The Monticellonian., 1917-10-12


| fully advised of conditions as are the
company commanders. Maj. Gen.
| Stureis is not above drilling the men
himself if he sees a chance for I'M
provement If he can spare the time,
and he always has time to make a
correction or two II he sees it in
passing.
Little Rock, Ark-What can Ger
many and the Central Powers expect
with an army of young men being
gathered at Camp Pike under com.
mand of such soldier as Major Cen
eral D. Sturgis? There are sixteen
other armies of similar character, but
certainly they cannot excel, and prob
ably not equal this flower of the
Southland. Bright eyed, eager young
men. under a commander who con-
serves the energies and the health OF
his men, and who sees that they have
comforts of life along with the hard
ships.
Willingness seems to be the pre-
dominant feature in the men who are
reporting at Camp Pike" says Major
General Sturgis, land men who are
willing to make soldiers who cannot
be defeated These men come to the
camp with thorough knowledge of
the task before them. They come
with determination to make the best
of it. and seem ready to grasp every
opportunity to assist their officers in
rounding out an army that will giFe
an excellent ac-ount of itself when
called upon.
Among those who have reported
are men of high education. wealth and
refinement They do not evidence
disposition to shirk anything. They
obey every order with alacrity and
eagerness. 1t makes no difference
what they are called on to do, they do
it. and do 1t with good grace. Few
expected such action from a drafted
army. and it has simplified the work
of the officers greatly.
"All environments have their trou-
bles at the start but remarkable work
has been done here. OF course we
came in before all buildings were
completed. but we have kept just a
bit ahead of the men. This partially
completed appearance OF the camp
naturally has'its effect upon the men.
but it is very slight. They have quar-
tiers that are homelike inside, and
very orderly They have good beds
and meals. and everything is spiek
and span except on the outside. This
will be remedied shortly.
Some cantonments have mud,
others rock, and one thing after an
other. Camp Pike has dust. | have
asked the War Department for author
ity TO relieve this condition, for the
men should not have to breathe it.
have been authorized to spend 49,
600. but I have asked for 100000,
and this will do the work permanently
and right. The dust j. the only or
lection, for we have water and lights,
and everything else needed for the
comfort of man.
7 have not seen any inconsistencies,
for | don't believe the men have time
to think about such matters. They
are every dav with the boys from
back home. have excellent meals and
quarters, and there is no room for
anything but a satisfied body.
With such leader as Major Cen
eral Sturgis. man who lost 500 men
out of his regiment in order to fill
two others going to France. lost his
aon-eommissioned officers to permit
them to attend a training camp. lost
his commissioned officers to regiments
gong e Europe, and yet with foun.
dation Of 400 seasoned men whipped
out a new regiment so that in 80
Gays it was ready for foreign service
and is now in France. what might not
one expect of the National Army now
being trained at Camp Pike?