The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-18

A steed steed of matchless speed.
sword Of metal keene.
All else to noble hearts is drosse,
All else earth is meane.
The neighynge of the war horse provide,
The rowlings Of the drum.
The clangor Of the trumpet lowde.
be sounds from heaven that come.
And oh. the laundering press Of knightes.
When as their war cryes swell.
May tole from heaven an angel bright.
And rouse fiend from hell
The neighing of horses. the beat of
the drum, the boom of cannon and
the clatter and shouts of charging
cavalrymen disturb the dreams Of
hundreds of Topeka youths these
days. with real war down on the
Mexican border, about the only sub
ject of discussion. Talk OF enlist
ment, the life of a soldier and every
thing else concerning the army is
heard ON every side
What is the United States army
How are soldiers treated ?" everyone
is asking.
Best Fed in World
In the first place, the army OF the
United States is asserted to be the
best paid. best fed and best kept army
in the world. A soldiers opportan-
ity for advancement. self improve
ment mentally and physically. pleas
ure or the accumulation of savings. is
said to be of the best
The present authorized enlisted
strength of the army is 90.5SS men,
The principal divisions of the line in
which the recruit will be interested
are composed as follows:
l. companies of engineers. 1912 men
Il com panies signal Corps ~ men
10 regiments cavalry :--..--- II ~ men
regiments field artillery 5.513 men
ITO companies coast artillery. is ,607 men
so regiments Infantry. il. 1O1 men
CThe others consist of men in the
ND ar-frV
scouts, Porto Rico regiment, etc.l
To Recruiting Depot
Immediately after having been ac--
cepted for enlistment at a general re-
cruiting station, the applicant is sent
to a recruiting depot. A recruiting
depot is a station where a large num-
Der of recruits are assem- bled, from
various parts of the country, for the
purpose of giving them their first in Z,
struetions before sending them to a
regiment The recruit is usually kept
at this depot about forty-five days.
This is where he receives his first
uniform and equipment. He also re-
ceives free of charge recruit outfit
consisting of a razor, tooth brush,
comb and hair brush, shaving brush.
soap, shoe polish, clothes brush, and
towels The purpose OF keeping a re-
cruit at the recruiting depot is that
he may be instructed in all matters
pertaining to the military service.
Taught Care OF Self.
He is taught how to fold and pils &
his bedding. how to care for his cloth
ing, arms and equipment, and he re-
ceives instruction in all drills and
marchings. These drills usually oc-~
cupy about two hours each day except
Sundays. there being four drills. OF
thirty minutes each, with intervals be-
tween drills for purposes of rest The
last drill is over by II o'clock in the
morning
The recruit is then required to at
tend a lecture given by a nOn-cOm-
nissioned officer, on various customs
of the service and care OF uniform and
equipment. usually lasting about
thirty minutes. The lectures ex-
plain the articles of war. how the SOL
der should take care of himself. san
itation. and. in fact. take up all sub
jects that directly affect the soldier.
After a recruit has attended ten OF
these lectures he is excused from fur
devoted to outdoor sports and athlet-
les, weather permitting
About the Canfeen.
Trained cooks, most OF them men
who graduated from a cooking school
at Fort Riley, prepare tho food which
always is inspected by a commissioned
officer. Each company has its own
BARRIERS. each regiment has band, its
own tailors and its own post exchange
or canteen. The canteen is for the
purpose Of supplying to the soldier. at
extremely small profits. such articles
of merchandise as may be deemed
necessary for his use, comfort and en-
tertafnment It has a first class res
taurant attached. where a soldier may
purchase any food he desires. Nom
alcoholic drinks are sold, but no in
toxicating liquors of any kind
The canteen is similar to a cooper
alive store. Each company owns a
certain proportion of the stock. and il
is operated almost exclusively for this
benefits of the enlisted men. The
profits derived frcm it are divided
among the companies. and this money
is expended solely for the soldiers
benefit No persons other than Off
GERS. soldiers and civilian employees
of the government are permitted to