The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-20
Physical Condition of North
Dakota Men Wins Praise From
Prominent q. S. Army Physician

said Major Luce, that they need not
worry about the physical condition
Of their boys. The very few who
cannot stand the rigors OF the army
will be sent back within a few days.
The rest can stack up against any
regiment on EARTH
Corporal Tom McEnroe, Mr., of
Company b OF Fargo. will leave his
company here within a day or so for
the purpose OF reporting to the aero
division and training school al
Augusta, Ga. McEnroe made apple
cation for a transfer about three
weeks ago and has been ordered to
report to the officer in charge at the
aviation station with offices at Hotel
Fontanelle in Omaha, Neb. He has
since been advised by Omaha officers
to report at the nearer aviation
school at Augusta. Ga.
Thirty men in Company H of
jamestown signed up for insurance
100000 worth as fast as the SER
geant could furnish them application
blanks. Practically all of the boys
In the North Dakota regiment are
taking policies Of $4,000 each in the
Rather a valuable regiment, Ell?
Worth $27000.0O0. as much as a
Rockefeller fine.
Sergeant Elmer Stoke and Miss
Angelina Lassard, the former in
Company c of Grafton, were united
in marriage here yesterday, Miss
Lassard having come on Saturday
from Grafton. Lieutenant and Mrs.
J. d. Prentice attended the couple.
In reply to the hundreds Of
queries: Yes, there are a surprising
ly large number of soldiers in the
army who do not have any particu-
lar home ties, who receive little or
no mail. It is so in every regiment,
and because it is so, the example Of
the First North Dakota, the 164th
infantry. should stand for all.
Bureau OF the Love-Iorn," "Matri-
monial Agency" and "Dispensary of
Heart Balm" are titles which have
been wished on the newly organized
statistical sections of the various
regiments. Clerks in the offices them
selves have invented the titles be-
cause SO per cent of the men in the
regiments do not know of the work
carried on, or of the existence of
such bureaus.
The statistical offices are combin-
ed to a certain extent with regimen
tai postoffices and six clerks are as
signed to work in both departments.
Primarily the statisticians are pre-
sumed to have a correct and up-to-
the-minute record OF the location,
physical condition. rank, promotion
or reduction, and all other facts per-
tanning to each soldier. But a great
part Of their work now comprises the
searching for lovers who have dis
appeared, boys who have not writ
ten. and the assuaging Of fears Of
parents and sweethearts.
1t used to be that the chaplain of
the regiment was called upon to fin
ish the work of joining two loving
hearts, now, willy-nilly, he must give
Cupid a boost at his own game, when
Cupid seems to weaken. For the
chaplain of a regiment is the boss
and must see that orders are carried
out by the clerical force.
For instance the other day Chap
lain +. c. Proehl of the First North
Dakota received a letter from which
tears could have been wrung. It was
a maiden's prayer that he forthwith
Immediately and without a moments
delay find and give to her lover a
letter. He has not written me for
week and just know he must be
sick or something" read the letter.
One whole week without a letter!
Well, some people were born COR
respondents anyway. Not a day
passes but some mother will write
for information concerning her son.
Ignorance concerning military
terms have created some surprising
ly funny situations. Take the case of
the boy who wrote his mother that
he had been put on kitchen police.
Came by return mail a letter to the
chaplain with a stamped envelope
enclosed asking whether the son, by
being a kitchen policeman, would be
in conflict with rowdies and the
rougher element of the army.
The mother was advised that the
duties called for fights against moth
ing more dangerous or formidable
pear in the kitchen. Policing in
the army means keeping things clean
and the most strenuous work OF the
kitchen policers is to peel "spuds."
There you have on type. the SOL
der who has mother, dad, sister,
sweetheart, or some other person as
dear to him, constantly filling the
mails with fat bulky letters and
sticky poorly tied packages Of jelly,
boxes of candy, wristlets, sweaters,
etc. How about the other side?
There are men, scores OF them
who have had not as much as a
postal card since reaching Camp
Greene. Mails are distributed twice a
their feelings ais they hope against 1
hope for some cheering word.
1t is to this class of men which !
the statistical section will cater and I
extend service as a sideline to its 1
official duties. Recently a complete |
list was compiled of all of these neg
lected boys and has been furnished to
The wife OF one OF the majors of the
First North Dakota, and she will /
work with certain organizations TO ,
see that these boys, too, receive let !
ters and packages through the mail. I
It Is this ONCE which viii serve as .
4 medium between the civil and the /
life and help knot home ties
tighter.
Col. J. III. Frame and staff officers
have been playing the part Of hosts
IN the past few days. Saturday 1ve Il
1f the French officers who are here
.eaching officers and men how it is
lone over there" were guests at the
headquarters mess hail.
md Sunday General and Mrs.
were guests Of honor.
Among the officers and wives who
we're present at the very elaborate
inner prepared by Cook Robert De
cater were Colonel and Mrs. J.. III.
Fraine, Lieutenant and Mrs. John
frame, Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs,
Gilbert G.. Grafton and the latter'g
lister. Miss Elizabeth Cute OF st.
Paul; Captain and Mrs. M. II.