The Reconnaissance (Camp Bowie, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 31, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 30, 1918 Page: 4 of 8
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THE RECONNAISSANCE
March 30, 1918.
The Reconnaissance
Published Every Saturday Morning at Camp Bowie, Texas, by all
Mounted Service Branches by Leave of and in Collaboration
with Commanding Officers.
Entered as Second-Class Mail Matter at the United States Post Office,
Fort Worth? Texas.
THE ONLY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED BY, FOR, OF AND IN THE INTERESTS
OF SOLDIERS AT CAMP BOWIE THAT HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY
INDORSED AND SANCTIONED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
Non-Individual-Profit-Paying. Total Income for Benefit of all Soldiers.
Five.Cents Per Copy. $1.50 Per Year.
Advertising Rates Furnished on Application.
Eastern Advertising Agents, The George Delacorte, Jr., Company, 154 Nassau Street,
, New York City.
ACTIVE STAFF
LIEUTENANT JAMES A. CRAIN.......■.............Director and Business Manager
SERGEANT WILL S. HENSON...............................................Editor
CORPORAL ISHAM J. OSBORNE...................................Associate Editor
CORPORAL GEORGE B. WEBSTER...........................Advertising Manager
CORPORAL E. E. HARRISON ...................................'Circulation' Manager
PRIVATE JOHN B. EWING..............................................Bookkeeper
SERGEANT A. J. ELLIS...................................................Cartoonist
“KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING.”
Business Office: 133rd Field Artillery, Camp Bowie, Phone 96. or Lamar 5460
Monitor Pub. Co. Fort Worth, Texa*
JUST A LITTLE PEP.
The meaning of the word “pep” is so well known that it needs
no definition here.
Colonel Fred A. Logan, of the 133rd Field Artillery, who is
now in school at Fort Sill has suggested that if .“Just a Little
More Pep” could be the slogan and training song of the men of
Camp Bowie, the 36th Division could easily take its place as an
undisputed leader. To do this every officer and every non-commis-
teioned officer in the entire division would have to let “pep” guide
his every action and command. If this were done the men in
training would soon learn that pep is the thing wanted and that
no substitute would be considered or accepted.
Colonel Logan knows from experience what pep will do. When
he commanded Battery A of the old First Texas Field Artillery
every one of his men was a living example and walking definition
of pep. His organization held the record against all competitors
for being faster, more accurate, neater, and smarter in every re-
spect. All hats were off to them. They had the pep and they had
it strong. There was nothing uncertain or half hearted about the
way they soldiered. They, knew the game and as the army slang
puts it, “they could pitch it as good if not a little better than the
next one.”
Pep will increase the efficiency of any organization more than
one hundred per cent. The lack of it will put any organization
to the bad. Of course every organization has some pep. Or rather
in every organization you will find a FEW men who have the pep.
Their work stands out. They are the ones that are promoted. Yet,
a good part of their pep is spent without a maximum return be-
cause of the lack of pep on the part of those with whom they are
soldiering.
What is needed is a one hundred per cent pep organization.
Every man in the organization “pitch” his turn and pitch it high,
and pitch it to the place that counts. There is a certain way to do
everything. Pep insists that that thing be done a certain way—
that it be done correctly. That it be done promptly, and that it be
done in the manner ordered, are also a part of the pep ritual.
We need more pep fn saluting. We need more pep in the execu-
tion of guarcj, duty. We jjeed more pep in detail work. We Weed
more pep in every line of soldier work. Pep is snap and snap is
smartness and smartness makes an organization. The absence of
these things breaks an organization.
JUST A LITTLE MORE PEP EVERY DAY AND EVERY
HOUR. LET IT BE THE SLOGAN, THE BUNK TALE AND
MARCHING SONG. WITH PEP AS THE DIVISION BY-WORD
WE HAVE A TONIC REMEDY FOR A TEUTONIC MALADY,
fct fe te te
ORGANIZATION PRIDE.
In the armies of the world Organization Pride is considered one
of the most important spurs to prompt and efficient execution.
The lack of organization pride is in evidence in many organiza-
tions of the Panther Division. The reason for this is no doubt
the fact that practically every organization is comparatively new.
They were formed less than a year ago. The men were not sol-
diers, and never had been, but were willing to be. The time has
come when they should begin to think seriously about being sol-
diers.
One of the first principles of being a soldier is organization pride.
A man must convince himself that he belongs to the best organi-
zation in the division and then set about to make it such so far
as his powers permit. The soldier who has organization pride
loves his officers, he loves his fellow soldiers and he believes that
his organization could just naturally “put it over” any other or-
ganization in the world. He loves its guidon just like an Ameri-
can loves the American flag and would fight for the name and
honor of' his organization just as quick as an American would
fight for the honor and name of Old Glory.
In a^number of organizations in Europe family traditions run
throughout the history of the organization. A man belongs to it
and his father and grandfather and his grandfather’s father be-
longed to it. He loves every thing that is of the organization just
like a man loves his own flesh and blood, or his own college, or high
school.
To a man who has organization pride—to a real soldier if you
please—the name, honor and dignity of his organization comes
before all else. He HAD RATHER SEE EVERY MAN IN THE
ORGANIZATION DIE WITH HIS BOOTS ON THAN TO HAVE
A SINGLE MAN TAKEN CAPTIVE OR SHOW THE WHITE
FEATHER. HE FIGHTS FOR HIS COUNTRY AND HE
FIGHTS FOR THE NAME AND HONOR OF HIS ORGANIZA-
TION. IT IS A PART OU" HIS PRIDE. IT IS A PART OF HIM.
It is not necessary to wait until you get into battle to develop
this pride. In fact if you have not i tnow, or before you go into
battle, it is a cinch that you will not have it after you get there. It
is not a thing that is born on the spur of the moment, neither does
it spring full grown into being from gun shock. It must be nursed
and have a natural but lasting growth.
Organization pride shows itself in drills, in sanitary conditions,
in salutes, in geneial deportment, and in e/ery thing else the sol-
dier does.
If a soldier has not this pride, how can he have enthusiasm?
And if he has not enthusiasm how can he ever hope to amount to
anything, or ever be a soldier ?
It behooves every man to develop this pride and enthusiasm. It
is a good thing as a selfish proposition if for no other. For with-
out it, he can expect but one ultimate end and that is the loss of
his own life and the annihilation of his entire organization. No
chain is any stronger than its weakest link.
te te te
THE HUN DRIVE. v
We are of course intensely interested in the outcome of the great
drive now being made by the Huns against the Allied forces in
Northern France. We are all praying and hoping that the German
forces will be defeated and driven back by counter attacks. We
believe they will be.
The great drive should have its full effect on soldiers now in
training at Camp Bowie. - It shows just the kind of a proposition
we may have to meet later. It rminds us that we must train,
train, train. Train to be able to drive the Huns back when we
meet them.
Soldiering is no child’s play. It^akes a man to be a good soldier.
The Germans are soldiers. They are fighters. We must give
them credit for that. But a German soldier at his best is not as
good as an Anglo-Saxon soldier at his best. Nothing like as good.
On the other hand, however, a bad Anglo-Saxon soldier is not as
good as a good German soldier. The theory that “any American
can lick hell out of any Hun”, whether said American is trained or
not; is dangerous. It is loaded and will explode sooner or later with
dire results if adhered to. The soldier who lulls himself to sleep
with the dope that “there is plenty of time to learn to whip the
Germans,” is not worthy to wear the uniform of his country. He
is courting failure and flirting with death. Any man can die for
his country, or rather die while on the pay rolls of his country.
That kind of a man is not wanted. The desire to FIGHT for the.
country and die if necessary means another thing. The great
DRIVE emphasizes the importance of knowing the game. Begin
now!
=fiffi]SS§2211
Musings of a Sky-Pilot
..............................................................niiummiminuanumanmiiaa......minimum......
By LIEUT. JAMES A. GRAIN
Chaplain 133d Field Artillery
“With the sword of the Lord and Gideon.
Does God have anything to do with the winning and losing of
battles? Napoleon once said in a cynical mood, “God fights on
the side that has the heavy artillery.” We may dismiss such a
statement without consideration as mere materialism. In fact,
Napoleon furnishes a classic example of victory being turned into
defeat through forces over which man has no control. In 1812
he led 450,000 fighting men into the heart of Russia and was vic-
torious everywhere, even capturing Moscow. But there was one
factor which he had not taken into consideration—Nature. The
Russians had destroyed everything as they retreated, and the
winter was unusually early and severe, and the grand army got
Pack to France a bare 25,000 men.
Does God take a hand in the events that shape history, or are
our prayers for victory merely the empty echoes of our own de-
sires ? Is faith only a phantom and hope merely a dream ?
The- German kaiser takes advantage of every opportunity to
emphasize the part that God plays in the winning of victories for
German arms. The kaiser’s idea of God is that of a sort of a
modernized Thor of the ancient Teutons. That sort of a God is
only the servant of the “Will to Power,” and makes the creature
the master rather than the creator.
Some one asked the immortal Lincoln, “Mr. Lincoln, do you not
hope that God is on our side?” Mr. Lincoln said, “I am far more
interested in knowing whether or not we are on God’s side.”
That is the answer to the question. Our task is to find God’s
side, and when we have found it, to strike with all our might for
him. In the light of 1900 years of Christian teaching we believe
we have found God’s side, that of liberty and freedom as opposed
to autocracy and oppression, not forgetting while we are praying
to “keep our powder dry,” nor in fearing God to “take our own
part.”
fc te te
Putting God in the Nation’s life,
Bringing us back to the ideal thing—
There’s something fine in a creed like that,
Something true in those words that ring.
Sneer as you will at the “preacher air,” •
Scoff as you will at the Bible tang,
It’s putting God in the Nation’s life
That will keep it clear of the crooked *gang.”
We’ve kept him out of its life too long,
We’ve been afraid—to our utter shame—
To put him into our speech and song
To stand on the Hustings and speak his name.
We’ve put all things in that life but him,
We’ve put our selfishness, ride and show;
It’s time for the true ideal to come,
And time for the low desire to go.
Putting God in the Nation’s life,
Helping us think of the higher thing,
That is the kind of a speech to make,
That is the kind of a song to sing.
Upward and forward and let us try
The new ideal in the forthright way —
Putting God in the Nation’s life,
And putting him there in a style to stay.
—Baltimore Sun.
ftftftft ft ftftftftftftftftftft ft
ft &
* NORMAL BURSTS. *
ftftftft ft - ftft.ftftft
BY HEN. *
The third Liberty Loan will soon
be floated.
This coming on the heels of state-
wide prohibition will no. doubt be a
relief to a great many as they can
still keep their money “bottled in
bond—s.”
fe ta ta
Even at that a big gun that throws
the ball 76 miles is nothing unusual.
Consider the “little gun” that throws
the bull all over a continent if not
around the world in his efforts to
“rescue” soldiers.
te to .te
Wig factories must be enjoying an
unusual brisk business. Just think
what a large per cent of the men you
see on the stage use the bald headed
make-up. Verily camouflage has
many, divers and sundry uses.
The war has done one thing, that
not only conserves food but preserves
nerves as well. It has eliminated
from the vaudeville stage the Ger-
man comedian with his favorite
string of sausage.
te te
Fritz G. Lanham in a “four min-
ute” address at a local theafre urged
people to pay the tax to wield the ax.
That is what you call hitting it to a
“t.”
te te
A contemporary observes that it is
a good thing the draft law does not
effect women, they would all have to
go on the testimony of their ages.
Not necessarily. There is a mini-
mum age limit as well as a maximum.
M
The story, comes back from Europe
of a lone American soldier who cap-
tured an entire German patrol and
marched them into camp as prisoners.
Now that the Americans are over
there, perhaps the Irish will get a
rest.
te te te
My idea of a slacker-merchant is
one who caters to men exclusively and
carries no military goods. At least
his business would be slack-er than
usual.
te te fc
My idea of an optimist is-a fellow
who fancies himself the watchdog of
the regiment when he is sleeping in
a pup tent.
te
By a recent ruling no dust will be
allowed on foods. The I. W. W. will
probably find fault with this because
the poor man has no chance at all to
get rich by the “eat a peck of dirt”
route.
te te
A corporal in C Battery says one
reason he could not afford to be cap-
tured by the Germans is that he can
not stand the thought of coming bhek
to America in a bottle wearing the
label “imported olive oil.”
ta fc ta
The Germans are shelling the Am-
ericans with mustard shells. Won-
der where they got the idea that the
Americans have cold feet? Perhaps
it- is the same old story. A drunk
man fancies every other man he
meets is drunk.
In New York they have found a
brewer’s daughter among the undesir-
ables. But what of that? In Texas
they have found all brewers’ products
to be undesirable.
ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft #
# JUST PLAIN SOLDIER- *
# ING. #
# & # -*— # ft ft ft ft
(Sixth of Series of Articles on Errors
Committed in Camp Bowie Every
Day.)
All authors, instructors, and teach-
ers of military movements are agreed
on the point that peppy execution de-
pends upon peppy commands. A com-
mand that drags out like the dying
notes of a yodler’s dream, usually pro-
duces an execution that resembles
manuevers of inmates of an old
soldiers’ home.
In calling step for marches, drills
or movements of any kind. It is not
called “One—• two— three— four—
—one—two—three—four—” Or rath-
correctly. Why should four be drag-
ged out any more than one, or any
other number? Again why should
there be a great pause between four
and one ? There certainly is no differ-
ence in the step, unless it is a dance
rehearsal of the lame duck, or chicken
walk. There is no hesitation waltzes
in military marches. Yet step callers
would have you execute them.
In calling step, like giving com-
mands, the muscles of the stomach
should be employed. This saves the
throat, and preserves the poise and
pep. of the step caller or command
giver.
“Hun- Who- hlee- hoe hun-who-hee-
hoe.”
Try that line at a cadence of 150
per minute. Try it on the drill. Force
it out with pep and well-timed precis-
ion. If you find that you need a rest,
make it a snare drum call for a few
counts and then take up the regular
order: “Hun-hun-who-hee-hoe,” pro-
nouncing the first and second “hun”
as the left foot strikes the ground
respectively, and then take up the
regular four calls, going on until rest-
ed in this manner.
A drill master who puts pep into his
commands will never have lax execu-
tion. This was demonstrated at Cap-
tain Houghton’s pep school. At first
the work was hard but eventually the
men caught the spirit of the thing
and demonstrated real American pep
throughout the school:
In setting up exercises the commands
serve as electric buttons and cause
every man to make the same move-
ment at the same time in a most de-
sirable peppy manner.
The Command of execution in all
movements should be forced out,
short and snappy, but loud and dis-
tinct, from the muscles of the stom-
ach. The preparatory command is the
only one that is prolonged. For in-
stance: “Squads—r-i-g-h-t! HARSH!”
The last command rings out like a
gun shot, and the men jump to exe-
cution as though it were a gun shot
fired just behind their ears.
Another thing: The much sought
after, and seldom found perfect com-
pany front depends a lot on the
proper calling of steps.
FROM GAS ATTACKS ON
TOMBS.
Here reposes all that’s left of Sergeant
Billy Gannon,
He departed one bright morning while/
peering down a cannon.
Corporal Murphy
'One dark night,
Stumbled on some dynamite-
May he Rest in Peace.
He’s with the angels now,
And this is why and how—
Poor John Dumm,
Ate too much slum,
He’s with the angels now.
Battery D mourns Wagone* Toole—
The Moral—Don’t ever get fresk with
a mule.
Here lies the bodies of two bold men,
Who started for town on the P. and N.
My name is Percy Dense,
Heaven is my station;
I thought it was a joke,
To duck inoculation.
Here lies two doughboys, Johnson and
Whitney;
Drowned in thq mud while riding a
jitney.
He never adjusted his good gas mask,
And now he’s gone where—you needn’t
ask.
VERSE AND WORSE.
By Robert Lee Harris, Headquarters
Co. 133rd Field Artillery.
Thirty thousand fighting men, from
the land Qf the old frontier,
And every one,
A son of a gun,
In khaki, training here.
And its drill—drill—drill,
’Till you can’t keep still,
And the sergeant hollers “Fall Out”
and he puts you thru the mill.
Thirty thousand fighting men, from
almost everywhere,
Who joined to fight with Texans and
to be with men who dare.
And its Hep—Hep—Hep,
Hey, you Rookie, get in step
And throw your shoulders back a bit
and show a little pep.
And some was down in Timbuctoo
Where the war was first begun,
And some first heard the welcome
News in the land of the midnight sun.
And its “Squads right about,”
You hear the corporal shout,
And you’d better get the cadence or
You ll get balled out.
And some was down in Bingville when
the war was first declared,
And they took a chew of Navy plug
And bucked, and pitched, and raired.
Oh, they used to push the plow,
And they used to milk the cow,
Hut they’ll mighty soon forget it, for
They’re in the army now.
BULLET SERMONS.
By Robert Lee Harris.
When you hear th’ bullets whizz
and a sizzin’ by your head,
And you don’t know just what mim
you’ll be lyin’ cold and dead,
You find yourself a stumblin’ thru i
prayers you used to know,
For the days of tousel-headed bal
hood of long ago,
And you say, “My 'soul to keep,” a
then you choke and say “Ame
And you find your heart is beat
w ^ ^ old glad beat again
Well, I amt no hand at puttin’ pui
words in poetry,
And I ain’t no preacher feller—but
sorta seems to me,
That if some of us would aim to sta
our claim-up in the sky,
We sorta NEED to hear them bull
come a whistlin’ by.
Have you sent the Reconnaissai
to the folks at home ? Mail your si
scription to Corp. E. E. Harris
Headquarters Co. 133rd F. A. Th]
months Fifty Cents.
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Henson, Will S. The Reconnaissance (Camp Bowie, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 31, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 30, 1918, newspaper, March 30, 1918; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth846986/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarrant County Archives.