The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-02-16

Nny PitHNil SAutbuh uiu ITO III
seem to be the center of a district de-
voted entirely to the dissemination Of
knowledge to Americans. In the near
by town there are more captains, ma
jors, lieutenant colonelS and colonies
than / have yer seer before. They,
too, are going to school-learning war
as Ii is now fought Every officer. ap-
p~arently, no matter what his rank, has
got to learn before he starts here and
has got to 60 to school. They have
French instructors. a does this school
men fresh from the trenches, with
all the latest wrinkles. I don't know
whether they grab bayonets and make
a bowling dive over the theoretical
top, but l am informed that Is what
we are going to do. Right 10Y the
school Is devoting a lot of time to dig
ging the aforesaid trenches. The
trench plan of a famous battle Is being
reproduced, / am told.
I was a little skeptical about com
ing up her with my modest store OF
military knowledge, but my captain
ooAu hC tAtOu6ht u WOuiu huuh 6OOdp
and here I am. The United States
needs all the talent 1t can get, he
said, and declared that the roof was
going to be the limit on the POSSIBLE
tiles of advancement for men with the
right stun. l never was very ambi-
dous, personally, and hadn't thought
much about a commission personally.
Anyhow, as an humble private such a
possibility seemed as remote as Berlin.
And yet here / am with a fighting
chance for one. 1t sure Is REPUTATION
for the intimation of hopelessness fire.
quently expressed that a man In the
ranks hasn't a chance.
Had to adjourn here to stand in
spection of field equipment and at
tend a brief lecture by the major In
charge OF the school. It is dark now.
The major announced that discipline
would be as strict here as possible,
that there would be required two hours
III study each evening, that commits
sions were going to be granted over
here only to the graduates of such
schools as these except to men who
displayed conspicuous bravery In bat
tie. Also, he said, this was the pick of
the army and undoubtedly the finest
bunch of men In France. whereupon
I was duly gratifed.
Complete Printing Plant.
I met Andy Berg. who used to work
with me In San Francisco, a couple
of days ago. He left the Coast be-
fore / did, visited his home and en-
listed In Massachusetts. He is with
what is called a typographical engi-
neering company, which is going to set
up a printing plant. from linotype ma
chimes to presses. for the printing OF
maps, orders, etc. Some STUNT
I was kind Of sorry to leave the old
bunch. The last n OF the bunch I
saw before leaving was Frank Calvin,
son of the president Of the Union Pa
cific. He is rated as a WAGNER and is
acting as chauffeur for a Major VIII
liams, who used to be a construction
engineer on his pas railroad. His cor
poral used to be a section boss on the
same line.
The distinction, by the way, of being
the first drafted regiment across goes
to a group of gentlemen Of dark COM
plexion from south Of the Mason and
Dixon line. They are logged out In
the old army blues, with capes Of pur-
pie lining. They are all dolled up like
bull fighters and full Of admiration for
the country that clothed them SO
gorgeously. Two of them entertained
a whole company in ragtime and clog
dancing ut a Y. NJ. q. A. hut equipped
with a piano the ether night. A favor
lite question yer here between soldiers
is, "How many were on the boat you
crossed onT" Sometimes the answer is
not exaggerated. A negro I asked beat
ZEN all, though.
Nobody knows" he said. "Why
that's jes what the war department Is
trying to find outflow many niggers
was on dat Ship"
This Is about the longest letter I've
written since the war started. I owed
you two and now we're even. Which
is by way OF saying that / have re-
ceived your last two letters. Glad to
know Pat is In New York. Give him
my regards and tell him I'm bringing
my own poker deck to New York when
the war Is 1nis. I'll close now to save
the censor a crouch. Wouldn't blame
him, at that. Have been feeling my
way for the last page. Only one lamp.
More promised. So long,