The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-07
something Doing All Day Long, and
All Exercises Are by the Clock
Army Fare Plain But
Substantial.
LONG HIKES SOME DAYS
Army Having Experience Digging
Trenches Like They Do in Flan-
ders-Buffum Glad He's
There.

The following letter was written
by Clyde Buffum to his friend, Glen
w; Carlson, and by his permission
published, DIS it gives u good descrip-
t1on OF life in the cantonments:
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan,
NOV. 23.-While this life is som ewhat
strenuous ] find 1t very interesting.
Will give you an average days pro.
gram
Can't get 'en up" blows at 5:45:
at 6:OO, reveille and roll call, then
follows fifteen minutes of calisthen-
lcs or perhaps a run of fifteen to
twenty minutes before breakfast call
Then comes sick call at Z. fatigue at
i:Io and at 1880 the mornings work
begins. We have an hour and half
OF infantry drill, and then get few
minutes rest. and at $3.50 start out
zers. flags, etc.
with field work. Upon arriving at
our destination the platoon is divided
up into four telephone sections and
one cable section. The various sec
tons go out in different directions.
string the wire out and then report
back to headquarters.
BUYERS with the field telephone
and telegraph set are used, also the
semaphore and wig-wag flag systems
for relaying information. 1t is won
derful how quickly these various
stations may be established at widely
separated points and messages sent
The afternoon is the same, one and
one-half hours for .doughboy drill"
and the same time for the other.
We have chow at Sis and stand
retreat at 5:45 to 600; lights out at
$3.50.
Friday afternoon is devoted mainly
to policing up the grounds (Which
means cleaning), also getting your
self presentable for general inspec-
ton which takes place Saturday
morning.
We took a twenty mile hike one
day last week, and upon reaching
our destination, separated the vari-
Gus sections going through the brush
over the hills and whatever happen
ed to be the lay of the country. We
strung up the wire and soon reports
were coming into the switch board
and headquarters from the outpost
sections reporting On the nature of
the country, ETC., the same as would
be done In actual warfare The line
is constantly patrolled for breaks,
grounds, etc.
At noon the supply wagons meet
us and we have coffee and sand.
wiches in the field.
l stood the hike fine and enjoyed
swinging along over the country with
my canteen dangling over my shout
der.
The engineers have constructed
Are frJ
with underground passages, bomb
same as are on the French front.
We have been in them and worked
the same as we will have to do when
we get across.
Today was issued two suits of 20.
DIS" meaning olive drab uniforms,
the wooden winter weight, three suits
heavy underwear. five pair wooden
socks, overcoat and another pair of |
shoes, this besides the summer
weight clothing 1 received at J. B.
Last Saturday at 5 p. M, I went |
on twenty-four hour shift of guard |
duty, on two hours and off four.
Some sport patrolling beat In the
wee small hours of the morning with
a AS Colt automatic strapped to my
leg; also waited table two days this |
week. Don't mind it, though, for it's |
all in the game.
We are only about mile and a |
half from Leavenworth and twenty |
seven from Kansas City. Both may
be reached by trolley.
We get good eats here, though |
nothing fancy, Of course. Butter we
get only at breakfast Supper to- |
night was bread, boiled potatoes, |
baked fish. escalloped corn, coffee |
and apple sauce. l eat like tramp
and believe | am gaining In weight |
I am getting lots Of sleep. as our |
hours are regulated for US. !
We are not in the permanent brick |
barracks. but in cantonments about !
a mile from the main post. in long !
wooden buildings.
Each platoon has its own dining |