Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1916 — NOTES FROM FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON [ARTICLE]

NOTES FROM FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON

Date Not Yet Set For Movement to the Border—May Remain Indefinitely. Ft. Benjamin Harrison, July 5, 1916. If some one were to ask me this evening how long we were to remain at Fort Benjamin Harrison, I would be compelled to answer that there was really no telling. The influences that made things look a week ago as though we were going to be rushed to the border on short notice have passed away and plans for better drainage and the construction of incinerators for garbage disposal issued this afternoon at 4' o'clock really indicate that the camp is to be a semipermanent one. Even Monday the movement within a few hours seemed certain. Each battalion headquarters was furnished with specifications for the construction of two range boxes into which the field ranges were to be set in the baggage cars while en route to the border. The boxes were lined with sheet metal and are to be filld with sand or earth and the ranges set into them. Two of the ranges are sufficient to cook the meals of all members of a battalion, and the one under my command number 4 about 370. Every day men are reporting, some of them from fardistant states. Practically every man in Company M has made his appearance, the only missing one I recall at this time being Guy Beebe, who telegraphed Captain Tuteur from Nebraska.

The third regiment has now been entirely mustered into federal service and should things take on a serious aspect along the border it is probable that we would be rushed to the front without much delay. Some 25 cars are now on the track ready to transport us should the call be made. The equipping of the troops has* been a slow matter. Some of the old equipment would not work with some of the new and several inspections had to be made to get things straightened out. Now most of the companies have the new field packs, which fasten across the back and arq much preferred by the soldiers. The pack takes the place of the old roll. Included in the pack is a new type of canteen and cup and a bacon box. The haversack is a part of the pack and it does not dangle about the legs as the old pack did. The knives, forks, and spoons are shorter and fit neatly in the smaller haversack. There was no drill program on the afternoon of the 4th and there were many visitors. At 6:30 a review before Governor Ralston was held and all troops participated. It was an inspiring occasion and I am sure every person enjoyed it, including the troops. I had personally been under the weather all day, having taken the anti-typhoid treatment the evening before. It does not make every person sick, but about fifty per cent have some fever and if they are out in the sun for a time after they take the treatment they usually have some fever. By evening mine had worn off and after going on the parade I felt very good. Captain Tuteur and Lieutenant Watson were also sick for some time. Dr. Johnson, now First Lieutenant Johnson of the Ambulance Company, was probably much sicker than any of us and he had fever, nausea and headache along with grip aches that make one feel about as bad as he can. Fortunately it does not last long. The only trouble is that three treatments a week or ten days apart are necessary to assure immunity.

Mrs. William Waymire, Miss Grace Thompson, Mrs. Nelson, Floyd Smith and Frenchy Deschand were visitors today. Tuesday we had a number of home folks with us. Among the visitors were Mrs. Della Alter and three daughters from Forest. Today Charley Crouch visited the camp. He is now a streetcar motorman in Indianapolis. Jerry Seese, who ran a picture show in Rensselaer several years ago, and a man named Mills, who had the first picture show there, have been callers. Mills has served an enlistment in the regular army since that time and is now a telegrapher and working at the army post. We have had ideal weather since Sunday and the troops are being put through the hardest kind of drills. The officers- are not only required to attend the (frills but are also kept busy on the paper work of their organizations and are required to attend schools each evening. It is almost time for the school now and I must cut this letter short. Good health generally is reported over the camp and the Rensselaer hoys are getting along fine and are developing into excellent soldiers. The medical officers have not yet reported on their examinations and just who from the Rensselaer company

will not pass is not known. Hie reports will be ( made in a few days and then the Rensselaer boys who failed to pass will be returned home. There has been no pay day so far and practically every soldier is anxiously hoping that it won’t be long for they are almost past the postage stamp stage. Captain Tuteur has received many compliments about the manner in which he has taken care of his company and the regular army medical officer who inspected the camp on Tuesday reported his company cook shack, mess tent, company street and the tents of the enlisted men were so scrupulously clean that it was pointed out as a model for the regiment. While we may knotv only a short time in advance of the plans to move us to the border and while it may come at any time, the present indications are not indicative of a sudden move and it is quite safe to conclude that we will be here for at least another week. Let friends write as frequently as they can, for soldiers are always anxious to receive letters and papers. MAJ. GEORGE H. HEALEY.