Weekly journal-miner., 1917-10-03

| LEON SPRINGS, Texas, Sept. 22 The fourth week of the reserve off,
 cers' training school passed today,
 and the 2,600 men remaining in camp are settled down to what our officers assure us is the most strenuous rou- tine any body of troops ever got since civilized methods of warfare were in troduced with gun-powder.
 In spite of the fact that the work is
 both mentally and physically hard
 the camp is merry place. There is lots of fun to be dug out of the mis. fortunes of candidates" as we are called. This is rather cruel form Of amusement, but most humor is based on the discontinue of some one or other. The difficulties of the rcruit, with absolutely no previous military training, and a vague or no idea oi military customs, is exampled by the case of Candidate Jones the third day of the camp. Jones was proceeding calmly on his way across the parade ground. From the opposite direction, came Colonel Hartman, in supreme command of the camp. Jones con tinued nonchalantly toward his des- tination, when he was startled by the sound of harsh voice snapping out the command, Come here, sirr'
 Jones approached Colonel Hartman unabashed. He did not know that this distinguished soldier was mar to whom every person of military connections in the entire reservation, paid marked respect.
 How long have you been here. sir:" snapped the colonel.
 Three days" replied Jones. How long have you been heres"
 The commander of the camp knew Jones was the rawest kind of rookie. Aiming to give him lesson in salut ing later, he decided to answer the question.
 Three months" he said.
 And ain't 1t a h7-- of a place" commented Jones. He never got his lesson. The coloneIwas so convulsed with mirth. that he didn't even report Jones.
 The system of elimination is 3 thorough one. Uncle Sam doesn't want any poor timber. All who are "benzined," however, are not really deficient Perhaps they haven't had a real chance Take Candidate Brown. for instance Time came to give the candidates instruction in giving com mandS. The company, numbering 175 men was divided into four pla toons, and marched to separate parts of the drill grounds, where each mem- Der of the platoon was successively called forth to drill the five squads making up the body. Everything was proceeding smoothly. Men who had | never given command in their lives, ! were getting off a fair imitation of a "shavc-tail" bossing a platoon, ] Browns turn came. The instructor | got him out in front of his 40 men and | said: Gall the platoon to attention"
 Brown quavered forth very bad substitute for the usual snappy com mand Thinking he could do better an other time, he repeated the command several times, in high pitched tones. Finally, deciding that he could not LIFT the men to obedience by the pep of his tones, he yelled out in really good voice: "Who in the h. wants to buy my locker?"
 This morning was a hard one for the second company, which occupies barracks next to ours in the line. The company had been given what is called a practice march, each man carrying full kit" rife. canteen. etc. in all about 40 pounds In ; he "pee-wee' squad of this company ,hanccd to be Judge Wisdom, form , ,rly prominent attorney of the capi- , al of Oklahoma. The judge was not , l type of physical perfection, and in c addition, he was in the squad com posed of the shortest chaps in the | company He was, moreover, getting [ plumb disgusted with the way they :; made him work The command came O charge up a steep hill It was L evere test for the best men in the e let alone the short-leggcd !. olks and the lame ducks The judge ell out at the base of the hill He around a while and then pied the horse, belonging to the lieu Ii enant, in charge of the company. K aid equine had escaped and was wan C nr;ro too ,,-b;Io tho I;au+o,o,+ IaJ 4I