The Harrison times., 1917-09-29
LITTLE ROCK LETTER

recruits for the great National Army
now in the making all over the cOun-
try have been coming into Little Rock
in great numbers, and are being bill
leted at Camp Pike. Before they are
equipped in the khaki they begin drill
ling. and for the ensuing few months
they will be put through a most in
tensiye course.
The observer is struck by the great
variety Of employment and station
represented by the nOndesCript attire
of the recruits, showing that they
have come from the field, the shop,
the store, and the office. There are
pampered sons of society prospective
heirs of great fortunes, rubbing ell
bows fraternally, in the rhythmic
Left, left. left" of the march with
jeans-clad young giants direct from
the plow handles. And they are all
a cheerful lot, and through their awk-
wardness and lack Of military precis-
ion will come in a few weeks an army
of thoroughly disciplined and well
trained men, straight of stature, firm
of step, unerring of eye, and unflinch-
ing of determination, who will give as
good an account of themselves at the
front as any troops there. The mobile
material is there, and all that is need.
ed is to mold and knead it into shape
They fully realize that it is no child
game in which they are being enlist
ed. Pretty warm, isn't it," was asked
one in the line of march the other day
Eyes" he replied, wiping the perspir
alton from his brow with a red ban
danna, taken from the pocket of his
jeans jumpers, "but it's not as hot as
it will be in the trenches"
Within the next two weeks all OF
the first draft of 10000 will be in
training at Camp Pike, and the three
Arkansas regiments of the National
Guard will have been transferred to
Camp Beauregard. at Alexandria, Lou
isiana. There is no means of know
ing when they will be ready to be
called into service in France, even the
war department does not know, but
it is generally believed that large bod
les Of the Nationals will be on the fir
ing line by the early spring of 1918
when the world is confidently looking
forward to the final gigantic thrust
that is destined to bring triumphant
victory to the allied cause.
The railroad facilities are taxed tC
bring these men in from Arkansas
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
and as their coaches arrive on the
various roads, they are switched di
rect to the Camp Pike line and taker
to their quarters for registration, in
spection, and quarantine. They are
formed into provisional units accord
ing to their locality, and not indis
criminately, as some imagine The
men from each state are put in the
same regiment as nearly as practica
BILE, and those from the various sec
tions Of the state are organized into
companies. This will keep neighbors
and friends together and thereby
strengthen the morale of the result
ant organizations. But Arkansas men
will not be placed in command OF
Arkansas troops. The officers will be
taken from other states, for by this
means 1t has been demonstrated that
the best results are obtained.
The first training is the most diff.
cult, for the man who comes direct
from the plow, the counter or the
work bench finds that he is not read
lily adapted to the rigorous sameness
Of camp-life and the drill ground. But
they will learn. Eight hours day,
six days a week will soon make mill.
tary machines of them, and the non.
descript mob will be merged into the
dun ranks of rhythmic marchers be.
fore whom the armies of the Teuton
foe must trembe. The officers train.
ed in the training camps of last sum.
mer are assigned to the task Of whip
ping them into military condition.
The experience through which the
nation is passing now has forever dis
credited the theory held by many until
recently that great army Of effect
i've fighting men could be called into
action over night for the protection OF
the country from invasion or insur,
rection. Such a body OF men would
be nothing but an armed, irrespon
sible mob, however willing and pat
riotic, An army is rigidly co.ordi
mated fighting machine, and not a
tumble of wheels, and shafts. and
belts and pulleys, Great things have
been accomplished in a few months
and greater things are probable, not
the least Of which Is TO transform q