The Carlisle independent. (Carlisle, Ark.) 1905-current, 1917-12-06

| have fitted themselves to meet strange
and at times trying conditions. The
main point is that the major generals
and the brigadier generals of the Unit
ed States army here and abroad, seem
to be entirely satisfied that the great
American army of today in patriotism
| and in spirit of endeavor is as worthy
as any of our armies of the past, and
what this means all Americans know.
There Is something of the lightness
of life in the letters of these American
general officers. One of them who had
seen thirty years service as a hard
riding cavalryman, man of many
campaigns, is in command of one of
the great embarkatlon posts, a camp
which has been described as "amphi-
bious.' This cavalryman has done a
great service In his new work, a fact
which is attested by war department
records. From his quarters looking
out over his post, half land and half
water. he writes:
Il have been on this job since July,
when | was pulled out of the West
and sent down here, thus spelling
perfectly good cavalryman to make
horse marine out of him."
This general officer will have some
trouble in making anybody believe
that he has been spoiled as cavalry
man. The records, however, show
that he has made of himself a most
excellent ''horse marine"
1'bpra iS apntho,. Io+tor oOrnoc
from one of the greatest of the mid
die western encampments. 1t is writ
ten by the major general command
ing, man who fought in the last great
Indian uprising, In Cuba, In the Phil
ippines and on the border, finding
"time between times" to go under or
ders to Washington to lend his advice
on machine-gun and other matters.
He believes that no major general
ever commanded finer body of troops
than that which is serving under him
today.
Women Part of Americas Army
Washington thinks in different terms
from the rest of the country 'of the
army of the United States" The
capital includes women of the coun-
try when 1t speaks of the army, for
here at any rate women are working
like soldiers for the cause of country.
Officials here realize unquestionably
that the women of the rest of the coun-
try are working also, but in Washing
ton, where so many thousands Of sol
diers, officers, and enlisted men, are
stationed, the numbers of the army
women are multiplied and every one
of the members is laborlng day and
frequently by night for the service of
Uncle Sam.
Take, for instance, what is known
as 1.-The Highlands Auxiliary of the
Red Cross" This is an organization
Of 800 women, only one of many of
like kind which is presided over by
the wife of the surgeongeneral of the
United States army, Mrs. William c.
Gorgas. Nearly every woman con-
nected with this auxiliary is an army
woman, and in the case of this par
ticular organization nearly every wom-
an who works has her thoughts lover
there"
In this army group of women there
Is hardly one whose husband. father,
son or brother is not already on or
close to the battle line In France 1t
used to be said that in times of peace
army women take things very easily.
In times of war they do not take
things hard in the sense that they
give way to fears for their dear ones,
but they take life exceedingly serious
ly, and they work from reveille to
taps, and sometimes beyond.
Scene of Many FareweIIs.
Every day in Washington women
must say "good-by" to fighting men,
bers of their families. Washington is
a rendezvous for officers and to some
extent for enlisted men prior to leav-
ing to take part in what is life's great
est adventure this side of death. An
army order forbids the wives of
American officers following their hus-
bands abroad. The parting here there
fore may be forever, but however great
the sorrow, the army women bear up.
They have traditions to sustain.
SO 1t is that in Washington the wom-
en- Of the army who are left behind,
work from the coming gray of the day
to the passing gray of the day for the
soldiers of the service, thinking of
their own who are lover there" but
willing If word comes, that their own
have died, to continue the work I'M
daunted for the loved ones Of others
who still are fighting along the embat-
tied lines.
The regular army has Its traditions.
The new National army has few tradi-
lions back of 1t except American tradi-
tons, which are Of the high courage
and patriotism Of the people gen.
orally. The wives, mothers and sisters
of the men of the National army and
of those Of the National Guard as well
are working In Washington side by
side with their sisters of the regular
service in the effort to provide all that
is necessary for the comfort and the
general well being of the soldiers In
the field.
One of the present examples of what
women outside the families of the reg