Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-17
.SNOBS IN THE ARM Y

In connection with the discussion now go
ing on in some leading magazines as to
the causes underlying the tremendously in
creased number of desert.ons from the
United States army in recent years some
curious stories reach Washington concern
ing the treatment of enlisted men by some
officers.
A few months ago two commissioned
officers from Vancouver barracks were paid
off at the expiration of their enlistments.
and after they had re-enlisted were fur
Laughed. They started for the east. wear
ing their uniforms in travelling. meaning
to rig themselves out in civilian clothes
when they made the eastern country.
At Denver they stopped off to take look
at that town. They saw public automo-
hotels. approached the driver and made q
d1cker with him for ride about Denver
in the motor car.
The two non-coms were just about to
step into the automobile when a dapper
man. accompanied by two young women.
came along. The dapper man was an army
officer who had stopped off in Denver to
visit some friends after having been In
charge of a detachment of recruits taken
to a Pacific coast post. But he was in
citizens dress and the two non-coms had
officer
Hey. I want to engage that machine"
said said the dapner man to the chauffeur.
want IT for couple of hours for myself
terms?"
wagons just been engaged. sir. by these
TWO gentlemen" said the chauffeur indi-
eating the two non-coms. irf uniform
Inc daHDer man turned to the two SOL
diers with = Sneer
Ohio! gentlemen!'' he said. with strong
accent on the word. well. I guess they'll
give up the machine to me when I inform
|
Then, turning to the two non-con,no,s
s'oned officers:
II am an officer of cavalry. travelling"
hour or so. You two can have it later or
you can get another one somewhere"
- We rage 1t now quietly observed one
The dapper man looked dumfouDded
DO you know whom you are address,
ing: ieilew? he asked savagely
heard what you said you were" re-
p ,hi the enlisted man. but I don't know
whether IFS true or not. But do know
that. even II you're the lieutenant general
commanding. you're a mean scut. and that
goes as 1t lays"
The dapDer one walked ovar 70 +ho an
listed man who had done the talking max
ing demonstration of intended fsticuffs
"hen lie got close to the non-con and
the latter. hardly shifting his position.
simply reached out and knocked the dan
per man fat to the pavement with a rIobt-
hand wallop to the Jaw
fhen the two enlisted men sten,ad ;,+o
.ne automobile and the driver whizzed them
"aH: ne oHcer picked himself I'D NUT
terlhS threats against the two sold ers but
ne never made any report Of the matter
he Knew that he would not have a leg to
stand on in submitting any sucb casa
put me incident was witnessed bv num-
per or Denver men of some consideration
anu tnH war Department heard about #
"n"ffc,a,lv not long after it occurred.
An occurrence of similar sort hut with
n inherent outcome tOok plo
francisco estaurant two years ago I,st
Nv rear In San Francisco, is In New
iorh. they have the habit of sitting un at
me restaurants to the old vnsr o,,t
Two enlisted men stationed at the Pra.,dio
Llad one of the small tables on the p,ain
moor of the Poodle Dog that exceoa,n,iv
weli-kho"n San Francisco restaurant They
ilad engaged the table a week IN ady,pca
for that night. They were both mo, 81 anos
eastern famil es who bad entered the army
lot the purpose of striving for co~,nissiors
s en- poth or them had successfully passed
their examinations.
They were sober young chaos as they had
necessarily TO he to get themselves into line
for commissions. and they were enio,,irg
me .un. which was at its hoeht wher,
ABOUT ten minutes before midnight or tho
ne" year. an officer from the P-es:dio oc-
coinpaMed by somewhat larbv you,g
woman. entered. The Preside oficar Ioo1,'
ing anout MN. espied the two enlisted men
seated at their table in the corner T.av
were in civilian dress but he racoonizad
them. for enlisted ,'cn studying for cow
MISSIONS are marked men around n rost
IN. Inc ofhcer who was slightly the worse for
the celebration. approached Their tale AL
'noush me- too. was in mutt. they rncog-
nized MIN. and rising. stood at attention
and saluted him i''''
What time are you fellows due back at
the post? the officer asked them, not very
civily. ~ 49,
replied. iS 'i7'
oil cofI
hand, you'd better be on your way now
l want that table
The two soldiers looked keenly mortified
But having worked so hard for their pros
doing anything to ieopardize in anv way
their chances OF getting them So. after ex
changing giances. they started to move
away from the table. Just at this point the
moved up.
Who are these gentlemen that Won are
depriving them of their table in such a d s.
courteous way?' she asked the officer.
oh. they don't mind" said the officer
disdainfuly. They're only a couple of en-
listed bucks from the Preside"
wei. whoever they may be. they're un-
selfish men, and their conduct Is great
deal better than YOURS" said the larkv
young woman with plenty of spirit ct
shan't be one to take their table" and she
swept out. leaving the officer standing The
crowd around the tables In the meantime
officer and to blow their horns and kazoos
at him. He flushed and started to go out
and Join the young woman who had left
On his way to the door the feasters who
had noted the Incident began to throw
cooked spaghetti at him. and by the time
he reached the exit door. Tuning he was
smeared with the stuff AS a matter of
course. this incident never became an Of
fetal matter. either although a San Fran
cisco weekly gave an outline of it. sup
pressing names. The two young enlisted
men got their commissions a few months
later. and one of them is now serving in the
Philippines in the same command with the
officer who had to stand for the spaghetti
shower in the restaurant