The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-10-19
Life at Preside

Max Smith returned home last
week after two months in the Of
ficers' training camp at the Preside,
San Francisco, Calf. Mr.. Smith
expected to pass all the ex-
aminations, but in the last examina-
ton for the nerves and eyes he fail
ed. Max says he enjoyed his work
very much and regrets that he did
not pass the examination. He was
one of the first men to volunteer
from Blackfoot. Mrs. Smith was
with him the last month and enjoyed
the trip very much.
Mr.. Smith called at The Republi-
can office and gave us the following
information in regard to army life:
1.-The officers training camp at
Presidio consists of nine companies
infantry, three companies light field
artillery, and one heavy coast artil-
lery, with $50 men to company.
The camp is very beautifully stu
ated, just at the Golden Gate OF San
Francisco. In the morning the air
is very damp. due to the heavy fog.
"At 5.45 a. m. revielle is sounded
and at $50 retreat. Each morning
thirty minutes is devoted to physical
exercise. Every spare minute when
we were not drilling we were study
ing. There Is the school OF the
squadron, the school of the platoon,
the school of the company and the
school of the battalion. Special at
tention was given to the school OF
the squadron, platoon and extended
order of formation. We had learn
ed the semaphor and wig-wag signal
systems. The semaphor system is
used with two small flags in signal
ing short distances; and the wig
wag two flags, used with both hands,
for Tong distances.
1--WE had drills each day in throw
ing bombs, target practice and bay
onet practice. It was beautiful
sight to see 1900 men on the parade
ground going thru the drills just as
one man. For four days we dug
trenches about two miles in length,
and lived in them for thirty-six
hours. The front line trenches and
the trenches in the rear were con-
nected by telegraph. The officer in
command knows just exactly what
every twenty men are doing. At
night the trenches were lit up with
the illuminating rockets and the
enemy can very easily be located.
1--WE had to do all branches of
service from working three days in
the kitchen, washing dishes and
waiting on table to commanding
company. Each man taking his turn
in all divisions of the work. Every
Saturday morning we had inspection
of barracks. We were relieved from
duty Saturday morning and did not
have to report until Sunday night at
10 O'Clock.
"The men are graded by the COM
pany officers and on their recon-
mendation they will receive commits
sions. The men in the company con-
sisted mostly of lawyers, school
teachers, university graduates, men
from the regular army and the ma
tional guard.
"The work is very hard and siren
uous. We worked steadily all day
from 7.15 until $50. At $50 a
check is taken on the men and they
must be in bed by that time"
Mr.. Smith thinks that the Black
foot boys will all make good. While
at the Preside he talked with Won
Harten, Stewart, Bloomquist, Sam
Mulville and Johnny Greenan.
Johnny said he would like very much
to hear from some of his friends in
Blackfoot, as letter from home
surely cheers a lonely fellow up. His
address is company D, Twelfth in
fantry, Preside, California.