The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-09-20
,News From Local Boys in Army
Arthur Weyrauch Narrates on the
Training of Wireless Oper-
ator for Immediate Service.

The following is letter received
by C. H. Child from Arthur Weyrauck
former night operator at the Great
Northern depot here:
Naval Electric School, Perkins Hall
Room s, Co. 8, Sixth Squad.
Dear Mr.. Child:
Have few minutes time so thought
that had better take advantage of it.
When l first arrived in New York,
had time but then l was taking in
/ the sights. After the first week here
they got me started in some of the
work and row it keeps ms. busy. The
company that I belong has been on
duty this week. Will be off at a. m.
Monday. This duty work isn't bad
for we work two hours and off six. My
hours are 1872 p. M, $40 p. m. and
4-6 a. m.
The work is kind of hard if a per-
son doesn't keep pounding at it. A
person used to have thirty two weeks
to finish the course in, but now we
have only 16 weeks. They are so
short of operators now that if a per-
son can take rs words minute they
take them out of school.
We have class of theory and one
of operating in the morning and the
same in the afternoon. The theory
is divided into sixteen branches and
one has to make branch every week.
Have had two weeks of theory. and
one of operating. Made good in the
DRY so far though I had to put in all
my spare time in getting it. Am not
doing very we'll in operating. Am
now where can not get the Morse or
Continental. My average in CONT
mental so far is nine words minute.
Might get it better after while. Am
not, going to get it any faster than
have to for this is good place to
stay. After one gets through with the
school they send us to the fleet, and
then to some transport and then to
France. If things stay the way that
thew are now one will not be able to
get off for ten orsfifteen days.
Am having a fairly good time, tax
ing in the sights of Boston and some
of the shows. Get free tickets so does
not cost more than the car fare. Have
been taking in some of the Historic
points, Bunker Hill, Washington Elm
Plymouth Rock and others.
Like the work fine as far as l have
gone. Hope it keeps up, but am afraid
that it will not. This is too good to be
true, just like home. Good eats and
good place to sleep. That is all that
one can ask for.
How is railroading? Have wished
several times that was back at Sank
Centre giving CD and OS; then again
am glad am here. Think it all de-
ponds on how person feels and how
things are coming. Suppose am in
Clutch" with the boss now for l did
not tell him l was going to quit. Was
afraid that he would talk me out of
it, so did not say thing. couldn't
stand being called a Stacker. And
then I heard some people say that the
operators were yellow and depending
on the railroad work keeping them
out. That is why I went. Did not have
anyone depending on me so was going
to show them that good job was not
enough to keep "ham" operator out
of war.
1 was craving for adventure and to
do service for the Good Old U. S. A.,
and to pull one over on those that
thought my job was going to hold me
back.
Now am in and am going to stick
out my four years-war or no war.
. Haven't seen very much Of Willard.
He went to the hospital about three
weeks ago or rather two. Have not
the time to get off to see him. The
hospital is quite ways from where
we are. He was doing fine from what
heard. He is little weak on theory,
though can not blame the boy for that
for the way that it is given to us, and
if a person has not the general idea