The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-04
TAKEN
:. 10 COMPLAINTS OF 0CALA
MIITIAMEN


MLITIAMEN
The star hears various comments
on the recent letter of its correspond
ent with Company A. at Black Point.
Some denounce the star Tor printing
it, ana others say it was the proper
thing to do.
The Star is not in favor OF SOL
diers kicking on the ordinary incon-
veniences of camp life. The men at
Black Point have not had to suffer
any real hardships. Compared with
the soldiers of nations, and some of
our own soldiers in other places, they
have had very comfortable time.
At the same time, they have had
to put up with some things that
should not have been inflicted on
them. They are all volunteers, and
they should not have to suffer any
but inevitable hardships. There is
no just and sensible reason why they
should have inflicted on them any in
conveniences that the State or their
superior officers could save them
from.
1t would be very bad thing for
the press to foster any spirit Of in
among the men--in
fact, it would be reasonable to do
so. On the other hand, it won't do
for the press to disregard the com
plants of the men when they seem
to be well-founded. 1t is a saying
among sailors that everybody plum
ders poor Jack. 1t wouldn't do to
say that everybody plumbers the SOL
diers, for a majority of the people
their patriotism and help
them all they can. But there are en-
tirely too many the other way, Be-
ginning with the contractor who
sells embalmed beef to the govern
ment, and who can buy enough con-
gressmen to keep him out of jail,
down to the peddler who sells a
thirsty private soldier q couple of
tablespoonfuls of sloppy ice cream
for dime, the United States army
finds large portion of its worst en-
emies in it's own country; and if it
wasn't for the ,gress, it would find a
great many more.
The men Of Company A have had
some things to complain Of; some
hardships that could easily have been
avoided. Regarding our correspond
ent's letter, and his report that on a
certain day there was no wood to
cook dinner, 1t was only the truth
We are informed that a detail had
been appointed to go out and chop
the wood in the woods. When the
men were returning to camp with
the wood they were met by the col
onel who said he had people paid to
get wood, and made them throw
away what they had gathered and
return to camp without any. The
company came in from the march at
noon, and on account of no wood
waited until o'clock for their din
ner. OF course this is only a little
thing and If the men were at the
front, 1t would be ridiculous to refer
to it, but in well-ordered camp it
was an unnecessary hardship, and
making mention of it in print is a
safeguard against its occurring
again. That the correspondents
kick did some GOOD is shown in the
letter from the non-coms, published
yesterday, in which one paragraph
read:
1.-THE remarks about the canteen
checks were about right, but as soon
as it was brought before the colonel
he ordered it remedied and from now
on the checks will be issued at the
convenience of the men,"
In conclusion we would advise the
men of Company A not to send their
complaints to the press; to bear ev-
cry unavailable inconvenience and
hardship without complaint, and II
at any time they are treated with
injustice to call for a court of in.
quiry. Military law provides them
with remedy whenever they suffer
anything that should not be inflicted
on a soldier .-Ocala Star.
This is to certify that sealed