The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-11-17
An Efficient Officer, Says Cyril
Spiesr, His co-Worker
M'KENZIE ALSO LAUDED
Men of Company H Are Doing
Fine; Very Manly and
Soldiers All
From Fr.day's Daily.

From Ft!oayS oaiiy.
Edinburg, Texas, November 5.-To
The Mankato Free Press.-Having
read the articles in your paper on the
matter of the Mankato capiaincy, l
feel as though l might make few
remarks in justice to those who have
evidently been overlooked from a
misunderstanding of the facts in
yolved. Now it is definitely settled
question as to who is the captain of
Company H as we all know, and In
speaking of Captain Mckenzie, l
wish to say that he is very efficient
officer and gentleman in every
way. Let me say that as long as
we "could not nave Mankato man."
as our captain, we are very fortunate
in having Captain Mckenzie to fill
the position for he will no doubt
handle our company satisfactorily
for everyone concerned, which means
mainly the men of the company. 1t
has been a precedent in the guard
for quite a long time that in the
event of the position of company
officer being made vacant in any
way, to promote the next in line,
therefore meaning a promotion in
each of the next lower positions
made vacant by the first. 1t fbeing,
it is thought, a great incentive for
the men in the company to work and
study in the hope that some day they
themselves might have a chance for
a commission, which l firmly believe
in. The precedent is very rarely
broken except in unusual circumstan-
ceS.
Praise For Lieut.. Hauck.
1t was thought by all that Lieuten-
ant Herbert Hauck would be made
the captain, Sergeant Comstock, sec
ond lieutenant and myself as first
lieutenant.
But indeed, we all have our own
opinions, which the law of the nation
entities us to, and IL am not might
ly mistaken, there are very few Off
GERS in the Second Minnesota regi-
regular army for instruction and that
that Lieutenant Hauck is in every
way efficient to become a captain.
I am very strongly of the opinion
that he is. He has had two or three
months Of good hard work. left the
company on August 18th to join the
regular army for instruction and that
naturally gave him two lieutenant's
work. Since Captain Scott left the
company Lieutenant Hauck has COM
manded the company and will until
Captain Mckenzie finishes his leave
of absence. Now, it is no small mans
job to take care of company of in
fantry in the field entirely alone.
When there should be at least three
officers with it all the time to pro-
perly instruct and care for that many
men. / went to visit the company
Friday at Llano Grande and found
all the men in excellent health and
everything running along very
smoothly indeed under the direction
of Lieutenant Hauck. We have in our
company a fine lot of men, who if
treated justly and fairly, will re-
spond. They are each and everyone
of them soldiers, and they should re-
ceive due credit as such.
Manly Lot of Men.
At no time have l ever refused
promotion in our company and
neither has any other member of it,
and believe me, all of Company H
is in to finish of this thing. I will
close my letter now, hoping that it
will be printed so as to do justice to
those who have it coming, especially
Lieutenant Hauck, who has worked
hard and earnestly for his company,
and he will continue to do so as
long as is necessary, believe me.
The Second regiment is a very
excellent organization and will al
ways keep up the reputation it has
always had as gentlemen and
fighters. All is we'll that ends we'll
and one cannot help but feel that
full justice will be given everyone
in the end who plays his part we'll
Let us hope the end is not far away,
and that everybody will be ,home
again soon, but not before the nation
can afford to dispense with our SER
vices.
With kindest regards to all Man
kato people, and especially the
friends of Company H, and news to
the families of our men of Company
H that they are all healthy and we'll
and that they are a manly lot and
soldiers to the core, l remain, most
sincerely, Cyril B. Spicer, Second
Minnesota Regiment, Company H,
Minnesota Infantry.