The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-11-07
CAMP DEvENS IS TURNED INTO HUGE MILITARY SCHOOL AS DRAFTED BEGIN TO STUDY FOR PROMOTION IN ARMY

the results counting less. however, than the practical tests of the cap tains on the drill fields.
 Draftees were called from the ranks and told to give the commands. Voices which had been very tame and bash full bounced into new life. The rock ies shouted as loud as captains had shouted at shooting out the calisthen ic orders, the candidate-d -drill-sergean searching the ranks of his fellow pr1- yates for a man who wasn't doing the stunt properly. t< In signalling, gun squads, dismount- ed instructions and guard duty, each candidate had his squad to put 1 go back into the squad and let the | next man take charge. Lieutenants and the captains stood
 on the sidelines marking the draftees in turn on their performances. | And then came the 45 minutes of written examinations with itst ques- tions on articles of war, military hy- giene, guard duty and courtesies and
 customs. Each captain made up his own examinations and each rookie made his own answers. What is a soldiers duty in regard to clothing?" The answers showed the instruction: ssTo keep them where he knows where they are.'' 'tNot to lose anything "Not to destroy or sell What are the most common ways or catching cold?" The rookie who wrote ''by sleeping with the windows pass up his chance for a noncom glad ly if the captain read his answer and changed the order on windiws The highest noncommissioned of- ficer" of the regiment is the colonel, according to one examination answer. To the next question, Do you think you could handle his job ?'' the same man answered ultimately" 'T would if I had more time to study" another complained in his san- swer. ss4-..-et .t r .- .-.-.z, But the noncoms weren't made alone on their exams. The officers of each battery got together. One of ficer's judgment on man was bal anced with the next officers judgment
 on the same man. So that when the chevrons are, passed out the artillery men may know that their officers that came to them.
 'These noncommissioned officers are being selected to shoulder the re- | responsibilities in battle. The lives of their comrades may at no distant day depend on their intelligence, sound | judgment, quick wit, excellent physi- que and other soldier1y qualities. They
 must, therefore, be the very best the regiment affords"
 And all the noncom positions won't
 be closed as soon as the first lot is chosen. That is one door of 1oppor- tunity which Is always aJar. at least. There is good chance, even. For the man who should have writ ten. My general orders are to take charge of this position and protect all government property in view" but who finally got it down on paper: My German orders are to hold this position and take all c. O. D. prop
 erty in view" wasn't trying to be fun ny. He was in almost the same fix as the man who wrote some of his an- swers in French.
 There is a class in the Depot Bri- gade which will help them out and give them enough English to let them compete more evenly and show their natural leadership qualities. It is a class for non-English speaking re- cruits, of which Capt. Leslie c. Wells of the Second Company is senior in structor. Fifteen or 20 draftees assist as instructors, and as many as 300 have appeared for an hours instruc- ton daily.
 An army textbook-the first primer, fso to put it-has been prepared for them and duplicated in large type written form. Here is the first lesson for rockies of the American Army who can't speak English: | T leave my home in the morning TT walk to the corner. "I wait for the car.
 '"The car comes
 T wave my hand and the car stops. T give five cents to the conductor. 'The car stops at City Hall.
 'I get off the car.
 "I met John Smith.
 We get in the crowd.
 We are all drafted.
 '4The Mayor shakes our hands. The Mayor speaks to us. ''The band> plays.
 we march down the street "The people cheer.
 We get on the train.
 We start for Ayer.''
 At the end the next lesson we march to Camp Devens," and at the
 end of the next, 'I take one poncho from the man." and so on; "I draw
 equipment T go to bed" and finally
 T am ready for Inspection" Thirteen lessons are already print cd. and private funds are being con trfbuted to push along this detail of army building which the War Depart
 ment has been too busy to meet yet.
 But the rockies are happy about it.
 They chuckle at their blunders. The
 American youngster doesn't forget to
 smile.
 A line of candidates was waiting out
 side the colonePs door. One who had
 just come out after floundering
 around. walked to the post exchange,
 bought an ice cream cone, and saun-
 tered back by headquarters, nibbling
 away, and called to his battery:
 eff you see the colonel, tell him [
 was passin' by.''
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