The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-10
VESTAL MARVELS
Al DAPTABILITY
OF NEW SOLDIERS
By CONGRESSMAN ALBERT H.
CEsTAL of Indiana

S8IAA u AAoAAAAA~
The visit 1 had with Company 4,
Thirty-seventh Engineers, in COM
pany with Congressman Purnell, Ninth
Indiana district. was delightful ana
interesting.
To associate with the boys that are
soon TO cross the ocean and give bat
tie to the enemies OF our republic. ana
to note the fine spirit OF thesA boys,
was q wonderfully interesting ex-
perience.
Not a single murmur Of complaint,
but each anxious to do his share In
vindicatinE American rights and keep
ing the nation safe for republican in
situations
We left Fort Afyer promptly At noon
under the command of captain Day
and 1 want to add that no better Of
ficer ever wore shoulder straps-the
company in full equipment. and
marched past the administration
building on schedule time.
We were fitted out with uniforms,
packs and guns and took our places
in the ranks with the other soldiers.
l am free TO confess that the pace
set by Captain Day, of about four
miles an hour. was q little laborious
to US, but we wanted the actual ,ex-
perIence, and the captain certainly
saw to It that we got what we were
looking for.
We marched down and across the
bridge at Georgetown, turning to the
left, following the canal road to the
first bridge across the Potomac.
Begin To Get Tired.
Crossing this bridge we struck out
on an angle to the right over the
hills of Virginia 1t was a lne day
to hike. Every one ip fine spirits.
we did not notice the tired feeling
until we had marched a mile or so UP
the hills. We then began to realize
the pace we had been going, but
were determined to finish the hike.
We arrived at our camping site about
o'clock. Two large trucks loaded
with camp cooking utensils. grub.
and the canteen, in charge OF Lieu
tenant Jackson, passed US on the
road.
Tents were soon pitched and at
$50 supper was served us In the field
mess kits. Retreat was then sounded
and the boys began crowding around
different camphres that had been
built. II was then that visited with
the boys, and believe me. was
proud to be with these men, men
from the North and South, East and
West, a number from my own State,
Indiana-and all with but one
thought and one purpose, that OF up
holding the honor of the United
States and the glory of the Stars and
Stripes.
In talking with these men, soon
learned that 1t only takes a few
weeks to change a New Yorker into
a Hoosier. or a Hoosier into a Texan.
| was also forcibly reminded OF what
We learned so conclusively in the Span
ish-AmeriCan war, that there Is no
geography in American manhood, and
no sections in American patriotism.
for some OF these men come from
homes in fair Now England. some
from cottages in North Carolina and
Tennessee. where may be seen hang
ing above the mantel place. bound
together in love and honor, two
crossed swords, carried to battle re-
spectiVely, by one who wore the
Blue and one who wore the Gray.
Taps were soon sounded and every
one was perfectly willing to crawl
into his pup tent to rest and sleep;
| in fact. 7 think the majority OF the
boys had hit the hay before taps
we're sounded. Our camp was located
on the SmoOt farm. where more than
fifty years ago, General Sherman had
camped with thousands OF his troops
and while lying in my tent I could
not but think how different the sit
uatiOn.
Drill Like Regulars.
The nation then divided against II.
self. brother against brother, father
against son: then a nation NJ less
than $4,000. 900 OF people divided by
the famous Mason and Dixon line.
, Today that line entirely obIiterated
a united country with more than 100.
900 900 Of people. and with but one
song on their lips, our United States.
Reveille sounded at $50 and break.
fast was served at 6:45, consisting OF
hot biscuits, scrambled eggs, potatoes
and coffee. Breakfast over, the order
was given to knock down tents and
make ready to move. and just as the
sun. in all his grandeur, peeped above
the horizon. Company y started on Its
return hike.
An interesting thing TO me was the
Information given me blythe captain
that he had had these men only about
seven weeks, but so well had they
been trained that one would have
vaEered they were regulars. The of.
6cers In charge OF this body OF men
! captain Day. Lieut.. Piper. Lieutenant
/ SomervilIe, and Lieutenant Jackson
are to be congratulated. For thu
training they have had, no finer GrouI
Of soldiers can he found anywhere
| Ane discipline. and what is better sim
| the highest regard for their officers
| and ! predict that when these boys 81
| - Irrapca thew will da THAR full duf =