The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-27

i the first detachment Few weeks ago
indicates the success of the X s. A. c.
training. Many of these graduates are
now in France or are on the way, 9TH
ers have gone to eastern schools for
more intensive instruction and others
have been assigned to various
/ branches of the service for immediate
duties
A State Journal man visited the
| Manhattan second X. 5. A. c. train
| ing detachment recently. He found
here a wonderful organization for spe-
cialized military work. school for
soldiers that has received little or no
! attention ofrom Kansas owing to its
proximity to Camp Funston and the
larger activities of the draft men, The
K. S. A. C. school is Just sample of
the tremendous work the government
is doing. unaccompanied by the hip
| hip-hooray that stamps the feverisf
training in the arger army and navy
camps over the country.
And It is strictly an aIl-Kansas af-
! fair-a source of pride TO the hun
dreds of Kansas families represented.
The first week at camp was the
| period of inconsistencies for most of
the recruits The strange surround
ings, the discipline, the mandatory
hours and practices and the inocula-
| tions together with the cots and sleep
uncertainty and unrest. One young
fellow in the crowd was q locomotive
fireman on the Rock Island before he
entered the service. He knows every
train on the road thru Kansas and can
tell the type of a locomotive a mile
away by the exhaust. His sleeping
hour, instead of being managed by
the military is based on the arrival Of
train No. 3s in Manhattan His mates
say that he will lie awake on his cot
every night until resounding thru the
hills comes the hoarse whistle OF NO.
3s. Then peering at his wrist watch
with the illuminated dial he will grunt
a well, she's on time tonight" and
, turn over on his side for nights
sleep
The boys in Company were
| marching to chow the other day.
Now, only the men who have taken
their physical examinauons and who
! have been accepted for service have
|, been issued uniforms. It was in the
motor mechanics section. The line
had advanced faultlessly up the road
toward the college cafeteria when one
, of the men without uniform broke"
Hobbling along he was STOPPING down
-. in an attempt to put on shoe.
Heads up. hands down." yelled the
sergeant.
'I can't. I've lost my shoe" the
rookie complained.
1T isn't bed time yet, keep your
l shoes on" the sergeant stormed.
ST can't keep 'em on when the man
behind me kicks 'em off," was the re-
l cruit's excuse.
"what did you kick his shoe off
, for?" the non-com growled at the
guilty motor mechanic in the next
+ row.
well, how did I know he was
there" came back the answer. He
! wasn't carrying any tail light
/ You can't beat these boys from
: Kansas who live on repartee' and corn
y bread,
The boys have the trading habit.
, Uniforms, hats. shoes. cots-anythirg
$ that has an equal value is shifted in
2 ownership in the hopes that the ad-
vantage will drop to the instigator.
the sergeant's voice roared thru the
gymnasium where $50 men had re-
! tired on their bareback cots:
"a 71z hat has just been found.
: Who lost one?"
No one spoke for a minute and then
, from a far dark corner came a
: squeaky voice:
I'll trade you!"
The boys didn't seem to understand
army shoe Recommendations when
they were issued their footwear last
week One white faced youth was
asked by the supply officer the size of
his shoes
Seven. sir" he replied meekly.
Give him an eight" barked the Of
ficer to his supply man.
Excuse me. sir. but I said seven"
the recruit interrupted
Make 1t a nine," the officer or
dered-and nine 1t was.
1 Military discipline. after you re,
used to 1t. Is Just an easy and well
L regulated part OF army life. But the
Il rockies hear so much about II before
they enter the service that they rtval
first grade school days in their at
tempts to BE good"
While at rest the other day a youth
from western Kansas walked up to his
4 sergeant and inquired in a solicttous
i and apologize manner:
Can get a drink. sir?"
can you swallow" the top SER
seant snapped
yes. sir"
Can you waIk?"
Yes. sir"
AN right-eo get your drink"
He is wiser youth today.
The art OF saIuting and saIutinz the
l right man Is one of the bugaboos OF
the training camp recruits. For tn,
nrst Few days the boys would dodre
e down an alley rather than ATTEMPT 4
right hand-recognition of an officer
fearing they would ball it up" Nov
| many OF them will go out of thef,
4 way to meet an officer that they NIGH
look him in the eye and give him the
nigh sign of democracy. MANY OF
them have sore eyes from contact witt
their extended thumbs. and others. tr
haste and confusion. have slanted theil
campaign hats up against the crown ir
l rah-rah fashion Some. of the boy:
Judge an officer by his hat cord. 9th.
i ers ny MS bars and still others take z
/ squint at his leggings II they A.,
4 leather-the leggings-they bring ur
their arm and carry out their obIiga.
/ uons Once In a while a rookie vii
consider a well fitting uniform sufff.
Gent TO recognize Last Sunday tbs
1 camp photographer from Funstu
4 came rushing thru the college canpu,
1 with a delivery of pictures at so rIucf
/ Der He was wearing leather Iegginer
II He had z ss1,,