The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-10-15
LETTERC1Ton The
e0Irm.A5e SE2A:Gc

Lieut.. Edward c. Erickson. one ur
| the Moorhead men who graduated
from the first officers training camp
at Fort Smelling, wrote the follow
| ing interesting letter to Capt. A. G.
Rusness Of Battery F, Moorhead:
Camp Dodge, Iowa. Oct. 2.
Friend Andy:
Was surprised to learn that Bat
terry + has not been ordered away
but 1t undoubtedly will be in the
near future.
Sunday was the first rest / have
had for over two weeks. We have
been kept busy day and night We
had to receive the men when they
came, and many of them arrived
during the night as trains were
frequently late. 1t was our duty to
assign the new arrivals to quarters
and furnish rations for them. We
have all been so busy that we have
not had time to even think of go-
ing down town for the past three
weeks.
Since the new men have been as
signed to regiments and companies
we have been busy taking measure
ments for clothing and fitting them
with shoes. That was sure some job
and l never dreamed there was so
much TO it until / was assigned to
that task.
Among the men we received are
those from the Iron Ranges in Min
nesota and there are many Of them
who do not speak or understand
English. They are of about every
nationality and many Of them are
not citizens. We have to handle
them like school children and they
have to be taught the use Of water
for bathing purposes as well as
manners and many other things.
They will have to come TO time for
they will never make good soldiers
until they have been taught dis
cipline.
The men who understand learn
fast and l enjoy instructing them
for they sure are willing. 1 don't
know though what will be done with
those who don't know the language
and don't appear to be able to learn
it or much of anything else.
The officers now occupy quarters
separate from the men and we also
have our own mess hall and cook.
Have not learned what our mess will
cost; but expect 1T will be about a
dollar a day. We have everything
like a hotel and each officer has a
separate room. The food is. very
good and we have nice table linen
and silverware.
This week we have been invited
by the manager of a Des Moines
theatre, to see a play by a stock
company. / am not very favorably
impressed with Des Moines. The
streets are narrow and dirty and the
city is up and down hill, There are
some fine government buildings, but
hA al
Camp Dodge is about ten miles
north of Des Moines and located on
a hill side along a valley. Most of
the camp is located on an old corn
field and when the wind blows the
dust sure does fly. 1t is hard to keep
clean when drilling in such loose
dirt; and we have no trouble to ac-
cumulate real estate on our persons
and uniforms Aside from this and
a few other things this would be a
nice place for a camp.
This week we have been giving the
men the school of the soldier and
few much needed lessons in SANTA
tion and courtesy. ..
The men are up at 5:45 a. m and
have mess at six. Then the grounds
and barracks are policed before
seven when the work of the day be-
IL
drill, physical. exercises, then the
school of a soldier. Mess at noon
and drill again at Ills until 4:30l
when the men are excused. After
supper the men are at liberty in the
camp. Some of them play ball or
practice athletic sports. There is
Y. M. c. A. that is always open; and
the men can read or write there
Picture shows and other amusements
are provided free.
Officers school is from to 10 D.
M, SO you see we are kept busy.
like 10 drill the men for most of
them are very willing to learn. They
have all done good work so far, ex-
cept those who do not understand
English.
Think have covered most things
Of interest here.
Best wishes,
ED.