Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 169, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1918 — YANKS TURN FARMER, CLEAR OWN DRILL GROUND [ARTICLE]

YANKS TURN FARMER, CLEAR OWN DRILL GROUND

Capt. J. Crawfis told Richard <5. Johnson four weeks ago that he wanted the wheat field on the grounds of the State School for the Deaf for a drill ground. Captain Crawfis commands Vocational • Detachment No. 2, which is quartered at the school, and Mr. Johnson is superintendent of the institution. “You may have it when the crop is harvested,” replied Mr. Johnson. Two weeks ago the grain was cut. Since the binder dropped the sftieaves they have been lying untouched. In the meantime, every day when Capt. Crawfis turned out the eight companies in his unit and tried to maneuver them in space altogether too small,, he looked at the wheatfield. “When do I get the field?” has been tain and tbe superintendent met. “When I get men and teams to haul the sheaves to a threshing machine,” was the reply. Usually Captain Crawfis merely nodded. Wednesday he did more. “Never mind the teams —get the thrashing outfit,” he told Mr. Johnson. “How are you going to—?” began Mr. Johnson. “Men,” was the brief response. “But ft will take—” “Twenty minutes” declared Capt. Crawfis. The thrashing machine was ordered for 7a. m. Thursday. It was ready for business at 8. Capt. Crawfis turned but eight companies, 1,000 men altogether—and the band. No, they didn’t play “Bringing in the Sheaves,” Capt. Crawfis admits overlooking a bet there. But they did play “Over There,” and other lively marching tunes. The men stepped to the martial measures and stepped too fast. The demand of the thrasher maw for sheaves was several times overscribed. Whereupon the soloversubscribed. Whereupon the soldisappeared. At 10 o’clock the thrashing outfit drew its fires, 300 bushels of wheat had been loaded on four trucks belonging to the detachment and were leaving the grounds for an elevator. “And will you roll the ground to smooth the stubble?” Capt. Crawfis was asked. “How long do you think it will take 1,000 marching men to do that?” was the answer. Capt. Crawfis estimated that approximately 5,000 sheaves were handled—two to the man on each trip—to the thrasher. Battalion drill on the wheat field was held Thursday night.