The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14

and west were almost unknown.
In which event John Smith, togeth-
or with many of his mates. is dropped
from a Southern Pacific train into
binding sunshine. seen through dust
that sticks. as mud, to his sweat.
dampened face. Most likely the Their
mometer stands somewhere in III"
vicinity of 40 in the shade John
Smith knows that IL is hot. but he
does not in the least realize how hot
1t is: the air is so dry. II Is the utter
desolation of the whole country over
which his puckered eyes range that
strikes him. Just illimitablo
stretches of parched and burning
sand dotted with cactus and dancing
in the fierce heat.waves. A land OF
lizards and rattlesnakes. Only few
faint trails wind over its face. Other.
wise II Is tracklcss.
Nearer at hand however the scene
is busy enough. Ever so short time
before. perhaps, the spot which now Is
military base was only a desert
siding. Buildings of corrugated iron
have sprung into being as though by
Eastern lamentations. Great tents,
like some new sort of gigantic mush-
rooms. exc them out. Far to one side
are smaller tents in serried rows
colored like the dust from which they
seem to have sprung.
Men are hurryinE here and there,
mostly men of the various staff corps
or departments. Already John has
learned TO distinguish the insignia.
Perhaps here and there he sees the
lozenge on the collar of blouse that
tells him that its wearer is of the
Paymaster Generals Department.
Officers and men of the Medical
Corps are there in force, and very
likely sprinkling of the Adjutant
Generals Department. Probably
Johnny. like many older soldiers,
looks askance at the army lawyers.
who report to the Judge Advocate
General. He secs Chaplains, with the
silver crosses on their shoulder.
straps. He sees also the double-tur-
retod castle that denotes the Enginc"r
Corps, and knows that these men Will
have with them workers OF almost
every trade on earth, save possibly
one or two which are to be found In
the Signal Corps. Also the tools for
those men To use. For the first tim"
h. begins actually to realize what Il
complex and intcrdopendcnt machine
the army Is
DUT. most important of all at the
- present time and place, are the
men who wear the wheel. key and
sword as a badge - the men OF the
Quartrrmastcr's Department.. They
have many duties. Upon one OF these
duties now depends not only the wei
fare but the life itself of every man
who leaves the base. II is only a
slight eXaggeration to say that In this
case John Smith and his mates exist
principally To act as quartcrmaster'S
guards.
II is the army mule that has to
transport, beside the multitudinous
things that every army in the field
requires. not only additional forage
for himself and the other animals, but
also water. Great quantities OF II -
water, which in that bare and burning
country, stands high above all other
necessities. and which is scarcer no
whore in all the world.
Then there comes day when,
from the base camp, dispensing
squads of cavalry crawl, beetle-like,
appear toward the south. Suppressed
excitement pervades the camp, for the
men know that this is the van of an
advance guard. Soon after the
general" sounds, and at its last note