The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-04-15
Tells Of
Army, Life
In Africa

Ill nuINN
EUREKA, April l2-On Wednes-
day morning at the o'clock as
sembly, the students of L. c. H. S.
were highly entertained by an in
structive talk given by Captain
John P. Wheelihan. recently re-
turned from the African theatre of
war where he is stationed at a
secret air base Captain Wheelihan
held the wrapt attention of the stu
dent body for well over an hour as
he told them items which would be
of help in making their army ca
reers happier and more productive
and of his own personal life since
entering the service two years ago
as flying cadet in North Dakota.
He advised the boys to spend any
money they might wish to before
going to foreign posts as at some OF
these posts it would be impossible
to spend any. AT the home posts he
found that the men live from hour
to hour for the next Chow while
the officers eats are fairly named
the mess The captain advised the
boys to not eat any more chill or
Vienna sausage for when they got
to foreign duty they would have
plenty of these to last a life time.
He gave some serious advice re-
garding army discipline and the
need of recognizing it and respect
ing the officers and their wishes
both non-coms and commissioned
if one wished to progress and work
up in the army. The army is not
run on democratic lines and the
boys should realize this as soon as
possible and react accordingly.
Reading up on military law may
help to keep many soldier, even
though we'll intentioned, out of the
guard house. Once one loses his
stripes it is very difficult to regain
them.
During the basic training period
the soldier recruit will learn army
etiquette, military law, drill and
have a general orientation of mil
itary science. The impression made
here is an invaluable aid for OF
against ones future carer in the
service. He stressed the need u
adjusting oneself smoothly to army
routine and discipline with min
imum of originality and initiative
displayed by the recruit. As rule
the higher the office, the les.
amount of manual labor entailec
and the more responsibility re-
CURED Army insurance at the rate
of about Sc per month for $1,000
was strongly advised This jus
furnishes term protection and thu
beneficiaries receive payment il
event of death on monthly SEIZED
ule varying in amount according tx
their age. The casualty rate in thu
war is very luW-in fact, one i
more apt to be killed in an auto
mobile accident at home than il
the army as whole.
Captain Wheelihan advised thu
students to mend your ways -ant
develop the ability to concentrate
and assimilate your studies for ad
vancement depends much on thos,
two points at army schools
The captain then spoke very in
terestingly and with much good hu
NOR of his personal experience
from time of enlistment until tn
present. He commented on the in
creasing great progress made j
better equipment for training, Q
the canned and dehydrated food
necessary in foreign post diet, am
of the great scarcity of water 2
points in the African area. Fac
man is allowed one gallon of waite
per day where he was recently sta
toned, which is a good sized amour
and must cover drinking, bathin
and at times, laundry. The engin
GERS who preceded his contingen
and who constructed the run way
were only allowed quart of waite
per day He spoke in glowing ad
miration of the engineers of tn
army who work hard IL hours
day, receive little or no glory an
put up with the hardships with lii
tie complaint One crew Of engln
GERS is known to have used a |
ton charge of dynamite in clearin
ground for run way in the AIR
can theatre of war.
Some time was spent in tellin
of the fine training the soldiers no
receive as compared to when 3
entered the service. Now the me
are segregated according to abllit
and inclination and given specla
lied training in specific items
warfare and in this way they reac
readiness for action in a niue
shorter time. Those training for tt
South Pacific are given experient
in jungle warfare while those b.
ing sent to Africa are given desc
training. A machete knife, used
cutting through jungle growth ar
carried by each pilot or flyer vii
his parachute was passed among II
students for aWesome admiratio
The knife was about 18 inches lor
including the handle and vel
heavy.
BIRTHDAY PARTY