El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-06-21
OF UNCERTAINTY
ARE PROBATION Time
AT THE PRES|D|O
. AT San FRANCISCO
WEDDING PROCESS AMONG AM.
BILIOUS OFFICERS RESERVE
GOES RuTHLEssLY ON; EVERY
ONE WANTS TO GET IN CAV.
Airy ,haia 4
(By Leased wire Is New Msxlcan)

10y Leased Wire t0 New Mexlcan)
San Francisco, Calf, June 20
These' are days of uncertainty at the
Preside military reservation where
approximately 5000 men are taking a
lthree-mohths course OF intensive train
Ing to fit them for commissions In the
army. Officers in charge Of the insti-
tuition have been keeping an eye out
as to the fitness Of the different men
for the various branches Of the SER
vice and while all Of the students have
designated the particular work to
which he prefers to be assigned, il
does not follow that his wishes will
be complied with.
A great many more men applied for
assignment to the cavalry than can
possibly be accommodated which
means that they will go either into
the infantry or the field or coast artil-
lery. The Fifteenth Company Of Engf-
neers already has been organized and
they will do their specialization work
for the next two months at the Van
Ncouver barracks. They entrain here
on Saturday and will be all ready to
begin their rounds of duty on Monday
morning. Also they are the first unit
in the reserve officers camp, aside
from those who already have their
commissions, to receive their regular
pay.
First of the duties which will fall
to the lot of the infantrymen will be
rifle practice which will begin next
week over in the government rifle
ranges in Marin county, across the
bay from San Francisco, the men will
go over detachment by detachment,
each unit spending about five days in
the butts where the men will be thor
oughly instructed in the handling of
weapons from all angles. 1t is ex-
pected that many Of the National
who recently have been
attached to the camp, will be selected
to act as Instructors as they already
are well versed in the care and mani
puIation Of firearms as a part Of their
training.
In the meantime, the wedding pro-
cess goes ruthIessly OF although res
gnations account for the greater num-
Der of those who retire. These are the
men who have discovered for them
that for one reason or other
they are not fitted for the life of a
The regular army officers in
of the camp, however, are gen.
erdus with their praise for the man
ner in which the men have adapted
themselves to the life. They have
stepped out of civilian life and have
taken to both talking and thinking in
terms. Every man has had
an opportunity to command at least a
company or a platoon of men and ia
miliarize himself with the giving Of
The routine of camp life is
to be a matter of course 1t Is
no longer necessary to keep In mind
The matter of bringing the heels to-
1t comes naturally.
The health of the command is ex-
and is best evidenced by the
snap and vim with which even the
minor routine work is carried out. The
men are in the best of spirits as shown
~ their readiness for a romp or good
"horse.play" among each
Under all this, however, is
l~iscernable a serious note which in
licates that they appreciate they are
preparing for a grim business and
hat sooner or later the welfare and
he lives of the men put under their
lirect charge will depend on the use
hey make of their time during the
,hree comparatively brief months OF
Instruction. 1t is the combination OF
inc animal spirit and realization OF
heir responsibility which so much
the army officers who have
hem in charge, aside from the ready
ldaptibility of the men to their new
and circumstances.