The Mena weekly star., 1917-10-04
MAKING AN ARMY
 FROM GREAT MOB.
Tempered Sons of Society Are Ei- bow to Elbow With Boys From
 the Housekeeping Neighbors Toaether in Organization.

ANtfttfftF III OiJohhNN.'aa-
 Little Rock. Sept. 27.-Little Rock has been witnessing the return Of Cincinnatus during the last few weeks. and it is not over yet. The recruits for the great National Ar my now in ihe making all over the country have been coming into Llt- tie Rock in great numbers, and are being billated at Camp Pike. Be : fore they arc equipped in the khaki they begin drilling, and Tor the ensuing few months they will be put thru a most intensive course.
 The observer is struck by the great variety of employment and station represented by the pon6e- script attire of the recruits, showing that they have come from the Held, the shop, the store, and the office. There are pampered sons of society, prospective heirs of great fortunes, rubbing elbows fraternally, in the rhythmic Left, left, left" of the march, with ieans-clad young giants direct from the plow-handles. And they are all cheerful lot, and thru their awkwardness and lack of mill itary precision will come in few weeks an army of thoroly disci- lplined and we'll trained men, straight of stature, firm of step, unerring Of eye, and unflinching of determine tion, who will give as good an ac- count of themselves at the front as any troops there. The mobile ma terial is there, and all that is need ed is to mold and knead it into shape. They fully realize that it | is no child's game in which they are being enlisted Pretty warm, isn't it?" was asked one in the line of march the other day Yes" he re- piled, wiping the perspiring brow with red bandanna, taken from the pockets of his jumper, but it's not as hot as it will be in the trenches."
 Within the next two weeks all of the first draft of 10000 will be in training at Camp Pike, and the three Arkansas Regiments of the National Guard will have been transferred to Camp Beauregard, at Alexandria, La. There is no means of knowing when they will be ready to he called into service in France, even the War De- partment does not know. but it is generally believed that large bodies of the Nationals will be on the fir ing line by the early spring of 1918, when the world is confidently look
 ing forward to the final gigantic thrust that is destined to bring tri- lumphant victory to the allied cause.
 When the men reach camp
 are formed into provisional units according to their locality, and nit Iindiscriminately, as some imagine. The men from each state are put in
 the same regiment as nearly as practicable, and those from the va
 rious sections of the state are or ganized into companies. This will keep the neighbors and friends to-
 gether and thereby strengthen the morale of the resultant organiza- tions. But Arkansas men will not be placed in command of Arkansas troops. The officers will be taken
 from other states, for by this means it has been demonstrated that the best results are obtained
 The training is the most difficult, l for the man who comes direct from the blow the counter or the work bench finds that he is not readily adapted to the rigorous sameness of camp life and the drill ground But they will learn. Eight hours a day, six days a week will soon make mili- tary machines of them.
 The experience thru which the nation is passing now has forever discredited the theory held by many until recently that great army of defective fighting men could be called into action over night for the pro- lection of the country from invasion Tor insurreetion Such a body of men would be nothing but an armed, ir- irresponsible mob. however willing and patriotic An army is a Figidly cor-ordinated iiehiing machine. and mot . tumble of wheels. and shafts and belts and pulleys. Great things have been accomplished in a few months, and greater things are prob able, not the least of which IS tC transform a peace-loving people in- 1 to an armed camD.