The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-06
BY II. W. ROSS.

Ny Dear ----:
You will note by the above that
NV address is changed. | am now a
candidate am a candidate for
commission. II was very unexpected
particularly on my part. As near
as I can figure out, II was decided 10
organize training camp over here
on the lines OF those in the States
and give the fellows who enlisted,
early or who were in the original
army chance. All the regiments
over here We're invited to send a Ger
tain quota and l was one Of five from
my regiment. We train three months,
according to program, under more
or less actual war conditions, and, II
we pass at the end of that time, get
shoulder straps. / only got here
yesterday. l am a private entirely
surrounded by military talent. 4 sort
Of an island. There Is only one other
private in the school.
There are mon here who we're in
the training camps in the States and
QUIT to get over here quick, men who
chased Panchc villa in Mexico, men
who have been in the trenches and
explored No Mans Land, and ser
eeants. top sergeants and sergeant
majors who have been IN the regular
army for years But there is no one
over thirty-two. / am closer 10 the
front than I was before, by a good
many mres~-so close that ii ia be
ginning to look blamed business-like
was talking to one of the fellows
who was In the trenches this morn
ing They don't 20 into details but
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 10 he to keep the
peace. French sentry told one OF
them: IF you see a German, don't
shoot; you'u only start trouble"
He'll" said tho American, that's
what we're hero for" The men live
fairly comfortably in the dugouts. he
said. In one that he was in there
were three or four rooms. an electric
light plant and even piano
This camp is located at what l think
WAS an old French armory. We are
uuartered in n sturd- stone building
shree stories high, No electric lights:
bum ventilation 1t is very cold
Snow on the ground and in the morn
ing ice, which doesn't always melt
during the day. But II is invigorat-
ing. Which causes mo to remark
beet clothed in the field This was
impressed upon me particularly when
7 packed up. In the line OF clothes
here is what I was supposed TO nut
into a dinny bag, suitcase and on
my back. Two suits olive drah one
overall suit. including denim hat two
campaign hats, three pairs leGcinCs.
overcoat, eight suits Of underwear.
ten pairs of socks, thSce blank Gets. half
shelter and poncho. t<Fee pairs shoes.
four wooden shirts one pair knit
gloves, one pair leather gloves. FIVE
towels. one sweater This doesn't
toilet articles, turned in before
LEFT my company, a pair Of hip rub
Der boots and a suit of hsherman's
oiiskins for rain and mud. Some of
tho fellows holler about the issue of
clothes but l 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. II is
plenteous and substantial The Amer
lean soldier will fare better this
winter than the average French per-
son, military or otherwise, There
are no 'less' days in tde American
army. We actually eat meat an Mon
days and Tuesdays and have all the
bread we can go all the time. while
with meatless, potatoiess. chocolate
less, candyless days, The usual ar
my breakfast consists of bacon, po-