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Show 'With the Colors" From Clare II. Oliphant of Orangeville Dear Editor: I have been wanting to write you for so long, but, for various vari-ous reasons, I have not been able. We boys who left in the third increment in-crement of the draft have surely been lucky so far in being able to stay together. to-gether. We are now divided somewhat some-what but not so bad when we know i hat when one battery leaves all of that regiment moves together. There are six batteries in one .regiment, and three of the last bunch of Emery-county Emery-county boys (Ray Humphrey, Alvin Guymon, and Leroy Luke) are with Battery D, 143 Reg., while Sidney Young, Guy L. Young, Guy Truman, and Angus Wilcock of Huntington, and C. H. Oliphant of Orangeville, are with Battery E of the same regiment. We are now located quite permanently, perman-ently, or as much so as we could be in the army for we know not one day what the next will bring. All is quite well with us now and we are getting somewhat familiar with army life. We have been digging gun-pits and communication com-munication trenches for several weeks. At least we work at it awhile and then practise at mounted drill, which is quite a sight for one who has never seen a field artillery brigade at practise. prac-tise. Thinking that some may not know what it really consists of, I shall endeavor to tell you. This is called a mounted organization, consisting of six batteries (A, B, C, D, E, and F.) The first three batteries are very well-tained well-tained and the last three will be before long when they shall have had the same practise. Each battery, when fully organized, consists of 196 men, 163 horses, 4 guns, and 8 caissons. Now each piece (a gun or a caisson) I shall refer to from now on, has 3 teams and 3 drivers. driv-ers. Each horse is equipped with an aluminum collar which is very light and convenient to put on, a saddle, and a set of cable tugs covered with leather, which is very convenient, light, and durable. The whole equipment equip-ment for one horse is no heavier, and not so heavy, I should say, as the e-quipment e-quipment of the average farm horse, and is very durable. The driver, as he is called, rides the near horse of his team and holds the reins of his mount in his left hand and the reins of the bridle of the off horse in his right hand. The three teams are known in their order as the wheel, the swing, and the lead teams. It is as much as a Chinese puzzle (to the untrained) to try to tell how they go, and to see how skilled the leaders' lead-ers' ears and eyes become in discerning discern-ing just what way to go at the signal of the hand or the toot of the whistle of the captain or leader of the battery. bat-tery. When at a gallop and going crosswise of an old irrigated field you can imagine how it would feel to be riding on the piece. The only spring you have is a few thicknesses of canvas can-vas and the "give" in your bones, which, I assure you, is nothing to boast of. You might feel to contradict contra-dict this if you were an onlooker and should see some bouncing 'way high. After practising a few minutes you can see nothing but a cloud of old California red dust, and I can tell you there is plenty of it here. Everybody is exerting his entire energy en-ergy in an effort to master this science of war. There is a great deal to learn but we are capable and willing for the task, for when the Yankees set out to accomplish a job they always do it. They always have and I surely have great faith in them now. I thing that, perhaps, if Kaiser Bill could sense the number, the zeal and the quickness of our troops, he woud have a rather dizzy feeling, and I feel quite confident that if the German people knew of our desires in their behalf, they would lay down their arms voluntarily. Everything is going along with all speed working day and night both physically and mentally for the accomplishment ac-complishment of one end, and that is world-wide democracy. I was very much surprised the morning I met Irwin Jensen from Fer-ron. Fer-ron. He is with the 144th regiment, known as the "Grizzlies," a crack CaU ifornia organization. He said he was likewise surprised to see me out here I and especially surprised to see me attached at-tached to a California regiment. I am in what was formerly known as the 1st California, while he is in what was known as the 2nd California, before be-fore the regiments were mustered into federal service.. We have one thing to be specially thankful for and that is that we have a man of the type of Chaplain B. H. Roberts to give his whole time and talent to the spiritual and moral side of the soldier, and he Is doing a great work here. He is as a father to the boys, especially those from Utah, who seek him. He gives us a spiritual feast every Sunday morning at 10.30, which is sure a feast to those who go and partake of it. We have not been able to leave camp until 1 o'clock to go to San Diego, so we get two services ser-vices one in camp and one in the L. D. S. chapel at 3715 10th street, San Diego. The chapel is a very beautiful building one the local saints have cause to be proud of. Here one gets the same feeling of mingling with brother and sister which one feels at home. There is one great god-send to the soldiers and that is the spacious buildings build-ings and the service rendered by the Y. M. C. A. They surely make it more lke home to the boys, furnishing entertainment en-tertainment and a comfortable place for the men to write and study. While I am writing this letter a man Is giving giv-ing us some very good solos. A boxing box-ing match was also pulled off tonight. Out of the seven nights, we have a picture show 3 nights free to all the boys on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights, and the other nights are all occupied with some kind of an entertainment. There is a great work to be accomplished accom-plished by those at home. One living so far removed from the real zone of activity, can scarcely Imagine their importance im-portance in the maintenance and their duty to cheer those who are called to represent them We are having very fine weather down here although It is quite cold and damp at nights. The sun has been our friend by day as we are all lovers of it, especially now when we can appreciate ap-preciate it after the taste of fog at Camp Lewis. The fog was so thick whole squads have been lost from their respective companies. We boys have now all served our turn on guard, and Sidney Y'oung is getting his second turn tonight and tomorrow. to-morrow. Will close now. Your friend, C. H. OLIPHANT My address is Clare H. Oliphant, Batt. E, 143 F. A., Camp Kearney, Calif. BATTERY BUMPS I was sitting in the guard-house one sunny afternoon, Wishing I was with the boys. (The sergeant calls "Platoon." I'd rather do "Sqads Right" or "Left." or "On right" in the line; But I'm detailed her to linger, because I made a whine About the grub and everything; I cussed a blue streak red; I cussed about the shoes I had and I cussed about my bed. I do not like this guard-house stuff, they work me awful hard, An all I hear through day and night is You had better make it snappy, and in line with the throng, -When you hear that little whistle (a short one and a long.) I'm a private in E Battery, One Hundred Hund-red Forty-Third, (First California Artillery ) they're allright, on my word. Now, if you're patriotic, (yes, civilians, I mean you) Join us while you have the chance, for another draft is due; And when you come in smiling, keep it up all through and through, And do not start to growling or detail de-tail will get you; Don't talk back to your officers Just take it as she comes Is my advice to "rookies" whether working men or bums. JAY ANDERSON of Huntington |