New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-05-23
GEORGE BLACK is WELL
PLEASED WITH THE ARMY
Former New sUlm Boy Writes In
II. teresting Letter From Texas.

r. H. Behnke has received an interest
ing letter from George w. Black, a
native of New Ulm, but who has resided
at Mankato for several years, who en-
listed some time ago in the engineering
department of the United States army
He is now stationed at Camp Baker, Ell
Paso, Texas, where his regiment is in
training. He is a member of Company
B. Second Re- giment, United States
Engineers. Mr.. Black, who writes from
the Army and Navy Y. M. e. A. Head
quarters, says he is delighted with the
service. Following are portions of the
letter which will be of interest to many
in this city:
Mr.. B ack's Letter.
ssThis sure is some experience for me,
and will do me worlds Of good. We
arrived in Ell Paso Wednesday morning,
and are now well settled. / like the
place fine; there are 100000 men in this
fort but the Engineers quarters are
known as Camp Baker. 1t is wonderful
to see all the men, auto trucks, horses,
and the system of handling them. And
you can imagine what it costs to feed
and clothe the same. | have six uni
fol ms, eight suits of underwear, twelve
pairs of sox, four pairs of shoes, two hats
one cap, neckties, and other clothing too
numerous to mention. We do our own
washing, sewing, and darning, and much
is counted on ones appearance in the
army. The army life is what man
makes it. # you want to be boozer
you can be, and if you want to be a real
man you can be. l h We however
chosen the latter of the two. Ell Paso
is very fast wide open town, all sorts
of gambling, sporting houses ETC., but /
have made up my mind to tay away
from them, and come back home far
better man physically, and morally than
when I left
Early to Rise
eve get up every morning at 5:45 and
first drill called at 700 which is
physical exercises, and they sure do
build up man. I can notice the difference
already, and you must carry yourself
erect, or you will be subject to a severe
talking to-. The meals served here are
fine, and am getting fat. I know I am.
The entire morning is taken up by drills,
then from LIS p. m. until about $3.50 we
have a sort OF school; we get lectures
from very smart officers such as instruc-
ton on bridge building, and today they
took US way up in the mountains and
demonstrated high explosives, and how to
use them, so / will get good instruction
while away, and am keeping my eyes
and ears open, and my mouth closed be-
cause it don't pay to talk too much in the
army. That is it don't pay to brag and
tell them what you can do, for when the
time comes they will find out what a
man can do without him telling them.
Officers Are Pleasant.
'The officers here are very fine, and
pleasant men, and take an interest in the
men, so that helps some. Tomorrow,
Saturday we don't have much to do.
Have our physical exercises, and in
spection, and parade of the entire fort
and camp, all the men, horses, mules,
trucks etc. in line. They have about ten
bands here, we will march thru the
principal streets of Ell Paso then back
to camp, and be dismissed for the day.
Ihave my washing to do tomorrow, and
a pair of sox to darn, shoes to shine, so
will be busy enough. The Y. NJ. "a.
where am now writing is about block
from our tent; they have free moving
pictures each night, boxing matches,
lectures, library, reading, and writing !
rooms, and bible classes. The chaplin (
or minister for our company is a splendid
fellow and is a fine man to talk to. am i
going to church Sunday; we have a large
chapel on the grounds.