New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-10
Fl. TERRY CAMP
TO END TO-DAY
1850 Boys Show Up Well
at Final Physical
Inspection.
From 4 stat Correspondent Of The Tribune

from stat Correspondent of The Tnbunel
Camp Washington, Fort Terry, Long
Island, Aug. eleven hundred and
fifty boys between the ages of fifteen
and eighteen landed just five weeks
ago at the army post at Fort Terry.
pale, round shouldered, unhealthy look
ing. To-day these same boys were
lined up for physical inspection by DR..
Charles A. Kearny, of New York, of
the United States Public Health Ser
vice-erect in bearing, their faces
tanned by the sun and their muscles
hardened by exercise.
To-day was the last day of camp. At
ter searchlight drill tonight when
taps will have sounded. the boys will
sleep for the last time this summer in
tents. Reveille will sound at 4;3O to-
morrow morning-an hour earlier than
usual-and the campers will start for
their homes.
Most OF to-day was spen. in turning
In and checking equipment, and II is
surprising thing that the $4,000 or
$4,000 worth of uniforms, blankets.
rifles, tents, cutlery. etc. with which
the embryo soldiers had been supplied
had suffered less damage than is usual
ly the case in camp of regulars.
Colonel Hero Praises Boys.
The boys have conducted themselves
remarkably well throughout the entire
camp, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Hero,
IT,. commandant of the army post and
commanding officer of the encampment,
said this afternoon.
"They have caught on with astonish-
ing uuickness," said he. "They have,
I think. learned the rudiments of
military education. They have &C
ouired that knowledge 30 per cent
quicker than do the men at Plattsburg;
for they are younger and their minds
are more receptive.
"These lads are not ready to become
officers. of course. They know some
thing of the business of fighting; they
know much Of discipline. There has
been inculcated in them the respect for
vested authority. which is essential to
the competent soldier. But there is
only one thing that brings the selt-con-
troll an officer must have. That is ex-
perience bullets"
The success Of this years camp has
/ so exceeded the expectations or those
most vitality interested in il that
plans are being made for next summer
/ on n much larger scale. IL is probable
/ that two camps will be established at
/ Fort Terry-one on the site of the
present camp. the eastern point OF
/ Plum Island: the other overlooking the
rapids that separate the island from
/ tn mainland, called Plum Cut, at the
/ far western end. II is possible, too,
/ that other camps in other parts OF
/ the country may be started
West Pointers Lend Aid.
There have been about four officers
to each of the eight companies. The
acting captain of each company is a
! lieutenant in the regular army; six
! West Point cadets who gave up their
| furlough for the work are the first
! lieutenants, and Plattsburg graduates
! form the other first and second lieu
tenants.
The idea Of this boys camp origi-
mated with DR.. Drury, headmaster of
| ST. Paul's School, Concord, n. H., but
/ the bows come in equal numbers from
private and high schools. ..
"They have been we'll behaved" said
/ Lieutenant II. c. Mclean. adjutant Of
| the camp, who came up from the army
post al the Panama Canal for the five
weeks. with few boys. Of course. we
| have had some trouble. But the idea
Of discipline has. | believe. become in
| grained in them now
Many Modern improvements.
The camp covers a sandy plateau,
with a background of regular hills.
These innocent hills. incidentally, con-
ceal batteries Of disappearing guns
which can she'll a vessel ut a distance
of ten miles. Each tent is 1oored and
lighted with electricity A dozen show
er baths were installed. The sandy
stretch is not precisely garden spot,
but il i said TO be one Of the healthieSt
along the Sound.
The utmost precautions were taken,
however. No children under sixteen
were allowed on the island on account
of the epidemic Of infantile paralysis.
Indeed they are not now allowed upon
any Of the government posts in that
section.
The camp thus has been isolated even
more than usual. This, officers say, is
an excellent thing, for IL enables the
boys to concentrate on what they are
doing and TO learn all the more quickly
the military rudiments for the teaching
Of which the camp was founded.