The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-04
TEXAS POST IS
BEST ARMY CAMP
in The WORLD
Average of Health Higher Than
in Any Previous Gathering
of Troops
DIVISION AT GALVESTON
SHOWS LITTLE SICKNESS
Soldiers Are Sturdy Types of
American Manhood, and Well
Trained

TEXAS CITY, Tex, Aug. A.
What army officers say is the best
organized, best trained and health.
+ lest military camp in tAe world to-
day, stretches for two miles along
the Gulf OF Mexico shore here. Four
months ago the site OF this camp was
virtually a swamp. This transfer
nation is one of several big achieve
ments of the American soldiers sent
here last February for the mobili-
zatiop of the second division OF the
United States army, the first OF the
new divisions brought together in
this country.
Major-General VIM. H. Carter
commanding the second division, L.
| 5. A.. said today:
"Th division here and at Calves
| ton comprises one-third OF the in
fantry strength Of the United States
army, and with artillery, cavalry and
signal corps. makes nearly 1900
men. Bringing the division to-
gether has taught the officers and
men the intimate needs of big or
ganization as to its equipment and
has weeded out unnecessary para
phernalia and UNDERSTANDABLE ami
mails. When the commands compri-
sing the various divisions, go back to
their various posts and are ordered
to reassemble for any service what
ever. the commanding general can is
sue single order which will cover
the entire equipment OF every man,
whether from northern or southern
n,,r l,
small that ii has TO be spread very
thin in various parts Of the world,
and the necessitates varied and ex-
pensive equipment.
The second division is now in ex-
cellent shape. The soldiers are
sturdy types of American man
hood and equal to any in the
world The whole division. with bag
gage, could be ready to go aboard
thains or transports before the cars
could be sidetracked or the trans
ports ready to cast off.
Probably the one most important
accomplishment for the American
people has been the demonstration
of sanitary standards. 1t has veri-
fed the methods tested at San An
tonic in 1911, when $4,000 men as
sembled as a maneuver division. We
have now been here four months and
not one case Of typhoid has develop
ed. When we came, We were told
that this site was "a swamp.
1--WE could train twice as many
men here without increase of officers.
We believe the United States does
not need large army such as main
tanned by European countries, but
few regularly and equipped divisions.
such as this, distributed over the
country at points where they could
be readily available for overseas
service and as models for our volun-
teer citizen soldiery. upon which this
country must always rely, would
more than repay their cost"
Brigadier-General c. r. Edwards,
the sixth brigade, has
worked out the night attack forma-
ton by which. with the use Of ropes
to help keep the commands in touch,
over 10000 men, one pitch-dark
night. marched out of camp without
awakening anyone, went two miles.
led by only two guides and approach
ed within over thirty yards of an en-
trenchment before the officers in 1t,
who were waiting for the attack,
knew of the enemy's approach. The
center of the attacking line struck
within ten yards Of the center or
he entrenchment.