The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN
ARMY AND NAVY
CONTINUED from page u

plum-duff-well to be frank it is most any
kind of doughty pudding mixed with
generous allowance of raisins. the degree
of digestibility depends on how many days
out you are and if the ship cook has more
than rudimentary knowledge of the cul-
mary art. In the navy the ship crew Is
divided into messes of about twenty men,
each mess has cook who prepares the
food and takes it to the ships galley
where the Doctor cooks, bakes or fries
it, the ship cook is called the Doctor
quite an appropriate name considering
what he does to the grub.
Before the dinner is served the cook
must bring to the officer of the deck a
sample dish of whatever is to be served.
The cook selects some choice portion;
salts, peppers and buffers it and the officer
of the deck eats small portion and in
variably says, Every good he then
winks at the boatswain mate and COM
mands "Mess Call'-then the red tri-
angular dinner pennant is hoisted at the
yard arm and for one hour Jack can
enjoy the pleasures of eating and smok-
ing.
In the evening after hammocks are
piped down the men gather forward on
the given deck and sing and dance to the
music of viOlins or concertinas. Probably
the most unique as well as the most en-
joyable number of the days program is
the dancing of the sailors hornpipe-A
genuine hornpipe danced by an agile sailor
comes near to being classed with acrobat
ic feats.
Xmas in the Army
Christmas in the army is glad day for
alI-dfills are omitted and in so far as it
is possible the officers make the day
pleasant and agreeable for the men under
their command. At those army posts 10
Gated near large cities the men are for
tunate in having some place to visit
where most enjoyable time may be had.
At Fort Douglass, Salt Lake City is near
at hand-Chicago is close to Fl. Sheridan,
New York City to Governors Island and
Fl. Hamilton, while at Fl Monroe visit
to Norfolk is guaranteed to produce
most joyous Xmas. The boys at the
Preside are most fortunate as they are at
Frisco. To many of those stationed at
small dreary posts, the day is full OF mem
cries of festivities in Porto Rico or the
Philippines, in which running the gaunt-
let or catching a creased pig occupy
prominent part.
Just at the present time most of our
army is preparing to spend the winter
along the Mexican border with the
chances being good to cross and show the
world some real fighting-in this con-
tingency it may not be inappropriate to
give brief sketch of our army as it
really is.
Our little army consists of 80 regiments
of Infantry; Is regiments of Cavalry and
six regiments of field artillery-besides
the coast artillery, which numbers about
$1,000 men, making about $4,000 in all,
The Gath and 25th Infantry and 9th and
10th Cavalry are colored troops or Buffalo
soldiers, but are there with the goods.
Until the creation of staff corps our
army was only series of detached COM
mands, it being rare for an entire regi-.
ment to drill together unless they hap
pened to be in the mud of Fl. Riley or
along the banks of the Missouri at Fl.
Leavenworth.
With the organization of the General
Staff corps, our army took long step
forward and the scenes enacted at Tampa,
Florida, during the Spanish-American
war will never be repeated. Gen. Eagan
was then the Quartermaster-Ge General and
at Tampa there were two miles of supplies
on the railroad tracks and most of the men
eating hard tack. Mrs. Miles, wife of
Lieut.. General Miles, came down from
Washington and personally issued lot of
boxes to the boys that had laid on the
station platform for two weeks. While
many are familiar with the twelve COM
pany three battalion formation of the In
fantry regiments, the Cavalry and Field
Artillery are not so well known.
The Company-Troop and battery is the
smallest tactical unit
The Infantry Company consists of IS
enlisted men and officers.
The Troop-the smallest cavalry unit
has Is men and 8 officers.
The Battery-The smallest tactical unit
of the Field Artillery, consists of 1873 men
and is commanded by captain, 2 first