The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-11-10
Much Depends on Officer Who
Holds Lowest Rank in Or.
ganization.
ACTS As PARENT TO SQUAD
o. the Efficiency Of the Humble Cor.
porai Rests Much Of the Com
panys Reputation-Sets the
Moral Tone Among the
Soldiers.

Washington.-The corporal is known
To most civilians merely as the Lowest
~ rank Of the non-commissioned Of
hcers OF the army; his rank is marked
" TWO stripes on the upper arm OF
Ms blouse. The familiar phrase "a
csrporars guard" exemplifies this idea,
as 1t suggests the smallest possible
hemDer OF soldiers. OF him the In
fantry Drill Regulations say briefly,
fhe corporal is the squad leader"
and OF the SOUND IL says, SOLDIERS are
grouped into squads for purposes of
instruction, discipline, control and or
der"
But the corporal is of more impor-
tAnce than this would Indicate.
One OF the regular army instructors
af the last series of reserve officers
~nining camps was fond of telling his
company that those of them who be-
came captains would be fathers of
tneir men, the captain being the high
esq officer with whom the enlisted man
would In general come into personal
contact. Many captains are like the
Puritan father whose closest contact
with his children was when he dis
0plined them. The leader who lives
with the private and is most directly
responsible for his well being in camp
OF In battle is his corporal.
In camp this responsibility is mani |
fold. The squad, seven men and the |
corporal. form family living togethe,
In one of the big pyramidal or square
tents that have done much to make
the soldiers life In the field comfort
aDie. The corporal is often told that
ne has power to run that tentful of
men absolutely; some officers tell him
he's the king bee and others call him
the car. while all of them blame him
II anything goes wrong.
The first thing In the morning. Mt
varying hours, but always before six,
ne must hear first call and have his
seven men out for reveille in fifteen
minutes, He must see that every
matchstick, cigarette butt and scrap OF
paper is picked up from the floor and
surroundings of the tent, that every
cot Is stripped and In order, that every
member called for special duty or de-
tall reports on time. and that his SQUAD
Is always on hand for all formations.
Maintaining Discipline.
The corporal must see not only that
tne members of his squad are on ,
hnnd for all formations, but that they
are properly clothed, neat and shaven.
with all buttons sewed on, shoes
s0ined and rifles cleaned. On Satur-
lays he must be particularly scrupu-
Gus In seeing that his squad is spick
and span In every respect of person =
MD equipment. The latter must he
Iuily displayed on every mans cot ,
With only one correct arrangement.
Inc correct way to fold the blankets ;
II the head of the cot and to Mace
he shoes under the foot. And most :
important 1t is that the knife. fork .
IND spoon shall be in the order that =
hey are displayed on the mess kit. ;,
Every inspecting officer has the cor. !,
ect picture of that display, from no :,
ation or toothbrush to number of shell :,
er half pins. so clearly In his mind ~
nat the corporal is lucky whose SQUAD a,
ices not have two or three slips in IT'S g.
arrangement. Also the corporal must
'u'ckiy learn the pet point of each