The Portland daily press., 1899-12-13
RESPECT FOR A RAW RE
CRUIT.
How II was Created In the Breast OF
Lseusenans IN the Philippines.

(Trom the Chicago Tribuna)
Somstimes Q fnw recruit win put up
with all sorts Of abuss. and sometimes he
will squirm and turn upon his tormsntor
and make the tornsntor sorry. The
In this Instance was Lisutsn
ant who did not like raw recruits. He
did not zee Why suoh pests should ever be
permitted to get into the army. When
they shot each other In the foot, or In
vsriably fired salute ct guard mount
when the command "opsn chambers and
cartridge boxes" was given. the Lisuten-
ant rsjoiosd, because then he could de-
sosnd on them like . storm out Of the
clouds and I'LL their young lives with
gloom.
II was on the Caiamba expedition. and
the d,smountsd cavalry regiment had
been alternately fighting and hiking all
day. First, they would hike for q while
through rics puddles and across bamboo
jungles. Then the enemy would lob mp
and they would pause and light At
night they were tired. About three.
fourths OF the command were raw re.
oruits, and the day had been a trying one
to raw recruits. At night they Ewere al
most too tired TO lie down and sleep, and
some would have slept standing mp II
their friends had not pushed then, over,
70 that they lay upon the ground. Ons
of the recruits, the smallest and newest
man In the regiment. had been told on
for post duty and s,nt to keep watch ON
the edge OF Q river that flowed some six
hundred yards away from the camp
Across the river. somewhere In the dense
iungles of bamboo, were the insurgents,
and the outpost bad TO move quietly ana
too popular With the sharpshooters hid
dem in the mysterious blaoknefs across
the stream.
Al O'Clock ths officer OF the day came
around inspecting the outpost. The re-
orpit was sitting ON the bank OF the river,
holdinR his feet straight ont In front OF
him. The corporal he d told him that II
be SIT with his feet held up he would
not 20 to sleep. The recruit was so busy
holding out his feet that he DID not see
the officer OF the day. who happened TO
be the Lieutenant who soorped raw re-
the officer of the day had come up. and
he arose, olumsiiy enough. and trisd to
look as soldierly % tho rest OF the men.
But the officer OF the day looked At the
little boy In the khaki soldier clothes
with oontemmpt. Then he glanced across
"Sergeant," he said to the non con,-
missionsd officer Of the OUTPOST. s'you
ought to have a man ncre So the river. II
they come In on us there we could De
forming while they were coming across,
II We only had d man over there to give
the alafm.
ayes, SIR" said the sergeant.
"You 20 over there" said this Lieuts n
ant to the shivering little recruit, "4et
behind the bushes and witch Close. il
the gugiss start for us, hre once, anyhow:
Then you can drop over the bank and
come back TO the outpost"-the Lieuten-
ant pauss d for q moment, and then con-
The little reuruit shiversd Sd that bis
teeth ratified, and to hide his fear he
merely snlutsd and hastily wad into
the cold, dark river and aoross. The our
rent was swift, and at one time the va 'sr
came up to his ermpits, but he got safely
over, and then, aions In the enemy's
county, he sat shivering through ths
night, trying to make out the fantastic
shapes tt as doomed up In the darknefs.
About m.dniaht he heard some one
walking along the beach ON the Ameri-
can side Of the river. He rails d his rifle
and challenged "halt." The figure
a,ross the river halted.
"Who's there" asked the recruit.
"Otficsr of the day." came back the
response In tbs unmistakabis voice OF
that individual.
"Advanoe, officer Of the dayi" COM
mar de d the recruits with all the dignity
Of q Brigldisr General ordering the Tor
nation Of his brigade, land DO rsoos-
uized."
so, that's all right. my man,, said
tho officer Of the day. 81 can't advance
across this muddy river. you know. How
Ia everything over theres'
Advance, officer Of the day." came
from the recruit on the other s.ds, land
be recognized. Then followed pecu
liar click such a. IL male when the tatety
/ catch Is thrown back 10 as to permit the
firing Of q krag- Jorgennsen ride.
The offiosr OF the day hesitatsd no
longer. He plunged into the cold water
aud waded across. He stepped into 9
hole and went In over his head. DE
walked lahore 90 wet he could have been
wrung out BY hand. The recruit locked
/ at him. :.
4 "It's all right" ne said, tossing his
gun to port ~ recognize you. Every
thing 10 quiet, sir"
Then he stood waiting for the officer Of
| the day to empty Vial Of wrath uIol
his head but noting OF the kind hap
psned. The Lieutenant asked the ususl
oue ssionr, then waded back. And he
never ali awed by word or action. that he
remem bered the thing aftsrward Except
that he scanned to have more respaot Tor
raw recruits, and for one law recruit II