The Republican journal., 1903-02-05

swiftly and silently in front of the
quarters The first sergeants call the
roll rapidly, report the result to the
the officer of the day, that blind
faith tells them is there, although
unseen in the dim light. Ranks are not
broken, for at this time of the year the
short day must be fully utilized. Left
face, toward march," the ringing stride
of two thousand bootheels on the frosty
pavement, as in cadenced step the boys
in blue" march to their breakfast in the
immense mess hall that seats twelve
hundred men. The men march one
rank on either side the long tables, halt
mands the first sergeants at the head
of the tables, and thereupon rises din
and clatter of knives and forks, and
general falling to, that would stun one
unaccustomed to the lusty appetltes OF
our regulars, for there will be sharp
work in the frosty air in a few minutes,
and old regulars know that liberal
supply of hot beef stew is the proper
thing to do it on.
The men do not march back to bar
racks from mess, but each, as soon as
he has satisfied his inner man, rises
from the table and returns briskly to his
squad room to get ready for the morn
ing drill, twenty minutes being ample
time to demOlSh their rations and get
ready for morning work. Again the
bugle calls, and armed men saunter
leisurely out on the verandas and com
pany parades;t ten minutes yet to assem-
bly," no lettering then, so take it easy,
my masters,
As the minutes pass the old hands
watch the orderly room door, for wise
in their generation they know the signs
that tell them to get ready to step quick
ly into ranks without confusion or
crowding. Suddenly the door opens
with a jerk, the first sergeant appears.
At almost the same moment the notes
of assembly" sound and there is a
momentary shuttle of many feet, as the
men fall in at the sergeant's command.
Perhaps the sergeant has occasion to
reprimand some man who is delinquent;
much practice has made him perfect at
this, but to all outward seeming, his
seed falls upon stony ground, for he
confronts line motionless and impas-
sive as statues. No time for words
now, however, the sergeant calls the
roll, faces about and reports, the com
pany commander returns his salute,
there are few sharp commands, and
the companies swing off to the morn
ing's work Out across the broad parade
grounds they go, and disappear in the
woods to the south. The men are halt
ed, officers explain the problem of the
day, the enemy is represented by the
first battalion, they are approaching
from the south through adensely wood
ed country.
Scouting patrols are hastily sent
toward under old and experienced non
commissioned officers, men who have
learned their work in a sterner field
than this, old indian fighters of the
plains, men who met the Dons at Ell
Caney, and hunted the bolo men in their
native jungle, and they must teach the
recruits the tricks of the trade, for op-
posed are men as subtle as themselves,
and bitter it is to be outwitted at your
own game. For hours the disgusted re-
cruit crawls through the brush and
over stones, with the corporal's keen
eve upon him. He must make no noise
to betray his presence: he must not ex-
pose himself to view, or there will come
the quick sharp crack of blank cart
ridge, and he will be passed over to the
war is like this anyway. "Say, Bill,
this is all blamed foolishness'' he whis-
pers to comrade 81 don't believe
soldier lays on the ground and gets
chilled to his gizzard like this, he just
lams into them" The corporal has
him by the neck by this time, and the
recruit learns that the corporal does
not approve of a scout who has so much
time to whisper, and so little time to OBJ
serve the approach of the enemy.
Perhaps the enemy is not seen this
day by our recruit scout. Some mast
erly manoeuvers by one commander or
the other, has settled the fortune of
the day to the satisfaction of the UNI
pires. However, his day is not half
done when he gets back to quarters.
Perspiring and dirty he hurries to lay
aside his soiled clothing and equipments,
rushes to the bath room and in short
time emerges fresh, clean and tidy,
cleans his arms and equipments, and
then falls in for signal drill This ex-
ercises his wits; for all that wig -wagging
of flags, and the eye-dazzling flashes of
the heliograph have to be mastered.
Meanwhile those who have been detail
ed for guard, assemble on the parade
grounds, and after being carefully in
spected by the first sergeants as to
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