Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-12-12

/ datiOn is sill for the spirit of the men,
and the manner in which the new ones
| have fitted themselves to meet strange
and at times trying conditions. The
main point is that the major generals
and the brigadier generals of the Unit
ed States army, here and abroad, seem
to be entirely satisfied that the great
American army of today in patriotism
| and In spirit of endeavor is as worthy
as any of our armies of the past, and
what this means all Americans know.
There is something of the lightness
of life in the letters of these American
general officers. One of them who had
seen thirty years service as a hard
riding cavalryman, a man of many
campaigns, Is in command Of one Of
the great embarkation posts. a camp
which has been described as "amphi
blous." This cavalryman has done
great service In his new work. a fact
which is attested by war department
records. From his quarters looking
out over his post. half land and half
water, he writes:
81 have been on this job since July.
when | was pulled out of the West
and sent down here, thus spelling
perfectly good cavalryman to make
horse marine out of him"
This general officer will have some
trouble in making anybody believe
that he has been spoiled as a cavalry
man The records, however, show
that he has made Of himself a most
excellent "horse marine"
There is another letter which comes
from one of the greatest of the mid
die western encampments. 1t is writ
ten by the major general command
ing. a man who fought in the last great
Indian uprising, IN Cuba. in the Phil
ippines and on the border, finding
"time between times" to go under or
ders to Washington to lend his advice
on machIne-gun and other matters.
He believes that no major general
ever commanded n finer body Of troops
than that which is serving under him
today.
Women Part Of Americas Army.
from the rest of the country "of the
army of the United States" The
/ capital includes women of the coun-
| try when it speaks Of the army, for
here at any rate women are working
/ like soldiers for the cause of country.
/ Officials here realize unqueStiOnably
I that the women of the rest of the coun-
/ try are working also, but in Washing
/ ton. where So many thousands of sol
I diers, officers, and enlisted men. are
stationed. the numbers of the army
women are multiplied and every one
Of the members is laboring day and
/ frequently by night for the service Of
Uncle Sam.
Take. for instance, what is known
as "the Highlands Auxiliary Of the
Red Cross This is an organization
Of 300 women. only one of many Of
like kind. which Is presided over by
the wife Of the surgeon general Of the
United States army, Mrs. William c.
Gorgas Nearly every woman CON
nected with this auxiliary is an army
woman. and in the case Of this par
ticular organization nearly every wom-
an who works has her thoughts "oyer
there"
In this army group OF women there
IS hardly one whose husband. father,
son or brother is not already on or
close to the battle line In France. It
used to be said that in times Of peace
] kst1r ngif
| In times of war they do not take
! things hard in the sense that they
give way to fears for their dear ones,
( hut they take life exceedingly serious
/ Iy and they work from reveillp to
/ taps, and sometimes beyond.
Scene Of Many FareweIts.
Every day in Washington women
must say "good-by" to fighting mem
hers of their families. Washington Is
( a rendezvous for officers and 70 some
extent for enlisted men prior TO leav-
ing to take part In what is life's great-
est adventure this side az death An
army order forhids the wives of
American officers following their hus-
bands abroad The parting here there
fore may he forever hut however great
the sorrow, the army women bear up.
They have traditions to sustain.
So It is fhnr Washington the wom-
IN Of the Amy Who are left behind.
work from the coming gray NJ the day
to the passing gray Of the day for the
soldiers If the service. thinking Of
their own who are "over there" hut
willing If word comes. that their own
have died, to continue the work m
daunted for the loved ones Of others
who still are fighting along the embat-
lied lines.
The regular army has its traditions.
The nav National army has few trndl-
tions back Of it except American tradi-
lions. which are Of the high courage
and patriotism Of the people gen
orally. The wives. mothers and sisters
of the men IF the National army and
of those of the National Guard rs well
are working In Washington side hv
side with their sisters of the regular
service I'm the effort to provide nh that
is necessary for the comfort and the
general well being IF the soldiers In
the field
One o. the present examples Of what
women outside the families Of the reg
ular service are wilIlag to do is shown
by the fact that Mrs. RoT,ien Harri.
man is now In France in an endeavor
10 induce the authorities to allow hun.
drcds of American girls. anxious for
| IN. snrv1pa IN 90 IN L'ropc., O., ,t.;,..