Rookie Rhymes, By The Men Of The 1st And 2nd Provisional Training Regiments, Plattsburg, New York Part 12

Battr'y three, you always see at Double time.

Double time, double time!

On the run we always keep, We even do it in our sleep.

Double time, double time!

When we eat our food goes down at Double time.

Double time, double time!

Always jump and run like h.e.l.l, Faster than a British sh.e.l.l.

Double time, double time!

Boche can't hit us, for we move at Double time.

Double time, double time!

It's the surest road to fame, If you live and don't get lame.

Double time, double time!

Hammond's favorite outdoor sport is Double time.

THE 8TH NEW ENGLAND

(_Air: Michael Roy_)

The Eighth New England Infantry is the one that shows them how; If Kaiser Bill could see us drill, the war would be over now.

Out in front of the Hostess House, as we go marching by Where the ladies are sitting, they drop their knitting, and all begin to cry: "For oh! For oh! What a wonderful company!

It must be either the General Staff or Company 8 N. E."

If Elihu Root could see us shoot out on the rifle range He'd send us to Russia to help lick Prussia--oh, what a glorious change!

If General Pers.h.i.+ng could hear us cursing the whistle that blows too soon, There'd be a decree that reveille would come in the afternoon.

"For oh! For oh! What a wonderful company!

It must be either the General Staff or Company 8 N. E."

MARCHING ON THE RHINE

(_Air: Rocky Road to Dublin_)

When marching on the Rhine, boys, We'll be singing this song As we're marching along.

When marching on the Rhine, boys, On our hunt for Kaiser Bill, We'll shoot the Germans out of France, We'll keep them on the run; When we get there the world will know, New England has begun, To fight for Uncle Sammy.

We'll do our best, And never will rest, Until Old Glory rises to the sun.

Over the sea, boys, Over the sea to Victory, New England will fight on forever.

EGGS--AGERATED

Since I've come to Plattsburg I've eaten so many eggs, That feathers now adorn my skin, And spurs are on my legs.

WITH APOLOGIES TO KIPLING'S "THE VAMPIRE"

A fool there was, and he made his prayer, (Even as you and I) Tho't he would hold down a colonel's chair, So he came up here to do and dare, But the skipper decided he wasn't there, (Even as you and I).

Oh, the days we waste, and the pay we waste, And the work of our hands and feet Belong to the days we did not know, (And now we know we never could know) Enough to stand still at retreat.

Oh, the sleep we lost and the weight we lost, And the things we had to eat Can never come back to make us want, (We hope they can't and pray they sha'n't) If they did we'd admit we were beat.

The fool was stripped to his foolish hide, (Even as you and I) And they wouldn't let him be rear guide, (So some of him lived, but the most of him died) And he stayed a "rookie" just outside (Even as you and I).

_FINIS_

_There's a lot that's pretty funny in the life we lead up here, The problems and the hikin' and the mess; But sometimes when I'm all alone I get a little blue, And that's the way with everyone, I guess._

_I often sit and wonder what it's really all about, And what the end of all this will be; It seems almost impossible that we will be at war, And see the things a soldier has to see._

_It's something more than just parade and something more than drill, And something more than hiking in the rain.

It means that lots of friends we've made are going over seas, And some of them will not come back again._

_There's not a single man of us who really wants to fight, And maybe die somewhere in France--but then, It's war, and since it must be done, we'll try to do it right.

G.o.d willing, we'll acquit ourselves like men._

[Ill.u.s.tration: With the Rookie to the End.]