Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-31
HAS PRAISE FOR
ARMY CAMP LIFE
LOCAL ATTORNEY WITH GUARD
ON BORDER WRITES or TRAIN .
ING MEN RECEIVE.

A letter full of promise for the good
effects produced by the army training
given the guardsmen on the border
has been received by the publisher Of
The Courier from L. l.. Duke of OF
tumwa. member Of Co. G now at
Brownsville, Tex. The letter teens
with interesting matter to the reader
and Is published in full as follows:
Brownsville. Tex, Aug. 20. 1916
James F. Powell, Esq,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
My Dear Mr. Powell-The hurricane
of Friday interfered with our water
supply to such an extent that we are
unable to secure the filtered medicated
have been under the doctors care
and confined to quarters for the past
two days.
However. hope to be able to take
part In the sham battle tomorrow be-
tween the Virginia and Iowa troops.
The Virginia boys led by Colonel 3. e..
Hatch will defend the Ohio & Texas
sugar mill against an attack from the
three Iowa regiments, led by General
Allen.
The field Of battle is one Of the most
famous In Texas history. On March 9.
1886, General Taylor marched his
army from Point Isabel to the relief
Of Fl. Brown. then known as TT. Tay-
lor. which was being bombarded from
Matamoras, engaged the Mexican army
commanded by Gen. Arista. This
battle Is known in history as the Bat
tie of Resaca de la Palma"
am thoroughly convinced from my
experience here that the militia sys-
tenn Is not the proper method. The
army life Is fine. The physical condi-
ton that naturally comes to one from
taking ten mile hikes or marches and
the drills Is splendid. But we are
now getting the training that seldom
; comes to the ordinary militia before
being called into action. Military
training In my opinion should be made
compulsory. Every young man should
have at least two years of 1t. It would
largely make up for lack Of the or
l have been under the Doctors care
many respects better equip the young
fellow for his future life. BY proper
care OF his person he would come from
the army stronger by at least fifty per
cent from physical standpoint than
he would ordinarily be without the
training. Many Of the regulars here
are the most splendid specimens Of
manhood I have ever seen. It will
take months and months Of training to
put the militia into fighting trim and
then IL they are mustered out the
chances are that half of them would
| never enlist again. Make military
training compulsory and this means
| efficiency. 1t will also mean that the
burden does not fall upon just few
i in the event Of war. That instead OF
just few men with knowledge Of
the game, every man within the age
limit knows something of It.
Then there Is grim satisfaction IN
1t when the call has come for men to
enlist that you are in good physical
condition. In such shape that yo,
can pass the rigid medical examina
ton. Then when you round into form
and can hike ten miles at good clip
and all the surplus flesh Is gone you
will one day find yourself In line fully
equipped In the uniform Of the best
country on earth. Around your waist
| Is hundred, rounds of ammunition
and on your shoulder is the best shoot.
ing gun in the world. Believe me, you
feel like real man and you're no
mollycoddle You feel that II 1t be.
comes necessary that out of thousands
who are utterly unit to defend their
country and their homes, you are one
that can meet any emergency. Every
young man In this country should be
taught to defend his country regard.
less Of whether he feels that way
about 1t or not.
recently visited the house where
Macmillan lived Just before the end
ing OF the life of that brave adven
turer. 1t is one Of the historic spots
here in Brownsville. l want to take
a picture Of the same with my camera.
Will send you one later. John w.
Lewis writes me that his father was
stationed here during that time as a
soldier.
l have met several of the lawyers,
judges, city officials and business men
while here. Brownsville has just
started under the commission form OF
government and many of the people |
come in contact with want to know
about it when they learn that had