The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-09
ADVICE TO VOLUNTEERS
Regular Writes TO Wichita Friend OF
Requirements.

regular of the United States arrnv
writes back to O Wichita young friend
! from Chickamauga as follows:
You think OF enisbing. and you ask
me to tell you the requirements Of a SOL
| dier's life. looked at from the standpoint
| of raw recruit.
Recognizing the extreme value of dis.
! cipline, the first thought of a recruit-be
ne regular or volunteer-should be: What
snail my line Of conduct be in order to
become a perfectly disciplined man?
"Answer-First TO give an instant and
willing obedience to the commands of my
superiors; second, to perform all nv mill
tary duties with scrupulous exactness:
third. to comply with all camp regula
tons and those relating to sanitary meas
ures; fourth, never to permit myself to
indulge in criticism Of my military su-
periors. Finally, there are some consid-
erations that, though the unprofessional
may regard them as scarcely pertinent,
are yet important, as having a direct in
fluence upon discipline;
The recruit should keep his mouth
clean and indulge neither in profane nor
vulgar language. Let him be as clean in
his person as circumstances win permit
of. and never leave camp without being
neatly dressed in the prescribed uniform.
A clean shabby coat is better and more
soldierly than a dirty new one. A dirty
soldier is an abominatiOn. and there are
few circumstances. indeed. under which
personal untidiness becomes unavoidable
for more than a brief period. 1t is not
expected. of course, that the soldier can
be Immaculate under all circumstances.
But the burden OF this short sermon is:
Be as clean as you can.
Indulge in no 'horse-play' out of sea-
son. SBylarking, singing. etc, are all
right at suitable times. In fact, they are
20 be encouraged. A cheerful soldier is
generally a good one But do not 'whoop
and holler' at unreasonable times and
hours. 1t isn't solderly. II is well to keep
in mind the Importance of preserving at
al times the bearing of q soldier, and not
get into slouching ways and positions of
duty This VIII simplify matters much.
and after while soldierly attitude viii
become second nature TO the recruit.
"On the march the soldier should avoid
drinking water or any other fluid If
overpowered by thirst he may hold a
small quantity in his mouth and perhaps. /
swallow just enough TO moisten the /
throat. After arriving in camp. water
should never be swallowed at a guip. but |
taken il sips. In this way. moreoSer. a |
smaller quantity of fluid will satisfy the
thirst. All drinking water should be III I
tered or boiled II practicable: If not. sub /
s,ijute weak tea or coffee. Fill your can {
teen over night for use in camp the next /
day.
Unless there's a morning when a very
small V1ack may be INDUCED in. avoid I
food also on the march. One reason Tor
this is that il is provocative OF thirst; Sc
careful Of your diet II is almost suicidal
10 eat unwholesome things while exposed (
to tho vicissitudes Of a soldiers he In
the field. Eat only sufficient 70 nourlsh
the body. and under ordinary circum-
stances never 20 repleton. Old soldiers
are VIGOROUSLY small eaters.
Boots should. Of course, never be worn
by neutrality-suspicious. by cavalry in hot
climates.
III the feet become sore from marching
they should be washed gn cold water upon
arriving IN camp. and the socks turned 1
inside our before replacing them on the
'eeo. and rubbed with common. brown
soap. I have found this very healing.
Excepting on grand guard or other ex-
,osed situations. the soldier should never
sleep with his shoes on.
a stomach baad Viii be found al ex-
,ellent protection against stomach and
bowel troubles. Leaves or grass worn IN
he crown OF the hat and wet from tina
0 time win be found s. good protection
-Sdinst the suns rays.
The recruit should avoid. as FAR as
,ossihle getting his fee, vet. ana should
hange his wet for dry shoes at <hA
arIest practicable moment The same
btains as to wet cloth!ng. Wear WOODEN
Pay The utnos, attention
. al sanitary rules. for remember thar
lsease Kills more than bullets. Re re
pectful and obedient 70 your non-corn-
lissioned officers. Your friend BIZ Jones
no ioager-to you-BtlI Jones. but Ser
sant or Corporal William Jones Of he 5
lank company, such zad such a regiment \
-niyed States army u