Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-02-26
AMERICAS NEW ARMIES.

documents in the Congressional
Record.
AMERICAS NEW ARMIES.
How the Morale Of the Raw Recruits
is Improved in Camp.
Writing OF the various racial ele-
ments which make up our new Nation
al Army. now in training at IL cam
tonments throughout the United
States. Major Granville FOrtescue, L.
S. A., in q communication TO the Ma
tional Geographic society, points out
that the selected men are. as rule.
far above the average in intelligence
and experience and education OF the
class that formerly drifted into the
regular army, and he advances the
opinion that, without any disparagc-
ment OF the older branch OF the army,
the present recruit, brought into SER
vice under the sclcctive law, will inn
prove the tone OF the whole service.
\ portion OF Major Fortescue's COM
munication is issued by the society as
the following war geography bulletin:
Pure American Blood at Petersburg.
Perhaps Camp Lee. and certainly
the l59th Brigade, can claim in its en-
listed personnel the purrst American
blood OF any camp throughout the
country. Most of these Nirginians
trace their lineage back TO the days
of the colonies, and the only notice
able strain that in few instances
colors the Anglo Saxon is trace OF
the Indian.
should an Englishman read over
the localization order for this brigade
he might imagine it call from his
home soldiers. Men from MiddlesseX.
Surry, and Kent are in one company:
in another Westmorcland, Northum-
berland, and northampton have fur
nished quotas, and scattered through
| out the other battalions are soldiers
| from the counties of Lancaster, York,
Warwick, Bedford, Richmond, Sussex,
Southampton, and Isle of Wight.
Company ll-calls sound like lesson
| in English Observation-Disclosures
Brunswick, Cumberland. Bath, and
Halifax-or in literature. for one COM
pany has a squad composed Of Ad-
olson, Arnold, Johnson and Meredith.
"One given to philosophizing would
have had much to reflect upon could
he have seen these descendants OF the
first Royal Virginia colonists gather
ed in q hollow square around the di-
vision headquarters flag on the an
niversary OF the composition OF the
National Anthem and heard them sing
the star Spangled Banner" That
ceremony marked a cycle Of civiliza-
ftfJn.
But this camp is a true cross-sec-
tion of our country, and it would not
he fair to allow partiality for our ma
tive stock to blind us to the qualities
Of the Pennsylvanians and West Nir-
ginia miners who are selected for the
other parts of the division.
| "These are the sediments of the
melting pot. The description Is not
meant as u reflection on the quality
of the men, but rather for the apti-
tude OF the classification. Among
them are found Poles. Lithuanians.
Greeks, Syrians, Italians. and even
Austrians, who have no place here; all
the conglomcratc mass OF humanity
that during the last decade has made
its way to American shores. Instead
Of the old English names OF Cox and
Boggs and Padgett that predominant
in the Virginia brigades, the first
sergeant struggles with n list OF
polysyllabic letter combinations usu-
ally ending in witch" or Ski. The
report goes that one first sergeant OF
the Pennsylvania company snecZed
during the calling of the roll and SIX
men answered Here" This may be
soldiers hyperbole. but the fact re-
mains that in many instances the aid
Of an interpreter is necessary in Or
der to get through the routine of daily
work and drill.
But 1t is just these handicaps that
bring out the spirit and ingenuity Of
the officers training the troops. Eng
| lish or, as some prefer to call our
idion, good American Is the only
Language permitted, and with con-
slant molding, with that atmosphere
of loyalty which always surrounds q
military camp, this heterogeneous ele-
ment is gradually being absorbed into
the sinew of the new army.
American history, patriotism, hon
or for the flag are all part Of the daily
instruction OF the recruit. Some OF
the officers have ordered the playing
of the "Star Spangled Banner" on the
company gramophones to be daily
ceremony: and during this ceremony
the men stand with head uncovered
at attention.
Developing That Subtle Somethins-
Morale.
| "All this Is by way Of developing
that psychological asset, Morale. 1t
will be news to the layman to hear
that there Is now n corps Of psyche
logists in the army who are to make
q study of the mental and spiritual
side of the organization. Before the
results of their Investigations are
available our National Army must be
ready to do its share in France. so
even when he takes up the physical
training Of his new recruit the officer
begins the training Of his soul.
! This training Is forwarded by
subtle steps, so that the recruits aver
age of morale Is advanced without his
actually being aware of what takes
place. Before he has been with his
company two days he boasts that he
belongs to Company "a" with that
tinge of pride which speaks the ger