Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-19
SMEDLEY WRITES INTERESTING STORY
OF VISIT OF SECRETARY LANSING TO
CAMP HANCOCK AND PRACTICE FIGHT

, opened fire on the retreating en-
envy. Smoke bombs gave a realts-
tic effect to the battlefield, and real
ammunition completed the picture.
1t was highly impressive. | did
not like to think Of the grim real
itv it represented. 1t sounded rath-
er odd to hear lady standing near
exclaim, "Oh, how pretty it is
was glad she did not say 1t was
cute"
Following this blocdthtrsty scene.
which was not nearly SO lame as
my telling makes it sound, we were
relieved by an exhibition OF a dig
ferent kind. Seven military bands
we're massed down in the reservoir
and stirring music was rendered
by them. There are 80 men to a
band, and yOu can imagine that
with more than two hundred in
struments We had a genuine must
cal disturbance. Twenty-eignL
claTiOnets can tear a large hole III
the atmosphere, while a similar
number of slide trombones are al
most enough to blow you en your
feet if you get too close.
We have a large number Of
trained song leaders" here in the
camp. who have been specially
trained by our Y. NJ. c. A. song di-
rector, Mr.. Tebbs, who was for
merly director of music in the
schools at Dayton, Ohio. He has
been training these selected men
for weeks, teaching them the pop
ular marching and patriotic songs,
so that they can lead company anC
squad singing on the march or in
camp in France. About five huh
dred of these men were massed IN
the reservoir that afternoon 10
sing their songs. Accompanied by
the great band of 200 pieces, and
directed by Mr.. Tebbs, these men
gave a fine exhibition of PennsyI-
vania pep" and even the COM
handing general admitted that the
music was good. Mr.. Lansing was
generous with his compliments.
But last Saturday morning we
put the climax on our attentions
to the secretary, when we put on
a divisional review for his edifica-
ton. 1t was much like the great
parade on Washington's birthday,
q tACCpL LldL II " dS ali III lllS cain ~
instead of going on the city
streets.
My Y. NJ. c. A. building is right
at the center OF the parade ground,
SO the whole show was steered past
US. General Muir and Secretary
Lansing, with their attendants,
stood only a hundred yards from
our building to review the parade.
! The whole division, with its ap-
prOximateIy 10000 men, besides
horses, mules and motor trucks,
| passed in review 1t took just
about three hours, and was an mn
| pressive sight. And I fancy that
| the secretary was well tired out
when it was all over, for standing
at attention for three hours, re-
turning salutes and observing all
the requirements of the occasion
! is not an easy task for one unac-
custOmed to such a strain.
In the review the general order
Is for the regimental band to come
first, playing a lively march. Hay
ing passed the reviewing stand, the
band turns aside and takes its
place TO furnish music while the
regiment passes. Thus, the band
may have to play continuously foI
10 or 20 minutes, but it gets to
rest whenever the national color
| passes, for at that moment, the
music stops and the bugles play
the salute to the colors. One band
last week stood out on the fell
and played The Old Gray Mare"
for the whole regiment to march
by. One could almost whistle the
tune after they were through, even
If he had never heard it before.
II is rather a striking thing to
civilian to see the whole line of
soldier spectators at a parade
standing at salute as the flag goes
by, They do not salute the regi-
mental colOrs, but whenever the
national flag appears, every man