Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-18
PRAISES STUDENT CAMP.
FOR YOUTHS TRAINING
Father of Gettysburg Camper
Suggests Congressional Aid
to Broaden the Field.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
My son is q student" at the students
camp at Gettysburg, and he writes in the
most enthusiastic manner Of 1t. If all the
young men In attendance there. or
large part Of them. will take the same in
terest he does 1t will prove a most
profitable venture for 1.-The good Of the
service" Ny son writes me OF the order
OF daily exercises and instruction. lectures,
ETC.. and in the "off hours he interests
himself in the duties of the Signal Corps.
cavalry and artillery, besides interesting
himself in camp hygiene. and in fact
everything pertaining to the life of SOL
der 'in camp.
| l think this one of the most COM
| mendable things the chief of staff has
ever inaugurated. and feel sure that the
| result OF this camp will open the eyes OF
Congress othe advisability-yes, neces-
sity-of making an appropriation to con-
Duct camps on larger scale at sew
erai places in the states. The young men
are now at the age to receive the best i'm
pressions. and by diligence and study
they will acquire such ideas and knowl-
edge of the duties of the soldier that in
case of necessity, they could go Ito the
'front.' prepared to take command and
care for troops.
Expense Bar to Some Who Would Go
There are many young men who at the
close of school and college for the sum
mer are unable to bear even the small
cost for six weeks. that this camp is es-
tomated at. but II Congress would make
an appropriation to cover the cost of
transportation to and from camp. and
subsistence while there, instead of there
being only a few hundred at the camps
tnere would be as many thousands.
And the government would be the gamer
py such course In the training for the
service such camps would afford.
Let the Secretary of War and chief of
stan formulate suggestion for presen-
| tatlOn to the committee of Congress upon
whom this question would devolve and
urge Congress to make an appropriation
that would cover the cost of maintain
ing several camps that would afford in
struction for several thousand young
| men, and l believe the work of the first
creased appropriations from year to
year, whereby our young men would
become trained body of soldiers, avail
| able at once, for command in large part,
in case of necessity.
Extra Instructors for Camp.
In addition to the regulars who
would attend these camps as object
lessons for the young men, let some of
| the experienced and efficient retired SOL
diers BE- detailed for duty at these camps,
on the full pay Of their grade during the
camp as assistant instructors In camp
living and duty, and see the good that
would come from it, 1t is to be hoped
that we may never be engaged in another
war, but, she uld we be, let US be prepar-
ed for 1t with efficient men, to take COM
mand of the men who would be called
into service. Remember or unprepared-
ness in this respect in our recent short
war.
1t would not be amiss to permit young
men other than school and college
young men, to participate in these camps
of instruction. Estimating the cost, per
student, for transportation and subsist-
ence, and increased pay of the retired
soldiers detailed for this duty at $50. an
appropriation of 100000 would enable
1900 young men to take advantage OF
these camps Of instruction. Let the War
Department supply the necessary camp
outfit-tents, cots, blankets, ets.-as al
present. Let the government make one
experiment. and L feel sure it will re-
suit in renewed ones on a larger scale.
Then, too. it affords our young men.
after the strenuous class and school
room, the opportunity to build them
selves up physically. Let Congress act
in this matter. Nothing will be lost by
n FRANK s. ROBERTS.