The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-13
Major Ralph N. Hayden Of Camp Fun
ston Tells How Fine OFFICERS
and Men Of Drafted
Army Are.
CONSIDERATION SHOWN
Men Of the Old School No Longer
Look .Askance at These Newly
Made Soldiers, But
Praise Work.

In family letter which is to go
the rounds to his brothers and sisters
Major Ralph N. Hayden, of Camp
Funston. Kansas, writes as follows
OF the drafted men, the officers OF the
preserve corps and the national army.
coming from man who went
through West Point and has spent
twenty years as a regular army man,
this letter will have good deal OF
interest to readers of The Gate City
who have sent their boys out to be
part Of this great army. Major Hay.
den says:
Seriously speaking, folks, you may
take the word Of an old soldier that
your national army is one of the most
wonderful things in this world. l
am not pessimist by nature, but
even if l had been at the beginning
of this thing. would be a converted
optimist now. The material which
this nation sent to its national army,
both OF officers and men is the finest
that any nation could produce. Let
us absorb the technique which is be-
ing taught US by the French and Eng
fish. who learned it in the CHASTITY
and bitter school of experience, and
we will show you the finest bunch OF
fighting men that the world has ever
seen. We have lots to learn, but We
seem to be an adaptable lot of peo-
pie. and we are absorbing this stuff
easily and rapidly. Don't ever listen
to any one who ever says anything
about drafted men'-they are lust
as willing and hard working and keen
as any men could be-
The officers reserve training
camps did a remarkable work, and
you never saw finer bunch of young
Americans in your life l am proud
OF them, and devoted to them. They
have worked harder In this camp
than l have ever seen any human be-
ings work. and naturally have gone
up against a lot Of discouraging
things-but they are still on the Job
every minute.
After being a rapid cayalryman
Tor good many years, it was funny
to find myself one of the despised
'doughboys but the work with raw
material has been SO interesting that
! don't think about my status or
branch OF the service nor rank very
much, In fact, it's the least of my
worries. In these days, the way
have figured it ever since war was
declared. ones personal desires are
have lectured and talked efficiency
so much that l believe l have in
oculated myself. AT least / know |
have never worked so hard before,
nor been SO much a really truly SOL
der. 1t has all come right down to
brass tacks, to this effect, is this man
a highly efficient battalion command
er! Ii so, We ought to prmote him.
In order that his ability NAV be eff
fectiye over wider field. If not,
the only proper thing to do with this
man is to reduce him, sooner the bet
ter, for we cannot risk the lives of
soldiers by allowing inefficient o.
even mediocre men to command them.
And there is the whole proposition in
a nut shell. And if this man is not
able, then the mere fact that he has
gotten by as an acceptable officer for
a certain number of years-in peace
no bearing on the matter.
So you see that as l have been, as I
said, a professional soldier for a lot
Of years, for me there is no other
way than to make good-not Just $3.50
but really good"