The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-06-14
LIFE IN ]. S. CAMP.
osKALoosA BOY TELLS OF THE
TRAINING FOR OFFICERS.

/
TT. Smelling, Mimi, June 9.--The
pressure has Increased in such a de-
gree as to make it almost impossible
to find few moments in which to
write, We have been so busy this
week that no one had an opportunity
to shave. The powers above are set
ting the screws up closer every day
and tho requirements for qualifica-
tion are SO strict as to be almost
trivial in good many instances.
We are eating" well, but the
hard work makes men desperate.
We all march in the mess hall, for
nation, and stand at attention until
every man has chair and then we
sit down at the command of the
mess sergeant The table etiquette
is slightly different than at Hamp-
shire Downs. Mess here is a sur
vival of the fittest and the command
of the mess sergeant is always a sig
nal for general charge on the food.
One must execute continuous
squad right" to the mouth with one
hand an constant flank movement
across the table with the other.
The work for this week has been
Company Battalion Drill in the morn
ing and artillery practice, wigwag
and semaphore drill in the afternoon.
Every one was given at least three
qualification tests in the signaling
this week and very few, if any,
"flunked."
Captain Scallin of the Bloody
10th" (our company is a great be-
named Gabrielson as formation call
er Gabriel has a bigger horn in
his throat than his father ever used,
but it is not so pleasant to hear at
5 o'clock in the morning as we i'm
agine his fathers would be.
Photographers are the official camp
pest here. One can not go down the
street and eyade them. They come
up to person and thrust black
box into your face and before you
know it you're snapped" and then
about a week later you are cam
vassed.
The government has changed it's
mind about training cavalry candi-
dates and all of us who intended to
come staggering home in cavalry
boots with spurs attached and long
saber at our sides are disappointed.
The government is. going to make
dough boys" of us. d.
It's a raw deal and the only safe
place to be seems to be the aviation
corps. We cavalry candidates had
great hopes of going home on fine
bay horse who was just vicious
enough to be safe and yet have all
the girls applauding. AS it is now
we are doomed to blue mud splash
ers." '.-.
The "Y" is the one bright spot
which breaks the monotOny of camp
life The "Y."'is doing great work
and no one can appreciate it until he
has been pcnned up in an army camp.
They serve short cake, pie, real"
coffee, every evening at a very nomi-
nal sum and furnish l0unging chairs,
tables, a Victrola, piano, etc. They
also furnish free typewriters and sta
tionery.
For one hour every evening they
also furnish an entertainment, which
consists of the best musical talent
of the Twin Cities.
1t is truly Christian work and is
worthy of every ones support.
The Fort is an especially busy
place now as it has been made a re-
cruiting center as well as training
center for the conscript army, or
rather the training camp for the
northwestern quota.
At present there is a full regiment
of u. S. Regulars and a regiment of
national guardsmen, all told about
5000 men. The government is
building forty acres of temporary
barracks on the reservation in prep
aration for the conscripts.
The weather here is still very cold
and chilly and just recently we had a
slight frost. Two days last week 1T
rained and prevented us from drill
ing. Every one is hoping that there
will be great deal of sloppy wealth
er in France next year.-Harry K.
ShultZ.