Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-13
TAUGHT OFFICER A LESSON.
How u Raw Recruit Inspired Great
Respect for Himself.


From the Chicago Tribune.
Sometimes Il raw recruit will put up with
all sorts of abuse, and sometimes he will
wisgie and squirm and turn upon his tor
mentor and make the tormentor sorry. The
tormentor in this instance was a lieuten-
ant who did not like raw recruits. He did
not see why such pests should ever be per-
mitted to get into the army. When they
shot each other in the foot, or invariably
fired salute at guard mount when the
command open chambers and cartridge
boxes was given. the lieutenant rejOiced,
because then he could descend on them like
a storm out Of the clouds and ill their
young lives with gloom.
1t was on the Calamba expedition. and
the dlsmounted cavalry regiment had been
alternately fighting and hiking all day
AT night they were tired. About three
fourths Of the command We're raw re-
cruts, and the day had been a trying
for raw recruits. AT night they were
almost too tired to lie down and sleep and
some would have slept standing up if their
friends had not pushed them over so that
they lay upon the ground. One of the re-
cruts. the smallest and newest man In the
regiment, had been told off for post duty
and sent to keep watch on the edge of 4
river that flowed some six hundred yards
away from the camp Across the river
somewhere in the dense jungles of bamboo
We're the insurgents, and the outposts had
to move quietly and speak in whispers, SO
as not to become too popular with the
Sharpshooters hidden in the mysterious
blackness across the stream.
AT . o'clock the officer of the day came
around inspecting the outpostS. The recruit
was sitting on the bank of the river. hold
ing his feet straight out in front of him
The corporal had told him that if he sat
with his feet held up he would not go 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 lieuten-
ant who scorned raw recruits The recruit
finally realized that the officer of the day
had come up. and he arose. clumsily enough.
and tried to look as soldierly as the rest of
the men. But the officer of the day looked
at the little boy in the khaki soldier clothes
with contempt. Then he glanced across the
river. and happy idea struck him.
Sergeant, he said to the non-commis-
stoned officer of the outpost, you ought to
have a man across the river. If they come
in on us there we could be forming while
they were coming across. if we only had a
man over there to give the alarm,
Yes. SIR said the sergeant.
You go over there said the lieutenant
to the shiverns little recruit. Get behind
the bushes and watch close. If the gugies
can drop over the bank and come back to
the outpost"-the lieutenant paused for a
moment. and then concluded-"m maybe
The little recruit shivered so that his
teeth ratified. and to hide his fear he merely
saluted and hastily waded into the cold,
dark river and across. The current was
swift. and at one time the water came I'm
to his armpits, but he got safely over and
then. alone in the enemy's country. he sat
shivering through the night, trying to make
out the fantastic shapes that doomed I'D in
the darkness
About midnight he heard some one walk
ing along the beach on the American side
of the river. He raised his rifle and chal
lenged halt" The figure across the river
halted.
who's there?" asked the recruit
Officer of the day. came back the re-
Spouse in the unmistakable voice of that in
dividnal. sLf -
Advance, officer of the day. commanded
the recruit. with all the dignity of a brig
adler general ordering the formation of his
brigade lana be- recognized
''Oh. that's all right my man." said the
officer of the day.. Il can't advance across
this muddy river. you Know. How is every
thing over there?
Advance officer of the day." came from
the recruit on the other side land he rec
ognized" Then followed a peculiar click.
such as Is made when the safety catch is
thrown back so as to permit the firing of n
krag-JorgenSen rife.
The officer of the day i1esitated no longer
He plunged into the cold water and wadetl
across He stepped into hole and went
in over his head. He walked ashore so wet
ne could have been wrung out by hand. The
recruit looked at him.
ITS all right" he said, tossing his gun
to port. Il recognize you. Everything is
quiet. SIR
Then he stood waiting for the officer If
the day to empty a vial of wrath upon his
head But nothing of the kind hanpeneI
The lieutenant asked the usual Questions
then waded back. And he never showed by
word or action that he remembered the
have more respect for raw recruits and for
one recr1it in particular.