Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1916-12-30
22nd ENGINEERS MADE GREAT RECORD
Palisadian Back From Border

Palisadian Back From Border
The return of Harry Elkan from
his long service on the border with
the Twenty-second Regiment En-
gineers on last Saturday was an in
teresting event for his family and
friends in Palisade. The Elkan home
was especially decorated in Christmas
festoons, and a big American flag
floated from the pole in front OF the
house. Harry went away on the
twenty-first day Of June, expecting to
be gone about sixty or ninety days.
But the long, uncertain state OF Mexl-
can affairs changed all of the army
calculations, and the delay was all the
longer on that account. The great
est disappointment, according to Ser
geant Engineer Elkan, was that the
boys did not see anything more active
in the United States army service
than mere camp life, and the regula-
ton. discipline that goes with army
manouvres anticipating possibly
more active service where an enemy is
actually engaged. Without violating
any confidence at all, the soldier boys
were not at all averse to rub with
the Mexicans, though in their hearts
they had no real grievance against
them. 1t is always the same-that
the uniformed man engaged In any
kind of military service would not be
afraid to enter either battle or
skirmish. -,
"Glad to get back, suppose?"
Sergeant Elkan was asked.
"Glad, that's no name for it. We
are delighted, not use any stronger
word. Our long stay down on the
border may have had charms for
some of the more Indifferent ones,
but not for the great majority OF the
men taken down by Uncle Sam. Be-
ing member of the Nationa! Guard
is one thing, where we have the com
forts of big armory, and the TEL
lowship of our company associations;
But to be away from home ana
friends for six months is no lark by
q long shot. We were all that soldiers
ever get to be in recruiting camps.
and there was q certain amount OF
ENJOYMENT in the forced service. we
.weraraGR altogether without ways ana
1870 CausnS lisa- l.
good, bsI or Il T. dlng e
the nointS of vie5 The chap who did 4
not like bean soup, could fill up on
bacon or onions; and if he did notI
like the strenuous sport OF baseball,
could find comfort in checkers. wei
did not lack for pleasures. The suit
lers that hang on to all military
bodies were down on the border IN
droves and drives. They had every
thing to sell, much to interest, and
made an institution in themselves
that all soldier boys desire and must
have. We had all kinds Of movie
shows, some good VAUDEVILLE, and the
eat things on the side in the way OF
luxuries that the camp itself did not
add in the way of deserts"
"Was the army fare good?"
Perhaps better than the average,
after two or three months; l believe
there was enough always for every
man; and so far as | am concerned
/ liked it. There was no legitimate
kick from any but the would-be's;
and they never cut any figure in camp
or elsewhere. It is the same all over.
No, the fare was all right. Soldiers
do not thrive on daily banquet fare,
and they could not, if it were offered.
We had the best sanitary arrange
ments, and therefore the minimum OF
sickness. We had everything that
honest soldiery could ask for. And
while our stay was longer than we an
ticipated, my observation has been
that the majority were satisfied. Our
return was long and tedious, the hard
est part of the trip, in fact, and 1t
did seem that better deails could have
been worked out. But we came back
home with the same willing hearts
that took us away. And now that we
are home again, glad to the last limit
of gladness, we do not regret having |
gore, even though to some OF us
E wac as.-savage cost. personally
feel repaid for the experience. And
T have once more enlisted for three
vears-eyen before leaving Texas,
NV pay has advanced to SSe' 9 1i.oh1h,
against SIS for privates:"
Concerning the incidents OF ms
camp life at Camp McAllen, Sergt.
Elkan had great deal to say OF IN
terest. He is of the opinion that the
visit of the soldiers was great bless
ing to the Mexicans near the border. |
"When we went there first" he SAID,
tive thought we had never seen people
live with such miserable sanitation.
Our own camps were immaculate. MOI
a scrap of dirt anywhere. The Mexi-
cans were exactly the reverse. Their
garbage was allowed to rot beside
their doors, and they lived like pigs.
They had few beds, sleeping upon the
ground or anywhere they could Be
fore we left all this had changed.
They swept their yards, bought beds
to sleep on, and were approaching. the
Messing brought by the American
soldiers. They soon began to like us,
too, and to sing our praises; The little
tots that were at first afraid to even
iook at us. after awhile began to poke