Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-09
Camp Grant, H., July Z

Editor The Argus: A year or 50
ago Rock Island was peOpled
by several thousand men between
the ages of q and 81, but by a
process of reduction a thousand or
more have been eliminated. These
men occupied practically all phds-
es of life, but by Uncle Sans pc
culiar method Of solution they
have been welded into a common
denOminatOr
For the sake OF illustration, the
writer will give his experience as
a member of one Of these frac-
tons. On arrival at camp We
were parCeled out in groups Of one
hundred each, and after a march
of several miles carrying our hana
luggage we came to a large barn
like structure, which we were 10
call our home. When inside, We
were checked off to see that none
were lost: then after depOsiting
our luggage We were escorted to
the supply house, where we were
issued mess kits. This was a wei
come surprise.
After dinner, we were given ticks
and led to a straw pile and told 10
make a mattress to place on our
iron cots that had been issued.
Bedding was also given. We were
now properly installed and await
ed the next call You see there is
always a spirit of uncertainty pre-
Vailing in the army. We are still
rockies, because of the fact that
so far no issue of uniforms has
been made. and whenever we ap-
peared on the camp street We were
greeted as such. and the cry of
Where you FROM" and You'll
like il" could be heard ringing on
all sides. After hearing these
calls so frequently, one cannot help
but like the new surroundings. 1t
becomes d part OF you.
The second day we were given
physical examination, thus reduc-
ing the fra action TO a smaller part
II only follows natures law of the
survival of the fittest Only the
physically fit may remain. We
were vaCCinated and inOculatei
and our first pains we're brought
10 ight,-merely beginning.
Few DAYS of marching. drilling
and fatigue duty are interspersed
to relieve the monotony, then we
are given a psychological examin-
alton, testing our ability to think
quickly, after which we were prop
erly CatalOgued and given classifi-
cation according TO experience,
ability and merit You see Uncle
Sam has so systematized his pro
cess Of reduction that no loop
holes Of escape are permissible.
A second and third inoculatior,
are given to make sure that the
body is physically fit, and that no
contagious disease turks within.
BY this time all the reports have
come back, and uniforms have
been issued, thus creating a uni
fled appearance throughout. Trans
fers to regular assignments are in
order. and the men are beginning
to realize that they are in the
army now.
On July Fourth, the Eignty-sixth
division paraded through Rock
ford, and the denOminatOr was
very evident These men mad been
carefully schooled and drilled and
presented a very improved ap-
p6arance. They made wonder
full unit The denomination is a
fuIl-fledged membership in the
army of the United States, and the
only difference lies in the size Of
the numerator BY diligence, dis
cipline and loyalty this Will soon
be enlarged TO a proportion neces-
sary to swing the balance scales
in og1r favor
The solution Of fractions to
many has been a hardship since
time immemorial. and il Is the
same in the army Men nay be
seen scratching their heads over
problems here, as they did il the
days OF real sport" but 10 think
ing men. who realize that their
chances are a hundred fold better
when they get over there By be-
coming good soldiers, are settling
down 10 serious consideration OF
the various problems as they pre-
sent themselves.
{. L. ANDERSON.
Company 36, 16l y. B.