Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-07
WEST POINTERS FEEL
SUPERIOR TO RESERVES
i
Attitude Prevails in Army, But Is
Noticed Mostly by the Woman
folk, It Is Said.

| Conversations with Reserve Corps Of
fcers. and especially with their wives,
indicate plainly that there is on the
part Of the Regular Army officers who
were in service when the United States
| entered the war, most Of them West
Pointers, distinct feeling Of superior
ity over and, in isolated cases. animus
| against the new wearers of Uncle
Sans uniform. This attitude Is. in
many respects. natural one, the re-
| serve men and their immediate rela-
tives admit, just as sophomore is on
a different plane from a freshman and
just as the professional is apt lightly
| to regard the amateur.
| The same attitude prevailed to an
unfortunately great extent in the Brit
! ish army at the beginning of the war,
| say returned travellers and observers,
| but the course of time and the splen-
did accomplishments of men who three
years and less ago had never even
executed right face" and who are now
leading companies. battalions and even
regiments, have almost completely
eliminated any such sentiment. Regu-
lars have termed their new confreres
"R. F. D. officers" Groom for develop
menO. which the latter take good
naturally. for when they made up their
minds to serve their country they were
prepared to take all the mental as well
as physical bumps that We're coming to
them.
Felt by Relatives and Friends.
Their relatives and friends feel the
attitude, however, a good deal more
their womanfolk. The fiancee of re-
serve officer at Newport News recently
used the phrase Army officer" in re-
ferring to the young man. and man.
the bond between them. corrected her
with the phrase. "You mean a reserve
officer with the emphasis on the re
serve"
BY no means do all West Pointers
take this attitude. say the newcomers;
it is largely confined to the lower
grades and the younger men. 1T
should be realized that very many of
these men are in uniform not through
personal preference" said an artillery
colonel recently Lots of them haye
left remunerative positions: some OF
them have given up businesses of their
own and made other personal sacrifices
to take up a new line of work for
which the regular has been trained
|since boyhood at government expense
One wife of Reserve Corps man has
been made by other Army women to
feel keenly the gulf that is supposed
to exist between the two groups. To
do the latter Justice it often comes
only from thoughtlessness and they
are quick to get the perspective when
the proper light is thrown on 1t. The
reserve officer in question. became an
Army captain, gave up professional
practice that was netting him between
four and five times his present pay.
and on the occasion referred to his
wife did not relish a snub given by
the spouse of man who three years
ago was in cadet gray and was shaving
but twice a week"
No Note Of Bitterness.
No note of bitterness, but the con-
trary however, is apparent in an eN-
planatory poem which the incident
called forth, and which is entitled THE
Reserve Corps to the Army"
We are come. dear gallant fellows,
Not to put you folks to shame,
But because within melows
Just the thought Of home and name.
We are all today one nation.
Warning for the truth Of God.
And we'll fight with gun and ration
To avoid the tyrant's rod.
Not one man Of the old war dogs.
Who long have stood for truth,
But will help adjust our war toys
Which we don in spite OF YOUTH
Well we know our inexperience
And the many things you've learned;
But the right to go to battle
May by patriots all be earned
Some of us have left behind, too.
Work that fitted us to aid
In way You may not realize,
So our debt is partly paid.
And remember friend and brother,
That we honor all you've done:
For reward we ask no other
Than your help till war is done.
For we've come to help you, brothers.
Not to make you lose one star,
But for sake of sisters. mothers,
Help You men to win this war.