El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-06-07

shoes laced, but l for one have never
yet been able to get In a hair-comb.
After roll.call we fall out and make
our toilets in more-or-less complete
fashion, but generally less. Then the
X. P. Kitchen police) in the neigh
boring mess hall sings out come and
get it," and we come. After breakfast.
eaten at a long wooden table, we
hasten back to barracks to make our
beds, sweep out the room and pre-
pare in general for inspection which
takes place at 7. And right here let
1t be understood that the east room OF
barracks number TIA, being occupied
by squads 10 and II of Company IA,
is the model room of the company.
We admit it. We have the cleanest
floors, the best made beds and the
neatest shelves of all. The captain
himself said so one morning, and 30
far as we know that is the only conf
pliment that has been passed out
since the camp started, to any one
anywhere.
The Real Work
Following inspection, the real work
of the day commences. Prior to this
time, you understand, we have been
merely playing as it were. A round OF
drills, Of all sorts and varieties fills
the remaining hours of the day till
$50 in the afternoon. The drills are
~puncuated by conferences at which
we recite our lessons-if we know
them. About 6 we are allowed to eat
supper and then we don't have a darn
thing to do until 7. Gosh, how We do
loaf. From Z until $3.50 when the
lights are put out, VIZ are supposed to
study, and il n Is to be prepared he
will do we'll to follow orders and dig.
The lessons are long, and for the un.
experienced, very complex. II one de-
sires to shave or write letters or read
newspapers, he must do SO between
times or not at all. Sunday are holt
days and sometimes Saturday after
moons also. At such blessed times,
the camp en- masse shines its shoes,
puts a white collar under its blouse
collars, and after depositing q pair Of
pajamas in its grips, HES himself to
the city to sleep as long as 1t wishes
Sunday morning and to taste the flesh
pots of San Francisco. Camp mem
bers are appareled in the regulation
o. D. (olive drab) uniform, than
which, as 1t comes from the quarter
master, there is no more ill-fitting
suit in the world. We do not present
a very finished appearance in the
hotels and theatres Of San Francisco,
and at first we were taken simply for
privates and treated accordingly
about the town. But recently we
have been issued a distinguishing hat
cord of red, white and blue and at
last we feel as If we are placed. We
are a new thing-neither flesh, fish
nor fowl in the army, but we don't
mind. The regulars call us Short
cuts and mail order officers" and /
don't know what the regular army Of
ficers think of us. Perhaps it is bet
ter not to know.
The Beautiful Preside
The Preside is a beautiful place as
many Santa Feans know, and the
view Of the bay Is superb. We have
seen most of the Preside through the
medium of weekly hikes carrying
guns kits let it be known. but we
find that the scenery pals about the
sixth mile out. The weather has been
,abominable. The chill ocean mist and
wind sweeps over us, turning our
wooden barracks into ~refrigerators, |
making a constant fire necessary.
Any mans tenure in this camp is
mighty uncertain. Even those who
already have commissions are by no
means immune from dismissal. Now
it must be understood that dismissal
does not mean disgrace and does not
necessarily carry any odium with II.
This is stated to make the record
clear, and IL any New Mexico lei are
presently seen back home, they must
not be derided or condemned. Dis
missal for breaking rules and other
obvious reasons is of no COM
pliment to the man dropped, out dis
missal may come because Of any num-
Der of reasons. One who is without
the military temperament may be
given an honorable dismissal on such
ground solely. One who is unable to
adapt himself to military life will also
be dropped. One who cannot over
come his lack Of military experience
will likewise 60. One who is too often
the sick list, or who suffers q
minor accident that incapitates him
for ever a few days, will depart.
Some will be dropped on general prin-
Added to all these possibili-
ties the most serious bugaboo is the
second physical examination. All men
not yet commissioned will have to un-
dergo this ordeal. Six men were
last week by this means,
and from what I hear the examination
is as thorough as army surgeon can
make 1t. Nuff said. To the credit
of the camp it must be said that few
men have quit. designations are
cheerfully accepted and anyone can
go whenever 1t pleases him. A very
few have left voluntarily.
There is, of course, a thousand
to tell Of the camp, but l hope
the foregoing brief review will give
some idea of the thing generally. ]
that ! cannot write more spe-
concerning the New Mexico