and abused) by the va
rious companies on this march would in
clude practically every known species,
from "Pack Up Your Troubles” through
"Theres a Dong, Long Trail to ’Over
There,” hot forgetting such classics as
"When The Roll is Called Up Yonder.”
and the famous battle song used with
such telling effect by Company C of the
109th Battalion, entitled, "Lily of the
Valley.” Even the mules were unable to
resist the soothing effect of this har
mony and became quite manageable, al
though their misplaced heels proved dis
astrous to several men early in the hike..
However, a mule is necessary in the army,
and it takes a great deal more than 40
miles to mar the enjoyment of a Ma
chine Gunners* hike.
C. F. MARTIN.
John D. Rockefeller, jt is nnounced
may build a new home. He’d bet
ter build. If he rents one he’ll go
broke.
TRENCH AND CAMP
NOTES FROM 0. T. C.
ECHOES FROM STUDY HALL.
Billy and Johnny, our two super ponies
are training with all the zeal possible not
only to be future Napoleons but also to
settle an old argument with the gloves
a la Billy Armstrong.
Give me a match!
Inspirations of a divisional review have
many and curious effects —none the least
of which was the one that caught our
contemporary Jimmy Devine, who found
it necessary to bite the dust after giving
the general and his staff a formal "Eyes
Right” and "Front.”
What do we study tonight?
How many holes in the sling strap?
How many pounds of pressure is neces
sary to take up the slack on the trigger?
Who said that the Provisional Platoon
didn’t have the pep necessary to put it
across? They bit the dust and chewed
great gobs of it but they received the
official "o. k.” of their fellows —and that’s
something.
A little bath now and then is enjoyed
by the best of students —when they have
time—these warm, dusty and busy days.
The week mysterious has passed and
some of us are still here. Ye gods, be
kind and generous in the weeks to come
for we are mere students seeking knowl
edge in matters military.
Some of the boys of Company B had
their physognamy adorned with hirsute
adornment above the upper lip. Now.
alas, they are minus, for some person in
sisted that all adornment of this nature
be shorn and the word was fulfilled. Joo'
Davis had one that made the girls look
around. We cannot say much for the
others.
Our Mr. Goldstein insists that he is a
pugilist and that he is quite clever.
“Is Mr. Boden in the hall? Mr. Boden,
please.” Oh, yes, surely Mr. Boden is
here. He is the bright light of any hall
and we know.
And now we are on the tenth week of
onr training. Five more to do and then
the day of judgment, or, another sur
vival.
Company I, 112th Infantry
Private H. B. Chubb is quite a«nu
sician. Every now and then he is found
tuning up on the wood pile.
Roy Graham is quite cheerful. Roy
received a letter from his girl the other
evening.
Sergeant F.tzgerald says he does not
care to go in to town for a few.days:
Pinched in quarters.
Private Hcverter’s bum eye would
not work for an S. C. D., so he is try
ing a new one. All last week he was
; caught .with a fishing rod and line
fishing in a basin of water.
' Private Benjamin Kline displayed so
much pep at the. end of the first day
on the three-day hike that the Top
Cutter could find no one else who was
sb eligible for regimental guard as
Benny.
Sergeant Summerton experienced
quite a little difficulty keeping his
feet and head under his dog tent at
the same time, and when Jim rolled
over on his back and drew up h!«
knees the tent would not stand the
pressure and collapsed. Almost suf
focated Sergeant Fitzgerald, who Slept
with him on the three-day hike.
REMOUNT NEWSIES
The Remount has been on the boom for
the past ten days. Already two new bar
racks. jt mess hall and an addition to the
officers’ quarters are almost completed.
This will eliminate the use of tents alto
gether.
The Horseshoers’ school graduated thir
teen students last week. These men were
the first to receive certificates from this
institution since it has been in progrss.
Sergeant Flick deserves, much credit for
his untiring efforts in instructing the stu
dents in the correct manner of shoeing
and caring for the feet of the animals.
First Lieut. Hollister of the Dental
Corps arrived on..the..ranch Monday with
his wagon preparatory to treating the
teeth of the men who are so unfortunate
as to need his service.
One of the fellows was hobbling about
the place for several days on one foot
when a sergeant had the nerve to ask
him if it was caused by his girl kicking
him.
Thursday night the fellows enjoyed a
concert given by the band from the 103 d
Sanitary Train. These concerts are al
ways largely attended and greatly ap
preciated by the men.
Sergeant Houston says that he has
taken out SIO,OOO insurance but he hopes
that the $6.50 deducted from his pay
every month is that much thrown away
for he doesn’t think he will.be ready any
time soon for his beneficiary to begin
collecting.
Just give us about two months and we
won’t care, as far as we are personally
concerned, whether there is- a food fam
ine or not. We have a' very promising
three-acre garden, a half acre strawber
ry patch and four big, fat hogs, two of
them with families.
SGT. T. D. JENNINGS.
BOXING AT WRESTLING
AT No. 76
The boxing stand at Building 76 is now
lighted and is a place where you can see
good boxing and wrestling every night.
Monday night will be a big night
There will be eight or ten bouts and
Lieutenant Abel will referee.
Our field boxing is making big head
way. Co's Hd., A. B. C. D, of the 112tb
regiment had good training this week
in knockcut blows. Next week the in
structors wifi start at Co. E and con-.
tinue thia boxing.
Boxing and Wrestling, No. 234
A fine exhibition of boxing was given
at Y. M. C. A. No. 234 on Monday even
ing, March 4, before an andience of more
than two hundred, who, if their cheering
was an indication of their enjoyment,
surely had a fine time.
_ ln the first bout, Cravath, of 332 Motor
Truck Company outfaught Harding of
the Field Bakery in two rounds. How
?ver’»it. e J n be said in defense of Hard
mg that he was much under weight. He
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has a good jab and uses it to advantage.
The second bout resulted In a fast draw
between Cravath of the 332 Motor Truck
Company and Ingram of the same or
ganization. Here again Cravath had the
advantage in weight but Ingram’s ability
to hit and get away more than evened
matters.
Penn Gibbers, the pride of the Field
Bakery, and justly so, sparred for two
fast ruonds in the thirdt bout with Card
well of the 332 Motor Truck Company, re
sulting in a (good draw.
Page 15
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