New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
MAKING AN ARMY
HOW RESERVES ARE TURNED INTO
REGULARS AT ALDERSHOT-DRI
ING WITHOUT UNIFORMS.

From The London Leader
They are making an army at Aldershot and
making % with all the speed they can. II Is an
event which happens only once or twice In lie
time. and then causes excitement throughout
the world. Yet one could walk all over Alder
shot depot half a dozen times and unless he
knew the place intimately would come away
with the firm impression that nothing unusual
was proceeding.
! saw some statements 10 the effect that
Aidershot was all hustle and excitement Il IS
not They do not make army like that. II
you expect 10 see orderlies rushing about and
soldiers on cycles WhiZlins past-well, that -
not at AdershO-.
StilI. there is excitement at Aldershot. But
il is OF a sort that you do not see. There are
officers tearing their hair. il is said because
now that they have got their men ready and
have TO Doe off in a day or two they have got no
clothing 10 put on them and cannot find OUT
when d. is likely To arrive. 1t Will be- ready
for the cmbarkauon." says Pimilco with passive
calmress. and with that Aldershot has to be
content
The results Of this are visible though all the
excitement is hidden beneath the red tape bands
that hold complaints Some Of the results
make our soldiers look almost comic. tor III
stance one sees the mounted infantry. They
have got their Bedford cord bre,ches and their
putties but not their khaki TUNES. 80 the poor
chaps are left looking almost like guys In very
loose Lreeches surmounted by very ught oII
scarlet tunics
The Colonial helmets have arrived. great pack
ing cases full Of them. all slowed inside one an
other while the gilt adOrnments and chin straps
are s.parate in other cases There Is no stopping
to fix them together and number the helmets.
Instead of that three sergeants play niue
game Of shop. Up marches file OF men IN heIl
care Halt, Front turn, Answer to your
names Right turn. march! Right turn, halt
Now. then. pick out helmet and hurry UP
No NICETIEs OF FIT
The file has drawn up in front OF a line OF
open packing cases. The moment the men hail
off comes each cap and each man SEXES mel
md 10 ont head.
tries a second Then quartermaster tres one
or two OF the worst fitting. A captain So
whether ne can get little more heau OF ms
man out II the helmet and little more or that
mans In The quartcrnaster explains tnat edch
man must number his own. Then Klsht 'uIII,
march, again. and as they pass by the heaps
put ready. each man picks up the gut acorn
incnts and TIE chin strap and goes on Womb CI
ing how ever anything could be made SO IlSHI
as his new white helmet
/ NeauV hila other files are passing. bearing OLD
home kits to the stores. Each has an armIu
of tunics i'm one file. In another each man -
loaded with leggings. Others are carrying away
The re.orye men are Of course the great feat
+ ure ~ interest just now. As to Aldershot, they
F may De divided into t"o srts-those NI' 80
in alone direct to the depot ana mos 's
. ,.ho marched in IN large parties from otfer btl
racks Bands and cheers always met lhtSe
big parties But the great human interest aite'
ALI centred In the separate men. The otheIa
had got over their uartings and leave takih@ s.
Thes. mad only just come through inc 'il0-
OF g. ...,1,
and twists his mustache in Wondertneht nj l.5
changes Of recent years. The wilderness NA4
become q town ,--,.
came across one man who had just hurried
hack from Monte Carlo from the service % q
Countess and even he was not sorry. ~
man seemed delighted with the chance y Delh5
D." 4'''''' SET TO WORK.
But the rcscryist is not in the depot long be-
/ fore he has 20 fan In with some part OF the
/ movement for making an army. IT ms ul'
/ form has come he is served out WIN 10 ana
+ with "a sheet Of brown paper. label. ana ID,
I Of string These last are for wrapping UP aI
7 that is l.ft ~ the civilian. If his Uniform n@-
not come. 40 matter there IS a rie ana a
/ ravCuet and bolt handy. so OF be- goes 10 ui III
/ in his own civilian dress. some "I llr I''.i '-17
were drilling iu morning coats, BOWERS 'i "'l'
! hats and one mana uavvy-Nas sun wear :
! The works" holding ny his trousers uclo" III,
! l-nee During the first drill be- took one ol
| these straps off. SO that he should .be qGil
/ sure Of not forgetting which was his rsht j. 3
Then I'm little corners here and there one c'u \
/ sce the making OF the army going ahead. AZ
| the school men were getting reireshcis IN lhs
! art Of signalling At the hospital men were
! beiuC doseI with injections Of some patent sup
posed to make them proof against thltII'
! fever The engineers were practising WIth por'
| toons for bridge making. In the NeHIIistO,
/ Lines the gun carriages and wagons We're D-lhs
| raiuted from the usual gray 10 sort or drar
IN ut, Khaki And away in the distance