The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-06-02


corps which is expected to be the
first complete military unit to
leave this state for the fields of
France.
The remark l quote was made
by A. S. Corbiere, a member of
the company, and his sentiment
is that of all the members.
Tacoma Has Interest.
1t Is sentiment that will
make Tacomans rejoice, for Ia
coma has a great interest in this
unit that goes forth to serve. A
real interest because there are
numerous Tacoma students en-
rolled in the corps, and because,
the Tacoma Red
Cross society has given $4,000 of
the $4,000 required to equip
the company.
At the Meany hall services,
where the university said goodby
to it's enlisted mbers, DR.. By
ers, chairman of the faculty war
committee, presented
the colors which the students will
carry. DR.. d. c. Hall, captain,
accepted them simply. President
praised the spirit of the
enterprise, and in concluding
said a word in regard to select
service which l wish every Ia
conan might let sink in.
CONSUMPTION an Honor.
"To be a conscript in America
is not parallel to being a con-
script in Europe" he said. Con
scription is not disgrace; it is,
instead, an honor. Our con-
scription does not issue from
kings or privileged classes, 1t is
of the people from the people. l
speak of this because there is a
tendency to be caught up by the
old repugnance that still hangs
over from the volunteer system. y
Eighty-five men-big, we'll
built, well-brained university
men they are-who have laid
their studies and futures on the
altar of sacrifice.
For eight weeks they have
twice daily, attended lee
lures and practical demonstra-
tions that will enable them to
serve an ideal-the
ideal of their country.
Expect Call Soon.
They were mustered into the
regular army a week ago, and
the government call is expected
any day.
DR.. S. C. Hall, physical in
structor at the university and
captain of the company, told me
the men would be granted a fur
Tough at the end of this week,
but would not be permitted to go
more than a days travel away.
| watched these student-volun-
teers in their drill. | watched
them shoulder the filters, unfold
and carry them, at the commands
of Capt. Hall.
Saw En- Fight in Mud.
And as | watched my thoughts
went back a few months to when
had seen many of these men
fighting on the football field at
Eugene, Ore, scrapping to the
last breath in bogs of mud and
water for the honor of their alma
mater in a game against the Uni
versity of oregon.
/ sat in the grandstand then
and wondered-wondered why
splendid men like these should
squander their bodies and brains
on q sentiment.
AS saw those 80 men,
working as "a unit in perfect
coordination, suddenly
realized that the stuff that
made them wallow in pools
of mud for their college has
made them willing now to
lay down their lives, IL need
be, in pools of blood for their ~
country.
Every one of them has sub
his ego in the maelstrom
of American patriotism. They
are chatting at the delay! They
are anxious, with the Impotence
of the young, to be at the front.
What They DO.
The American ambulance SER
vice started late In 1914 and has
grown so that by June 1 there
will be $50 automobiles in the
field. On all the fronts there is
a total of 100000 ambulances,
busy every minute, carrying the
fighters from the
trenches.
Wounded soldiers are first car
ried on small trench stretchers to
field hospitals, where their hurts
are temporarily dressed.
They are then taken in ambu-
Iances to base hospitals, and are
later removed to Paris or some
other large city. The work is
fully as important and just as
dangerous as that of bringing up
supplies and ammunition.
An ambulance corps equipment
consists of two ambulances,
uniforms and first-aid
Stretches Waiting, Too.
Uniform and equipment will
arrive this week.
Wednesday the men went to
Fort Lawton to have their finger
prints recorded, to insure against