The Monticellonian., 1917-11-09
Much Depends on Officer Who Holds Lowest Rank in Dr.
 ganization.
ACTS AS PARENT TO SQUAD
O. the Efficiency of the Humble Cor poral Rests Much of the Com pany's Reputation-sets the Moral Tone Among the
 Soldiers.

Washington.-The corporal is known ts most civilians merely as the lowest In rank of the non-eommlssioned of ficers of the army; Isis rank is marked hy two stripes on the upper arm of his blouse. The familiar phrase "a corporal's guard" exemplifies this idea as 1t suggests the smallest possible nnmber of soldiers. Of him the In fantry Drill Regulations say briefly The corporal Is the squad leader, and of the squad 1t says, Soldiers are grouped into squads for purposes of Instruction. discipline, control and or der"
 But the corporal is of more impOr- tance than this would indicate.
 One of the regular army instructors at the last series of reserve officers tCnining camps was fond of telling his company that those of them who be- came captains would be fathers of their men, the captain being the high est officer with whom the enlisted man would in general come into personal contact. Many captains are like the Puritan father whose closest contact with lis children was when he dis dpined them. The leader who lives with the private and is most directly responsible for his we'll being in camp or in battle is his corporal.
 In camp this responsibility is mani- fold. The squad, seven men and the corporal form family living together in one of the big pyramidal or square tents that have done much to make the soldiers life in the field comfort able. The corporal is often told that he has power to run that tentful of men absolutely; some officers tell him he's the king bee and others call him the ear. while all of them blame him if anything goes wrong.
 The first thing in the morning, at varying hours, but always before six. he must hear first call and have his seven men out for reveille in fifteen minutes. He must see that every matchstiek, cigarette butt and scrap of paper is picked up from the floor and surroundings of the tent, that every cot Is stripped and In order, that every member called for special duey or de tail reports on time, and that his squad Is always on hand for all formations.
 Maintaining Discipline.
 The corporal must see not only that the members of his squad are on hand for all formations. but that they are properly clothed. neat and shaven, with all buttons sewed on, shoes shined and rifles cleaned. On Satur- days he must be particularly scrupu- lous in seeing that his squad is spick and span in every respect of person and equipment. The latter must be fully displayed on every mans cot with only one correct arrangement one correct way to fold the blankets at the head of the cot and to place the shoes under the foot And most important 1t Is that the knife, fork and spoon shall be in the order that they are displayed on the mess kit.
 Every inspecting officer has the cor. rect picture of that display. from DO Stion of toothbrush to number of shel. ter half pins. so clearly In his mind that the corporal is lucky whose squad does not have two or three slips in it's arrangement. Also the corporal must quickly learn the pet point of each