The Little River news., 1916-07-26
IN CAMP AT FORT LOGAN H. ROOTS
By Edward Freeman.

Sunday. July 2S.
 r YOU were to ask soldier here
 Ea0 hs liked army life now as com
 pared #.th a week ago, he would ans
 sar that It was much more pleasant
 bud still nothing like place he had ill
 aind. There are many reasons why
 se should like it better and still not
 be in love with it.
 Every one of us feel our duty to our
 country and there is not man here
 but what would be willing to go to the
 border tomorrow and fight if it De nec- essarv tAlthoueh he might be scared aet of his senses.) Still there is
 feeling that our service is no longer
 needed and that we should be muster ed out and sent home. Why are We held when not needed?' is q commor question among the boys. Many who Lad enlisted before the call came, left zood jobs. < big per cent of the boys Intended t5 return to school this fali, and cs course will be held out unless tHey are mustered out. Many have Heau n ae to believe they are "rege- lars" and will be held in the army the Wn three years They have been mustered into the |. <. service. and not mo the regular army. They were forced 10 sign so many papers that am sure not many really know wha, they have signed.
 There is a doubt whether the Ark aHsas Guards will be sent to the bor- der. because nearly every company is below peace strength of siXty-fye men and. if We are. what will become Of tHe companies which have ealy few squads. Tn some instances not more than twenty privates Scarcely enough fa drill To undertake 10 recruit these 70 peace strength is going to be 3. biz proposition First. because the boys who were rejected on account of phH sical conditions and other reasons, are going to talk against the army. Why? Because they were not treated proper ly while here. Many were kept here two and three weeks withou: any change Of clothing; and how could lhey manage 10 wash what they had except they be given change of clothing Many were sent home with out any pay for what they had done, and on one occasion the men who fail cd 10 pass the examination. where held here over day waiting for their dis charges and transportation. without anything to eat. and when they went 70 their company kitchen and asked for something to eat they were turn ed away. Some went to other com panies and were fed. others had a little money and bought their meals while those who had no money went hungry. | This is enough to check the recruiting | and is a slam on our state and |. s. army.
 Why is Arkansas the last state in the union to have her soldiers ready | for duty2 Why is 1t that 1t has re- quircd more time to equip and get her men ready? First because the lagis- lature has failed to give the proper amalnt of funds to the Guards, and second her men have failed Co res pond to the call. Of course there is no great necessity of great number of volunteers at present. But suppose there has been an emergency and the Arkansas boys had been as slow as they have been. what would the result have Eeen? IL would have resulted in many being drafter into service until portion had been furnished. Would it have given Arkansas a good name if this had been the case? And again what kind of an impression has Arkansas made upon other states in mobolizing her troops as she has
 There has been scarcely any drill | given the men the past week Nearly | every company has had a day at tar get practice and this alone has com prised the chief work for the week l Every man has a different idea as to where and when We will b. sent. Some think We will leave this weea and that our orders are to go to south west California, others to Fl Paso Texas. But no orders have come whatever for our being moved How ever, as the examinations are com pleted and new equipment has been given to nearly every man. orders may come any time
 Fort Logan H. Roots is situated 3 miles West of Little Rock and on q bill overlooking the ely of Little Rock and surrounding country. On three sides the hill is very steep and is diff