The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-11

INNlG We 10 KNOW dDOuN
things military. and that soldering"
is a profession which includes just
q little OF every other profession In
the world, and that to be q good SOL
der. you have got to be proficient
in them all
Find Ofneer's Job No slneeure.
At Fort Myer-and the same plan
Is being followed in the other train
ing camps-Uncle Sam has put in
charge OF each company a regular
army officer. The company instruc-
tor Is with his men at all times Of
the day. During drill period he drills
them, during classes he lectures, dur
ing study periods he Is there to
answer questions. BY knowing these
officers and by watching them and
listening to them. we are absorbing
a lot OF practical knowledge which
Is bound to do a lot of good to those
who receive commissions, and-in incl
dentally every man has lost the idea
that the army officer has an easy
time of II, and has come to believe
that it's pure, all'round mans job.
An officer has to be, first, a man.
He has to command the proper respect
from his men to enforce the discipline
which is the most vital thing about
! an efficient army. and at the same
time he has to keep so near to his
men that he will be the first to whom
subordinate will come when in
trouble or in need OF advice. He has
to be q good lawyer and q fair judge.
He has to be a sanitary officer and
something OF a physician combined.
He has to be q bookkeeper and q good
business man. He must know what
his men should have for their meals,
and what they should not have, and
at the same time watch the cooks to
see that the preparation OF the food Is
correct, and to see that there Is
enough for every one but none left
over.
He must learn q thousand and one
regulations to know what he should
do in every conceivable emergency,
and in every inconceivable emergency
he must use his initiative and keep
from transgressing any OF the thou
sand and one regulations.
In three months. those who have
shown the instructors that they may
make good officers, will be commits
stoned. In four or five months those
men have got to step in and take up
the task of aiding In the organization
of brand new army. They are going
to meet problems which will puzzle
men who have become officers OF the
present army only through long, hard
years in the school OF experience.
Little "KIekinE- At Fort Myer.
It's a hard job, and probably be-
cause the candidates are realizing
that they are up against about the
biggest proposition they have yet
met, you hear mighty little "<ick-
ing" or grumbling at Fort. Myer. The
candidates are there to work, and ev-
cry minute OF the day Is used to its
best advantage. Drill and study,
with the short periods of rest, fol-
low each other from $50 o'clock in
the morning until 0 o'clock at night.
and its no wohder that when you
come to Fort Myer you find every
body either doing something or just
about to do something.
saw Commissioner Newman the
other day for the first time since the
camp opened. Our company was hik-
ing II along a country road and we
met another company. The other
company was singing Its a Long
Way To Tipperary." and Commission
er Newman was marching in front
as a guide. / couldn't see whether
he was singing or not, but could
see that he was very dusty and hot
and his face was red and streaked
with Virginia landscape. His shirt
was opened at the neck and his hat
was on the back OF his head, and he
shouted a greeting as we swung
past.
I couldn't help but think of when
I saw Commissioner Newman about
L.