Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-10-24


heais itching for Tight, when he singa
on the march, when he believes that
he and his comrades will win-his
morale is good.
When he is downhearted, tired Of
the war, tired Of fighting, uncertain
the-war can be won. Indifferent to q
point that he would just as soon be
killed in the next attack as stick II
out" any longer, the cause for which
he fights is in danger.
Your should see 1.-The spirit that Is
building the morale ri the National
army at Camp Dodge: The .regtmeutal +
apirit Is there now, In less than two
months. The soldiers are already
.""nicknaming" their outfits" You'll
hear them call it 1.-THE Fighting 361st"
or the "Galloping 349th." You'll hear
them tell that "our regiment" can out
march any other regiment in the
camp. !
The spirit came to the fore wildly !
in the Liberty Loan campaign. Every |
regiment We'd with the others in try.
ing to roll up the biggest subscription !
list The competition became so keen
that soldiers were ordering practical
~ all their pay diverted to the pur-
chase of Uncle Sans bo2ds. The war
department became so much concern
ed that it suddenly issued an order
that no soldier would be permitted -
assign more than half his months pay
to the purchase of bonds Ono SER
Ah4 IN SSHAA6
one night to give the newspapers the
fact that his Battery, F., subscribed
for $500 worth of bonds and that
every man in the outfit had purchased
one or more bonds.
And how they came to the aid of
their Uncle Sam! More than $1,000
900 worth of Liberty Bonds they
bought, an averagegof a $50 bond for
every man In the cantonment! And
on pay Of $50 month.
The soldiers at Dodge haven't be.
gun yet to learn the tricks of the new
dogs of war. Turnout the six. weeks,
they have confined themselves to
squad and company drill, and disci-
pline. General Pershing said he want.
ed disciplined soldiers sent to him
that he will teach them the modern
rules of the game when they reach
France.
Out on the drill squares. in COM
pany streets and fire breaks the khaki
clad ranks can be seen every hour in
the day, marching and going thru
many formations.
Between drills they play The fav-
orite pastime is Kitten Ball, the mod1.
fed form of baseball in which large
soft ball Is used. They play basket
ball and football They practise run
ming and jumping and vaulting, train
ing themselves to enter the field meets
which have become a big feature Of
camp life.
Only this week have they branched
out in their. training They have be.
gun to learn how to use the rife.
starting first with sighting drill.
Over by the rife range, the more
advanced soldiers will be found enter
: ing upon the first steps of the branch
, Of training that brings home the grim
business upon which they soon will
: venture. As you top the crest ap
, preaching the rife range, there is a
l glitter of steel in the sunlight. Rays
r flash from scores Of bayonets in uni
l son as the soldiers follow their in
: structors thru frst movements Of thu
, bayonet drill. One can read more
Y than interest in the rows Of faces, I.
! the eyes focused upon the 1unging and
8 iabbing instructor as he demonstrates
I the best methods OF reaching an ad
}. varsary.
The conduct Of the soldiers Is ex
. cellent. They have yet to cause any
e trouble In Des Moines. Very few
r have been summoned before summary
j. court for intoxication. And they ART
\ usually SO ashamed Of It that they dt
not hesitate to tell where they go
!. their liquor when the question is ask
q ed. And that night there's anothe,
J. bootlegger in the Des Moines jail
:, Bootlegging is at a minimum consid
e ering the opportunities. The socia
l. evil is practically nothing. Officer
give mon something else to thinl
J. about. 9
There have been but five deaths il
J. the camp since the first soldier ar
I rived. a remarkable mortality record
q Out Of the entire $1,000, only twelve
l. men have been attacked by pneu
j. monia.
The life. has begun to tell in tn
building of strength Those who pain
:. !. fully crawled into bed at sundowl
- when they first started the hard grind
, don't turn in" 50 early now. They ST
" about the barracks and write letters
swap stories, sing and find amusemen
In games. Its to bed at 10 and up /!
= eight hours, every night. Its thre
square meals of solid substantial foo
. and plenty Of exercise every day. AM
!. It's bringing flesh to the spots
,. should be and the colortul tinge o
y pink and brightness of eye that goe
, with regular hours, exercise and die,
y The recruits who come this weel
!, in the last increment will make NOR
Il rapid progress than those Of the frs
4 and second. They will be placed Il
the ranks with veterans" Of 81
4 weeks and be carried along In tn
!, drilling as we'll as given verbal IL
>, struction.
3 II you ever get an opportunity t
IS visit Camp Dodge, you'll be proud O
"a the men who ara going tn Franco vrl,l