The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-20
WITH The GENERAL
The Busy Days Routine With
Funston Commander.
A Correspondent Puts in a Full
Day.
FROM BREAKFAST TILL TAPS
Completeness of Inspection of
CantOnment.
ThOrOness of Drill and Practice
for Soldiers.
BY r. E. LEWIS.

lamp unStOn, ran, NOV. %
had accepted the gracious invitation
of General Wood to take breakfast
with him at his humble quarters on
the hill overlooking Camp Funston. 1
arrived shortly before 7 o'clock and
after ascending several flights of
stairs, I, breathlessly. made myself
known to one OF his aides, who was
awaiting my CALL While engaged in
cleaning my shoes of the mud that
had tended to make my appearance
unkept, 1 was tempted to view the
panaroma of the camp that is I'M
folded to one at this splendid coin
of vantage. From the porch can be
seen the entire huge camp, which
is laid out in square formation, little
more than a mile in width and one
and one half miles long, from east to
west.
himself while he examined the morn
ing mail and conferred with his chief
of staff and camp executive OFFICER
While the general engaged himself
. with his mornings routine. my atten-
ton was attracted by large map or
the theaters of war which was hang
ing on the wall. By means of varie-
gated pins and threads, which show
the present operations of the allied
armies and other points of military
interest. IHt general Is dDIt " AOiiON
concisely the moves of the various
armies and keep up with the march of
events.
A Tour of Inspection.
1t was shortly after eight o'clock
that the general suggested that l ac-
company him on his usual tour OF in
spection. An orderly brought up the
horses and we were on our war. From
my mount l could see thousands of
khaki garbed men, moving in various
directions. l was told that the mass
of human beings that 1 was observ-
ing, consisted of more than $4,000
young men. starting out for their
morning drill and maneuvers. 1t
formed a spectacle that was treat to
the eye and elaborate in every detail
The synchroniZed reports of huge
field pieces. light artillery and ma
chine guns. vomiting their thunderous
defiance to the Hun and his hordes
of savages. Even the rifles on the
range, miles away, spoke in proper
cadence, and could be heard distinctly.
AS we proceeded It was noticeable that
the general allowed nothing to escape
his attention. He questioned the lead
ers of the various organizations about
the condition of the men and adher-
ence to the schedules laid down by the
commanders.
The Doughboy's Story.
ton with a private in the rear ranks,
as to his general welfare and treat
ment. The general seemed to be deep
ly absorbed in the doughhoys story
and big smile came over his counten-
apce when the embryo said that the
comfort and treatment accorded the
boys was o. X.
, The general also questioned several
non-Coms as to the conduct of affairs.
Any little details observed. that needed
correction. were totted down by his
aide. to be submitted to the chief of
staff Immediately upon their return.
On the first leg of our tour. the aide
had little use for the pencil he had in
readiness.
General Wood sai id that the most in
fallible system of learning the actual
conditions that exist among the SOL
diers was to get out among them as
much as possible. Not that he doubts
reports of his commanding officers, but
by constant personal inspections dur
ing his twenty years general Off
Ger in the army he has found this to
be the only method to keep in touch
with actual conditions.
A Complete Trench System.
Our next stop was at Carpenter Hill,
where one of the most complete sys-
tens of trenches among the various
cantonments has been laid out.
Battalions of infantry are there CIV