The Tupelo journal., 1918-06-21
LETTER from BRITAIN ROGERS

MY Lear MOCuCl
enjoyed all your letters this week,
also the ones from Pound. The ply
steal work has not been so hard the
past week, but we have had lots OF
book and class work. I guess you all
wonder what kind Of training they
give us, or rather what we do, so |
am going to send a copy of the sched-
ule for tomorrow.
Reville at $50. Breakfast at 6:15.
Everyone has to shave between re-
vile and breakfast. Just after break
fast we police the Company street
and do the h~ousemaids work in the
tents. From 700 to 7:15 inspection
of quarter. School of the Battalion
7:15 to 500. That is drill of the
whole Battalion. Drill 500 to $3.50.
Signaling 9:15 to 1000. This signal
ing is done with flags and different
movement Of the arms make the diff
ferent letters of the alphabet. Con-
ference and Onig. Map reading 1000
to II 100. School of Company IL 100 to
1900. Conference and Onig / 100 to
200. on bayonet training. School
of Company 200 to 800. School of
Battalion $3.50 to 400. From four
to five we battle and clean our rifles
for inspection at retreat. Supper at
600. Just after supper we have
study hour. until $50. Have to be
in bed at 1000. Then you can rest
so easy knowing that you have moth
ing to do until tomorrow. The
schedule for the week is on this or
der, except some afternoons we hike
until four with 80 pounds on our
backs. AT first / thought it would be
impossible to carry that load all day
but now it isn't so hard. You grad
ually get used to it. You either get
used to it or it kills you. Usually
about one-third fall by the way side
on these long hikes.
FAINT and myself went up town for
supper again last night and then went
to the show. John Hunter was with
us. John transferred to the machine
gun corps yesterday. The physical
work is not so strenuous there and /
think he made a good move because |
don't believe he could do the physical
work here as it is getting harder all
the time.
Airships are flying all over the
camp nov from Lake Charles. l new
er did think that ! would get to the
point where I would not run out to
see one hut we drill now with them
flying all oyer u head and don't look
up, so IRave gotten SO they don't ex-
cite me much. | know you are glad
to have Auntie Minta Haines and
James with you out home. | would
ike to be there to ride Jimmy around
like / used to, but guess he is large
enough. to ride by himself now. /
wonder if it is warm in Tupelo about
the middle of the day. The weather
is SO pleasant in dear old Louisiana,
lust about 500 in the shade, and no
trees in sight. We have to stand at
attention about one hour a day, with
sweat running in your eyes, but you
can't even blink them. You certain
ly have to have plenty of Spartan
blood in your veins to stand this, l
wouldn't mind it so bad if you could
fun about it a little, but when you are
standing at attention with flies light
ing on your nose and monkeys jump
ing around on your eye brows, the
officer usually comes by and OF course
o have to have an expression on
your face of contentment, and happi-
ness, just like you would if you were
at a big dance.
/ forgot to tell you that we sing Is
minutes every moring. Your son is
very rapidly becoming a Caruso.
They teach us to sing so we won't get
so tired on the hikes, yet you can't
open your mouth in ranks. / am
like Osborne Harper about singing,
all my notes are in the bank.
Well after all / am getting hard as
a rock and wouldn't quit for anything
in the world. like it and don't mind
it the least bit, in fact Tlike to show
the officer that / can do just as much
work as they can and carry just as
big a load. Lots of love to all.
Brit.
w .S-
TUPELO NAVY RECRUITING