The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-01-17
in Minnesota. 1

lately be turned into working cogs,
and set in motion, relieving and add
ing to the forces engaged in similar
action. There has also been an i'm
preston among the Allied Nations
that the Infantry from this country
should Immediately take their places
on the firing lines. This delusion was
put in circulation by certain uniform
ed European newspapers, raising false
hopes in the minds of Allied armies in
the trenches and that the burden
would be Immediately taken from
their shoulders. 1t is clear to every
deep thinking man that such action
would mean a wholesale slaughtering
of men and that such half-cocket
action would bring, smile to the
boches' faces. Our hospital, engineer
ing and aviation units have about
reached the pinnacle,if we are not mis-
informed, and can take up their work
in at least quiet sectors, but the in
fantry must yet learn a maze of me-
thods in the conduction of trench well
fare.
Talking to an officer the other day,
we gained by his remarks, that man
would not be sent across if he were
found wanting in what constitutes a
soldier, mentally and physically, when
the time came to consider embarka-
alton; that he could assure himself
also that he would be thoroughly
hardboiled and handy before he was
sent as fighting unit in a trench.
This also applied to the officers, he
said, for they too, have much to ac-
quaint themselves with. They say
that three months training in Europe
means more to the man than all they
will receive here. Perhaps it is be-
cause they are brought to the very
scene of action ;they see the condition
they are confronted with and they
realize at last they are in the army
for a purpose; they understand that
every minute Of their time must b,
utilized and all their tact used. In
giving bayonet lessons here we are
told to inform the men to get that
expression of "kill" on their faces
when they thrust the weapon. Some
of them do it, other attempt to and
grin; too many are under the impress
sion that they will never see action
in Europe. We would very much like
to see their expressions when taking
similar lessons there. They have
oceans of pep now, but we know when
they get there, they will make their
thrusts with vengeance and their ex-
pressions will simultaneously change
to a snarl. The Allied governments
understand that it takes time to de-
velope a good soldier, and we know it,
but we are gaining in impetus every
day and when the mighty machine
moves, Europe will know.
If you were leisurely walking on a
road to Camp Pike and should stroll
into one of the camp streets NOWADAYS
and were a nervous person, you wouI,
have our sympathy. Nervous or not
if you were confronted by a firing
squad, queer feeling would pass over
you. That would be the case, how
ever, if a person walked in here not
knowing the conditions. Many OF the
organizations are well along with in
struction in the handling of the SER
vice rifle, and on the cross streets
bordering the drill grounds it is now
a common sight to see companies and
platoons standing at "aim," covering
the road. To the military OBJ
server every weapon seems to have |
direct "bead," with due allowance for
trajectory and windage on his third
vest button. At the command "ire"
every piece clicks sharply with an ag-
gregate noise something like the
in the Herald office every
Wednesday night, and the nervous
non-military observer considers that
ne has had miraculous escape. The
men are being trained to handle the
rifle before they go on the range.
There are bound to be all sorts of
and amusing incidents in
making thousands of men into sold
ers. You start all over and learn
new life. Rules and regulations are
aid down, but it takes time to un-
ierstand them and experience to teach
hem. When guard challenges al
nan to stop, the challenged man bet
er stop and the rule reads: "You shall
hallenge a man three times and if he
Ices not stop, shootw A hurried
glance at this order and others as WE'LL
$ not sufficient for any guard, and
here is one Captain at Camp Pike
hat will insist hereafter that his
guards. thoroughly understand their
'rders. The other night he spent part
i the time in Little Rock. Returning
,ast company street toward the
hank Of the night~he was halted by
sentry. He stopped, identified him
elf and passed on. A. few steps fur
her and the sentry again yelled:l