Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1916 — Maj. Healey and Staff Take Oath for Service [ARTICLE]

Maj. Healey and Staff Take Oath for Service

All Members of Co. M are in Good Physical Condition and Eager to Leave for the Border. Thousands of Visitors at Camp Ralston. Rensselaer People Invited to Visit Company M Headquarters f

Ft. Benjamin Harrison, June 28, 1916. All of the Rensselaer boys, including myself and staff and Company M, are now a part of the United States militia. Company M was the second company mustered in and this evening after the Valparaiso company had been sworn into federal service we were sworn in. Standing on the parade ground First Lieutenant Arthur Tuteur, Second Lieutenant Geo. W. Sergeant Major Don P. Warren and myself, took oath to engage in any service whatsoever the President of the United States might direct.

All of my companies are now in except Monticello and it is ready and ju?t waiting a reply from the war department approving the inspection by Captain Toffey. The Monticello company has almost one hundred members and they are a fine class of young ihen. It is probable that this company will be mustered tomorrow. We are'"having a number of visitors today and if <we remain here over Sunday, which we undoubtedly will? we will have many thousands here next Sunday and if the Monon runs an excursion next Sunday, leaving Rensselaer at about 6 o’clock in the morning and leaving here at about 8 o’clock at night, it will probably bring many hundreds from along the route. An excursion is to be run over the Erie from Michigan City and Gary. It will leave Gary at 3:50 a. m. and is scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis at 10:40. The trains can not be run out here owing to the congestion of cars on the Big Four. It will be necessary to come over the traction line from Indianapolis, a trip that requires from hour to two hours. It might be a good notion for those who come to bring a l’ttle or big basket of grub. Not that the soldiers are not having a fine field mess, for they are, and John Eigels-

bach is preparing it in a masterful manner, but home dainties appeal to all and the boys will be very happy if they are thus remembered. There were many camp visitors again today, among those from, Rensselaer being Rev. Paul C. Curnick, Mrs. J. W. Spate, Mrs. A. G. Lucas, Mrs. John Lyons and Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Hickman. Errett N. Graham, Miss lima Robinson, Mrs. W. J. Imes, Walter English, Marion Learning and Dr. Wade Laßue also visited us. Mr. Graham is deeply interested in the aviation service and would like to take part in the organization of a company. It takes several thousand dollars to buy a good flying outfit for military service and especially for u3e in Mexico. Property inspections, followed by the condemning of unserviceable property and then the requisition of sup-

t plies for the equipment of the companies is keeping officers busy, while every phase of close and extended order drill is being practiced. Somehow the- training has a deeper interest than ever before and every soldier goes at it with a keen interest as if to say that he proposes to do his part in whatever cornea up to do. The camp, as usual, is offering its amusing incidents. John Robinson has procured as a mascot a crookedlegged Daschund dog of “mouse hound,” and John has been teaching it to bay when bugle calls are sounded. It is not improbable that the pup will have his life curtailed before the camp breaks. The dog is in strange contrast to a very pretty bull dog that the Monticello company has. Lieutenant Tuteur was today made the recruiting officer for the regiment and will have considerable mustering to do. Many young men are comingin every day to join. It is very probable that the troops will be here for several days, but it is also possible that something might happen that would cause them to be rushed south at any hour. The regiment has now lost its designation officially as the third regiment and is now the 162nd regiment of Indiana militia. This follows numerically the last regiment in the Spanish-Amen-can war, which was the 161st. The last regiment in the civil war was the 156th.

Since starting to write I have been interrupted so frequently that I fear I have missed many interesting points. Now I must quit in order to get my letter mailed in time to 'get out on the night mail. If the Monon should decid? to run an excursion i feel certain it would be well patronized and that all who patronize it will feel well repaid for making the trip. Governor Ralston will visit the camp tomorrow and all officers will attend a reception at brigade headquarters. Members of Company M are verigrateful for the splendid contribution raised for them. Captain Tuteur and his aids will use it with, good business judgment. Already he has purchased underwear and wool socks, the U. S. kind, for all members of his company. Expecting to see a number of our friends Sunday and welcoming them at all times, the boys all join me in sending best wishes back home and in letting the mothers, wives and others know that we are all in the very best health. Until the official notice of the change of the regiment’s number has been made, letters to members can be addressed to Co. M, 3rd Inf., Camp Ralston, Fort Benj. Harrison, Ind.

MAJ. GEO. H. HEALEY.