The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-15
PRUNES PRIZE
TO ROBINSON
FOR BIG DREAM
Army Life, Revealed by
Dawson, Fargo Man at
Smelling, is Great Stuff

Dean r. p. Robinson, of Fargo coli
lege. who has been accepted as a re-
cruit at the officers training school at
Fort Smelling, dreamed of Napoleon,
the great French general and dicta-
tor, the first night in camp; saw the
peerless leader without a coat, and.
following the tip, came down TO
breakfast the next morning without
his army coat, according to letter
just received from Charles A. Dawson
by The Fargo Forum.
Dean Robinson's explanation of his
breach of army discipline was so well
received according to Mr.. Dawson
letter, that he was given a second dish
OF prunes for breakfast.
All the North Dakota delegation, ac-
cording to Mr.. Dawson, are getting
along nicely; have plenty to eat ana
a fine place to stay, and are looking
forward to the time when they will
all be major generals.
Mr.. Dawson's letter. written Sunday
follows:
Fort Smelling, st. Paul, Mimi. May
13.-"Hello Schumacher: We arrived
in Minneapolis Saturday about ZOO
o'clock a. m. and the whole North Da-
kota bunch of future major generals
found themselves quite ready for
breakfast. Under the guidance OF
Dean Robinson we were led to Child's
restaurant where we proceeded to eat
Don Hall said it was quite proper Tor
us to eat in Child's restaurant, since
we were all infants in the army.
eve arrived at the fort at 8:15 and
were soon escorted to the fort hospital
q. large three story brick building
After again producing our identinca-
ton cards, we were admitted for ex-
animation. Dressed in our birthday
garments we proceeded from one doc
tor to another, taking different exam
nations from each. l was in a group
of nine, out of which two were de-
clined. All Fargo men passed success
fully 1t took two hours or more to
go through the examination and when
we left the hospital 1t was bee hive
of men swarming from one doctors
Office to another. Two hundred and
eighty men were examined between 8
and IL o'clock Saturday. With our
cards of acceptance we were all sent
to different companies in the six bar
racks. went to Co. 8 in barrack 3,
where the lieutenant ushered me into
several large sleeping wards, the
floors of which were thickly covered
with mattresses laid side by side. On
each mattress was a complete new
outfit for each man. / received my
outfit and was setting up my cot when
Dean Robinson and Homer Sands
came in and were assigned cots ad-
joining mine. There are no other Far
20 men in barracks No. 3, except Sam
Chesley. who is located on the second
foor. There was no delay any place
all of our clothes. supplies and blan-
kets were waiting for us.
1--WE all consider ourselves lucky tc
be situated in such commodious quar-
ters. The barracks are steam heated
have hot and cold running water cleo
trio lights, shower baths, hreplaces
ETC.; dining room and kitchens con-
nected with each building.
Our food while plain Is most sub
stantial. We can have all we can cal
and, incidentally, we eat all we can
This morning we had bacon, toast
baked potatoes, bread and butter
prunes and coffee. Dean Robinson
came to breakfast without his army
coat on this morning, saying he dream
ed of Napoleon last night, and in his
dream Napoleon didn't wear coat
He was awarded a second dish OF
prunes for the explanation.
The big grind starts in Tuesday
with the following schedule:
May is.
$50 a. m.-Reveille.
5:45 to 6:15-Roll call, physical drill
6:15 to 7:00-Mess call (brealfast)
700 to S:O0-School of the soldier.
l.. o.
$40 to 9:00-School of the soldier.
800 to 9:30-Individual instruction.
$50 to IL: Conference, Care Of
Equipment.
1880 to 1:00-Mess (dinner).
l.: 80 to 8: 30-Nomenclature of the
rifle.
$3.50 to 5:30-Instruction by company
commanders.
$50 to 5: 55-Assemb1y.
6:00-Retreat.
6:05 to 7:00--Mess (supper).
TOO to 9:00--Study period.
9:00-Tattoo.
1O:45-Call to quarters.
i1:00-Taps.
II cannot speak too highly of the
class Of men already here at the camp
Fine, clean cut, ambitious young fell
lows, most of them college fellows and
young business men. The spirit of the
camp is most commendable in that
each fellow seems to be looking for a
chance to help the other fellow, and
be OF service in any way to him. There
is. so far, positively no rough element
connected with the camp, and with the
high type of manhood already here,
nothing but the best of results can
exist, both for the fellows themselves
"Chas. A. Dawson.
GO. NO. 8, Barracks No. 8. Fort
Smelling.
mTrT TOTO