The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-04-05

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 PIenteous and substantial-Barraeks
 and Huts Are Always Kept Warm Rail Presidents Sun a Chauffeur. | (By Californian With the American Forces in France.)
 My Dear -:
 You will note by the above that my address is changed. l am now a can didate. I am candidate for a com mission. It was very unexpected particularly on my part. As near as l can figure out, it was decided to or ganize training camp over here on the lines of those in the states and l give the fellows who enlisted early or who were in the original army i ,hance. An the regiments over here | were invited to send certain quota and was one of five from my regi- ment. We train three months, accord ing to program. under more or less | actual war conditions, and, if we pass at the end of that time, get shoulder straps. T. only got here yesterday I am a private entirely surrounded by military talent "A sort of an Island. There Is only one other private in the school. 2a E9-# = ~ " :,
 There are men here who were in the training camps In the states and quit to get over here quick, men who l:chased Rancho Villa in Mexico, men who, have been in the trenches and explored, No Mans. Land. and ser geants,l top sergeants and sergeant | majors who have been in the regular army for years. But there is no one over thirty-two. am closer to the front than I was before, by a good many miles-so close that 1t is begin ming to look blamed businesslike. I I was talking to one of the fellows who was in the trenches this morn ing. They don't go into details, but l say that it isn't so uncomfortable. | They are firm in the belief that when the Americans start they will keep going. In the quiet sector they were in, they say, the principal aim of both sides seemed to be to keep the peace. A French sentry told one of them: "If you see German, don't shoot; you'll only start trouble" ''HeI," said the American, that's what we're here for" The men live fairly comfortably | in the dugouts, he said. In one that he was in there were three or four roohs, an electric light plant and even plano.
 Best-cIothed Army.
 This camp is located at which think I was an old French armory. We are ! quartered in sturdy stone building l three stories high. No electric lights !; bum ventilation It is very cold. Snow 1 on the ground and in the morning ice, which doesn't always melt during the day. But it is invigorating. Which causes me to remark that the American | army must be the best clothed in the field. This was impressed upon me particularly when I packed up. In the l line of clothes here is what I was SUD- posed to put into, dinny bag, suit case and on my back. Two suits olive drab, one overall suit, including denim hat, two campaign hats, three pairs leggings, overcoat, eight suits of un- derwear, ten pairs of socks, three blankets, half shelter and poncho, three | pairs shoes, four woolen shirts, one | pdAA hhAL SAONOo, OAS pan ACoShCA | gloves, five towels, one sweater. This doesn't include ordnance incidentals and toilet articles. I turned in, before I left my company, pair of hip rub 1 Der boots and a suit of f1sherman's oilskins for rain and mud. Some of the fellows holler about the issue of colthes, but I never had as many in civil life.
 The same applies to the eats. AL though army fare lacks the delicacy and choice of a civilian feed, it is plenteous and substantial. The Amer ican soldier will fare better this win ter than the average French person, military or otherwise. There are no Hess" days in the American army. We actually eat meat on Mondays and Tuesdays and have all the bread we can go all the time, while the French are always confronted with meatless. potatoless, chOcOlateless, candyleSs days. The usual army breakfast con- Sists of bacon, potatoes, gravy, bread and coffee. The feature of the other meals frequently is stew-which is good when you're hungry-beans, etc., and there is usually a dessert. And take coal and wood, for instance. There always is fire in American bar racks and huts. At my last station they were laying in the winter supply for a base hospital. There was pile as big as a European mountain and the peasants used to come from neigh boring villages just to look at it. To the French, coal is issued, like bread, by card, and they tell me it takes trouble, time and pull to get a ton month for family. But the French man is the true philosopher. He nev- CT worries. He blows on his hands swings his arms, remarks we shall be cold this wi inter-" and diSmisSeS the