The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1916-09-13
SOLDIERS ARE FAST
BECOMING REGULARS
So Says Maurice Hicklin,
Who Is. With Recruit
ing Squad.
GARTH is COOK
Texas Rains Are Real Ones,
Says Columbian on
Leave.

I'VE are last becoming regular SUI
diers, but the only 'greasers' we nav
seen have been across the Ri
Grande." said Maurice Hicklin, pri
vate in the Fourth Missouri Infantry
who was in this city yesterday on
days furlough. He was member o
the local machine gun company
which was augmented from othe
companies, and is now a unit of in
fantry.
Mr.. Hicklin is in Missouri as {
member of a recruiting detail from
the Fourth Missouri Infantry, which
is now on the rifle range near La
redo, Tex. He was selected as one
of twenty-one from the Fourth Regi.
ment who were sent to this state fol
recruits.
"The entire company is in excellent
physical condition, with the exception
of Sidney Rollins, who has not en-
tirely recovered from his accident
said Mr. Hicklin last night. "Mr
Rollins was unfortunate in getting
out of the hospital, as he was held
for an examination after he had re-
covered.
Lieutenant Price is serving in an
other company and Sergeant Lips
comb is fast becoming popular Off
cer," continued Private Hicklin, when
asked about the home boys "The
company is getting enough to eat, and
although he is not eligible for the
Waldorf, Jim Garth is some mess
sergeant. We are sleeping in pup
tents while on the range, and these
tents do not shed water in hard rain
and most of the rains are hard ones.
1t is always part of the prepara-
tions to ditch your tent, and several
of the boys hesitated in doing this.
They were awakened in the night by
water sweeping across the tent floor;
they were compelled to get up. light
lanterns, and irrigate that part of the
desert. Laredo is a nice town, and
during the hot spell there was always
good breeze from the gulf. We
would all be satisfied if it we're
nearer home, but it is hard to spend
the weekend in Columbia and watch
the 'greasers' the rest of the time.
Returning to the question of mess,
we live better now than when we
were first called to Nevada, Mo-, for
There we had only
field rations, but now we have regu-
lar mess-halls. These are the first
quarters to be erected when a new
camp is made, and every member of
the company is a member of this con-
struction gang. for he who does not
work, does not eat
I'VE thought that the Fourth had
been the regiment selected to be sent
back to Missouri, but we were dis
appointed. We will be sent to guard
the border. 1 suppose, and relieve the
Second. if we stay long enough in the
South. 1t is the general opinion that
we will remain for some time, as the
situation appears unchanged. The re-
cent movement north of few troops
is explained by the railroad situation.
And besides, if we are coming home,
why are we recruiting?
There were fourteen corporals and
sergeants and seven privates in the
squad sent for recruiting duty, and
the officers took Pullmans while we
came in the squad.
1t was up to us to sleep the best
we could. When we reached Kansas
City, we were given meal tickets at
a cheap restaurant, and we slept in
the recruiting station
Mr.. Hicklin, who was married the
night he left to join his company in
Nevada. spent the day with his wife,
who is the daughter of Mrs. ]. Carver
Jones, 402 College avenue. He left
last night for Warrensburg.