Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-24
K|PL|NG DESCRIBES
MAKING OF ARMY"
Visits Huge Drill Sheds, Where
Miniature Rifles Are
Busy.
PRACTICE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
New Army Does Not Cultivate
Useless Emotions-Men
Are Cheerful.
PRACTICE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
BY RUDYARD KIPLING.


LONDON. December Io-At the next
halt fell into Scotland-blocks and
blocks of it-a world of precise
spokrn. thin-lipped men with keen
eyes. They gave me directions which
led by friendly stages TO the heart Of
another work OF creations and a huge
drill shed. where the miniature rifles
were busy
Few things are dullcr than norris
tube practice in the shed. unless 1t be
judging trianglcs Of error against
blank walls. thought of the mill
tary policeman with the sore toe. for
these "innoccnts'' were visibly enjoy
ing both games. They sighted over
the sand bags with the gravity of sur
veyors. while the instructors hurled
knowledge at them like slingstones
Mon. Dye see your error! Step
here, mon. and I'll show ye." Teacher
and taught glared at each other like
thcologians in full debate. for this is
the Scots way of giving and getting
knowledge
AZ the miniature targets squad after
squad rose from behind their deadly
earnest instructors, gathered up their
target cards and whisperingly com
pared them. five heads together under
window.
No Word Of Hope.
Aye! That was where | loosed too
soon" Il msdoubt | took too much
20 the foresight" Not a word of hope
ana comfort in their achievements.
Nothing but Calvinistic self-criticistn
These men ran a little smaller than
the North Country folk down the road.
but In depth OF chest. girth Of fore
arm. hiceps and neck measurement
they were beautifully level and we'll
mp. and the squads at bayonet prac-
Tee had their balance drive and re-
cover already
As the light failed one noticed the
whites OF their eyes turing toward
their instructors. 1t reminded one
that there is always touch of the
cateran in the most docile Scot even
as Inc wolf persists in every dog.
And what about crimc?" demanded
There was none. They had not joined
/. 10 play the fool. Occasionally n few
unstable souls who have mistaken their
vocation try to return to civil life bv
way OF dishonorable discharge and
think ii funny" TO pile up ofenses.
The New Army has no use for those
people either. ana attends to them on
what may be called democratic lines
which Is all the same as the old bar
rack room court-martinl Nor does II
10 instruct them. They go to other
spheres.
There was or rather is q man who
intends to join y certain battalion. He
joined ii once, Scraped past the local
doctor and was drafted into the corps.
only 10 be hove out for varicoSe veins
lie Went back to his accommodatinc
doctor. repeated the process, and was
again rejected.
they are waiting for him now i'm
ms tnird incarnation, for both sides are
equally determined. And there was
N,shn
whiie, and left, as he might have left
pit or factory. Somehow il oc-
CURED to him that explanations might
be required. so he wrote to his com
InandinE officer from his home address.
and asked him what he recommended
him to do
The c. o., TO his infinite credit wrote
pick' Suppose you rcjoin." which the
man did, and no more said His pun-
iSih:eht, OF course will come to him
when he realizes what he has done
u he uots not then perish in his self
himselD he will make one first class
non com.
Gets Good Pipes
had the luck 10 meet a Sergeant :
major who was the sergeant-maior of
ones dreams. He had jus; had sure
information morn that the kills for his bat
talioh were coming in a few DAYS: so.
after three months work. life smiled
upon him. From kits one naturalIw
went on to the pipes
The battalion had its pipes-a very
good set. How did it get them? Well,
mere was: OF course. the duke. They
began with him. And there was =
scots lord concerned with the reei-
ment. And there was lcddy of q
certain elan connected with the bat
TALON Hence ;he pipes. Gould any
thing be simpler or more logical?
And when the kits come the men
would be different creatures Were
they good men? l asked. Yes Vera
good Wha's to mislead 'em?" said
he.
old soldiers" / suggested meanly
enough Rejoincd privates of long
ago"
"Ay. there might have been few.
such in the beginning, but they'd be
more wanted in the Special Reserve
battalions. Our boys are good boys.
but, yell understand. they've to he
handlcd-just handled little"
Then subaltcrn came in, with regi-
mental forms, visbly leaning OF the
sergeant-maior, who explained, clarified
and referred them on the proper quar-
ters.
Does the work come back TO you?"
I asked, for he had been long i'm pleas
ant civil employ.
"Ay. 1t does that--it just does that"
-hiih uS tuulcSScu tHe HutltTlnS pa
pers, lists and notes with the certainty
Of an old golfer on a. wcll-known
green.
Squads were at bayonet practice in
the square. (They like bayonet prac-
tice, especially after looking at pic
lures in the illustrated dailies.) A
new draft was being introduced to it's
rifles. The rest was getting ready for
evening parade. They were all i'm
khaki. so one could see how they had
come on in the last ten weeks.
1t was a result the meekest which
might have been proud Of, but the
New Army does not cultivate useless
emotions. Their officers and their in
structors worked over them, patiently
and coldly and repeatedly with their
souls In the job. and with their souls,
minds and bodies in tho same job, tho
{Cnntinued ON Sncnnd I,nneo