The Omaha Sunday Bee
EDITORIAL
AMUSEMENTS
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VOL. 51 NO. 11.
"BOY, YOU'RE IN
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Ex-Service Man, Raw Recruit
Buckle Down to the Military
Grind in the Two-Weeks'
Encampment of Nebraska
National Guard at Camp
Dodge, la.
By EDWARD BLACK.
"Big boy, you're in the army
now." ,
Former service men who are now
with the newly organized Nebraska
National Guard, in training for two
weeks at Camp Dodge, know what
it means to be in the army. Re
cruits of the First Nebraska are be
ing initiated into the arts and science
of war, into the stern realities that
a soldier should know.
The Nebraska guardsmen, nearly
1,600, are attending their first annual
encampment of two weeks, under
rules and regulations prescribed by
the War department, and in quarters
which were used a few years ago
for the training of men for the great
strife, across the seas. These Ne
fcVe fitting men are functioning
i?.;e a model army.
"Ready to Go."
"Just give us the bread and beef
and we are ready to go" remarked
one of the top sergeants, enthusias
tically, but reflecting the morale of
the men.
A day in camp with the Nebraska
men would suffice to show "that a
new spirit dominates the naitonal
Guard, a spirit which is eloquent in
conveying the impression that the
guard today is in fact a part of the
great national defense, and that :t
will command more respect ' and
consideration during the next few
years.
The national defense act of Tune
3, 1916, as amended on July 11, 1919,
provides that the national guard
shall be established by annual incre
ments, starting with 200 men for
each representative and -senator m
congress, which allows Nebraska its
present guard strength of 1,600, and
anvultimate strength of 6,400 men
and officers in 1924.
Supported by U. Sf.
The Nebraska contingent, when
mustered to its maximum allowance,
will have an infantry regiment, field
artillery regiment, medical regi
ment, balloon group, signal section
v-"ith airplanes and wireless. The
state guard now comprises an in
fantry regiment, Howitzer company,
signal corps, hospital company and
headquarters company, Each bat
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dfct
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talion has three rifle companies, one
machine gun company and head
quarters company. The regiment
also "has a service company which
includes a band, transportation and
supplies.'. . ,
One of the most interesting fea
tures of the present state guard is
the manner in which it is function
ing on all fours with the regular
army of which it immediately would
become a part in the event of a na
tional emergency. This is the ar
rangement authorized by congress
and through which the guard is re
ceiving substantial national financial
support.
Give States Protection. ;
The plan on which the -new na
tional guard is being developed, is
that the national government will pay
most of the maintenance expenses of
the guard, demanding in return that
certain 'requirements shall be ob
served by the guard organisations.
These organizations provide the vari
ous states local protection in peace
time and in times of a national crisis
the federal government will summon
the guard to the lines of national defense.-
This is in line with the new
policy of preparedness. It will give
to the nation an army of civilians or
dinarily engaged in the pursuits of
peace and sufficiently organized'and
trained to be of substantial military
service in times of need. ,
Stite Gives $125,000.
For the biennium, 1921-1922, Ne
braska has appropriated $125,000 for
its guardsmen. During 1920 the fed
eral appropriation for this state was
nearly $1,000,000. The national gov
ernment furnishes the men equip
ment" clothing, supplies of various
kinds and a nominal rate of pay even
in peace time.
The state is required to maintain
armories, places for the storage of
equipment and supplies and to pro
vide two officers. The federal gov
ernment will pay $92,000 for the ex
penses of the Nebraska guardsmen
now in camp at Camp Dodge for two
weeks. This amount covers- pay for
officers and men, transportation, food
and other items.
Each Nebraska company is provid
ed -with -a rolling kitchen for. -field
PART FOUR
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service, a large motor truck and . a
water tank on wheels. These trucks
were used in hauling equipment and
supplies overland to Des Moines.
Practice on Range.
The men now in camp are re
quired to engage in target practice
according to the regular army reg
ulations. The scope of this prac
tice for the Nebraska regiment in-,
eludes the use of rifles, machine
guns, automatic rifles, pistols and
light Howitzers. It is anticipated
that within a few years this state
will have a regiment of field artil
lery attached to its national guard
and will have a suitable practice
range. The Nebraskans went to
Camp Dodge on account of the
range facilities there.
The co-ordination of the Ne
braska National Guard, with the na
tional army ; requirements, contem
plates an organization scheme gen
erally observed by the regular army.
With that end in view the Nebraska
guard is included in the Seventh
army corps area, which also in
cludes Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Min
nesota, North and South Dakota.
This area embraces the 34th and 35th
divisions, Nebraska being in the lat
ter. The regular army commander
of the Seventh army corps area has
jurisdiction also over the national
guard and the organized jeserves
within the area described. -In time
of a national emergency all of the
national guard and reserves in the
seven states mentioned would come
within full charge of the Seventh
area commander.
No Place for Squawker.
This close identification with the
national defense, in addition to be
ing state guardsmen, has resulted in
the growth of a new esprit du corps
among the guardsmen. A cursory
glance over the Nebraska encamp
ment impresses the attendant with
the idea that it is no place for a
squawker. It is not a congenial at
mosphere for a grouch or sorehead.
"The real guardsmen must be a
square shooter," remarked , one of
the officers, using the expression in
a more figurative sense. "The boys
are realizing this fact and they are
taking a wonderful interest in the
work. They take pride in their or
ganizations. The company spirit is
fine." '
. Proud of Uniform,.
It was noted that the squawkers
are few and far between. Of course,
there are all types. This new army
is in the making and the results thus
far are surprising. Now and then
there is a "mammy's 'lasses candy:
child," but he, too, soon gets into
the frame and "plays ball." A
youngster of this type was heard re
cently to refer to his sergeant as
hard boiled. He spoke of the ser-i
geant as the "war boss," but now he
is one of the best in the line and
feels rather proud of his uniform.
He will be a sergeant some day.
Hard work and intensive play go
to make up the life of guardsmen in.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 28, 1921.
438
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WW
No. 1. Adjt. Gea Herbert J.
Paul of Nebraska, left; CoL Amos
Thomas, commander of the Ne
braska National Guard, and Lieut
CoL W. A. McDaniel, U. S. A.,
senior instructor.
No. 2. Field kitchen in action.
William Keegan and LeRoy Leh
man, civilian cooks. Theodore
Cahn, cook of Company L, stir
ring pot.
No. 3. Patsy Clancy, left, and
Tommy Vaughan in action.
Sergt. Leonard M. Cowley, Com
pany I, Lincoln, referee.
No. 4. Left to right, John Kil
martin, Supply Sergt George S.
Hefner, Company L, and William
Bruett, recounting other days when
they were in service together.
No. S. Left to right: Corp. F. D..
Stone, Company F, Harrington,
Neb., editor of the Harrington
camp. They take the grim and the
gay with good grace. They are as
boys in their . play and as sons of
battle in their drills, target practice
and other activities' in the curricu
lum of military training.
" Excess of Enthusiasm.
New recruits occasionally are
stricken with an excess of
enthusiasm which ' they learn - to
temper with a modicum of' reserve
after they become seasoned. On
Saturday night a week ago news
was received at the camp of a
threatened riot in the street-earless
city of Des Moines, which is about
10 miles from the camp as the crow
flies. A young guardsman from York
heard of the imminent disturbance in
the capital, city of the Hawkeye
state. His fighting spirit at once
was aroused. He rushed to the cap-
THE
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Herald; First Sergt. N. C. Ven
denoer, Company E, First bat
talion, Scottsbluff, Neb., two years
captain of engineers in world war,
overseas 16 months and holding
commission as major of reserves;
Sergt C. H. Blackburn, Mitchell,
Neb., of Howitzer company, prac
ticing dentist and Sergt. W. B.
Kline, Company D, First battalion,
of Fairmont, Neb., pastor of the
Congregational church of Fair
. mont and for six years assistant
chaplain of the First Nebraska Na
tional Guard.
No. 6. Left, First Sergt Louis
B. Stipes of Company L, and right,
First Sergt John S. Kerr of regi
mental headquarters company,
both Omaha policemen.
No. 7. Company D, First bat
talion, Fairmont, Neb.,. sunning its
cots and blankets; Capt Donald
Frazier in charge. -
tain's quarters and applied for a pass
and a rifle.
It is not one of the routine events
of the day at Camp Dodge to issue
guardsmen passes - and rifles at the
same itme, to go to Des Moines to
suppress uprisings among the popu
lace. The practice is to send the
guardsmen in a body and under
authorized leadership.
Rifle Denied.
. The young man from York, how
ever, wanted to take on a riot by
himself. ' He was given the pass and
was denied the rifle. He contemplated
the pass in a dubious manner, as if
wondering what a red-blooded
guardsman could do with a scrap of
paper in the maelstrom of a riot
without a rifle. He was commended
for his courage and advised to study
conservatism, He went - to - Des
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ARMY NOW!
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Moines and enjoyed a picture .show.
An officer of the day. inspecting
the guard, asked a recruit what were
his orders. -
"I have two sets of orders, sir,
special and general," replied the
guard. ' 7 . .
"What are your special orders?"
was asked.
"And All That Sort of Thing."
"Stop all traffic on the road
through the regiment after 9:30, and
all that sort of thing. Be especially
watchful for fires and all that sort
of thing."
The officer of the day thought
he would hear the sentry recite his
general orders which all soldiers
must know.
"What are your general orders?"
he asked.
The sentry replied: "Take
charge of this post and ajl that sort
of thing.
Among the other amusing inci
dents of the day's routine at the
camp was the case of an . orderly
who apprtjached Capt. Frank L. Pe.t
tersonbf Company L with the in
formation that Sergt. M. F. Gajli
gan of the canteen wanted the cap
tain to report immediately at the
canteen. The orderly got his verbal
message twisted and was not versed
in that branch of military technique
which calls for recognition of rank.
Sergeant Galligan, by the way, is
an Omahan, being six feet and one
inch over all and having a displace
ment of 250 pounds. He is the
largest man in camp.
Exemplar of Pep.
The foremost exemplar of snap
and pep among the Nebraskans is
Sergt. Jimmy Murphy, every inch a
soldier and a man who would rather
fight than eat. He has. 20 years of
active military experience to his
credit. About a year ago he returned
from Germany where he served with
the army of occupation and "all. that
sort of thing." With discharge pa
pers in his pocket, he made his way
to Omaha, where he found the pur
suits of peace too irksome for his
adventurous spirit. He was a man
without an army.
Murphy became restive during his
brief civilian respite. He felt the
urge of military life, so he enlisted
in the First Nebraska National guard.
They gave him a uniform that was
not quite new, whereupon he remon
strated and threatened to quit the
army unless a new . wardrobe was
forthcoming at once. At cample
is the snappiest piece of fighting
machinery in the regiment He is the
life of the part-. One of his of
ficers takes delight in shouting
"Sergeant Murphy 1" just to see him
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World War Officers Serve as
Non-Coms There's No
"Squawking" and All Work
Hard to Make Emergency
Fighting Men for Uncle
.Sam.
bristle up and for the ' good effect
it has on the other men. They
are wondering what the, sergeant
would be like in real actiou.
Varied War Records.
In the personnel of the Nebraska
guards at camp are men with inter
esting and varied war records. This
was aptly illustrated last week when
George Hefner, supply sergeant of
Company L, Omaha, met John Kil-
martin and William Bruett, also of
Omaha and all world war veterans.
Sergeant Hefner joined the national
guard for the first time 24 years
ago . at Shenandoah, la., and he
served in the Spanish-American war,
along the Mexican border and in the
world war. This little impromptu
reunion of Hefner, Kilmartin and
Bruett at Camp Dodge recalled the
time when Kilmartin was a recruit
and was unloading wood for Hef
ner, then supply officer at Llano
Grande, Tex.
On a later occasion, when Kilmar
tin was second lieutenant, Hefner
came to the outfit as an enlisted
man from the Fourth Nebraska to
the 127th Field Artillery at Camp
Cody, N. M. Hefner saluted Kil
martin on that occasion with a
twinkle in his eye and asked whether
there was any wood to be hauled.
Bruett also served with Kilmartin
and Hefner in years gone by and
during the last year they have been
interested in the organization of the
Nebraska guard.
Athletics Promoted.
Athletics are being promoted and
encouraged, at ' the Nebraska camp.
The men are favored by a comple
ment of clever boxers and the hearty
support ot Lapt Louis K. Doyle of
Company I of Lincoln, and who also
holds the position as boxing com
missioner of Nebraska. Patsy Clancy,
welterweight, formerly of Boston, is
with the regiment. lie is assistine
in directing some of the budding
TEN CENTS
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fistic talent. Among the local ring
notables in camp are : Sergt. Lloyd
Latta of Lincoln, Ed Fristoe, Dave
Horton and Tommy Vaughan. Lieut.
Paul J. Auxier of Omaha has charge
of athletics. Boxers of every weight
in the Nebraska regiment will be
selected to meet the prize punchers
of the Iowa regiment, which also ii
at Camp Dodge.
Major Is Sergeaai.
A glance over the "who's who
at the camp reveals an interesting
array of civilian business and pro
fessional ability. There are doctors,
lawyers, merchants, clergymen, po
licemen and even a country editor,
Sergt. W. B. Kline of Company D..
First battalion, has been pastor of
the Congregational church at Fair
mont for six years. He is assistant
chaplain of the regiment. The first
sergeant of Company E, First bat
talion, is N. C. Vandcmoer of Scotts
bluff, who served two years as cap
tain of engineers and now holds a
commission as major in the officers'
reserves. Corp. F. D. Stone of Harr
ington is editor of the Hartington
Herald. Sergt. C. II. Blackburn of
the Howitzer company is a practic
ing dentist at Mitchell. Louis B.
Stipes, first sergeant of Company L,
Omaha, and John S. Kerr, first ser
geant in the headquarters company,
are Omaha policemen and former
service men, Kerr, having served in
the Spanish war.
Paid by State.
Adjutant General Herbert J. Paul
and Major Harry Stein are the of
ficers paid by the state in accord
ance with the requirements of the
national defense act as amended.
The major is the property disbursing
officer for Nebraska and is respon
sible to the bureau of the Nation.il
Guard affairs for the Seventh corps
area. Lt. Col. W. A. McDaniel-
(Turn to ! Elf lit. Column Seven.)
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