Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-10

\For the land of Ak-sar-Ben is the only place on earth the Amer
lean government will send it's soldiers to crook the knee to a
monarch. The sending to Omaha this large body of soldiers is not
a one sided affair, by any means, for Uncle Sam very seldom II eve
drives a poor bargain.
The governments object in sending soldiers out among the
people is to bring the army closer to the people and in the end to
create for the army a warmer place in the affections of the tax
payers. In time of war it Is very easy for the people to love the
soldier, but II has been demonstrated that in time OF peace there has
cen little favorable thought given the soldier. So the War depart-
ment conceived the idea of sending the soldiers among the people
to show that they were real human beings and entitled to
serious consideration and their business is of Importance. and in
cdentally to create in the breast of the young man a love of country
which the soldier inspires, and a desire to wear the uniform.
Another obiect NJ tbe errm in andinv mt IT'S soldiers To
participate in civic celebrations is to drill its men in march; familiar
ize them with camping in the open and broaden them by association
with civilians. The government inausurated the system of loaning
It's troops to civic organizations two years ago when the soldiers
we're sent to st. Louis to participate in the festivities incidental to
the balloon races. Then came requests thick and fast for soldiers to
help out in local entertainments and carnivals. The War depart
ment was satisfied with its experiment and now when requests ar
made for men of the army If they can be spared the government will
send them. Objection being made solely to sending the soldiers out
for purely local entertainments or carnivals.
The soldiers who participated in the parade Thursday after.
noon marched to Fort Omaha from Des Mones, making the trip t
Council Bluffs in six days. The trip to the fort could have been
made N that time but the officers decided to camp in the Iowa
city for the night For a large body Of troops this was an excep-
nonany long march n soldiers, pack trains n artillery
stretched out over three miles in length. In this march the soldiers
used small shelter tents and many of the boys got their first expert
ence in camping out Both men and horses arrived in Omaha in
first class shape, though the average travel per day was in the
neighborhood of twenty-eight miles.
These long marches are also of immense value to the horses,
which usually do not stand the pace as we'll as the men. The horses
are not stabbed at all and are compelled to stand in the open regard
less Of weather conditions.
The soldiers who have been participating in the Aksar-Ben
festivities have Just completed a similar engagement at Des Motnes
and they bear testimony to the good effect of mingnng with the
people. Not only have they the appearance of a superior crowd Of
men. but the conduct of the individuals has been such a s to COM
mend them to the people generally. Considering the fact that vaca-
lions such as this one comes to the soldier very seldom, the restraint
of the men has been remarkable On the streets and on the carnival
grounds, though there were 1000 soldiers mingling with the crowds
there has been no report Of misconduct or ungentlemany action such
as might have occurred among 8 many soldiers a few years ago.
To the soldiers the hikes across country are in the nature of
outings and are immensely enjoyed, though the hikes n not given
for that purpose. Officers and enlisted mel alike say they enjoy
marching through the crowds in the civic parades and they enjoy
camping close to a city, where they are brought in close touch with
civilization.
The good conduct Of the soldier boy, however, should not be
a surprise to the people for a man has to be a man to get in the
army nowadays. The applicant not only has to be physically as
sound as a dollar, but he must possess common school education and
be OF good moral character. That the officers in charge of the
recruiting stations are living up to these rules is evidenced by the
high standard of the men, in the army compared with the soldier
boys who use to get to town to blow It up.
In every garrison the soldiers are compelled to attend a school,