The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-10-24

the SplrlL develops IldI SItai ho~toA III
a modern army-morale. Morale, as
the term Is applied, is the mental con-
ldition of the soldier. When he Is up
and coming, cheerful and confident
that his regiment can lick any Other
regiment in. the world, when he Is itch
ing for fight, when he sings on the
march, when he believes that he and
his comrades will win-his morale IS
good. -.
When he is down hearted, tired of
the war, tired of fighting, uncertain
the war can be won, Indifferent to
point that he would just as soon be
killed In the next attack as stick II
out" any longer. the cause for which
he fights is in danger
You should see the spirit that Is
building the morale Of the national
army at Camp Dodge. The regimental
spirit is there now. In less than two
mick naming" their "outfits." You'll
hear them call it "The Fighting 351st"
or the "Galloping 349th." You'll hear
them tell that "our regiment" can out
march any other regiment in the camp.
The spirit came to the fore vividly
in the liberty loan campaign. Every
T0kluISuI VlCu Will tuC OLAOAo Az - AAo
to roll up the biggest subscription list.
The competition became so Keen that
soldiers were ordering practically all
Uncle Sans bonds. The war depart
ment became so much concerned that
it suddenly issued an order that no
soldier would be permitted to assign
more than half his months pay to the
~ dc 0nn cor0oQnf HUnnf
all the way to Des Moines one night
to give the newspapers the fact that
his Battery, F, subscribed for $500
worth OF bonds and that every man
in the outfit had purchased one or
more bonds.
And how they came to the aid of
their Uncle Sam! More than $1,OO0,-
900 worth Of liberty bonds they bought
an average of a $50 bond for every
man in the cantonment! And on pay
OF $50 q month.
The soldiers at Dodge haven't be-
gun yet to learn the tricks of the new
dogs of war. Throughout the six
weeks they have confined themselves
to squad and company drill and disci-
pline. General Pershing said he want
ed disciplined soldiers sent to him
that he will team them the modern
rules of the game when they reach
France. ..
Out on the drill squares, in company
streets and fire breaks the khaki clad
ranks can be seen every hour in the
day, marching and going through many
formations.
Between drills they play. The favor.
ite is Kitten ball, the modified form Of
baseball. In which . large soft ball Is
fused They play basket hall and foot
ball. ctica run1tnE ana Jump
ing and vaulting, training themselves
to enter the field meets which have
become q big feature of camp life.
Only this week they brancheds out
in their training. They have begun to
learn how to use the rifle, first starting
with sighting drill.
Over by the rifle range the more ad-
vanced soldiers will be found entering
upon the first steps of the branch Of
training that brings home the grim
business upon which they soon will
venture. As you top the crest ap-
preaching the rifle range, there is a
glitter of steel in the sunlight. Rays
flash from scores of bayonets in uni
son as the soldiers follow their in
structors through first movements Of
the bayonet drill. One can read more
than interest in the rows of faces, in
the eyes focused upon the lunging and
jabbing instructor as he demonstrates
the best methods of reaching an 'ad-
versary's abdomen or throat to send
the bayonet home in a way that it
won't be caught and held fast in the
body of the victim.
The conduct of the soldiers is excel
lent. They have yet to cause any
trouble in Des Moines. Very few have
been summoned before summary court
for intoxication. And they are usually
SO ashamed of it that they do not hest
tate to tell where they 60 their liquor
when the question is asked. And that
night there's another bootlegger in the
Des Moines jail. Bootlegging is at u
minimum considering the Opportuni-
ties. The social evil is practically
nothing. Officers give men some
thing else to think about.
There have been but five deaths in
the camp since the first soldier arriv-
ed, a remarkable mortality record. Out
of the entire $1,000 only twelve men
have been attacked by pneumonia.
The life has begun to tell in the
building of strength. Those who pain.
fully crawled into bed at sundown
when they first started the hard grind,
don't turn in" so early now. They
sit about the barracks and write let
ters, swap stories, sing and fine amuse.
ment in games. Its to bed at 10 and
up in eight hours, every night. Its
three square meals of solid substan,
tial food and plenty OF exercise every
day. And it is bringing flesh to the
spots it should be and the cOlOrful
tinge of pink and brightness Of eye
that goes with regular hours. exercise
and diet.
The recruits who come this week in
the last increment will make more rap
i'd progress than those of the first and
second. They will be placed in the
ranks with veterans" of sixweeks and
be carried along in the drilling as well
as given verbal instruction.
II you ever get an opportunity to Wis
1t Camp Dodge, you'll be proud of the
men who are going to France with the
banners of Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota
and North Dakota.
The Des Moines CAPITAL says that