Morris tribune., 1917-12-28
FINDS MILITARY LIFE
IS MUCH DIFFERENT
Archie Stone Finds Works Difficult
but One is Sure of Square
Deal

per 10, Arcn16 A. stone says, 'InlS
is the first opportunity l have had
all week to Write home, and even to-
day I want to do a good deal of
studying"
81 like the work very much in
deed" he continues. cit is nothing
short of wonderful training. A per-
feet combination of physical and
mental culture. The physical train
ing (calisthenics and military drilD
puts one in splendid shape for study.
Also we are trained and required to
become neat and orderly, misplaced
pillow or blanket, a dirty floor un-
der ones bed, or minutes tardi-
ness to a mess formation (meaD or
a class, being cause for a "demerit,"
fifteen of which are sufficient for ex-
pulsion from the school. l have re-
ceived one already, as 1 was about 10
seconds late to breakfast one morn
ing. hope to make this the last
one.
There are so many interesting
things to tell that 1 hardly know
where to begin. The thing that i'm
presses one first is the complete diff
erence between this, a military life
and the life to which one has been
accustomed Here we are subject to
an entirely different code of laws,
entirely different officers, and
might almost say an entirely differ
ent system of government. The i'm
pOrtance of the individual as such is
almost negligible. Each man is on
1y one of thousands of others of the
same status. I do not mean to have
you infer from this that we are treat
ed as material rather than as men
for such is certainly not the case.
Our treatment is very considerate
and one is absolutely sure of a square
deal.
II was very much surprised to
learn the many things that a cadet
aviator is supposed to know as a
preparation for the earning of his
commission as a military aviator
The first week is spent partly in
learning military drill, the manual
of arms, etc. This is to acquire the
habit of obedience to orders or dis
cipline, rather than for the know
ledge itself. Also during the first
few weeks we take up the Organiza-
ton, Administration and Regulation
of the U. S. Army. We also have
about three or four weeks practical
work with the machine gun, and as
a final test have to be able to COM
pletely take down and reassemble
the gun while blindfolded. AS the
gun has 62 parts you can readily see
that this will require some little
practice.
Later in the course we devote a
great deal of time to gasoline motors,
aeroplanes, etc. One will have to be-
come an expert engine man before
graduating from here. There are
three types of aeroplane engines here
now, and we are expecting ship
ment of the new liberty motors soon
Later still we take up more diff
cult and complete work, known az
Aids to Flight, Cross Country Flying
ETC., teaching us how to determine
directions at night, partly from
knowledge of astronomy, etc., also
pressures and stress Of winds, etc.
difference of atmospheric pressure
in different attitudes, etc. Problems
in bomb dropping will prove very in
teresting, such as determining the
course of a bomb dropped from a GER
tain height, with the plane moving
at a certain rate of speed. These
- last weeks necessitate the use of &
good deal of mathematics, of which
I am especially afraid as I never was
quite sure whether plus equals
4 or 5 or 6.
"As regards accommodations we
certainly are we'll treated. The fooC
is excellent and is served in sucI
quantities as to be very pleasing tt
the eye when we come in from tht
drill field. Our barracks are new ant
we'll equipped. Last Friday eacl
ment his army blankets so now W.
have practically all the comforts o
home.
"The weather here has been fine 81
far, very warm during the day AM
cool at night. 1t is hard to realize
the fact that you are having bliz
yards at home.
''The reports of class records eacl
week are enough to keep one worry
ing all the time. Last week nearl,
1-3 of the boys in c squadron 9th
3rd week cIass) fiunked or were Sc
back. There is no way of telling
where you are at.
eve have two weeks vacation
= for Christmas, beginning the 22nd
Jay and 1 expect to go down to Lo
Angeles and Pasadena by boat to vi
sit Mabel. 1 may not have time t
buy any Christmas presents unit