Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 152, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1916 — COMPANY M IS SURE TO BE ORDERED TO BORDER [ARTICLE]

COMPANY M IS SURE TO BE ORDERED TO BORDER

Major Healey Writes Concerning Activities ~ of Soldier Boys at Fort Benjamin Harrison

Ft. Benjamin Harrison, June 25, ’l6 The Indiana National Guard is going to the Mexican border. It is going probably within ten days, possibly in less time, depending upon the—rapditity with which . the companies are supplied with shoes and full field equipment. Capt. John '3. Toffey, thg senior army officer on duty with the Indiana National Guard, (has received orders to send the troops to the border as soon as they are equipped and mustered into the service. It is not the intention to wait until the entire guard is equipped but as fast as separate regiments and separate battalions are equipped they are to go to the border. If any of the young men who have said they wanted to go as soon as they were certain the troops were going to the border have any intention of keeping faith with their statement they can report to the recruiting officer here and they will get a trip in short order. Sleepers are to be used to carry the soldiers on the long trip to the south.

During my several years in the national 'guard I have never seen such a fine spirit evidenced by the men of the regiments. Every soldier seems determined to do his full duty and the cheerful and happy attitude evidences a desire to fill a “man’s job” in army life, n,o matter what the requirements are. In fact, when the men came into camp they all seemed to want to know when they were going to get another move and the dissemination of the orders received by Captain Toffey created a decidedly favorable impression. Saturday was an ideal day for making a camp and aside from some tormenting delays in the issue of camp tentage and commissary supplies everything went off smoothly. The mobilization of 3,4000 men was no small jab and since there was a dual issue frmo state and government there was naturally confusion and delay but this was all taken philosophically. Company M did not get sufficient tentage to cover all the men and a few shelter tents (pup tents) were put into use. Fortunately there was no rain and no excessive heat, weather elements that make things highly disagreeable for a soldier. My battalion has the following Strength in camp:

Company M, of Rensselaer, 2 officers and 70 men ...... •• • • - 72 Company C, of *Mont.iceoll,*2 officers and 91 men 93 Company I, of Plymouth, 2 officers and 71 men 73 Company L, of Valparaiso, 2 officers and 73 men 75 Major and staff Total There is remaining at each station an,.officer and two enlisted men and the companies are all enlisting more men. There are also several at home because they are ill. Thousands of visitors came to the

camp from Indianapolis and various towns and cities from which the companies came. Only four former Rensselaer citizens visited the camp, namely, William Barker, Paul Miller, Ray Hopkins and Jess Wilcox. This afternoon many of the men were furnished with shoes, but the small size® soon gave out, the feet not being so large as the contractor had guessed and before M company got a chance at the shoes only large sizes were left and Company M having small feet were mostly disappointed. The shoes are furnished by the state and are a present to all soldier®. More are to come in Tuesday or Wednesday and an effort made to fit the Trilby-footed. Company M was one of a few companies to have chicken for dinner. They were almost deprived of it, however, for some of the chickens escaped and it took some lively work on the part of the soldiers to capture them. Monday the first reial hard work of attual army life will begin. Recruits are being drilled by older soldiers under the observation of officers.

The anti-typhoid prophyloxis was given today. This is to protect soldiers against typhoid fever and is presumed to immunize them for at least two years, possibly three. Many rumors are floating about camp in reference to the probability of entraining for the south, but they are largely grape-vine and not dependable. Monon, with a population of about 1,200 people, gave us a mighty fine demonstration. There were at least a thousand people on the platform when we arrived there. Thieir 'band was also out and played several patriotic pieces, old civil war veterans were there, several carrying Old Glory. Lieut. Edward L. Watson gave the patriotic crowd a talk, thanking them for the spirit they showed us, and appealed to' young men who wanted to enlist and get to the front at this time, to go to Rensselaer and join Company M, which will make a place for itself wherever it goes. We purchased breakfast there and bid them goodbye. It was certainly a fine showing for Monon. Dr. C. E. Johnson was examined by a board of medical officers last evening and was commissioned a second lieutenant and is detailed with the separate battalion which the Indianapolis, Ga/y, Winamac, Knox, Laporte and other cities. He will probably not be with the third regiment at all, greatly to our disappointment. In fact, the authority of organization so vests with the war department that one can hardly tell whether officers above the rank of captains wall be with the companies they brought to camp or not. Mess callis sounding. The evening mess is sounded at 6 o’clock and as I have been all day .writing this letter and have had many interruptions, will write again when I can.

GEO. H. HEALEY.