The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-09-13

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march and about en- steps, piece
fell out, Jim grab led it and put it
in his pocket, another fell, pretty
soon they were leaking out one at
time and Jim got busy. The Cap
tain saw him grabbing piece after
piece realized how hard Jim was
working and just had to laugh, and
for couple of days every time a
fellow would find a piece. of iron,
somewhere, he'd bring it to Jim
and say Here's piece of your
gun"
Retreat already is the prettied
formation, at 7 to see the flag
hauled down. You must be lined
up and all stand at present arms
while tie band plays The Star
Spangled Banner then inspection,
the Captain looks over every gun
| in turn while all the rest stand at
order arms. 1t is very strenuous
as you have to let those scouts run
all over you and not blink an eye.
A fellow next to me said in most
anguishing tone, Capt. can l use
my handkerchief without turning
he Numbered NO. In a minute
he looked around, saw LIS nose
and yelled my God use that
handkerchief" and he did.
So far I've passed inspection
without any comment but it is
coming any day, you think you
are in shape and he finds a dozen |
things wrong. We are surely lucky
in our officers. We have four Cap
tains for our Co., our command
ing one is Capt. Ingles. the man
whose company was considered the
best at the last camp. He says
we'll have to be the best at this
one too and | believe he will make
US. He is only one year out of
West Point was sent to France as
an observer and then here as an
instructor. He is a young fine look
ing fellow, good voice, but snappy
when he wants to be and yet he
tells US when we want any advice
or leIp to 60 to him it matters not
when, even at midnight. Talking
of midnight, we have what is call
ed the Night Shirt Brigades' they
are fellows who after taps slip out
on the hill and try to drill, it is
funny and all that but certainly a
worthy job and they are entitled
to credit.
1t is cohing hard for all of US
and yet no one is kicking. To have
80 stop in the midst of dirty road
in the sun and take off your shoes
and socks for foot inspection. not Z
much fun but it comes every day
and to be drilled in the sun and
then told not to drink drop but >
stand at attention while sweat is
pouring down your face and you
itch all over, is what is apt to hap
pen every minute.
There is one good spot in all of
this, we are surely well fed; we eat
on wooden tables with tin and en-
amel ware, no linen but good food
we'll cooked and plenty of it, l tell
you. | never ate so much. You
know I'm not much of a breakfast
eater at home, but after drilling
all one day with only a cup of
coffee and biscuit till noon, / )
changed my plans and now eat
like shark even that early in the
morning / want plenty of stuff
that sticks to the ribs and it goes
good. Today for dinner we had sa-
lad, roast beef, dressing, peas, po- !,
tatoes, hot biscuits, ice tea, peach
ice cream and all you can
Eat of it.
At first we had to sleep on only
/ blanket, which rolled over these '
lard springs and when it gets cold
IS it does every night here, we
wrap up in it. The springs have :
over them, but / managed
o sleep just the same, tho / now .
AVE a small mattress / was allow
d to buy and last night | slept
ike king.
The rest of our equipment is no. n
hing, but we all bought tin basins :
Every thing has to be arranged in
ust one way; even your boots
aust be laid in the one direction
nd in one spot and your gun, hat, M
II one way and place, and believe
lie the officers see it, if they are tic