The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-20

els OF the American army resemble
this one, who is 35 years old, and for
whom, they insist, every man in the
regiment would willing die. In battle
he marches at the head Of his troops.
throwing grenades at the enemy, and
fearing neither death nor wounds. At
the rear he Is the brother OF every
soldier, big brother increasingly oc.
cupied in combining amusement and
good nature with drill work. He UNI
derstands his soldiers, and knows that
he must spare them not only worry.
but also boredom. have seen him
assemble them in field and say:
Hello, boys, who has something to
ask"
One asks for light weight under
clothes.
'All right. you shall have them"
Another complains of not having
had preserves with his supper.
"All right; have made note OF
it. You have the right to preserves,
just like the rest"
A third had no news of his wife.
fourth-shall / dare repeat it,
a fourth says simply!
Il have lice"
The Colonel does not smile. For
that matter, nobody smiles. This sol
der has lice. Lice are very annoying.
1t will be reported to the Major. And
there you are.
Nothing more? Everybody happy?
Tomorrow morning. artillery practice.
After lunch, celebration"
The celebration took place. The
Colonel laid aside his uniform and put
on the jumper and overalls of peas
ant. He did comic dance before his
men, and sang songs which made them
shout with laughter. All the inhabi-
tants of the village assembled, as you
can we'll imagine, and looked on. suf-
located, at this Colonel and his anus
ing exercises.
What a people!" said they, what
droll people! But, after all, maybe
the man has common sense"
There, you see, | was long way
from the trucks and their continual
rush. After all, is it necessary for
battalion which is busy every minute,
passing without delay from play to
drill, for a battalion so constantly SUI
pervised and kept always fresh and
fit, whose meals and property and
distractions are under such control,
for which is sought-if / dare write
the word-happiness at any price, is
it necessary to have SO many motor
trucks and side cars go rolling over
the road?
You must not believe, however, that
these wagons are solely destined to
maintain contentment among the 500
men whom I have had the opportun-
ity Of observing during this fortnight.
They work, these soldiers. AS soon
as they come back from target prac-
tice they pursue their studies and
their drills. They shoot, they march,
they learn bayonet combat, and there
is scarcely day that the town erie,
beating on his drum, does not warn
the populace that artillery practice
will take place from 2 till upon such
and such spot, and in such and such
a direction as he may point out. But
in the evening the same wagons that
have been transporting ammunition or
boxes of corned beef draw up with
piano and deliver load Of New York
actresses enlisted by the Y. M. c. A.
They sing and they laugh, and there
are at the same time negro dancers.
A Tribute to Our Discipline.
Is it to be gathered that discipline
is held in small esteem In this young
and vital army which is borrowing all
our methods without thinking OF copy
ing our customs? To believe that
would be a great mistake. Let sol
der take chance on returning late
to camp; or let him be even little
bit intoxicated. ESQ that he walks
crooked as they drolly describe it,,
let him commit even the smallest in
fraction of the regulations, and he is
punished severely. In addition, there
is mounted patrol that is very &C
tive and we'll posted Three days in
succession l say five mounted men 60
by my house on their way to the
railroad station to meet
furlough men who had overstayed
their leave. The fourth day they came
leading them back, very shamefaced,
between the horses, on their way to
the guardhouse. The very next morn
ing the three guilty ones were tried
and sentenced. l think they are at
the front at the present time.
And now what do thew think those