The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-04-07
MILITARY TRAINING
FOR SCHOOLDOYS
Youngest Army Ever Called Mo-
biIized In New York.
OFFICERS TALK TO YOUTHS

Preparations Being Made by Assoeia-
tion to Accommodate $1,000 Boys at
a Camp During the Summer-Many
Prominent Men Have Their Sons En-
roIIed-GeneraI Wood co-operates.
New York.-The youngest army ever
called together was modified recently.
One thousand New York schoolboys,
aged twelve and up, met at national
guard armories in Manhattan and
Brooklyn to enroll for the big summer
camp which is being organized by the
National School Camp association of
l Broadway.
The regiment which answered the
call to the colors is but the first group
of what is expected to be the largest
schoolboy organization in the city.
Preparations are being made by the
association to accommodate as many
as $4,000 boys at the camp during the
summer.
The meetings were held with the ap.
proyal and cooperation of Major Gen
eral Leonard Wood, who detailed Of
fieers under his command to be present
at the armories and talk to the boys
enlisting
The largest and most enthusiastic
meeting was held at the Twenty-third
Infantry Regiment armory on Bedford
avenue, Brooklyn. Fully 600 boys en-
rolled and cheered Captain T. e. Muir
ply of Fort Wadsworth, who spoke to
them. The officer told them of the ad-
vantages of preparedness. He mar
rated the military history of the coun-
try, giving examples of how heavy a
price was paid for lack of prepared
ness.
Many prominent men attended the
meeting to enroll their sons. Colonel
Chamberlain of General Woods staff
brought his boy to stand In line with
the sons of Colonel Mitcham, also of
General Woods staff, and of Lieuten-
ant Commander Jessup of the Brook
Ign navy yard.
A number of the faculty of the
Brooklyn Polytechnic institute also
was present There is plan under
way to organize a battalion in the in
stitute to attend the camp.
The idea of a great camp within
trolley distance of New York has prov
ed a most popular one. Hundreds of
boys have had their applications filed
considerable time, while hundreds of
parents have also written the associa-
| ton asking permission to enroll their
boys.
The camp will probably be located
on Staten Island, though the site has
not yet been definitely picked. 1t will
be a gunless camp; but, aside from
this detail, the work will follow close
! ly that done in grownups' organiza-
tons. Any boy over twelve in public
| school, high school or college Is eligi-
BILE to join. 1t is expected that corps
will be formed of medical students,
who will have a splendid opportunity
to study the important subject of camp
sanitation.
The camp will open July l and will
be held for two months. Boys may re-
main there from two weeks to the en-
/ tire two months If they choose. The
entire cost to each boy will be about
20 cents a day. Each young soldier
will have to supply his own uniform,
which will be similar to that Of the
+ boy scouts.
The inclpient soldiers will be put
through a stiff course of training in
general field work. open order work
and the other regulation army drills.
| In the meantime, before the camp Is
opened. the enrolled members of the
camp will drill several days every
week in the city armories.