Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-01-16
RED TAPE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Circumlocutory. Methods Of the Army Ser

Cifcuml0CutOrys Metn0dS OF the Army 9ef-
vice.
Cor It'd Bits
was acting quartermaster sergeant
for some details and recruits of the
commander-in.chief's bodyguard last
July. We were camped about two
miles west OF the Standerton railway
station. The lieutenant in charge
asked me one morning as I was about
to ride into town for rations, to call at
the ordnance stores and get couple
of hard-sweeping brushes to clean up
the horse lines.
made out requisition, which he
signed, I rode to the ordnance stores
and asked sergeant if he could sup
ply me with the brushes. He looked
indignantly at my bit of paper, and
said, "That's no use to us; you must
get it signed by the major"
/ discovered the majors where
abouts and asked him to sign the
requisition.
His disgust on looking at my bit of
paper was supreme.
He said, al can't indorse such q
thing as this. You must make it out
on Army Form No. 7,OO0,O2lX," or
something to that effect.
1 told him We were only details
waiting to join our regiment, which
was due there in few days, and had
no stationery.
He said, "Then tell your officer to
apply to Pietermartizburg for some."
/ explained that this would take
some days, and in the meantime we
had the nuisance OF the horse litter in
the lines.
He asked me if my lieutenant was
the commanding officer OF my corps.
said, No, of course not"
l" Then he must sign under his
name, for officer commanding
rode back to camp, made out a
fresh requisition, got it signed and
returned to the major.
He looked at my paper and said ::
This is all wrong. You have got
here, Required for commander.in-
chiefs bodyguard two hard-sweeping
brushing You must put Brushes,
bass, two"
scratched out my offending line,
and wrote as required.
"Oh, that will never do," said the
major; "you must make out fresh
requisition."
/ did this and asked him if it was
correct now.
"Oh, it'll have to do, suppose" he
said.
rode back to camp again and got
this signed and returned once more.
The major was very disgusted,
looked at my paper, flicked it, and
said: "This is very Irregular"
1 said: 1--WE are an irregular
corps" and was promptly told to shut
up and get outside his room.
In about twenty minutes the paper,
signed, was handed me and off I rode
to the ordnance stores.
The sergeant looked at my paper in
disgust, and said: "This is no good
to US. We can't give you brushes on
a requisition like this"
"What's the matter with it,"
"You've got to get it registered"
Wherep
"At the majors Office"
Of went once more, and eventually
a corporal placed my paper under a
small press and stamped it.
Once again went to the ordnance
stores.
els this requisition all right now"
querleu.
"Yes," said the sergeant.
"Thank goodness" 1 replied. "And
when can 1 have the brushes?"
"You can't have 'em at ALL" he re-.
joined.
"Why not?"
ave haven't got any. We're out of
them"
YOUNG wife-Am l your treasure,
darling?
Young husband-You are, indeed.
I don't see how / had the luck to get
you.
Young wife-Oh, we'll, you know,
mamma attended to that. 1t wasn't
luck
CA9ToEIA.
Bears the H1h' Kind You Have Always Bought
ss,;:''' q &%4ZzzzM
SARAH-Mr. Ripler saws that he is