Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1918-02-20
A Soldier Letter.

from new address, I will try u
describe NY new location,
! Camp Lewis Is one Of the big
eantonments, for drafted men,
and contains the 9lst division,
which consists OF $4,000 west.
erners.
find that they are mostly
lum Der jacks, miners and ranch
men. The camp lies on a level
plain, about IA mile across and 3
miles long. Hills, ,hickIy covered
with evergreen, rise On ali sides
Of this plain.
The buildings are laid out in
the shape Of horseshoe, on the
outer edge Of this plain, with tic
open end of The shoe 10 the east.
The open space on the inside Is
used as a drill ground.
AS rule we are out there be.
fore sunrise. But on Gear Day
we don't waste any regrets on
losing our morning snooze. Its
worth getting UP early to see
oae Of our sunrises.
Mt. Rainier lies due east al the
lopen end Of the horseshoe. There
lis cloud hanging over the sun
nit that becomes pure gold as
the .irs, morning light strikes Il.
At the same time, the mi.ts
below take on a purple 1inge,
conp p!eting the peaks queeniy
attire. AS the sun gets out from
behind her, illuminating her
from the side. she becomes a nun
l. gray skirt and ven u match.
Finally, in the evening when
the light is falling on this side OF
The mountain. robe ard vel, are a
dazzling white.
Two months 2g0 the l4,h aud
iiNl rcgin en's Of infantry, rex.
alars, were ordorci 10 Camp
Lewis, 4 Na:;o"a? Army ca7ton.
men,. "Why are we going
'.heycE' was the question every.
ionc was asking and nobody coald
answer. Whatever the reason
for this move, We can now see
that Il las accomplished one big
thing, /. has gwen as ctaucs. Ia
gel acquainted with the drafted
men to understand and appreciate
them. We had expected 70 find
them su!cn. r,hcllious lot,
WITH very IG;ln discipline or
+.,huisasu. W. hveaa ~ ,ayn
better the .la,' We landed atcamp
LEXIS. Although it Was / GoliuaS'
the drill plain WAS dotted with
l',,lr groups Of men praciicing
marching, slgnalline, fencing
and the other intricate arts in
which a soldier must be skilled
These groups, We found, were
not awkward squads. hu,
eager enthusiastic men who were
taking this extra drill on their
own account, They wanted to
be- as good soldiers rs they were
able and TO hc It - soon as pos
sbic, This ls tie attitude nf
every National Army man have
met, even though he may not
have been 'icklcd spcccniees
when his number came out or
top.
Apparently ,hey have bccu a.
happily d.sap ,ointcd IN the men
Of the regular army. The!
have found that i; is not, ~
people supposed before the war,
a collection Of retired thugs,
supsraunuated tramps and mis-
cellansous shirks They learned
that mos: Of us have enlisted
within the past year, enlisted
because We knew there 10 a biz
fight on; and. like themselves,
we're in il 10 win. Not only have
we at Camp Lewis gain d greatly
in mutual respec; and confidence
but we are daily beneftting from
the intense rivalry tina: has arisen
Most'o the regulars have had
several months start Of their
natioual army friends in learning
the datses OF a soldier. The
drafted men are doing all they
can 20 make up for this. and We
are stretching oursclvas 10 hold
our lead. We know VIZ have Il
good organization, hu, we also
realize how much better ID must
be il we want ID Ia be aud remain