The Green Forest tribune., 1917-10-19
CAMP PIKE NEWS

queHJeu Dy the solder on leave, one would easily form the conclusion that the drafted man was seven-tenths a pool and billiard player and the bal ance an eater, for what buildings do not house really magnificent pool halls are restaurants.
 During the Officers Training Corps school at Fort Logan H. Roots last summer the impression the Little Rocker evidently had of the student officer was that nothing so charmed him as waXed floor, jazz band and one of Little Rocks fair maidens with whom to trip off the fox trot, one step or waltz.
 At first the War Service Board rather encouraged the dances, for il gave the young officers g. pleasant di- version on Saturday afternoon and night, but when it was carried to the extreme halt was called that was obeyed with the celerity that should accompany an army command.
 There are other ways of entertain ing the young officer, as we'll as the young soldier. Of course there are dances, but they are under proper su pervision, and if the soldiers go to them, they must pay admission. Noth- ing is free any more, because Major General Samuel D. Sturgis does not want it so. He wants his men to be independent, not molly-coddles.
 The War Service Board has made an ideal arrangement for the dance hall-or so it has been pronounced by the authorities at Washington, and passed on to New York officials with the request that they profit thereby. The first step by the local War Ser vice Board was to secure an audience with one of Little Rocks wealthy citi- zens, the owner of a building covering almost an entire square. This build ing, erected for market purposes, was only half occupied. The owner was asked to tear out all partitions in this half, and put in a hardwood floor to replace that of Mosaic tile, thus con- verting 1t into an ideal dance hall. This would require the destruction of at least $20,0G0 worth of property. but the citizen saw where he could provide recreation for hundreds of soldiers each evening, and readily agreed
 The next step was 10 secure the passage of an ordinance which re- quires the payment of a license of $100 per month for the operation of a dance hall. This was for the pur- pose of suppressing the small dance halls that would otherwise spring up all over the city, and be policed with difficulty. The owner of the large building has also agreed to employ an orchestra of the very finest, and the War Service Board knows that citizen of this kind will keep order at all times. This board does not intend to creat a mop0ly, but any one. who will compete for the business will be forced to make equally as ample pro- vision, and conduct a place upon the same high plane.
 Such 4qnestiqgs as these are taken up daily by the War Service Board, one by one they are threshed out, and finally solved to the satisfaction of Major General Sturgis and his twenty or thirty thousand charges.
 At Camp Pike there are artillery men by the thousands, but so far their artillery drill has all been dependent upon pedal eXtrenlitics. The men are fully uniformed, but there the equip ment ends. Nevertheless these men are drilled in the art of manning their guns. A member of each company who is nifty with saw and hammer has constrEcted hexagon shaped frames which answer for the wheels of the gun carriage The frame work of the gun carriage is then construct cd 10 look as much like the real thing as possible. A four-inch oak sapling does duty fer the field piece The men drill with these guns, becoming familiar with their positions, even though they cannot mount and be jolted over the high spots until they learn to stick on.
 This ain't like home" unused an artilleryman OH his twelfth day of ser vice, but the barracks are good and the meals cannot be complained Of, though it is not like home to many of us. What I say though is let's get through with this thing and get back home. If it's fight, let's go out and hoist the American flag in Berlin and then return to our business"
 Just then the mess call was sound ed, and this recruit, who thought the food was net what he was used to at home did not hesitate even to bid hasty farewell to his audience He evidently believed that in order to be in shape for marching into Berlin with Old Glory he must not run the risk of being out Of condition on the big day through missing any of his meals.
 Such expressions can be heard all over the camp. The men are making the best of it, and while they might have preferred staying at home, now that they are at Camp Pike, they want to do quick job, thorough job, and get back home.