Newspapers / Trench and Camp (Charlotte, … / Jan. 1, 1918, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 m wr Real Magnitude and Accomplis 1 III SI linas?Genuine S< || || I Tens of Thou ^ |sJyJJll' Camp Greene, with about 30,000 inhabitants, is a wonderful institution, ?gg=ag the real magnitude of which probably I" only a relatively few people of Charing from tields of growing cotton and waving green corn to practical completion in seven weeks, this mobilization center has added tremendously to the responsibilities and proportionately has increased the assets of this The real Camp Greene is not what it would seem to the sightseer who great endeavor to reach an established goal is not so plainly and easily to be seen. Great tasks have been accomplished there within the past three months, even greater tasks are now being accomplished with rapidity and smoothness, and the casual visitor cannot same to known the deadly earnestness of any perhaps could not understand the full meaning of the seemingly haphazard doings here, there and everywhere. There 'is order in all these things that apparently only make for chaos. Preparing an army for actual warfare is nothing more nor less than conducting a school. As the child is gradually advanced in its classes so is the enlisted man carried forward | ! through the various branches or reading. writing, arithmetic, mechanical and physical science, philosophy and psychology, knowledge of which is es-( sen Ma I to his success and that of the' army of which he is one of a great many closely co-ordinated parts. Drill, as the civilian knows it. principally serves the purpose of developing discipline and cohesion and uniformity. Drill, as the soldier knows it, includes everything which goes into the j work <>f making real lighting men of I Digging in red clay for hours at ! a lime while others shovel and tamp : perhaps does not appear to have much ' connection with war. Neither per- j haps would it seem advisable to many fathers and mothers to have their sons spend long houni heaving rounded chunks of wood at nothing in particular. Those who perchance should come upon a company or a battalion J shoving in various directions a gun j gripped firmly at stod- and murzle I might wonder what relation that ha91 IJji from Belgium. Those who see no I I Imtfl good in baseball, football, basketball I I U or hard athletics might question the | judgment of the government which I requires each enlisted man to devote tiMaill so many hours weekly to some branch j| M m Serve Double Purpose. All these things serve a double purBLp pose, the principal of which Is that pwnn cither the work is teaching the scl[t.jP'pgWw dier how to do something he certainly would have to do if at the battle fflgnKfl front or it prepares him physically for VjMBRj that task, whether or not it ever must vflBTn be undertaken under ftre. The digyttln ging at Camp Greene is teaching the \ men how to trenches, those narVuM row. crooked gashes in the face of the \ earth so essential to temporary safety .?\ in France. The thousands of strongarmed young men at this camp are acquiring proficiency as bombers by . i- ~ "'""if o^-onadnx of wood and lead. Calisthenics and athletics make strong arms, clear heads and capable V bodies. All these things which the soldier receives in such large doses \ ?f Sjv are steadily' and rapidly advancing i? H^ him to the point where he will be I* H ready, if called, to Join his thousands ??r 41 of coinrades in Europe. J 11 Up- Ilut there are many other things A |l 10 be accomplished before the soldier is ready to board the transport? things which do not particularly conJli I cern the Individual or the company. Ill I only the regiment or the entire separate organization. A numerous series I j I ^ ?f steps leads to the division?the best II tt known tactical unit of this war. To IMl accomplish the organization of a di||l vision, enlisted men must be formed! Km into companies, companies into regiIH HI merits, regiments into brigades and j ??i M3U1 I.rifi'j.ries into divisions. And the | fy Vi "1 nearer approaches the end of the work "f organizing a division the harder Out at Camp Greene one class of officers trains individuals while anBP WBKM other class wives attention to the SfcyCPiBafl gre.it task of whipping these individ^ H uals into one great unit?the division While this organizing is in progress, llll' III I Mill hundreds and hundreds of unassigned fill' P' I illll recruits are arriving to aid in the exfljll |,j I ||!| pansiou of the recently created regilli!-' jil ! Ill ments to overseas strength. Quarterly L-' I Bill niasier corps officers and men are enIpl. ft J j [jjlj gaged in supplying f.ood, clothing and fill II Ih I various other supplies. Ordnance In III Kill corps officers and men have the task llll III Hill of providing the actual fighting equip- I |||] III IHi mont. the rifles, side arms, ammuniIII Ml tion and explosives. Medical officers llil HI 91 fl care foe. those who need medical at-1 ?ii him tendon, maintain close supervision I over sanitary conditions and direct other work which may result in im-| S DOINGS < hment of the Wonderful Instltutio ihiiers, Trained and Seasoned 1 sands of Men Heretofore Untutore proving or at least maintaining the general health of the soldiers. Indeed. Camp Greene is constituted of ufh??l? wlrhin whenli. The Individual. After All. Not the divisio nnor the brigade nor the regiment makes Camp Greene what it is?to Charlotte a wonderful mixture of opportunity and responsibility. The individual soldier, the "buck" private, is the heart and soul of Camp Greene, and each other camp, too. Those boys and young men and middle-aged men out there who wear no insignia of rank nor braided cuffs have thrown their all into the balance, and more fully aware of this than those in Charlotte they live with a smile on their faces. It is interesting as a psychological study ?those who are preparing to see and participate In horrors known to be beyond the power of words to describe think least of what the extremely uncertain future may hold or of what the end may be, whether individual glory or collective oblivion. Their life in camp is simple and largely, a matter of strict routine. Their commanders know they must be kept busy, doing one thing or another, regardless of what service in the near or remote future may be required of them. Perhaps nowhere else than in the army is it better known that idleness breeds trouble. Therefore the soldier's time is well occupied from about 5:45 In the morning until 6 in the afternoon. Then he is at liberty until 11 p. m. The work the boys at Camp Greene have to do each day generally influences them to really "hit the hay" at an hour which will enable them to get about eight hours' sleep. Early each morning. Just as day is breaking now. the bugler calls them from their sleep. They-have it to relaet that the bugler says. "I can't get 'em up. I can't get 'em up in the morning." But they tumble out in a husry. and -after donning their uniforms, fall In line in the company streets for a period Of setting up ex-, ercises which, when ended, sends thefli keenly hungry In a rush for the mess v.i 11= oo ihn 'Vhnm" rail is sounded. Early in the day, all who are sick or who feel unwell are sent to the regimental physician for medical atte..? tion. Everything is done according to schedule. Just enough time Is allowed that everything may be done well, but little time is wasted. So, after breakfast camp and tents are cleaned up and then the big task or tasks of the day are taken up. This means generally that they follow the schedule for training activities which the regimental commander prepares usually each week. A specimen schedule might provide for practical and theoretical schools in various branches for different bodies, all in progress at the same time. Or, the entire regiment might devote itself to some phase of training. PreHcnt Activities. The infantry regiments at Camp Greene now are giving their attention principally to these things: bayonet practice, grenade throwing, trench digging, drill, including close and ex-l tended order work, and schools. At] the schools the men are lectured re- j garding their rifle, its care and use, I gas attack and defense, first aid to the' injured, how to maintain good health,, care of their feet, methods and means | of establishing and maintaining lines of communication between the firing line and the supply bases far in thel rear, and numerous other subjects of whic hthe soldier must be familiar be- j fore he is prepared for actual service. As rapidly as may be, the various regl 10 miles from the camp, for an extended course in target practice. Though many of the men of regiments are "shooting" for their first time, it is said uniformly satisfactory scores have been made. The old heads at this game, men who have been years in the regular army though still enlisted men. are rendering a fine service to their country as instructors for those who are getting their first whiff of powder fumes. Despite the presence of the holiday reason, there is not that disorganization at Camp Greene which is characterizing civil life. Save for Christ through their daiiy routine as usual. There is some difference in the intensity of the work, it is true, but not enough to be of much importance. Those 2,500 enlisted men who have gone away on Christmas furloughs can not be missed except at inspection each night, when the empty cots are seen. Regarding the men's physical condition. there is little to be said. Not many words are required to tell that they are In good health, well fed. comfortably clothed and warmly housed. Since September 1?almost four months?there have been at least. 15. iE OF CAMP G n Hardly Yet Appreciated by Peop or Actual Service at the Front, A in the Arts and Science of Mod uuu omcers ana men, on mo aK.aov, at Camp Greene, and there had been on December 20 only six deaths, five of which arc known to have resulted from d.sease and one was said to have been the result of Indiscretion. This sixth death was of a soldier found dead in bed. The number of cases of illness is reported to be relatively low, considering thfi fact that the crowded regimnts ar "shooting" fortaoinan c8 conditions of camp life very frequently expose the men to disease. AU Warmly Clad. Despite the difficulties the government is known to be facing in the effort to provide clothing for the men, all at this camp are warmly clad. All are said to have now full outfits of woolen under and outer clothing, overcoats and good shoes. Thousands though not all of the men have sweaters in addition to their other heavy clothing. During normal weather for this season of the year in this section, the men seldom will need to wear their overcoats If they wear their sweaters. Some discomfort was experienced during the recent abnormal weather, during which period several low temperature.records were set and the greatest snowfall in 20 years occurred. This was due not so much to lack of clothing as it was to lack of fuel. Only when the men tried to sleep in an unheated tent while the outside was bitterly cold did they really approach suffering. Many causes, it was learned, contributed to the shortage of fuel, which forced the men into the woods by the hundreds to cut and haul, anybody's timber to camp. The immediate cause, it was said, was the congested condition of freight traffic. Back of this was the reported failure of contracting parties to make deliveries and the reason attributed for this was that sufficient labor could not be employed. When the temperature climbed upward toward normal, the need for jfkurcov A TUIDTCCUTU / ur>r l bll I n, iiiilllkwiiii r '"GIVES "Y" ENTERTAINMENT Private Cohn, Lawyer and Musician Before Enlisting, Lines Up Talent With Short Notice. In the absence of Physical Director George Taylor, who for several days has been at a Charlotte hospital, the regular athletic program for "stunt night" at 108 was not put on. In place, however, a program was arranged that did great credit to the regiment from which the men came, and especially to the leader of the troupe. Private Manuel Cohn. of Battery A, a San Francisco lawyer Dy profession, and a talented musician, agreed to j take charge of the program and cr- | [ range an evening's entertainment for the boys. With only a day's noUce Private Cohn got busy and from his | battery in some magic way produced j a program of nine iiumbers that were | | excellently rendered. The Thirteenth band, under the leadership of Ser-1 geant Major Harry Jagendoif. gave a concert before the performance and accompanied the singers. The music was good, and already 108 is planning to have this band give a full evening's concert. Especially should be mentioned the fancy rope twirling of Private B. Huer. How he did it, is a question that will hardly be answered by those who saw him work; dramatic reading. Corporal Paul Benton, all of whose readings were written by him; original recitations, by Private Henry Thomas, and singing by Leader Cobn. The hut was packed with a large and highly appreciative audience and each man present Thursday night will welcome Private Cohn and his troupe when they come back, for they've got The program was as follows: Band selections?Thirteenth Field Artillery band; leader. H. Jagendorf. Song?They Called It Dixieland, Private Manuel Cohn. Fancy rope twirling, Pcivate B. Huer. Song?Yaca Hula, Private Milton B. Harris. Dramatic reading (original). Corporal Paul Benton. Italian song?Venetian Trio. Corporal Brickwedel; Privates Clgliano, Esposito. Song?Good-Bye Broadway,' Hello France, Manuel Cohn. Original recitations, Private Henry Thomas. Yiddish monologue. Private Milton Harris. They're Wearing 'Em Higher In Hawaii, Private Cohn. rrt.Miiilte'i"!' ii REENE I le of Charlotte and the Caro- ' ;| Being Made Out of ern Warfare. wood decreased, resulting in considroiiAvine the shortage. City and Camp Relations. With reference to the relations between the soldiers at Camp Greene and the people of the city of Charlotte, officers and men speak In terms of highest gratification. An army officer in high position at Camp Greene, a native of Dixie and a real southern gentleman who has seen service in many campB In many parts of the world, told the writer that "the people of Charlotte opened their doors in their hospitality to enlisted men to an extent which probably no other encampment of soldiers In the sendee of the United States ever enjoyed." This conversation was entirely personal. For that reason, and that only, is his name not mentioned. It Is gufficlent to say his poslUon at the camp was such as to give his words great Va>Uso during the conversation on the L,.., ~r Pk.riAito'. attitude toward C QUOJCUl UI VslMU .u..v _ . the soldiers, this high officer declared that "this attitude has been of great .H help to us, in that it made the men ' more amenable to discipline, more receptive to instruction, aided them in lj|3B lighting off homesickness and discon- JH tent. In fact, the treatment has been i^H such as to make it a very unpopular thing for an enlisted man to be even rude. When I say 'unpopular,' I mean M not unpopular with the community so " H much but with his comrades The whole thing has worked out so that the enlisted man was prompted to do HI the right thing. "In fact, the people of your city by -H their kindness and hospitality toward v.H the soldiers have done the nation a great service and have performed well *II a patriotic duty. "As for the officers, I think they //in should in after years always contem- .11} plate the people of Charlotte with the keenest stirring of delight and gr&ti- Bl>) rffoTBOUTS MARK STUNT NIGHT AT "Y" 104 Interesting Program Amused Soldiers Christmas Eve Night. Contortionists Make Hit. 'pSH "Stunt night" and Christmas eve ' program at Y. M. C. A. Building 104 . was marked by fast boxing and ^H] wrestling matches and contortionists' exhibitions. A boxing bout of three rounds between Private Digerolamo, Company A, Seventh machine gun battalion, and Private Devlve, Headquarters company, machine gun battalion, was M won by Digerolamo, who did most of flH the leading. A wrestling bout between Private H| Sazynsky, Company K, Forty-deventh MM regiment, and Private Frank Procida, '/Hi of Company A. Connecticut Signal \H corpa Both men, weighing about 140 pounds, agreed to wrestle six minutes K| with strangle, toe, scissors holds H barred. Saxynsky threw Procida in flj one minute and 40 seconda A wrestling bout between Private , |lj Saxynsky (who agreed to take on an- 736 H other man owing to shortness of other H bout) and Private Antomowiz, Com- w H pany C. Seventh machine gun battal- - Ion. Sazynsky weighed 140 pounds H and Antomowix. They wrestled six Hj minutes to a draw. Corporal Beckett, Company D, Sev- H enth machine gun battalion, enter- H talned with a few acrobatic tricks and picking coins off the floor with his JHj teeth without bending knees and igflH bending the crab fashion. It was well taken by the crowd. a nmuitiine bout between Private IH Kelly. Field Ambulance 28, of Bob- . ! ton. Mass., and Private Tango, of |H Company F, Forty-seventh regiment They agreed to wrestle two best falls ? out of three. Kelly went to work with . a vim and threw Tango for the first HI fall in 20 seconds and after a two- H minute rept succeeded in throwing HI Tango fp^the second fall In 30 sec- - H NEW FRENCH CLASSES IN THE THIRTEENTH J 1 Many inquiries have come from ; -I batteries In the Thirteenth for : <*? jH French. All names have been care- . I fully listed and within the week ar- H rangements will have been made for / 9 the establishment of several classes. .1 The study of French is becoming 'HI more popular as the time for "going - ! over" approaches. This Is as it should 1 -|Hl be, for if ever men will need the . > ,H knowledge of a foreign tongue, It will be when a hungry, husky repreaen- ' * I 1 t?.tive of Uncle Sammie sits down for : - ; H: a bite and tries to make known-his ' wishes to a sympathetic yet helpless J I
Trench and Camp (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 1, 1918, edition 1
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