Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-17
Lesson No. S.
FIRST DAYS IN CAMP.

self and you will see why they are SO
highly regarded by the most expert.
enced soldiers of the army. 1t will
be only short time until You look
upon the early morning setting-up as
one Of the pleasantest features of
your day.
Then comes washing up" and
breakfast. Usually breakfast is fol
lowed by half-hour for cleaning the
barracks and hunks and putting cloth.
ing and bedding in order Frequently
the company commander will inspect
the barracks Immediately afterwards
to make sure that every man has at
tended to his part of the work There
is then often some time which the
trained soldier uses for attending to
his personal needs, tidying up his
clothing. and the like
The remaining two or three hours
OF the morning are likely to be spent
in drill-at first in CLOSE order and
later in explaining order" also
These terms will be explained in an.
other part of this course AS YOU adj
vance. the drills will become more
and more interesting. During the
drill there are numerous short periods
of rest.
In most camps guard mounting
comes about noon This consists of
relieving the men who have been
guarding the camp and turning over
this duty to new men. Each soldier
mounts guard not oftener than once
week After guard mounting the
men go to dinner, which comes at
twelve O'Clock. At least one hour is
always allowed for dinner and rest,
During the afternoons the work is
likely to be varied and to include addi.
tional setting-up exercises and only
drills, target practice, bayonet exer-
cises. and later more advanced drill.
ing. About five o'clock comes the
evening parade and retreat" when
the flag is lowered or furIed for the
night. The band plays THE Star
Spangled Banner" while the officers
and soldiers stand at attention. The
ceremony is designed to deepen each
mans respect and love for the flag
which he serves; it is always impress.
sive. After the flag Is lowered it is
carefully folded and escorted by the
guard to headquarters. where it Is
kept until the next morning, when it is
again raised
Supper comes between five and six
! O'Clock, and is usually followed by a
period of rest, In the training camps
there will be many opportunities for
a variety of healthful amusements-
/ Tor sports music, the theatre, and so
on, as later described. Taps are
sounded by ten o'clock This is the
signal to put out all lights retire and
keep quite. 1T closes the day for
the soldier and sends him to his
blankets tired and sleepy man"
This is only sample of a day in
camp On some days your company
will go off on hikes" After time
there may be longer marches, when
/ you VIII carry your shelter tents with
/ you and will make your own camp
each evening These are days that
/ viii be especially interesting. You
viii learn the soldiers art of adapt
! ing yourself to new situations and
yourself comfortable.
Your officers will ask you to do
nothing that they have not many
times done themselves They will
ask nothing of you which any normal
healthy man cannot do. After a
month or two Of this training you
Will find that you have begun to take
on some of the skill and the self.
reliance Of real soldier.