DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Conger Reynolds newspaper clippings, 1916-1919 | 1916-05-19 Des Moines Capital Clipping: ""14-Hour Grind Fails To Wring Kick From Men At Ft. Snelling"" Page 1

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Conger Reynolds newspaper clippings, 1916-1919

1916-05-19 Des Moines Capital Clipping: ""14-Hour Grind Fails To Wring Kick From Men At Ft. Snelling"" Page 1

[handwritten on top]
[Snelling?]

14-Hour Grind Fails to Wring Kick from Men at F. Snelling

Spirit of 2,500 Americans Who Will Lead Troops in Big Army is New Experience with Regulars.

(Special to The Capital.)
By Lieut. Frank J. Mulkern.
Fort Snelling, Minn., May 189 — The second day of training is over and not one of the 2,500 men in the camp but fully realizes it. Backs, unaccustomed to military erectness are weary from standing long hours at attention. Legs are tired from the constant drilling and the first hike of four miles, made by all companies. In brief the gigantic task of turning a civilian into an officer-instructor in three months, is begun. 

Are Fully Equipped.
Every student is perfectly equipped.  Every article from his Springfield rifle to his canteen cover is brand new. The latest type blanket roll is used. Had national guard regiment been so fitted when sent to the border a year ago, their progress towards efficiency would have been more satisfactory.
The knowledge that they will soon be called upon to whip the conscript army into shape for a campaign in Europe is partly responsible for this attitude. Another reason is that the men in the camp are exceptionally high class. Sixty per cent are college graduates. Many left important duties and positions paying several times as much as they can hope to receive for their services in the army. This condition leads the regular army officers to believe that men will be developed in the three months' course, able and efficient to undertake the responsible duties that will fall to them.

One Day's Work
Here is an outline of the second day's work at the camp: 
First call 5:15 a.m. Setting up exercises, 5:30 to 6 a.m. Breakfast, 6:15 a.m. Squad and platoon drill, 7 to 9 a.m., semaphore drill, 9 to 10 a.m., four mile hike, 10 to 11 a.m., instruction in general orders, 11 to 12 m. Dinner, 12:30 p.m.; rifle sighting and instruction, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; manual of arms and squad drill, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; roll call and retreat, 5:45 p.m.; supper, 6:05 p.m.; study hours, 7 to 9 p.m.; lights out, 9:15 p.m.

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[handwritten on top] [Snelling?] 14-Hour Grind Fails to Wring Kick from Men at F. Snelling Spirit of 2,500 Americans Who Will Lead Troops in Big Army is New Experience with Regulars. (Special to The Capital.) By Lieut. Frank J. Mulkern. Fort Snelling, Minn., May 189 — The second day of training is over and not one of the 2,500 men in the camp but fully realizes it. Backs, unaccustomed to military erectness are weary from standing long hours at attention. Legs are tired from the constant drilling and the first hike of four miles, made by all companies. In brief the gigantic task of turning a civilian into an officer-instructor in three months, is begun. Are Fully Equipped. Every student is perfectly equipped. Every article from his Springfield rifle to his canteen cover is brand new. The latest type blanket roll is used. Had national guard regiment been so fitted when sent to the border a year ago, their progress towards efficiency would have been more satisfactory. The knowledge that they will soon be called upon to whip the conscript army into shape for a campaign in Europe is partly responsible for this attitude. Another reason is that the men in the camp are exceptionally high class. Sixty per cent are college graduates. Many left important duties and positions paying several times as much as they can hope to receive for their services in the army. This condition leads the regular army officers to believe that men will be developed in the three months' course, able and efficient to undertake the responsible duties that will fall to them. One Day's Work Here is an outline of the second day's work at the camp: First call 5:15 a.m. Setting up exercises, 5:30 to 6 a.m. Breakfast, 6:15 a.m. Squad and platoon drill, 7 to 9 a.m., semaphore drill, 9 to 10 a.m., four mile hike, 10 to 11 a.m., instruction in general orders, 11 to 12 m. Dinner, 12:30 p.m.; rifle sighting and instruction, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; manual of arms and squad drill, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; roll call and retreat, 5:45 p.m.; supper, 6:05 p.m.; study hours, 7 to 9 p.m.; lights out, 9:15 p.m.