The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-10-31

recognize it Immediately when 1t rides
on the wind from the lines of the enc.
my. Then he will be sent into the
lchamber wearing a gas mask and the
gas will be turned on full. To all pur;
poses, he will be in the heart OF real
gas attack.
The purpose of this training is to
eliminate the fear of the soldier for the
gas. To realize he is set upO nby a
deadly foe he cannot meet with his
gun or his physical strength, the SOL
dier who has never been thus gassed
Immediately becomes terrified. Even
though he may have his gas mask, he
may delay too long in adjusting it be.
cause of his nervousness. Or he may
not adjust it properly And a few
Limitations are fatal. Thus, when the
new soldier learns through actual ex-
perience in the gas chamber that no
harm can come if his mask is on, his
fear of the stuff disappears.
The Dodge soldiers will be taught
to adjust their gas masks within six
seconds. The mask is carried in a
pouch on the breast. Seven seconds
may be too late to save suffering. Ten
seconds may be the end. The new
American mask fits tightly over the
head, with rubber protrusion to be
placed in the wearer's mouth. The air
comes through tube, passing over
chemical that instantly neutralizes the
deadly fumes of the chlorine. The
masks supply of chemical will do it's
work for at least day and sometimes
two. When it has weakened the mask
is returned to a regular mask hospital
where it is again prepared for the
front
Grenade throwing is the most simple
and yet one of the most important
parts of soldiers training. Colonel
Mapes declares it is simply question
of the proper method of throwing With
feet apart and arm stiu, the soldier
will be taught to hurl the ball of iron
overland into the trench of the enc
my. He will be ready for a grenade
attack when he can toss number of
bombs almost in the same place
In connection with his education in
the modern arts of fighting, the soldier
of Camp Dodge is also learning how to
shoot his rifle. Proper handling Of
the modern rifle is an intricate job.
The first division review of the
Eighty-eighth will probably be held
when Secretary of War Baker and
General Tasker H. Bliss, chief of the
army staff, visit Camp Dodge in al
few days. 1t is planned to march the
entire organization in front Of the
Of all the American
Soldiers in the hospitals found COM
fort even in their illness this week.
From Des Moines came scores of girls
who have enlisted in the Girls VOlun.
~: h~3s S,,n~ sA1y lk.
and candies and books and flowers
And they will continue to come every
few days to do their bit for Uncle Sam. |
Field days are now regular fea-
ture of life at the cantonment. On
specified afternoons, the soldiers turn
out to watch their representatives COM
pete in the skill of the track and field. |
The soldiers are taking great inter-
est in the events. Keen rivalry is de-
veloping among the units.
Soldiers have some place to go now
when they come to town on their half |
holidays. A soldiers club has been |
opened in the Shrine temple near Des
Moines business district. 1t is strict !!
ly for the soldiers. A detail of SOL |
diers are in charge. A uniform is the |
admission ticket. There are plenty |
of books, games and other amuse-
ments. The club was opened by the
Des Moines War Recreation board on
last Saturday night.
A complet census is being taken at
the camp. Every soldier is being list
ed with full information SO that he
may be found at moments notice
upon the request of any visitor
Turkey will be scarce in these parts
his year. Uncle Sam must have some
$4,000 pounds for Thanksgiving and a
similar amount for Christmas day.
Every soldier is entitled under the
custom of the dar depart.
nent to a turkey dinner on the two
holidays, with all the trimmings.