The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-06

! That is, 1t is better. A great improve
ment has been brought about in recent
years in the type of soldiers Formerly
there were many 1oreigners-now for
eigner is rarely seen. The recruit must
be either American-born or ndtura1ized
citizen
1.-THE modern system of discipline, the
summary court weeds from the army the
habitual drunkard, and the dormitories
no longer resound after pay day with the
gross language of the tippler. We have
also excluded alcoholic drinks from our
canteens. 1t has become possible now for
a self respecting man to adopt the mill
tary profession by becoming a common
soldier and lie proud of his calling.
'The chances of reward of the profcs-
sion ar great We are the richest, po-
tentially the greatest, nation on earth,
and yet our army is as nothing compared
to the armies of aur rivals In case of
first class war, which is certain to come
some day, our 10000 men would be swelled
to over a million, our 40D0 Officers to tens
of thousands. In such war a young
man with 4 military education, and who
Las proflted by it, and who is a good
fighter, might hops for any reward, no
matter how high.
School for Men
And thus one of the most important
school for war, where are educated the
young men who in time of war will
lead our great armies. AS the soldiers
of the French republic in 1893 carried
their marshars batons in their knap
sacks, as Murat, Ney, Augerean Berna-
dotte, Massena, Soult and a long line of
marshals and generals began as pri-
vate soldiers in the armies of France.
serving often for years in the ranks
before they won their first com mission,
so it will happen that many of the boys
we see today in the infantry, artillery
and cavalry will some day command
regiments, brigades and armies in de-
fense of the great republic.
And so we should make our regi-
ments regiments of the elite. They
should have the best uniform in the
world-a uniform the soldier shall be
proud of, Everything should be done
to foster the pride of the regiment, the
company-the esprit de corps. We
should establish a paid reserve with
teers in case of war. We shall have
need of it, of the men who compose
it, in the days to come
But to return to our routine. After
morning drill comes stables, when the
tired horses are rubbed down and
|, groomed for an hour. The trooper can
then go back to his barracks. clean up
'NSh
DONE
Good Food Served Up
I'VE have good cooks In the army
now, thanks TO the more liberal pay
of $50 per month, and more liberal
ration; thus it is that the midday meal
is not only plenteops but appetizing,
and the young soldier generally has af
ter his mornings work in the open
that best of all sauces, hunger. His
aaI f- e{y, hut -fala ,F
roast beef and vegetables being usually
its principal cemponents.
1.-THE afternoon, with perhaps visit
to the stables to feed the horses. is
passed usually in recreation. Occasion
ally there is a dress parade. AT sun
set, after the parade at retreat there
is short drill, and then the day is
done. After supper the young man is
his own master until IL p. M, when
lights are turned out and he is required
to be in bed unless he is on pass.
"The soldiers recreations are various.
Each of the 2 troops and the band
maintain in spring and summer base
ball nine and in fall and winter often
a football team. A first class gymna-
sium is open every evening, with
bowling alley attached Twice every
week there is free moving picture
show at the gymnasium with music.
"Once every two weeks there is
dance which the soldiers wives and
their friends from town attend. There
is a post library and reading room, al
ways accessible. Each troop has, in
addition, a troop library and reading
room, billiard table, and often piano.
There are some so married soldiers in
the garrison, who, with their wives.
form a pleasant society. And finally,
it is easy to obtain a pass to visit
town. where there are the usual attrac-
tions.
Target Practice
There is much rivalry between the
troops Each is interested in having
the cleanest barracks, the most imma-
culate kitchen, the best baseball nine,
or football team the best groomed and
trained horses, the best drilled and best
appearing organization. Every monthly
inspection by the colonel is a compe-
titiye test of spotless neat kitchens,
dormitories and lavatories.
once every month there is an ath-
letic field meet in which the different
troops strive for the prize of proficien-
cy Not only are there contests on
foot, running, wall scaling, etc. but
there are mounted contests, running at
heads with sabre and revolver, mounted
jumping contests mounted fencing con-
tests horsemanship contests, mounted
tugs of war, grooming contests, orderly
contests, machine gun contests. etc.
etc. In these events, competition be-
tween different troops is high They
are witnessed by the entire garrison
and many visitors from the neighboring
town, and the victors are greeted with
great applause.
"One of the things in which the SOL
der takes the greatest interest is tar
get practice. By a wise provision, re-
Gently enacted by Congress. the soldier
gets extra pay for good shooting, the
marksman receiving an addition to his
pay 81 per month, the sharpshooters
SO per month and the expert rifleman
So per month.
State Acts of Stepfather
From the Baltimore American
In A,1ct li.