Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-11-15
Battery Drills

Arnold who is at Camp Macarthur,
Waco, Texas. The home Of the young
man is Amigo, Wis, AM he writes in
part as follows:
Dear Aunt:
Your kind letter received Saturday
afternoon and was delighted to hear
from you. | was somewhat worried
whether you had received my card
or not, and was just about to write
another The weather here is wonder
full except that it is awfully dusty and
dirty. We have wind and storms
about every day, and we just about
get things cleaned up nicely, when we
get some more wind and the tents and
cots are covered with dust. The dust
on the drill grounds gets SO thick one
can hardly see.
| like the army life very we'll, and |
never felt better in my whole life than
] have the past month or so. The only
objection | have to the army life is
the salary, and that is very poor. Of
course [ did not join for the money
part Of it, but the idea Of spending all
this valuable time, and not having
anything to show for it when we get
out is worrying me most. They say
the army is a good place to save mon
ey. but I fail to see it. | do not play
cards or gamble for money; if l did
never would have money. l am just
as economical as | can possibly be,
and still | barely have enough to carry
me from one pay day to the next.
There are SO many things a fellow
sees and thinks he wants, and we get
so tired of the feeds, that whenever
we go to town we have a good, square
meal.
l have seen Paul Stewart two or
three times, but just to speak to. lie
rode home from town in service car
with me one night, and we had quite
a chat. You see we have been trans
ferred from the infantry to the heavy
artillery" and arc now unit by our
selves. We are the only company OF
its kind at Camp Macarthur, and one
of the first to be organized in the
United States. We are known as the
10Th Trench Mortar battery, which is
an entirely new branch Of service, the
organization of which was recommend
ed by General Pershing after care
full study Of methods at the seat or
war
Trench mortar batteries are used
to back up an attack by the infantry
or after a gas attack. A study OF the
battles fought by the allies will prove
nTa01
stances have been the deciding factor
in successful and very important
gains. Our standing at the camp is
changed radically. We will now have
our own supply department, IN charge
of our own first lieutenant. Our sup
niles will be drawn directly from the
uuartermaster department and not as
before through the regimental supply
company We are a regiment by our
selves. there being no officers over our
own except Brigadier General Ham,
who is the highest functionary at
Camp Macarthur Our equipment will
consist of trench mOrtars (Which are
small cannOn) horses, mules, motor
truck, rifles and one motorcycle. In
stripes and am at present only first
class private Of course a first-class
private has the first opportunity for
promotion. There are twenty-siX OF
these and Benoni Arnold's name heads
the list Ha! Ha!
Our captain, o. A. Miller, gave us
quite talk the other day regarding
discipline. Two of our sergeants are
now learning the different methods of
gas protection and are to instruct the
company when they have completed
their course. Captain Miller said we
without a doubt would be the first
ones to leave Camp Macarthur for
France.
I am not very anxious to see the fir
ing line, but would like very much to
France. If we do see France, l never
expect to step on American soil again,
but l will always be for the good old
u. S. A., and will do my bit willingly
and cheerfully I wouldn't give any
thing, or l mean take anything, for
the experience I have already had, and
that is very little. l sure think the
army life fine, although it is a little
mOnOtOnOus.
Waco has a fine Episcopal church
and a fine choir. l have attended
church there twice and they have a
large congregation. l will send you a
post card of the church as soon as |
am able to find one.
Well, it is nearly time for taps to
sound, so will have to get ready for
bed. Five-thirty a. m. comes rather
early and the drills are not any too
easy. Hoping to hear from you soon,
and hoping you are all we'll, as l am,
/ remain, Your loving nephew,
PRIVATE BENONI A. ARNOLD,
10th Trench Mortar Battery,
Clio 121st Field Artillery, Sec. G.
Camp Macarthur, Waco, Texas.