The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-09
NEARING THE END
All Embryo Officers at Riley
Have Done Great Work.
Many Have LabOred Like They
Never Did Before.

Fort Riley Kan, July 9.-More
tnan two thousand student officers
rcruited from Missouri, Kansas, Colo
rado and Wyoming-are entering the
last perod of their training at the re-
serve officers camp here, bronzed,
lean and hard from their nearly two
months of strenuous work in prepar-
ing themselves to lead the first con-
tingent of the national army to the
battlefields of Europe
on August 3 the training period
VIII end and those picked by their Of
Iicers as the more capable will be
given commissions as lieutenants and
captains for the line units-infantry.
artillery and cavalry. Others whose
talents run along different lines, will
De placed in the quartermaSter's and
other corps while some will be made
commissioned officers for the
coming army of half a million men.
Practically all, according to the plans
now, will be used in some branch of
the army. their service to start imme-
dfately after the camp breaks up
without a vacation.
Strictly as privates, subject to near
ly the same rules that govern enlisted
men in the regular army, the recruit
OFFICERS may be said to have under
gone numerous new experiences and
learned to perform tasks that pre-
ViOuSly had occurred to them but sell
pany did for 5 u hours without a let
up a few days ago, certainly was novel
TO the members, some of whom are
millionaires. Likewise, it is doubtful
if many of those in training knew
how to make beds, clean up quarters,
polish shoes and rub rifles until they
shone. But all the Riley students have
done that and done it so well that
officers say they could give lessons to
most housewives in the art of house
cleaning.
Work Is Strenuous.
The work has been strenuous and
exacting. both mentally and physical
" Hours of continuous marching
with full equipment, trench digging
close and open order drill, target prac-
tice. tent pitching-all of this has
through the men down to fighting
trim" and it is doubtful if there is an
ounce of superfluous flesh anywhere
in the entire training camp. Mental
work a part of the day has been equal
~ exacting. Problems in minor and
major tactics, map sketching and
reading, signaling, sanitation, and
other military subjects, certainly have
not tended to permit the men mlhus
to become dulled.
EVERY man up here has worked
earnestly and sincerely" one of the
instructors said recently. Each man
seems to realize that a tremendous
duty will devolve upon him when ne
leads American men lnlO lLO 1dSO VI
German artillery and musketry fire.
Knowing that, the men are trying
their hardest to fit themselves pro-
perIy. 1t is a fine bunch of men, of
whom any army or nation might be
proud"
= of course the training has had its
morbid side. Necessities of war have
been taught to the men that nave
brought home to them the fact that
some of them may not return from
Europe and their services in the field
will cause them to perform the grim
acts of war. Bayonet exercises nave
shown them this, as likewise has prac-
which means the manning or death
of the enemy.
Not All Grim Work.
But, with the grim. there has been
plenty of humor, plenty of songs and
much of the laughable to cheer up the
rocky officers.
When the camp was opened, TWEEN
ty-five hundred men were in attend
ance Many have been transferred to
coast artillery stations or aviation
camps. A few have been returned
home because of physical examina-
tons or other reasons.
= In addition to the student officers at
the training camp, several hundred
medical officers gathered from all
undergoing training and preparation
for the services with the various
armies. They are being given long
hikes, drill and other work of a ply
steal nature so that they will be en-
abIed to withstand the hardships of
campaigning. All of them possess re-
serve commissions in contrast with the
student officers who cannot be COM
lnissioned until after the training
camp ends.