Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-20
.K|PL|NG DESCRIBES
MAKING OF ARMY
Writes Vivid Eyewitness Story
of Thrilling Scenes in Eng
lish Camps.
ALL CLASSES ARE LEVELED
Recruits. Eager to Fight. Put
Hearts and Souls in
Work.
ALL CLASSES ARE LEvELED
ny RUDYARD I<IpLING.
London. December

My experience" he spoke detach-
ably, is that you'll find everything
you're looking for?"
Not in the least" said.
Then you're all right. You can't
miss getting something" He pointed
generally to the North Camp. ITS like
Hoods In town. isn't it,"
lie had hit just the word All known
marks i'm tho place were submerged BIZ
troops. Parade grounds TO their ut
most limits were crowded with them:
rises and skylines were furred with
them: and the whole length of the
road Is hcavcd and rippled like bicycle
chains with blocks OF men on the move.
The voice OF q sergeant In the tor
inent reserved for sergeants 1T roll Ca IL
doomed across bunker He was call
Ing over recruits to a specialist corps.
But I've called you once" he snapped
at a man In leggings.
"But I'm Clarke Two was the vIr-
tuous reply
"Oh. you are, are you?" lie penciled
the correction with scornful mouth.
out OF one corner of which he added,
sloppy Clarke: You're all ciarkes
or Watsons to-day. You don't know
your own names. You don't know
what corps you're in. I7'his was bit
terly unjust. for they were squirting
up at n biplanc). You don't know any
thing"
The more man has in his head. the
harder II is for him to manage his car
cass-at first. I'm glad I never was a
sergeant. Listen TO the instructors:
Like rocks, isn't it?'
There was half mile OF scrgcants
and instructors, varied by company Of
ncers. all at work on the ready ma
terial under their hands. Thcy grunted
barkcd, yapned, cHpostulated and, in
rare casos, pUrred az the lines III oke
nd nI:, I,-h h. ~ ct
naiJan. 4
When companies numbered off one
could hear the tone and accent OF every
walk In life, and mayb" half the coun-
tics of England. from tho decp-throated
"Woon" of tho North to tho sharp. half
whintled Deypnshjre "Tu." And as the
inttruutorsf 3Gborcd. so did the men
with a passion to learn as passionately
rs they We're taught.
Presently ii ne sdfIft or lie foSt-
traffic down the road. there Ecame an
other gray-haired man. one foot In
gay slipper. which showed he was an
old soldier cherishing sore toe. He
drew alongside and considered these
Jealous myriads.
''Goodg" said deferen,Ially.
Yes" he said. Very good"-then
half to himself-"auite different.
though" y pivot man close TO us had
shifted little instead of marking
time on the wheel. His face clouded.
his Inns moved. Obviously he was curS-
ing his own ciumsiness.
That's what I meant" said the vet
eran Innocent! Innocent. Mark you.
they amt doin 1T TO be done with IL
and get off. They're dom IL because
because they want to do it,
wake up. Wake up there. Usher
wood"
This was young subaltern's re-
mindcr flung at a back which straight
hot
coming up out OF all that maze OF i'm
personal manoeuvring stuck In the
memory.
AN /, wasn't ardly even necessary
to caution Mister lsshcrwood'' my
companion commented
.'Prob'ly he's bitterly ashamed OF
imsclf"
asked leading question because
the old soldier told me that when his
toe was sound he, too was military
policeman
Crime? Crimc"' said he. They don't
know what crime is-that lot don't
none OF EN-" lie mourncd over them
like benevolent old Satan looking
into n busy Eden, and his last word
Was innocent"
miles of mcn--men route marching, or
going to dig or build bridges, or
wrestle with stores and transport
four or five miles of men. and every
man with eager eyes.
There was no music--not even drums
and flies. I heard nothing but q dis
tant skirl of the pipes. Trust Scot to
get his national weapon as long as
there is a chief in the North. Admit
ting that war is serious business.
specially to the man who is being
fought for, and that II may be right
to carry long face and contribute TO
relief funds which should be laid on
the national debt, it surely could do no
harm to cheer the men with few
bands Half the money spent In treat
ing for example
There was moor among woods with
pond in n hollow, the centre of Il
world Of tents whose population was
North Country. One heard it from far
of.
"Yo' nun trail t pick an t. rife at
t. same time. Try again. said an In
structor
An isolated company tried again with
set seriousness, and yet again. They
were used to the pick-won their liv |
ing by it, in fact--and SO, favored 1t
more than the rifle: but miners don't
carry picks at the trail BY instinct,
though they can twiddle a rifle one
twiddles a walking stick.
They were clad in blue garb that |
disguised all contours; yet their !
shoulders. backs and lolns could not |
be altogether disguised. and these |
wore beautiful to see.
Another company. at physical drill |
in shirt and trousers, showed what |
superb material had offered itself to |
be worked upon, and how much poise |
and directed strength had been added |
to that material in the past three
months.
When the new army gets all it's new
uniforms. 1t will gaze at itself like n i
new Narcissus. But the present kit is |
Understandable. That is why, English
fashion, It has been made honorable |
by its wearers; our world in the years |
to come will look back with rever- |
Continued on Seventh Page.)