The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-06-06
FACTS ABOUT LIFE
in THE U. 5. ARMY
Given to Avoid Possible
Misunderstanding
That Arise
SOME HARDSHIPS

In order to avoid possible crit
icism, and settle questions and
doubts that have risen or may arise,
1t might be we'll to mention q few
facts concerning life and conditions
In the army during the recent war.
There are a great many pitiful stories
/. to be heard from the returned and
returning soldiers. as to their hard
ships, ETC., and while we, must ad-
NIT that many Of these stories are
true, we must take into considera-
ton that these men received their
army experience during the war, .
time when nobody could expect any
thing but the worst. And again it
must be remembered that life is
never satisfactory with some men, in
civil life as we'll as in the army,
regardless of what their conditions,
privileges or allowances happen to
be.
When we take into consideration
/ what a problem 1t is to accomplish
such tasks as raising, supplying,
training, besides providing training
quarters, equipment, etc., and ships
for transporting an army such as the
United States sent to France, we
have little reason to wonder at the
/ hardships experienced during the
war. Especially when we stop to
think of the plants which it was nee
essary to erect in France in order
/ to receive and take care of the thou
i sands of soldiers who were arriving
/ overseas daily. And again there
| were no more hardships experienced
| during the recent war than in pre-
v,ons wars. in fact less..~-For COM
-nariisssn. take the Civil and Spanish
4 American wars, and even in peace
times during the early days. The
army was very small and was used
almost entirely to open up and de-
velop the western section of our
| country, and to protect pioneers
| from depredations committed by hos
tile Indians. During that time most
of the army stations were scattered
turnout the west. Soldiers went
thru many hardships and privations,
the methods of communications were
slow and crude, and in many in
stances the soldiers had to erect
their own barracks. Their quarters
were meager, and conyeniences few.
Compare those conditions along with
q salary of $13 per month, with pres
ept conditions where soldiers are
we'll fed, clothed, quartered in mod
ern barracks, besides having great
many educational advantages, and
$50 per month, and it will be easily
4 seen that conditions and inducements
are far better in the present peace
& time army than in the army during
f the early settlement of the west.
With the settlement of the west coast
| and Rocky mountain states, the i'm
/ mense Industrial development of the
} country, the acquisition of territory
/ beyond the continental limits of the
1 United States and our vast CONNER
cial development and increased trade
4 with foreign countries, the military
posts were scattered so that at the
( present time the soldiers are sta
+ toned from coast to caost, being in
almost every state of the union and
in the Philippine islands, Alaska,
Hawaiian islands, China, the Panama
Canal zone, France, Germany and
E Siberia. In most cases the soldiers
4 are stationed convenient to the rail
roads, and near large towns and
{ cities.
In all military posts, excepting
/ some of the temporary camps which
have been established since the out
4 break of the war, the soldiers are
! quartered in barracks which have all
{ modern conveniences for lighting,
heating, bathing and all the comforts
OF home, and everything is done to
promote the welfare, health and
comfort of the soldiers. On account
\ of reorganization which is now 60
ing on in the army, the opportunities
j for advancement to the different
on-commissioned grades, as well as
other advantages, are as good or bet
ter than ever before. Besides the
many schools which are now operated
Z in connection with the different
branches. and which instruct in
about fifty trades, the army is di-
vided into the following branches:
\ air service, cavalry, construction SER
vice, coast artillery, engineers, field
1 artillery, hospital corps, infantry,
motor transport service, ordnance
( and quartermaster corps, for which
| men of special qualifications are re-
quired, as enumerated later on. Each
( has it's particular function, and an
applicant, IL he fulfills the require
ments, may have his choice of any
arm Of the line and also in the others
mentioned If he possesses the neces.
sary physical qualifications. In ad-
dition to a choice of any branch, he
may choose service in any Of the
above mentioned foreign countries.
OF the $4,000 volunteers which
were called for, nearly 10000 have
been already enlisted. Contingents
of 1000 men each have been trans
ported overseas, and other contin-
gents will leave as soon as they can
be formed and equipped.
On account of limited furlough
and lengthy pass privileges during
the war, it seems that a great many
people have formed the opinion that
army life is tiresome and very con-
filming The career of a soldier is