Bisbee daily review., 1917-08-26
FIGHTING FIRST" WILL TAKE
 ITS PLACE IN FRONT RANKS OF
 ANER|CAS ARMY OF DEMOCRACY
In Spite of Odds Criticism and Difficulties, Arizona Has Or ganized and Schooed the Finest Nucleus of Regiment
 in the Country-Great Opportunities Offered for Ad- vancement the Contingen Will Be Heard From

Arizona will have no cause to b. ashamed of her representation in the forces that Uncle Sam will send tC France to bring the Kaiser to terms During the last few months the First Arizona has undergone a wonderful change in its camp at Naco. Although the boys of the First had been drill ing hard ever since being called out for duty during the Mexican crisis they redoubled their efforts when war was declared on Germany and have since been studying, training, drilling, almost continually.
 The result is that today the regiment is probably in better condition than many regular army units and, with a few months more intensive training, should be ready to carry the Stars and Stripes to France to undergo final training within hearing of the big guns and within sight of the fighting fronts.
 Men Are Determined.
 The reason for the present efficient status of the regiment is simple-every enlisted man and officer is determined that the First Arzona shall give good account of itself in the war. Several months ago there were approximately HOO enlisted men and officers in the regiment Now there are between 7OY and 800. But, in spite of the fact that this might appear discouraging to an outsider, it is one of the most encour- aging things about the organization.
 When the regiment was mustered into the federal service several months ago, before the general order mastering in all national guard regi- ments throughout the country, every member who did not want Co enter the federal service was excused. This cut a considerable number of names from the roll of the regiment. A short time afterwards orders were received to discharge every member of the regi- ment with dependents. Still more members left the regiment under this ruling, cutting the original number practically in half.
 Drilling Intesified.
 Or ina-iiy thi. would lave been dis couraging in the extreme
 But the officers and enlisted men who remained looked on the bright si6e of things. They realized t,.a. every man who had remained in fhe service could be relied upon to stIck to his post for whatever eventuaiilles might come And So the little Arizona regi- ment, in the face of ri.licuie and criti- cism began the task of rebuilding it. self It was a fight fot existence, for there were vague rumors that the reg iment might be disbanded. This only inspired the members to harder work for they were determined that the First Arizona should not die when men were needed more than ever before by the nation.
 Months of hard work followed Drill ing were intensified. Men were shift ed from company to company and from department to department until the of ficers were satisfied that each man was in the place where he could offer the miximum of service. The First Ar izona began to show improvement. There was better feeling among the members. Any petty rivalries that may have existed faded away as the boys in khaki began to realize that the more they worked together the better show ing they would make.
 New Methods Studied.
 When word was received that Gen