Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1917 — MILITIA OFFICERS SELECTED [ARTICLE]

MILITIA OFFICERS SELECTED

More Members Are Needed to Reach the Required Number. The members of the newly organized state militia met at the court house Sunday afternoon and elected their officers. Mose Leopold was chosen captain, E. W. Hickman, first lieutenant, and A. E. Wallace second lieutenant. The sergeants ’ and corporals will be selected by j Captain Leopold and their names announced at a later date. The officers selected will no doubt i prove satisfactory to all concerned. Mr. Leopold has taken much interest in the organization of the company and in his speech of acceptance promised it undivided attention hereafter. The two lieutenants are peculiarly well fitted for ( their respective places, each having; seen service in the regular army during the Spanish-American war. When it came to selecting a military instructor or drill master, those present unanimously selected J. M. Sauser, who has been the motive power behind the organization o;f the company. Mr. Sauser . has seen service in the German! army before coming to America, I and was since in the United States J army for twenty-four years, and is amply qualified to take charge of any kind of military work. At the present time the company is composed of thirty-six officers and men, and in order to become a recognized company fifty men and three officers are necessary. Each man should make it his duty to assist in every way possible to secure the desired number, that no time may be lost in getting to work.

One other feature of the meeting Sunday that is deserving of men' tion was a talk made by Lieut. Devere Yeoman of the engineers’ corps on the work at the training camps. From Lieut. Yeoman’s talk one would suppose that every possible contingency in time of war was anticipated. Bridge building and bridge . destruction were two prominent features of the curriculum, although trench fighting as it is now practiced in France was treated fully. Actual trenches were made by the engineers and then undermined and destroyed. One could recite indefinitely on these things and in the end but one thought would be predominant, that Uncle Sam is making every preparation for a real war and a victorious peace in the end.