New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-10-13

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drafted army, and it has simpli
fled the work of the officers great
ly 1t will enable them to turf
out a well organized machine
much earlier than was anticipated
The officers turned out by the
training schools are proving to be
valuable me. | have founC
among them the desire to rusf
training as they were driven il
the 80 days they were under
training. This will not work or
an army, and after a bit of eau
ton, they are breaking the men
into camp routine more leisurely
They do not drill the men all day
as at the start, but drill a few
hours in the morning, then have
other work that does not require
such strenuous physical endeavor.
The afternoon is devoted to light.
err work.
All environments have theil
troubles at the start but remark
able work has been done here.
Of course we came in before all
buildings were completed, but we
have kept just bit ahead of the
men. This partially completed
appearance of the camp natural
ly has it's effect upon the men,
but it is very slight. They have
quarters that are homelike in
side and very orderly. They
have good beds and meals, and
everything is spick and span ex-
cept on the outside. This will be
remedied shortly.
"Some environments have mud,
others rock, and one thing after
another. Camp Pike has dust.
/ have asked the War Department
for authority to relieve this con-
dition, for the men should no,
have to breathe it. l have been
authorized to spend $75,00O.OO
but I have asked for $500, 900 and
this will do the work permanent
ly and right. The dust is the
only objection, for we have water
and lights. and everything else
needed for the comfort of man.
"Already we have picked out
many non-commissioned officers,
particularly the corporals. We
have also assigned some sergeants,
but many will be left until the
companies are formed. Regi-
ments are formed in accordance
with the states, and each man is
thus in a regiment with his
friends. It is possible than men
from one locality will be in one
and certainly they have
many friends in a regiment.
81 have not seen any home
for I don't believe the
men have time to think about
such matters. They are every
day with the boys from back
home, have excellent meals and
and there is no room for
but satisfied body.
"The men who have been here
q month are now pretty well
drilled. They would be excel
lently drilled troops but for the
fact that each day recruits are
added to the squads until q COM
pany is formed, and each COM
pany is only as good as are its
You cannot call on
man for services he will not rem
der. We have q road in one part
Of the camp that is a model. This
was built in three days by a CON-
pany Of engineers, recently
formed, and j know there were
men out there using pick that
had never done such work be-
fore, but all seemed willing and
anxious to do it. l have seen
young men working
about barracks, cleaning windows
and doing other such work, and
when they had the task completed
asked to be called again when
such service was required. That
is the class Of men it takes SOL
diers, and / never saw q body Of
men more anxious than those
who have come to Camp Pike"
With such 3 leader as Major
General Sturgis, . man who lost
300 men out Of his regiment in
order to eli two others going to
France, lost his non-commissioned
officers - permit them to sttend |