The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-08-06
Citizen Camp Why Not?

IT SEEMS rather a pity that someone-either.
i among our military friends of the Oahu gar
rison our progressive citizens-has not suggest
ed to the military authorities the feasibility of
holding here in Hawaii Citizens Camp" on lines
similar to that which will be held on Lake Cham
plain next month for the Thousand or more bust
ness and professional men of the Eastern States
who have volunteered to attend r, y A.
II there is community under the Stars and
Stripes which would benefit by few simple mill
tary lessons or one whose citizens will have more
opportunity to put them to use in of threaten
ed or actual war in which our country may become
involved, that community is our own. E,$
We all recall General Carriers admonition some
months ago that the services of every able bodied
male citizen in Hawaii would be required in case
OF attack or threatened attack, but have any of us
seriously considered what that means or inquired
of ourselves what form Of service could fur
nish: How many of us possess more than the
most casual knowledge of a military rife? How
many of our citizens have ever fired one? Do any
of us know even the simplest fundamentals of
target shooting, trench construction camp SAM
tation? If called on tomorrow how many of our
citizens could perform any real service?
This "Citizen's Camp" is an outgrowth Of the
Students Camps" which the war department has
maintained for the past two years. The student
gatherings nave DetI d success lar DeyOnu the
hopes of the authors OF the plan, The war depart
ment reports state that although the military an
thorities were prepared to expect rapid progress
from young men of intelligence and adaptabrllty
inspired by ambition to qualify themselves for
volunteer commissions, the zeal interest and prof.
cheney shown by these youngsters can be qualified
only by the adjective amazing.
The Citizen Camp" to be inaugurated this
month in New York State affords an opportunity
for business and professional man of over thirty
years of age to be instructed in the -rudments OF
military subjects which are required Of officers OF
volunteers, to engage with regular troops at ma
neuvers and to have the advantage of listening to
lectures military subjects delivered by military
experts. Not the least important feature Of the
"CiGzens Camp" will be the discussion of the
military needs of the nation and the correction OF
many of the vain glorious untruths taught in our
school histories.
To those of us who freely confess our comp;ra-
tive ignorance along military lines, who acknowl-
edge our limited fitness for service should we be
called upon, who love outdoor life and are accus-
toned to spending our leisure hours in the open
camp here would be of much interest and great
profit, The cost would be negligible, The voIun-
teer is only required to provide himself with the
simple khaki uniform and the service shirt-fve
dollars will cover it-and the transportation tc
and from the camp. Rations, tentage and all other
necessities are provided for in a congressional ap
preparation to the war department.
Is ittoo late this year for say sixty Of our cit
zens 10 petition the military authorities to estab
lsh camp at Schofeld Barracks this summer OF
fall and for that number to attend for couple o.
weeks or month?
y IL {.