Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-30
BY C. S. MOODY.

Situate as Idaho is, grit round with
rugged mountains. isolated from the
great centers of population, boastinS
no great manufacturing enterprises,
her people scant in numbers, it might
appear to the casual observer that her
part in the present world conflict can
not be great. In point of numbers
Idaho has been called upon to furnish
fewer men than almost any other state
in the Union but in point of sterling
manhood she has given to the cause
Of liberty her best hearts blood.
Those who were privileged to witness
the detraining of the Second Idaho in
fantry last winter upon it's return
from the Mexican border were thrilled
with pride when they saw the sun
Drowned, we'll drilled, stalwart sons
form squads and swing, with veteran
stride, up the streets of Boise. me
military man who watched the regi-
ment make camp at Boise Barracks
and take up the duties of garrison life
were impressed with the soldierly pre-
cision of it all, and thought in his own
mind that, should Idaho ever be called
upon to take her place in the ranks of
war. here were men who would give
such account of themselves that the
most critical would have no cause to
blush for our fair state.
There were few who looked into the
future and saw time when the parade
ground would again be the center III
military activity, foresaw time when
the duty would be not the herdng
back of a few miserable greasers from
our frontier, but would mean the stern
reality of conflict. That time came
sooner even than was expected. The
Ides of June had not passed when the
news swept across the wires that for
bearance had ceased to be a virtue and
America must teach the Blonde Beast
of Berlin a lesson that would go down
the ages as the most salutary In his
tory. The grounds were not deserted
many months when Idaho was called
upon to mobilize the same men who
had so recently lail- down their arms
for more sedentary pursuits. Again
the notes Of the bugle rang on the
evening air, again the Stars and
Stripes floated over tented city, over
q regiment sworn to uphold the, dig
nifty and honor of the nation what
though they lay down their lives y
TIE task.
All summer the activity continued.
Gradually the regiment grew in num-
beers from 900 to 1900, then to 1900. and
when the orders finally came for which
they had so patiently waited. to en-
train for concentration camps. over
1000 sons of the state shouldered their
arms and grimly tramped down to the
train which was TO bear them nearly
across the continent.
FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
Individual praise were out of place.
Each company of this magnificent reg
iment had a duty to perform and that
that duty was we'll performed goes
without saying, for were the men not
all from Idaho?
The lumber jack from the north stood
shoulder to shoulder with the rancher
from the south and In each burned the
same flame OF patriotic zeal and de-
votion to the old flag. All through the
long summer days the boys kicked up
n dust on the drill ground as they
we're being hammered by experienced
drill men into shape, each day bring
Ing them nearer and nearer to the ideal
soldier, closer and closer to the time
when they would fix bayonets and
plunge cover the top" into that hell Of
death being prepared for them. The
test of really good soldier Is that he
keeps his body and equipment clean
and grouses religiously about his chow.