New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-07
Awkwardness Of Love, Per-
verse Portsider, Conquered
by Corporal Hendryx
Rv w. O. MCCLELLAN

day. Tho platoon IN C'Niiio"
l. Known as the Yankees. 1t was aug
mented, or hampered, by one saiIow
and solemn looking squad OF newspaper
men. 40
their bit in the preparedness scheIh1
with a timid seriousness, ana wounu
nm the drill with a considerably quick,
ened interest. IL took at the nrsC
inoculation, this scheme for military
training. and it will take with any
aggregation OF normal healthy young
In the Yankee baseball team there
arc thirtv-two young athletes, repre-
sentinr every section Of the country
Anv CONGRESSMAN who fears to Jeopar-
die his political prestige by voting Tor
a universal training bill would nave
found an object lesson in this hrsU
drill Of the first platoon, first battaiion'
of the American League baseball play
Yankees "Just Ate 1t Up"
In the expressive language Of Wild
Bill Donovan, a mere private IN Vn'
"Tbey lust ate it up. They want 1t;
They feel that they have been cneated
out Of something they ought 10 nave
had" ooo,.
mentarv upon American Preparedness
~ lack OF it. Sergeant s. b. Gibson,
the non-commissioned officer IN charge
of preparatory training, ordered;
"'Those who have had any military
training step to the front"
Ont of forty men only five stepped
out. Taking this as basis OF com
nntation. only 1914 per cent of the
men who would be called upon IN case
of emergency know even the rudiments
of military drill ,, .-...,,
The sergeant looked a little wIstiui
as he sized up the material before MN.
"Never mind" he said. we're gong
to have the best drilled platoon IN the
league before We get through.
And the ball players looked as
nleased as though they had been tod
That thew we're going to win a pennant
and To share one of the largest worio
series hauls in the history oil inc
game. C
The professional ball player IS ered,
i+ed with being a very self-centred
and self-seeking young man. But ne
shaved by his attitude to-day that ne
has The shirt of service and incllna-
80, toward universal service, without
which no nation can hold up its head;
An Young America has this spirit ana
tbis inclination. Only Congressman
deny the spirit, and seek TO thwart
the inclination. Ct
When the platoon formed its first
set of ragged and uncertain tours
stcnning off for the first time IN col
nn,n of SQUADS, Private Jerry Dono-
Won late of the 1st Massachusetts IN
fantrv. which saw service from the
6rst hattie of Bull Run TO the action
near Appomattox. came out OF the
Grand stand and lowered on the nahA
In violation OF his parole and en-
tirelv oblivious TO geography. Private
Jerry was warbling an unpopulaI
Southern melody, namely "Marchihs
Through Georgia" .,
Sing Il ,oitk spirit that to'u stGTt me OO''0
Sing Il as zee used TO sing ~ N~ "'0''u'-
strong.
While zee tcere marching through Georgia
Private ]. Donovan Made Young
Private Jerry Donovan-but Dono-
van senior only-came out stronger III
the chorus. Old Private jerry Doho,
van forgot the bit of lead that caused
a slight impediment IN his galt or,
ing the thick Of the gong az Ooi1
Hsrbor, and he was marching WIN al
the swing and spirit that young TT
vate Jerry Donovan showed Wheh ne
passed in review with has reg ii ftiI.
before President Lincoln afteT lOu'
wears of faithful and honorable ser
sc He stepped il as they used TO
sten IL fifty thousand strong while
+bev were marching through Georgia;
";They learn fast these days said
Private Jerry Donovan. "IbeyH De
as fine looking a crowd as my company
az the LIST Massachusetts, Infantry, IN
no time"
Captain Huston All Enthusiasm
Captain T. L. Huston, part owner oil
The Yankees and late commander OF
company Of volunteer engineers IN
Cuba. was beaming in his delight at tne
shirt in which his idea was put mo
execution. lie stepped through the
drill with the enthusiasm OF tne young
est recruit. l e.
raise the problem: 80.
"What shall We do with our IelI-
handlers in case of war;
"Intern them" is the prompt re.
spouse of Joe Kelly, the boy scout OF
the Yankees.
But this seems like a harsh measure,
even though left-handers do interfere a
little with the smooth routine OF the
school of the soldiers. Slim Love, the
tall southpaw OF the Yankees, who, be-
cause Of his sheer altitude, is the natu-
raj right guide Of the platoon, raised
the problem when he was being taught
the salute.
With left-handed perversity Slim in
sisted upon saluting with the port
wing. which is not at all according 20
the regulations, and which in time Of
war might cause him TO be relegated 20
the guardhouse. Also, Slim would exc
oute left about face, and there is no
such command in the manual as laid
down By Major James A. Moss, the most
popular author for prospective officers
in the reserve corps.
Again, when the platoons swung into
line Of squads Slim Love would step of
with the wrong foot.
"For the love Of heaven, get in step y
Private William Donovan would plead.
81 am IN STEP" Slim would retort..
Every man in the platoon is out Of
step but me-"
Corporal Hendryr Cures Slim
In the cool Of the evening and IN the
dark Of the Sou ,nern moon Corporal
Tim Hendryx, who is every inch sol
der. and right-hander, too, had Slim
Love in charge. lie drilled him with
the lrmncss and some Of the crude elo-
ouencc employed By the oldtime drill
sergeant. 10 that shortly before mid
night Private Love entered the main
corridor Of the Hotel Dempsey. faced
"A The right about and falutcd the as-