La Junta tribune., 1917-09-20
OUR SOLDIER BOYS At DgM,NG
CONTINUED from First pagel

Inc a city OF iI60 buildings spring
ing up almost out OF the ground in
about six weeks. and capable OF pro-
yiding quarters for $1,000 men. Il
VIII be practically finished when you
receive this letter, with the excep
tion OF the large base hospital. which
will be completed by October ist.
when the entire job viii be cleaned
up. II Is three miles long and one
mile wide In addition many thous-
ands OF acres viii be leased north
OF the reservation for battle prac-
uce. drill and trench work
never realized that all this prep.
aration was for war though. until
Wednesday. when was calling at
grand" headquarters to interview
the commander. General A. p Block
som, and members OF the division
staff The building is long and cut
up Into small booths for all the staff
officers and their clerks Looking
straight down the aisle through the
open door al the extreme end OF
the building I could see company
OF Iowa troops going through bayo-
net practice. The rapidity and deN
terity OF their movements caused me
10 pause and watch the exercises
Suddenly | caught the flash OF their
bright. sharp bayonet blades in the
white sunlight and realized as new
or before that hand to hand fight
ing Is one OF the ordinary incidents
OF the great war. and that sooner
or later in France these fine your
men and Officers will be called upon
to go over the top and at EN-"
went over 10 the camp OF the
Iowa troops TO see the officers from
La Junta. had met Lieutenants
Russell G. Draper and william u.
Winchell at the big Red Cross ball
at the armory the week before. and
my residence in the old town Of
Swink naturally excited my Interest
and concern for them found Lieu
tenant Winchell at the corner OF
Cody avenue and Third street. Four
officers are quartered in the little
tent house, and one OF Lieutenant
WinchelIs companions Is Lieutenant
d. +. Williams OF the Citizens State
Bank at Lamar, Colo Lieutenant
Winchell Is assigned to duty with
Company NJ I'd Iowa Infantry. II
had very pleasant visit. only
marred by a dust storm which was
later quelled by nice rain. re-
mained until retreat which Is very
impressive. had not the time to
visit Lieutenant Draper that after
noon. over AT the camp OF the 4th
Nebraska. where he Is assigned TO
duty with Company g, As yet have
not had the pleasure OF meeting
Lieutenant Lee Darlington who Is
with Company II. End Iowa have
been thrown in constantly with Of.
ficers and soldiers during the past
two years. and do not think that
any body OF men made a better ap-
pearanee here than did the new Of
ticors when they arrived recently
from Fort Riley Kan. | was at
division headquarters when both CON
tingent- we're being registered. and
7 can assure you that, when our men
In a few months can be made over
In such splendid shape for the grim
business OF war. those back home in
Ia Junta and elsewhere In Colorado
need not fear for the honor OF their
sons or friends, their own liberty.
and that iho world gill not be made
safe Tor dem0cray"
Lack OF tim. prevents me from
writing on the moral and social as.
poct Of the zone In which We are
now living In peminF which ia less
than half q mile from the east en-
trance OF Camp Cody peming. you
know. went dry In less than half an
hour and ! think that every person
Who has relatives ot friends In the
army win read tho story OF the safe
guards thrown about the troops with
tho greatest satisfaction. This phase
of The training o. one of the most
marvellous fealurrs, and viii be.
pleased 10 furnish sou a paper on
the subject AZ ms first opportunity
II viii boz nm eye opener
with kIndost regards. T am.
Sincerely yours.