gether on this earth there will never again be found the class of enlisted personnel that we possessed. I do not brag when I say that if any member of the Army or the Navy wanted a licking in any form of athletics he could come to our regiment and be obliged so fast it would make his head swim.

Well, this old soldier stepped in and organized the adjutant's office. The ran the colonel and the adjutant and the regiment. He made a great pretense of being a ten minute egg but in reality he was the kindest, gentlest and noblest fellow imaginable and we all loved him. Finally, when I saw that he liked me and that I could trust him, I confided to him that I thought the regiment had a lot of cripples it could spare. I explained the vital necessity for their presence amongst us and now that they had had three weeks of soldier life it was time to send them back to mother. The old sergeant certainly anticipated a lot of trouble and difficulty in doing that and walked away with his chin sunk on his noble chest. During the night, however, he evidently solved the problem, for the following day a strange medical major appeared at our camp and I was tipped off to send over to him those men I suspected of military unfitness. I dug up one man with retarded mentality, two G. U. 40 cases, six pairs of flat feet and a couple whose looks I just naturally didn't like. The strange doctor blooeyed all of them on S. C. D. Our old soldier manager brought the doctor's recommendations over to me and I forthwith issued honorable discharges and final statements to all of the unfortunates. The little technicality of having the Adjutant General of the Western Department O. K. these S. C. D.'s was a matter which I dismissed as unworthy of serious thought. The

men were discharged and because they had their final statements and discharged they found a pay master to pay them off. I think we got rid of about 50 of these stalking horses by this method and some of the poor devils screamed bloody murder and shed bitter tears at separation from the service. However, they went and we never saw them again.

TIME

IME passed. The war became but a memory and the old soldier, still a captain of field artillery, found himself in the office of the Chief of Field Artillery. Evidently he was so good that they kept him as a temporary officer. However, there is no doubt at all in my mind but that curses will come home to roost, for one day an officer walked in on our old friend and handed him the S. C. D. records of that gang we had Blooeyed without proper authority three years before. "We understand," said this officer, "that you were connected with this regiment at the time these men were discharged. There doesn't appear to be any authority for their separation from the service. Look up the authority and put your endorsement on this document."

The criminal almost fainted but being a resolute man, as all field artillerymen must ever be, he called upon his spare stock of initiative and decision. Three days later he handed back the document in question with his endorsement showing that these men had been discharged under authority of telegram dated so and so from the office of the Adjutant General of the U. S. Army at Washington, D. C. Nobody doubted the genuiness of that endorsement. In fact, nobody had time to look it up! Honor was satisfied and if anybody who reads these confessions cares to re-open this case at this late date I will quote him the

statute of limitations and point out the tombstone of the culprit, who some time ago passed on to his honorable discharge.

In conclusion I will state that "tall oaks from little acorns grow." We made a regiment out of a mob and we did it in jig time. I think we made pretty cracking good officers out of ourselves. I know we were immensely proud of our unit and great indeed, was the desolation when half of our fine lads were taken from us as casualty draft replacements and selective service men sent to us to build up the gaps. Then we had to do the heart breaking job all over again and by the time we got to France and were ready to shoot with speed and accuracy Kaiser Bill went A. W. O. L., leaving us in the position where nobody except ourselves knew how good we were and from that day to this nobody has evinced a desire to believe us when we state that we were as good as the best.

The moral of these confessions is that a field artilleryman can get away with anything he wants to get away with and I believe that he usually does.

At present I am a Reserve Captain of Cavalry. I suffered much in the Field Artillery for having been with the horses once I could never go back to foot soldiering.

When the next war comes I, for one, intend to have no materiel, mathematics, theories of probabilities or methods of fire to hamper me and when in retreat I shall neither walk, ride a tractor nor limit my departure to the gait of a field battery plowing through heavy mud. I shall be mounted on a thorough-bred horse noted for his speed and thus make certain that when the war is over I shall be among the heroes who write pieces for service journals and tell how the war was

won.

RECRUITING

S

Recruiting Publicity Bureau, Governors Island, N. Y. An Army Information Bulletin containing a resume of administrative and statistical reports, rules, regulations, and official notices of recruiting for the guidance of members of the Regular Army, National Guard and Organized Reserves.

October 15, 1926

One Good Turn Deserves Another

In a recent issue of the Recruiting News there was a story of Sergeant Wilfred Judway of the Providence (R. I.) Recruiting Station coming to the aid of a civilian motorist in distress.

The civilian sent a glowing testimonial letter to the officer in charge of the Providence district, commending Sergeant Judway and the soldiers with him at the time the help was furnished.

Now the aided civilian, Mr. Harry L. Conlin of Pawtucket, (R. I.), has shown his gratitude in a tangible form by sending in a husky lad who was enlisted for the Hawaiian Department.

This is a concrete illustration of the lesson contained in Par. 32 of the Recruiter's Primer.

The rich field for publicity and the excellent factor for organization morale embodied in a post paper are, fortunately, realized by many posts throughout the service. While there are many post publications, the fact remains, however, that the majority of stations are unrepresented by this desirable medium for publicity and espirit de corps.

It may be that the question of expense gives pause to the post publicity officer seeking the inauguration of a paper. Let him consider the single mimeographed daily, then. Expense does not enter here, for the labor and material are right at hand and distribution is easily and speedily effected. Such a daily is literally "hot off the press."

One such up-to-the-minute daily sheet is the Daily Bulletin published by the recreational officer at Fort Eustis, Virginia. This little paper invariably contains matter which lends itself to republication in the Recruiting News. A number of the items are easily made into national releases by the Recruiting Publicity Bureau.

A resume of the contents matter of this progressive sheet may be of helpful interest to those having the desire to institute a similar daily. The front page is devoted to post notices, motion pic ture programs, athletic schedules, dance and social

announcements, a brief review of new books at the library, and kindred seasonal data. The reverse side carries the results of athletic and marksmanship contests, company notes, and items of general interest to the garrison.

The Post Library

There is a veritable gold mine of treasure trove on every military reservation, in the post library. Here one can spend many pleasant and profitable hours, at no expense. Does your mood call for adventure, romance, even the spilling of gore upon piratical expeditions throughout the seven seas, the many shelves laden with romantic tales will meet your need of the moment. Would you commune with the great minds, the philosophers, then reach for the classics; you may find these latter dust-laden upon their outer surfaces but between the covers will be food for thought if you seek surcease from what may appear at the time to be a cold and cruel world.

The average post library also contains many volumes covering practically every phase of technical subjects; to the man aspiring to further his mechanical knowledge, for instance, there are innumerable books which will prove invaluable. Even the student of languages will find lexicons to aid him in his efforts to grasp the rudiments of a strange tongue. For the soldier who has but a few minutes to give to reading, or to one who seeks only lighter matter, current magazines and periodicals are his for the asking.

Get the habit of dropping into your post library. Reading is a habit that can be cultivated. It will enrich your mind, afford you entertainment, and increase your understanding. Make use of the well stocked shelves of books covering every subject under the sun. How the great emancipator, Lincoln, and other outstanding characters of early American history, would have welcomed free access to the brilliant minds of literature that is yours! Nowhere to go to-night? Try the post library.

Keeping the Contact

When any man, whether he has served with the colors for one year or ten, suddenly finds himself a civilian again "for keeps," he can not fail to feel acutely the pangs of severed contacts. His new surroundings may be ever so congenial, and his new work ever so interesting, but still there will come those moments when he will know an impelling longing for the comrades of his military days, and for a word from or concerning those comrades and their doings, he would give much.

The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, through its newspaper, the Infantry School News, has adopted a method whereby that contact is maintained with former members of the post. The discharged, wherever they may be News each week is sent to the men who have been discharged, wherever they may be. In this way, the former soldier is assured a boon like a healing ointment to help him bear the pangs he must feel sometimes because of the broken connections, and at the same time he is made to realize that the "old outfit" is still interested in him and his welfare.

T

HE American soldier is a singing warrior. On the march, in barracks or camp, or even going into action, he raises his voice in melodious harmony with his comrades in the rendition of popular airs. What veteran of '18 does not have the recollection of many memories when hearing that ancient Army refrain, "You're in the Army now," or the other racy but lilting ballad of the AEF, "The Madamoiselle from Armitres"?

Music is an important factor in keeping up the morale of a combatant organization. Regular song leaders were used at the training camps when this country entered the late European conflict and the soldiers were encouraged to lend their voices to mass singing.

Many regiments in the present day Army have songs and ballads peculiarly their own, airs which are known as that particular organization's very own. Some of these songs have been written especially for the unit, some have been adopted or adapted by the regimental band for state occasions.

Three regiments have distinctive ballads set to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me," "Seniper Fidelis," and "Annie Laurie." One regiment, the 42nd Infantry, made up of enlisted men

from Porto Rico, has for its march "Ecos de Borinquen," whose name indicates its origin: Borinquen being the old Indian name for Porto Rico.

Two organizations, the 34th Infantry and the 11th Infantry, use a march called "Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse." in commemoration of their having fought along those streams in the World War. One regiment, the 45th Infantry, stationed in the Philippines, has adopted a march of Spanish origin called "Alerta Voluntarios." Another regiment u es the tune of the French "National Defile March."

Among the many regimental marches several deserve special mention. The 7th Infantry, for instance, which has adopted the "Girl I Left Behind Me," first heard this tune played by British bands during the battle of New Orleans

"The Girl I Left Behind Me,"
Captured from British

in 1815. When the band of the 7th (then a Fife and Drum Corps) caught the air, they played it also, and the tune march of the 7th Infantry. The 7th was was at once recognized as the regimental the only regular Army regiment in that battle, which was fought after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed. The words were given to the regiment by an Irish officer captured during the engage

ment.

"Garry Owen," the stirring regimental march of the 7th U. S. Cavalry, has a

"You're in the Army Now!" historic legend connected with its inception. In 1868 the troopers of the 7th were engaged with hostile Cheyennes at Washita, in what is now the state of Wyoming. Attack was to be made at dawn on Chief Black Kettle's Cheyenne Indian village and a signal for the concerted rush of the cavalry was necessary. "Garry Owen" was played for the first time upon that occasion and the bloodstirring air of that march carried the cavalrymen into the ensuing action against the savage redskins. An interesting historical episode in connection with this march is that it is known to have been General Custer's favorite song and tune. At 5.00 a.m. on May 17, 1876, during the final parade and review of the 7th Cavalry at Fort Lincoln, the regimental band played this air. This

was the march by which General Terry left the fort with the regiment on the expedition to the Little Big Horn which was to end in Custer's Massacre.

ONE

NE other regimental march worth calling attention to is that of the 9th Infantry. The march is called "The Old Ninth Infantry." The music to this song came from the old light opera, "Sergeant Kitty," but the composer of the words is unknown. It is believed to have been first sung at a minstrel show given by the 9th early in March, 1907.

Of late a very fine custom has been introduced at the United States Military Academy at West Point. The cadet band

plays various regimental marches at the parades which the cadet corps participate in each evening during clement weather, and also at the band concerts on Sundays and holidays. The purpose of this custom is primarily to bring the future commissioned officers of the Army into closer touch with the airs of the regiments to which they will be assigned later. The music for a particular organization is played on a date as near that regiment's organization day as practicable. All officers and former officers of that unit so honored, whether stationed at West Point or not, are invited for the occasion and special seats in rear of the reviewing officer are reserved for them.

Among other organization marches and songs which are played by the cadet band are: "The Fifth Cavalry March," "The Twenty-First Infantry's March," "The Infantry Marching Song and Hymn" of the 29th Infantry, "The Rifle Regiment" march of the 3rd Infantry, "The Twenty-Third Infantry March," "The Seventh Coast Artillery March," "The Ninth U. S. Cavalry March, "The Fourth Infantry March," "The Tenth Infantry March," "Captain Anderson," the regimental march for the 30th Infantry, and the "Gate City March," played for the 22nd Infantry.

(Continued on Page Eleven)