Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-09
Special to The Telegraph


Plattsburg, N. Y, July 9.-It re-
Quires but little stretching OF the
imagination for one to believe that
the magic of Aladdin's lamp, in re-
sponse to pressure from the hands
of u. s.. army officers, has come into
being and converted the open fields
outside of Plattsburg, n. Y, into
vision of young military glory. 1
spent a week at the Gettysburg re-
union two summers ago, and 1 have
no hesitation in saying that this
summer camp of instruction for stu
dents is equal in every way to that
well-handled and sanitary encamp-
ment, remembering, of course, that
two entirely different generations are
represented.
The students began pouring into
the camp Sunday afternoon from all
points in the north, east, south and
west. For a day and a half the
stream continued, until $50 repre-
sentatives from colleges, universities,
high schools and preparatory schools
were registered. fitted out with the
| proper uniform and kits, and as
| signed to tents by Adjutant ]. +.
Taulbee, first lieutenant of the Sec
ond United States Cavalry. A few
| late stragglers are still arriving and
| II is expected that by the end of
the first week in camp the number
will have reached the 600 mark, just
double the number of those who at
tended the camp at Burlington, VT,
last summer.
The camp is located in a large field
about two miles from Plattsburg
along the State road and only a short
distance back from Lake Champlain.
1t is divided into companies, seven in
number, with thirteen tents to each
company, and six or seven men to
each tent. The company streets
separate the line of tents and
States regular army is at the head of
each company. OF the regIl Jars
there are also two troops of the Sec
ond United States cavalry and one
company and band of the Thirtieth
Infantry encamped beside the stu
dent camp. Captain b. o. Van Horn,
of the Thirtieth Infantry, is command
ing officer OF the entire camp.
instruction in the manual of arms
and marching formations has begun
and as an example of the grade of
teaching, 1t is an interesting fact that
the instruction given to the students
in a single morning at three success
sive drills was equal to that which
1t requires from four days to week
for the ordinary volunteer to learn.
1t is remarkable the speed with
training taught is absorbed by the
embryo officers. Every single man
of the 600 is in dead earnest and
eager for everything that he cam
pick up in the way of military knowl-
edge.
Individuality Encouraged
Individual effort and initiative are
encouraged. and there is no place for
the man or boy who is lazy or un-
willing to use his wits. The primary
purpose of the camp is to train the
men so that if occasion should arise
they in turn would be enabled to
teach others in the way they them
selves are now being taught. It is
serious work and the spirit alive in
the camp is evidence of the fact
that the responsibility is felt and every
man is doing his best to be prepared.
The instruction is thorough and no
superfluous talk or actions have a
place. In short, 1t is a very complete
and well-equipped military camp with
strict discipline during the hours
when the men are not off duty.
The friendly rivalry between COM
panies for highest place in the care
Of tents and accoutrements and in
the excellence of their drills, makes
for efficiency and rapid progress in
the work which must be completed
by August s. Each man wears the
regulation army campaign outfit and