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to appear reluctant about getting into
real combat service. I merely wished to
assure him that I really wanted to go to
France and hoped he would see fit to
send me. He said grumpily that he would
consider it, and the interview was over.
     Next day the list was made known
and my name was included. I learned
later that Guthrie had made a similar
request; that Sands had not only consented
to send Guthrie, but had  discussed with
him the choice of the others. Guthrie had
used his influence to get Thompson, Adams,
Price, Jones and me on the list.
   At a general assembly of the camp
Colonel Slocum addressed us. He bade us
farewell in a very agreeable way, commending
us for having endured so well the hard
training to which we had been subjected.
He said it had deliberately been made
rigorous, in order to weed out the
weaklings. He contrasted our group with
the average body of regular army recruits
and said that no officer, in his opinion
had ever commanded a finer regiment-
From what I saw later of the enlisted men
in the regular army, I know that I must
have been a pleasure to handle a group 
like ours.
   We were dismissed with ten days' leave
Our groups of six made arrangements to go
to New York together, and I went home
to Ashland City.
   I had a financial problem to meet. I 
had little money, and none of the equipment
necessary for an officer. I did not know
what my expenses would be overseas or
how regularly I would be paid. I therefore
had to face a difficulty similar to that
of the three musketeers when they were ordered