Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-13
The New Army

ing up out Of all that maze OF impersonal
maneuverlng stuck in the memory.
AN IL wasn't nrdly even necessary TO
caution Mister Issherwood.p my COM
panion commented. "Prob'iy he's Bit
terly ashamed Of 'imself"
asked a leading question because the
old soldier told me that when his toe
was sound he. too. was a military police
man.
"Crime7 Crimei'' said he. They don't
know what crime is-that lot don't-none
OF em!' He mourned over them like a
benevolent old Satan looking into busy
Eden. and his last word was "Innocentg
The car worked her way through miles
OF men--men route-marching. or going to
dig or build bridges or wrestIe with
stores and transport-four or 4ive miles
Of men. and every man with eager eyes.
No Music.
There was no lnusic-not even drums
and tiles heard nothing but a distant
skirt sof the pipese Trust a Scot to get
his national weapon as long as there Is n
chief in tho Aorth. Admitting that war
is serious business, specially to the man
who Is being fought for and that it
may be right to carry long face and
contribute to relief funds which should
be laid ons.the national debt. II surely
could do no harm to cheer the men with
few bands. Half the money spent In
treating, for example.
There was moor among woods with a
pond in hollow, the center Of world
OF tents whose population was north
country. One heard It from far off,
"Yo' mum trail Z pick am { rifle 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 psclE-won their living
by it, In fact--and 50. favored it more
than the rifle: but miners don't carry
picks at the trail by instinct. though they
can twiddle a rifle as one twiddles a
walking stick.
( They were clad in a blue garb that dis
gllised all contours; yet their shoulders.
backs and loins could not be altogether
disguised, ana these were beautiful to
, see.
Another company, as physical drill, in
4 shirt and trousers, showed that superb
( material had offered itself to be worked
upon, and how much pose and directed
in the last three months,
The Man and the Clothes.
When the new army gets all its new
uniform, it will gaze at itself like a new
Narcissus. But the present Kit ID IN
descrfbable. That is why. English
| fashion, il has been made honorable by
/ its wearers; pur world in the years to
come will look back with reverence as
well as affection on those blue Stops and
that blasting cap.
One far-seeIng commandant who had
special facilities has possessed himself
OF brass buttons, thousands Of 'em. which
he has added 70 his mems outfit for the
moral effect OF Cal having something to
clean and CD Of keeping It 80. It has
paid.
The smartest regiment in the service
! could not do itself justice In such gar
ments, but ] managed to get view OF
a battalion. coming from a walk. at a
( distance which more or less subd0ed the
-er-linlform. and they moved with the
Elastic swing and little. quick ripple that
means 50 much
A miner Is not supposed to be as good
a marcher as a townsman. but whenlhf
gets set TO time and pace and learns the
economy of effort. his developed bach
and shoulder muscles take him alon1
very Handsomely Another battalion Eel
"a for parade while I watched again at 1
distance. They came 10 hand quietl,
and coIieetedly enough and with onl,
that amounitof pressing which is due I,
fear Of being late. A pIatoon-or what
ever they call it--was giving the whole o
ltts attention to IT'S signalling instructor
with the air Of men resolved on gelfinl
the last flicker OF the last cinema filn
for their money. Crime IN the militaK.
sense they DO not know any more thal
their fellow-innocents up the road.
No shams Here.
It Is hopeless to Pretend 70 be othe
than what one is because ones soul i
this life Is as EXPOSED as ones body. ]
: IL futile 70 tGil civilian lies-there ar
, 40 civilians TO iisten-and they have no
yet learned 10 tell service ones withou
being detected
a 10 useless 70 sulk at any externs
condition Of affairs. because she rest 9
the world with which man Is coacernc
Is facing those identical conditions. Their