The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-10
DARK SHADOWS
OF SOLDIERY
Ardmoreite Staff Correspondent Relates
Unpleasant Night In Camp.

Camp Bowie, Fort Worth IeNas
SEPT. i0-tsaff Correspondence).-No.,
that doesn't mean that have made
marvellous discovery it simply means
that have found one of the dark shad-
ows of soIdiery. The high lights and
fine points Of it are In the vast majority
but when it comes to guard duty at
nigh, its no cinch.
In the afternoon, while assisting the
supply sergeant to fit shoes on the
boys, the rain suddenly started falling
ans lust how hard it rameG. hesitate
10 state can't even approximate the
rainfall from point Of inches, but in
a few minutes streams Of water cours-
ed down an Of the trenches in the com
pany street All at once, 1t began blow
ing and twisting and then one of the
hardest rains that have seen in some
time fell. Tents blew down here and
there but the boys Of Company Z had
looked after their guy ropes and there
were none Of our tents lost in the wind.
In fact only one Of them leaked in
weather that would have driven rain in
many a well built house. And then it
stopped and the camp was a mass Of
mud. thick deep and mixed with grass
and trash from the buildings that are
being erected around the camp. We
emerged from the mess shack and tents
and looked over the camp Our shoes
gathered several pounds Of mud but we
managed to get around the street.
And now, here's the climax. Things
had cleared up a bit and l was in the
bath house shaving when two or three
fellows stuck their heads in the door and
said to me, Sergeant King is looking
for you. You are TO go on as corporal
Of the guard tonight" That meant
that I woud be out in the slush and
mud for twenty-four hours. 1t took me
but q minute to find out that the boys
spoke the truth. The adiutant had call
ed on our company for a corporal, at
fifteen minutes before guard mount
When 1 went out that night for the
first time and posted the guard on my
relief. it is needless TO say that 1 be-
lieyed the late General Sherman was
right in his declaration regarding war.
made the first trip without a lantern or
flashlight, but on my second trip out,
q sergeant took pity on my Ignorance
and gave me a lantern.
We have had quite a few Ardmore
visitors in the past few days. One
visitor, John Bodovitz thoughtfully
brought our Sunday "Ardmoreites" 10
US so we received them about nine
O'clock Sunday morning All Of US APP
preciate this thoughtfulness on his part
We are always pleased TO see any and
all visitors who will call
Clothing Issued
This week has seen a wonderful i'm
provement in all Of us. We have re.
ceived most Of our clothing issues. Each
man has received two pairs Of pants,
one blouse, one pair Of shoes, two olive
drab wool shirts, three suits Of under
wear. six pairs Of hose, one hat, one
pair of leggings. one belt and two ex.
ira pairs Of shoe iaces This is not the
entire outfit, but it alone improves the
appearance 10 such an extent that the
boys look like soldiers instead OF civil
ians out az drill. We received our
equipment before any Of the other en-
gincering companies, in fact, up to date,
they have not received theirs.
II was my good fortune as corporal Of
the guard 10 stand at the guard tent
when the company passed coming In
from drill and 20 hear the remarks from
the different men who did not know Of
what company / was a member They
opealy expressed their admiration for
as and were generous in admitting that
we had them beat. We win Doe just as
generous and not quite 50 modest and
viii also admit that we can out-drilI
them OF course there are some com
pouics IN the regiment which have seen
border service and are probably more
efficient on the actual points of military
engineering than we are. but If con
figence in what we are able 20 accomp.
lish wui have anything 90 90 with g.
weL push them Cor first place before
long
Have Five Hours Of Drill Daily.
Our dGv is NO longer one Of idleness
for the routine includes five hours Of
drill each day. from seven thirty 10
eleven in the morning and from three
90 four thirty in the afternoon. But don't
Think that the extra drill Is tiresome
So work 0r drIn Is tiresome with ev
ryone willing 70 learn One scarcely
notices how time flies The work is not
harl Tor we are now seasoned and able
90 stand it very we'll
There are certain iron clad regula
tlons that must be- followed, among
which is that aIi lights must he out al
taps. The bugle murmuring It's final
call for the soldier boy soothes and lulls
him 60 sleep while through his mind
as it crosses the no mans land between
sleeping and waking drifts these words
that some one has composed for the mu
sic OF taps:
Fades the light
And afar
Goeth the day
Cometh night
And star
Leadeth am
Spoedeth an
10 their rest.
Corporal b a. Newman,
Company r, nth Engineers
The Lesser Evil.
Birmingham AgeHerald III YOU