The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-05-17
He's Captain Johnston Now.

He's Captain Johnston Now.
Diagonally across the street from
the Banner office there used to live
little barefoot hoy, with soiled
shirt front and shocky head of black
hair. He was not an overly good boy
land those worth while usually are
not) but there was poorly develop
ed streak of Industry about him, and
occasionally, by dint Of good fortune,
we managed to get some work out
of him. Back in the days of the
Banners Washington hand press he
was only a little follow, as we have
said, but by standing on soap box
he could reach the ink stone, and on
press days he would sorrowfully go
about the task of hiking the Banners
forms while the writer, STANDING on
the other side Of the old man-kil'er
would print the sheets in tiresome
monotony, one after the other, for
two hours or more. Our little friend
was known all over town as Bennett,
but usually we called him Benny"
That's shorter, you see.
But now Benny has grown to be q
man, is soldier boy, and captain,
at that, so we will have to elevate
our sights and cast around for a
more appropriate name for him, or at
least include his title. But we start
ed out not with the intention of writ
ing all this, but merely to call your
attention to friendly letter to the
editor, written by Benny on the 14th.
the address above the date lire read
ing: "Camp Nichols, New Orleans.
La" You will enjoy his letter, and
those young men of the parish who
should happen to see it in print should
seriously consider his invitation to
join his company, that is, if any
| others contemplate volunteering at
this time. Here is what he has to
say:
dated MAY Sd that there is q move
ment on foot in Benton to organize
local company in Bossier Parish
with the view of at some future date
having the company mustered into
the National Guard This is very corr
mendable indeed. and / would like to
see Bossier represented by at least
one company Of infantry.
/
opportunity, however, to ask you t.
extend an invitation through the chi
umns Of your paper to all good Ros-
sier men to come down and join my
company. The Louisiana troops were
called into the Federal service or
April 1st, but shortly thereafter VIZ
were ordered to call in all recruiting
parties, and it was just yesterday thai
we received orders to recruit to wal
strength. l consider this an excellent
opportunity for those men who were
not fortunate enough to go to thu
officers training camps to enlist in {
trained organization. / need only
twenty-five men so would advise al
those men who would like to enlis
to get in touch with me directly, ant
at once. Only those can appreciate
being members of trained organiza
ton who are actually such members
"There is one machine gun com
pany for each regiment of infantry
The maximum strength of a machin
gun company is seventy-four mel
and four officers. There are fou
Lewis machine guns, five Ford trucks
: one Packard truck, mack animals an
"GDOIlS LUZ cdCH AINSAA liz
S is armed with the AS calibre arm
r Colts automatic pistol. This branc
t Of the service is verv interesting, an
t in all probability will be very excl;
!, ing. / will be very glad to furnis
!; information to any applicant # +
). will apply to me at Camp Nicholl:
=. New Orleans.
"We're getting along very nicely
:. The camp is fixed up according I
J every modern United States Arm
n convenience, and there isn't tn
v SLIGHTEST doubt that great numbers {
: the men are faring much better tina
q thew did at home The spirit an
!. esprit of the men couldn't be bette
9 We're all here and ready to oo whe
: they order us to leave. We don
, know Just exactly where our fin
4 destination will be. probably SOM
+ where in France. hut ycu may b.
: your last dollar that wherever We ms
be. the Louisiana boys will alwa.
show their metal.
Thanking you very kindly to NAL
short mention in the Banner r
2, garding recruits for my company, ar
y with kind personal regards to "
" and nv Bossier friends, ] am,
5 ) every respectfully,
D. JOHN B. JOHNSTON,
y Captain, First Regiment Louisiana lnfantl
r. Nat. Guards, Machine Gun Company.