The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-02
ALABAMA BOYS IN DEAD EARNEST AS ID THEIR NEW DUTIES Problem of White Cooks Is Being Gradually Solved
 at Camp
LACK OF UNIFORMS
 CAUSES AMUSEMENT
Youngsters Take Their Duties Very Seriously, However, and Every One Does His Part
 Willingly

Montgomery, July 1.-(Special)- Ut is hard to realize that nearly week has passed since the Birmingham units of the Alabama National Guard entrained for the mobilization camp here in Mont gomery.
 There has been so much to do, so many details to be worked out so much hard work to be Accomplished, that the boys have had hardly time to think, much less to get homesick. Making camp is always a difficult matter, and one that is full of petty hardshps and discomforts, due largely to the unaccustomed surroundings and the new mode of life. The present one was complicated by the fact that an unusual percentage of the enlisted strength are absolutely new to the sol- diers life and unaccustomed to hard work in the broiling sun.
 But so far there has been practically no complaining. The men realize that they have gone into a game that is not for weddings or children, and that when they started out for Mexico they had to leave the easy ways of ordinary life behind. We have had rain, with a plen- tiful supply of mud, and the hottest variety of midsummer sun. Yet the boys are "playing the game with hearty good will that speaks volumes for the young manhood of the state.
 THE FOOD BUGBEAR
 The old bug-bear of all military camps food and cooking-has sprung up here from new angle. Since the days of the old militia the Alabama troops have been served by their negro camp follow CTS. No one ever heard of white cook in white regiment It has always been the order that each company kitchen has been presided over by the black mem Der of the organization. In nearly every case he has been member, in fact, as well as name. He has been of late years a regularly enlisted member, and regard ed himself as a very important one. Some companies have had the same old cooks on their rolls for years, and in conse- quence they have grown fat while soldier ing.
 But now these dusky servitors must be left behind. As a consequence vail has gone up from the Alabama brigade. The war department ruling that no ne- groes can be mustered into White regi- ments has caused a scramble for white cooks. Of sudden the cook has come into his own He is today, of more conse- Guence than many an officer, and lucky is the organization that can claim him in its rank and file. There are plenty of officers in the brigade, and what we lack in that regard can be supplied at a moments notice. In fact the writer would undertake to recruit a regiment of second lieutenants at any time. But recruiting an army of cooks is different matter.
 COMPANY K TROUBLES
 Some companies are blessed far beyond their deserts. Thus the Jefferson Volun- teers Company K, Fourth infantry, who brought their ancient henchman, one Pete Hurd, into camp last week, have found cooks in plenty right in their own or ganization. They had been expecting an ex-army cook from Birmingham to take the place of Pete, but a delayed letter and missent telegram sent him into the open arms of Battery c instead. The Volunteers were talking of turning out d brass band and torch light procession to meet their distinguished recruit but when he reached camp his hat was en- circled with a scarlet cord instead of the infantry blue.
 When the news spread, great was the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Pete was leaving-what was to be done. The cor poral in charge of the mess is an experi- enced man, but we needed cooks. and cooks we must have. And then a recruit arrived. He was weary and travel stained and he wanted to enlist, and he did enlist. Then was made the great discovery that he could cook. We had been entertaining an angel unawares.
 They are fine lot of young Americans, these boys of the Alabama brigade. They are jolly, good natured lot, who take their troubles lightly and their duties seri- ously. They are sorry lot to look at, if one judges superficially. Many are still in civilians clothes. for the uni