The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-29
LIKE CAMP CODY NEED NO
KanSanS at New Mexico Army Parents of Be
Post Well Pleased. Should Not
Officer Writes Interesting Let Every Comfort
ter to the State Journal. Man Prov
IN SUN, SAND and CACTUS SERGEANT MIL
Soldiers Enjoy Beautiful Noun State Journal
tain Scenery. Sample Of
200 Officers From Fort Riley on "Early to Bed,
Duty in Camp. Secret of
KansanS at New Mexico Army
Post Well Pleased.
Officer Writes Interesting Let
ter to the State Journal.
IN SUN, SAND and CACTUS
Soldiers Enjoy Beautiful Noun
tain Scenery.
200 Officers From Fort Riley on
Duty in Camp.

The following is a letter from Camp
Cody. Deming. N NJ, where several
reserve officers from Topeka are on
duty with units of the Thirty fourth
national guard division:
sun. sand. cactus, and dust storms
are the chief characteristics of this
part Of New Mexico without mention
ing horned toads and centipedes. The
toads. however. are considered a bless
ing by the soldiers, who have them
as pets and keep them tied with Il
string in the tents. The toadS eat
flies and insects and are one of Ma
lures aids to the sanitary depart
mcnts.
Camp Cody is situated about a mile
from Deming, which before the mill
tary camp was located was a typical
western town, where cowboys with
high heeled boots put their foot on
the rail before the mahogany bar and
ordered REQ liquor Now these bars
sell all of the famous near-beers and
notwithstanding drinks The free
moving population walks with caution
now and provost guards patrol all the
stress. The last, however, is only
precautionary measure as there has
not been one disturbance since the
guardsmen came here.
Beautiful Mountain Scenery.
on three sides of the camp. the
south. the west and the north pic
turesque mountains stand as sentinels.
The Floritas on the south separate
this part of New Mexico from Column
bus where the well known Villa raid
caused trouble. on the north the
Black mountains shelter the isolated
ranches and on the west stand the
Red mountains. In late afternoon
when the brilliant sun beats down
these mountains resemble large piles
\
and have no vegetation so when the
sun plays on them they have the met
al appearance.
The days here get very hot, there
being nothing to break the unrelent-
ing rays of the sun but the nights.
They are the kind that novelists write
pages of description about. The big
moon dominates the sky aided and
ahetted by bright stars. 1t gets SO
dark here at siX-thirty o'clock that
lights have to be turned on and as
soon as darkness settles a cool breeze
springs up and before morning three
blankets and a bed-roll are no more
than enough for a comfortable nights
rest And such sleep! You can go to
bed here at 1880 and sleep until .
o'slock in the morning and never
hear "A sound. A sentinel has his post
close behind the officers tents and
the corporal of the guard is cOntinu-
ally posting reliefs thruout the night
hears.
River Close BY.
Just north of the camp the MINI
bres river winds it's sandy way thru
the cactus. The Mimbres is only
river occasionally. Most of the time
il is nothing but two banks and bed
of sand and gravel The other day,
however, after rain in the noun
tsins. the river lifted up its head in
pride, for several feet of water rushed
thru its banks. Even the jack rabbits
were surprised. for when several were
scared up by the soldiers on a nike
they ran towards the river only to
plunge in. The next day the river
was empty.
There is one thing about this coun-
try that Kansas farmers would de-
light in. 1t is the property of the
SOL which, after having little gravel
mixed in and soaked with water
makes road as hard as cement. In
three days perfect roads were made
thruout the camp, and they stay the
way they are made.
In spite of some of the disagreed BILE
features of the country, this camp is
proving an ideal one in every respect,
ana the men all are well satisfied.
Many Dogs i'm Camp.
There are all kinds and descriptions
OF dogs in this camp. Every company
has one for mascot and the daily
topic Tor discussion in every kitchen
Is about what to feed the dog. The
American soldier is "A kindly soul. even
If he is learning how to kill and he
shows his natural sympathies by treat
ing his pets with the highest degree of
concern. Some one has said: Show
me the man who will kick a dog and
I'll show you a rascal" The American
soldier will not kick dog. He will go
out Of his way to befriend the Great
ure.
There are 200 officers with the units
here who received their commission at
Fort Riley, Kan, this summer. They
are scattered among the national
guard outfits from Iowa, Nebraska
and Minnesota. Three Topeka men:
1t. emf Stratton. 1t. Richard Blais-
dell and 1t f. w. Wingart are with
the Third Minnesota infantry.