Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 173, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1917 — KAISER BETTER HAVE A CARE [ARTICLE]

KAISER BETTER HAVE A CARE

JASPER COUNTY SOLDIERS IN HARD TRAINING AND ON HIS TRAIL.

If old Kaiser Bill could take a look at Camp Kurrie and the fine specimens of manhood that make up Company M he would have more knowledge of the task which is facing him when he copes with Uncle Sam’s soldiers on French soil. The “Fritzies” will find that when they engage with American troops in battle they will not be up against weak, untrained men, or a bunch of “unprepareds” as the German cabinet has seen fit to dub the American forces. Instead they are going against as much steel and muscle, and fighting spirit as they have ever, encountered and a few encounters with American soldiers will cause them to awake to the fact that we are not a nation of weaklings. ■ ' Of the 138 men enrolled on the company roster all but four have reported to Capt. Garland. The four from whom no word has as yet been received are : John S. Monrich, Peter Winters, Leo B. Yyons and James Stonebraker. The men are allowed ten days to report, after which they are recognized as deserters. These one hundred and thirty-four now in camp are wodcing hard and are well satisfied. There is nota single grumbler in the company. All are co-operating and doing the various tasks assigned to them with a spirit that has won the commendation of Captain Garland. “The best working bunch and the best spirited that has ever made up the personnel of Company M,” is the way that Captain Garland describes them. ‘ln our company there are a great many recruits and these men are making such rapid progress that we expect in a short time to have everything running smoothly and to be represented by as good a company of well trained men as can be found anywhere,” added the captain. Of course the untrained men serve to retard the company to an extent, but this is only natural and the difficulty can be overcome by training these men in a group by themselves, stated the captain. “Co-operation, good spirits, happy and well contented men and a willingness to do are the characteristics of my company and with such characteristics we are bound to get along splendidly and make rapid progress,” said the new captain. Camp Kurrie is kept immaculately clean. Every bit of trash, every scrap of paper and litter is picked up at police duty before breakfast. Garbage cans are stationed about the camp and the men as well as the visitors are expected to use them. The guards have orders to politely rtquest visitors to pick up all refuse thrown on the ground. “Disease kills more soldiers than bullets,” said an emin-, ent officer once upon a time. Strictest measures are being taken to make sickness an unknown thing among the soldiers. The guard about the camp is changed every two hours. The men are on two hours and off then for four. This is one phase of soldiering which is dreaded by a soldier, especially so where there is danger of an attack from the enemy. But it is an army regulation and a part of the soldiers’ training. With occasional rest periods of a few minutes, never longer than half an hour at mess times, the men have something to occupy their time from the first call at 5:30 until taps at 11. The men are either actively engaged in drilling or studying at all times. Schools are held during the day for the men by the officers. Talks are given them by the officers on sanitation', soldier efficiency, care of the arms and accoutrements and health. The school is held in a shady orchard just north of the camp. No one who visits the camp can but help feel proud of the young men who are offering thier lives for their country. M Company comprises a splendid lot of young men, physically fit, clean looking, and very much in earnest in.the business for which they are fitting themselves. During the rest periods the men are quiet, there is no loud or boisterous behavior and practically no cursing. When the bugle sounds they respond with alacrity. All of this comes after only three days of camp.. Inside of three weeks, if they remain here for that length of time, the improvement will be very marked. If they all had uniforms the progress would be much more rapid, as the soldier is an artisan, and to do good work must have the tools and equipment. . No orders have yet been received changing the program for the preliminary camp and it is now believed that none* will come until the regiment is ordered to the border or to Fort Harrison. There is every indication that the company will be here for three weeks and preparations for making the camp are going forward with the idea that the plans will not Be disturbed in the immediate future.