The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-01-17
-----<s-<Ei5B-19--
GENERAL ADNA R. CHAFFEE.
The Lieutenant Gave Him Lesson in
Army Regulations.
(Philadelphia Ledger. }


General Adna r. Chaffee, who has
just been appointed commander of the
department of the east, is one of the
most popular general officers in the
army with the rank and file This
is because the general is a soldier clear
| through, and does not rely on his
uniform or gold lace for his reputa-
ton.
In fact. uniforms are to him some
| thlng TO be worn at receptions and
| other functions when they are abso-
!utely necessary: At other times com
fort comes first with him.
A little incident that occurred at
Slboney during the Spanish-American
war serves to illustrate the generals
dislike of frills, and at the same time
MS recognition of the respect due a
uniform, according to army regula-
| tons
While most of the troops were in
the trenches there was a detachment
lift at Siboney to guard the baggage
and commissary stores. In this de
tachment was battalion of a Michigan
volunteer regiment which was en-
camped on the beach.
young lieutenant of this regiment
was officer of the guard one day. and
was strutting about in his new khaki
uniform, filled with a sense of his own
Importance. He had been down to the
end of the wharf to watch the I'M
loading of some supplies, and was
walking back, when he noticed a man
dressed in what looked like the cast
off clothes of a private soldier coming
toward him.
The man was apparently 80 to 60
years old, of dark complexion, with
10 CTR lynI
and was clad in a faded blue army
shirt, open at the neck, khaki trous-
ers covered with mud tucked into boots
in the same condition, and gray cam
paign hat, much the worse for wear,
and having several holes cut in it for
ventilating purposes.
He was strolling along with his hands
in his pockets and the stub of cigar
between his teeth, and he passed the
young lieutenant without salute or
a sign of recognition of his rank This
was more than the young officers dig
nifty and new uniform could stand, so
he stopped the man with sharp Halt
therei'
The man halted and faced about, and
the lieutenant asked:
Are you in the arny?'
Eyes, SIR" was the reply
Regulars or volunteers?"
Regulars, SIR
Haven't you been in the service
long enough to know that it is Gus
tomary to salute when you meet an
officer in uniform?"
Il know that, sir; but down here
we've sort of overlooked salutes and
ceremony"
well, 1 haven't, and 1 want you to
understand it. Now attention." The
man stood at attention.
"Salute!" The salute was given.
How long have you been in the
service?"
About thirty-fve years, sir
"Well, you have learned something
about army regulations and customs
this morning. Remember who gave
me in uniform, salute. / am Lieuten-
ant - of the -th Michigan. Now,
what's your name and regiment?"
The man who had been given the les
son had been smiling slightly under
his gray mustache, and when the last
question was shot at him with all the
severity which militia training gives,
he Strengthened up, saluted again and
replied:
General Chaffee, sir, commanding
the til division
The lieutenant was thunderstruck,
and for a minute was too dazed to
answer or say word of apology. When
he found the use of his tongue again
and began to excuse himself, the old
general said kindly:
That's all right my boy. You were
right. OF course, you didn't know. L
suppose l do look pretty rough, and
an enlisted man should salute an of
ficer, even if we do overlook it some
times. You always stick as closely to
regulations as that and you'll make
"a good officer.
And shifting his stub to the other
corner of his mouth, he nodded pleas
antly to the still bewildered young man
and walked away.