New-York tribune., 1917-12-16
War Camps to See
Best Productions
Of the White Way
u. S. Will Build Theatres
at Forty-eight Army
Cantonments

Uncle Sam will become the Norld
biggest theatrical booking agent when
he begins engaging productions for the
forty-eight theatres now going up in
army training camps.
Uncle Sans plans for making his
debut as conductor of the country's
largest theatrical circuit were told by
Raymond B. Fosdick, chairman Of the
Training Camp Activities Commission,
speaking yesterday Afternoon before
the Academy Of Political Science at
Columbia University.
He said the government is now
spending S500,000 TO erect theatres in
the National Army Cantonments. Chau-
tauqua tents will be the theatres in
National Guard training camps.
Uncle Sam is going to book for
these soldiers theatres the best enter
tainments on Broadway" said Mr. Fos-
dick. There may be strong criticism
from some quarters against bringing
Broadway productions 90 soldier camps.
But we have got TO compete with the
things that for years have been as
sociated with war camps, and we can
not compete successfully without sup
plying red-blooded entertainment to
take the place of those things.
81 visited Columbus, y. NJ, before
Villas raid. The only amusement that
town afforded 5000 troops was dis
reputable saloons and red light dis
trict. There wasn't even a picture
show for the soldiers to turn to. At
nights the soldiers came over in
droves TO the saloons and resorts.
Aims to Keep Soldiers Clean
The Training Camp Activities Com
mission represents the War Depart
ments attack on the things that here
tofOrc have always been associated
with war. In an army of one of our
allies One-thiyd OF the men were made
ineffective by social diseases. This war
will be won by man power. We can't
afford TO lose single man through
those things. Our idea is TO return
every soldier to his home and family
after the war just as clean and az Wig
orous as when he left.
"As result OF the War Depart
ments policy, thirtyseven red-light
districts have been eliminated in thir-
ty-seven cities. Even New Orleans
has been cleaned up
Mr.. Fosdick praised the Young Mems
Christian Association, the Knights Of
Columbus. the Jewish Board for We'll
fare Work and the Young Women's
Christian Association for the aid those
organizations are giving in furnishing
amusement for soldiers. He particu-
larly mentioned the Hostess Houses
established by the Young Womeu's
Christian Association, where soldiers
r,aat Waiting uomenfOlk
Libraries, games, educational
classes and boxing are some of the
weapons we are using TO combat those
things which have always gone with
war" continued Mr.. Fosdick. The
work ahead of American boys in
France is not a sane business. They
must play games to keep themselves
sane and rational. After taking
Vmy Ridge the Canadians played
game OF baseball.
100000 Study French
"The cantonments have become verl-
table universities. Some of the SOL
diers from the mountains of Kentucky
and Tennessee could not read or write.
They are now learning. One hundred
thousand men are now studying French.
"The army America is sending 20
France will be q singing army-some-
thing America never had before. Eaeh
camp has its song coach Some OF the
hard headed old Indian fighters COM
manding camps at first baked on the
Singing coaches Now those officer.
wouldn't be without them. Ofhcers OF
our allies say that singing regiment
returning from a long march is rs per
cent fresher than a regiment that
doesn't sing. Recently at a Southern
camp, when heard 10000 voices lifted
IN unison 20 Mine eyes have seen the
glory Of the coming of the. Lord
realized what the coming of those men
would mean 10 France"
Miss Julia G. Lathrop. chief Of the
Children's Bureau. spoke on soldiers
insurance. Byron W. Newton, Collec-
tor Of the Port of New York. read
paper by DR.. L. 6. Rowe, Assistant
Secretary Of the Treasury, on the same
subject. W. Frank Persons, director
general of the Red Cross civilian re-
lief, told of plans for work with sol
diers' families.