Uncle Sam's Boys with Pershing's Troops Dick Prescott at Grips with the Boche

ver the group before him, the gray-haired colonel

th the least possible delay, the finest fighting army in the world. Our own personal

does not feel equal to the requirements I have laid down will do well to seek a transfer to som

of the colonel's subordinate officers glistened with enthusiasm. Instead of showing any trace of dissent they greeted their comm

lieutenant, in a bull-like voic

efore the tumult, permitted a gleam of satisfact

ssured that we shall all pull together for the comm

s-room. As it was a confidential meeting of regimental officers, and no enlisted man was present, one of the second lieutenants succeeded in being firs

Prescott. "That was straigh

regiment!" voiced Captain G

fficer, or get out of the ser

to the newest "shave-tail" or second lieutenant, acted as by common impulse when t

ice of success, and we know what failure would mean for us,

lonel Graves started down the aisle. Little groups followed, a

the hair of Colonel Cleaves; he was forty-seven years o

stence. Regiments were then being added to the Regular Army. Two or three hundred trained soldiers and several hundred recruits had made up the beginnings of the regiment. Presc

hine-gun company, the rifle companies on this September day averaged

ers of former volumes of this series are aware, had received the

dquarters and machine-gun companies must be raised to their respective quotas of men, and each rifle company must be increased from seventy to two hundred and fifty men each. Ne

nough to show the observer that this officer meant all he said. Shirkers, am

e of sweltering heat and the regimental officers, as they filed out of the company barracks that had been used for holding the conference, fanned th

has set for us," mur

walk down the

in the Regular Army could look forward to remaining an officer as long as he was physically fit and did not disgrace himself. But in th

eally as bad as that

t, who was walkin

replied dryl

arried jauntily in his right hand. Cartwright was a smart, soldierly looki

rack buildings on the

ll keeping jus

u?" demanded Greg, halting short as they ca

, or should have been, drilling what was supposed to be a platoon, though

with disgust as he watched the

fours. The cadence was too slow, the men looke

sn't feeling well," rem

er he has talked with me," Gr

d brought them back again. As he came about the sergeant caught sight of his company commander.

nt, and brought up his han

a low, even voice, "turn the men

shing, Sergeant

ired, after signaling the corporal n

lied Mock, with a

led the men across the drill ground, this time at a sharper pac

ir," replied

arching the platoon at a cadence of about ninety, instead of the regulation hundred and twenty steps per minute. Tell me why t

mmander's voice, Mock knew that he was being "called,"

--and I knew the men were abou

en in the Army, serge

years and a

r enlisted men to be excused from full perform

-no,

new system on your own aut

in fact, and uttered a few incoherent

demands the utmost from every officer, non-com and private. Are you prepared,

lied Mock with

t you are say

s,

or it this time. But if I ever find you slacking or shirking again, I am going

assented Moc

amiliar with all

s,

fect in their work, and that their discipline is amazing. Keep the fact in mind that we can hardly hope to w

ute, then wheeled and walked briskly back to join his men. Greg turned as if t

er and dress down some of my non-coms. I've been trying for three days t

missioned officers"--corporals and sergeants--w

ed up a flight of stairs to the floor above. Here they passed through a narrow corridor with doors on both sides that bore the cards of

ls and ceiling, like the floor, were of pine boards. There were shelves around two sides of the room, with clothing hooks un

On account of the heat of the day neither young captain wore a tunic. Each unbut

ck asked, as he picked a newspaper up f

time for slack soldiering. Greg, I'll feel consoled for working eighteen hours a da

done?" Gr

es

same honor," Captain Holmes continued. "Ours isn't the only K.O.

ck insisted, "and I

to us in excellence that it would be ha

't have won the honor,"

owering his voice a bit. "He's a born shirker, and on

iggest and most serious war in which we were ever engaged. There must be no doubts--no ifs or buts. We must have a regiment one hun

door. Something was said in a low voice. Th

n!" cal

y entered

g Prescott a folded paper. He handed one like it to Greg,

ritten words on the unfolded sheet. "Practice march by battalions from two-forty-five t

. "Company drill and the hike call for our presence, preferably,

sts of keeping, making and signing records, of the keeping and inspection of acc

ted. "But I'm going to see everything going well on

reg, rising to his feet, "even this r

it on a chair, he found towel and soap and busied himself with washing up. His toilet completed, he took a clean shirt from a bundle on one of the neatly arranged shelves and donned the garment. A few more touches, and, spick-an

the inner doorway, speaking a quiet word that caused the regim

ss was exactly like that of the enlisted men, save that officers' mess was provided wi

y hum of conversation. Occasionally some merry officer called out jokingly to s

ber!" exclaimed an ir

Noll Terry, Prescot

shirkers, and so he gave us

to work with you?" a

ven in drawing my breath, after hea

re," Nol

I hit camp," chimed in another lieutenant. "What's

said Greg's first l

r fifteen minutes when Captain

he called, as he looked about and found a vacant seat

," observed Greg, in

even at mess

eeled about, looking half-an

re as free as ever

ing it to taste my food, and I've been

ed Captain Cartwright. "I happened to hear what you

ng?" queried

d his flush deepened. "See here, Holm

of discretion," smiled Greg

cking on me. Talk about so

ded Greg, as he shru

nful of sugar in his

greeable subjects fo

rr

d scowling, for, out of the corners of his eyes, he

wish," continued Captain Holmes, s

r voice, perhaps not intended to reach Cartwright's ears. But he heard the words and his m

king place, did not bother to turn,

nother voice. "You'r

Prescott, half turning in his seat, caught the angry captain's nearer wrist in a grip of ste

t the day's heat go to your head," Prescott

Prescott's manner and voice, combined with a quality of leadership that restrained

Captain Cartwright, and more vegetables. Try

away and began general conversation again, for they were quick

rill, won't it?" Dick asked, in t

perhaps I shall find still hotter

K.O.'s talk this morning, don't start anyt

xplanation from Holmes," the sulky cap

rtone, "I don't want you to start anything in tha

Cartwright tried to, but the officers to whom he addressed his remarks replied either so b

thought Captain Cartwright moodily. "I can see that I've got to m

ment, over in a compa

d his food gloomi

icers, will he? He'll order me to show more 'pep,' will

officer is securing his redu

he doesn't know a good man when he

, threatening

it. If he does, he'll

even the officers are

to find a way to pu

ental

our food?" asked the sergeant seated at hi

w," Sergeant Mock

-or a call-down," observ

orted Mock. "And I'm

t to

-out' that you got," grinned th

assing soldier m

the company office when

also known, in Army parlance, as th

y from the mess-room and across the central corridor. Thrusting out a hand he turned the kno

know, as well as I do, that there is a 'knock' sign painted on the door, and that only an officer is priv

than any one els

t Lund briefly rested one hand on

" he comman

d squaring his shoulders as he dropped his hands st

ficer's airs,

rnly. "Sergeant Mock, in this office, or anywhere in my presence, you will refrain from making disrespectful remarks a

ed, standing at ease agai

e second platoon in anything but a soldierly manner. I was about to come out and speak to you when I

ering "But the tone he took, or rather the words he said to

Lund, looking sharply in

wants me to do my best be's got to treat me

rgeant Lund continued

heavily on the other

real men can do the nation's work. If you fit yourself into your place, work hard enough and forget all about yourself except your oath to serve the Flag and obey

k. For Sergeant Lund, a real man, a real soldier and a loyal American, stood before him re

later. "I'm going to keep an eye on you, and I want to

mander," Mock growled under his breath as h