I 3
The. Caduceus
“DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE OF
WORLD WIDE JUSTICE.”
THE CADUCEUS
BUILDING ANEW
Published every Saturday by the En
listed Personnel of the Base Hospital,
Camp Oreene, Charlotte, N. C.
Business Office ’Phone 1B30
Editorial Office—Building C-1, Base
Hospital.
Five Centa tlie Copy.
Sponsor Lieut. Walter Mytinger
Editor & Mgr. . .Sgt. Verlin J. Harrold
Associate Editor — Avery Toohey
Associated Business Manager—
Ivan H. Law.
Business Assistants—
Theodoric Neal
Roy A. Evans.
Dudley M. Sarfaty.
The Caduceus, after being penned
in by the recent quarantine, is re
building its circulation in the terri
tory about the camp.
Nearly 10,000 copies were sold by
the hospital men in the cities of the
Piedmont section on last Saturday.
The promise for this week is that of
continued interest
While the U. S. Army base hospital.
Camp Greene, remains there is work
lor The Caduceus and no. place along
the line of the magazine staff is there
evidence of slacking.
OUR BIGGEST JOB
.K
A great crisis has passed—and another is-just ahead.
There was a stupendous war problem, involving the transforming of
American industry and the use of millions of men and billions of gold,
which has been solved in the collapse of Germany’s military power. But
there is a great peace problem. Involving the readjustment of mills and
factories and the returning to trade of lour million soldiers, which is born
of the well earned victory.
It took a year, even with the matchless loyalty of American labor, to
prepare for ^ the grand triumph of democracy’s cause. It will' take time,
no matter how rapidly congress works and regardless of the speed with
which the plan for demobilization is put into action, to discharge our great
hosts of the army and navy.
The period in which we now stand is the most trying time in the life of
the soldier. His job is mostly to wait.
Some conjecture has been made as to whether it is not much easier to
repose in a shell-shaken trench and await the minute when the whistle call
will sound a hazardous rush across the cratered and wire covered terrain
of No Man’s Land and in the face of the spiteful clatter of Boche machine
guns or if such a period of inactivity might not be considered a real respite
when compared with the waiting for discharge papers after the fire of war
is dead and the memory pictures of home and dear ones haunt both waking
and sleeping hours.
“Waiting it out” at the bat has won many hard fought baseball games
but the men who can be counted on to cooly “wait it out”, are few. It is
a nerve trying test which proves too much for those unseasoned in the
game.
So this period of waiting for definite orders for demobilization is a se
vere test of our soldiery. How we individual soldiers behave during these
trying days of uncertainty is the best test of our abilities for self-discipline.
‘ We know that readjustment cannot come in a week. Industry cannot
return to a peace basis over night. There is the promise that soldiers will
be returned to private life as soon as possible and we have the assurance
that it is a promise from that loyal will which said, “We will beat the sub
marine.”
We have no reason to doubt the good faith of those in authority. They
have cared for us too well during the months of battle. We also know that
It is we soldiers who make the momentous readjustment problem for the
government. We are the men who will cause the change in millions of jobs.
We know also that this transition cannot be too rapid if business is to follow
an orderly course.
Be patient—is the plea of congress, which Is working on a demobiliza
tion schedule. The civilian public, which has provided war funds without
stint and who have only asked that we .show results, are urging patience
among the soldiers while’'the readjustment problem is being solved. Pa
tience is asked by the heads of the army and navy.
Our peace conduct can be such as to overthrow much of the heroic work
of Freedom’s warriors. We must curb our own selfish plans for the, day
and patriotically do the little jobs that come with this waiting period if we
are to prove true patriots. We can help to the utmost at this stage of the
social and industrial reconstruction by just being patient.
VICTORY DAY.
A joint resolution has been intro
duced in Congress making November
11, the date of the signing of the ar
mistice, a national holiday and desig
nating it as Victory day. Advices
froAi.J’aris state that ’'he same action
has been undertaken in the chamber
of deputies, and no doubt the example
will be followed in England, Italy
and other countries.
It is very probable that November
11 will be added to the list; of Amei;i-
can national holidays, and that it also
will be so recognized in all of the al
lied countries. Marking as it does
the greatest event in history, the pass
ing of autocratic government from the
face of the earth, it deseerves to be
made one of the fixed feasts.
July 4, Independence day, hereto
fore has been regarded as the greatest
and most inspiring of all American
holidays, commemorating the inde
pendence of the American colonies.
Victory day, broader in its signifi
cance, will commemorate the inde
pendence of the world, and thus as
sume a status, in the United States
at least, equal to that of the Glorious
Fourth. It marks a new epoch in the
world’b history.
ARMY LIFE.
Yep this army life is a pretty good
,life, when they keeps you on the
run.
When you swing into line at a snappy
quick time and your shoulder car
ries a gun.
And it ain't so worse though you
sweat and curse when yer swing
ing a pick in a ditch.
And you can walk your post cheerful
almost though the night’s as dark
as pitch.
Though they feeds yer slum that ain't
half done yer always ready to go,
Pol’ you feels just right with an ap
petite when yer hears the mess
call blow.
Sure you soon can learn it’s no good
to yearn for the good old red
eyed booze
An yer keep a smile through many a
mile of mud that's over your
shoes.
Yep, this army life is a pretty good
life when there’s somethin’ for
you to do.
It’s the time that’s yer own when re
treats been blown that m^kes a
feller blue.
If you goes down town an yer bums
around, there’s nothin’ but stran
gers there.
An the thoughts of home comes into
yer dome and you wishes that you
wuz there.
If you sticks with the crowd an yer
laughs aloud at some guy’s darn
fool jokes
And yer sing an shout you can’t keep
out the thoughts of your old home
folks.
Then yer writes to yer dad an tells
him your glad your here and all is
well
But when yer alone to yerself you’ll
moan “This army life is hell.”