Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-18
IN WASHINGTON
OVER SHIFT IN CAMP PLAN
Transfer of District Draft From
Petersburg to Admiral Due to In
complete Accommodations.

There is great rejoicing in Washington
over the fact that the District quota of the
National Army has been shifted in assign
ment from Camp Lee, at Petersburg. Va.
to Camp Meade. at Admiral. Md.
This will place the District soldiers Gin
the making) within visiting distance of
home, so that by an hours ride they can
spend some time in their own homes in
this city, and wives mothers and sweet
hearts can see them outside OF the canton
ment during their hours OF recreation.
1t is explained that the shifting of the
District draft troops to Camp Meade is
due to incomplete accommodations at the
Petersburg cantonment. or rather to the
prospect of insufficient accommodations.
BY September 5. when about 80 per
cent of the allotment of troops is ex-
pected to entrain. it is promised that a
sufficient number of the 1900 buildings
will have been constructed to provide
adequate housing. with all proper sani-
tary precautions
Camp Meade Work Being Rushed.
Camp Meade is being rushed forward
with more than 5000 workmen. ma
jority of whom are laboring overtime.
The water and sewerage system pipes
are just being laid, and, while the build
ings are being rushed as much as pos
sible, the shortage of labor has delayed
every contractor who is participating
in the work.
The journey to Admiral is very much
more simple matter than the journey
to Petersburg. 1t will probably be pos
sible to assemble the men at the local
armory at 5th and l. streets or at the
; present site of Camp Ordway on the
days on which they are scheduled to
leave and to get placed snugly in their
barracks before nightfall. They will
find it easy to visit their homes while
they are in training.
Benefits Many Young Officers.
It is said that this change will ap-
ply to the large number of young Off
GERS from the District who We're re-
Gently graduated from the Fort Myer
training camp and given their commits
sions A large number of these were
assigned. as soon as they were COM
missioned, to the training camp at Pc
tersburg. being ordered to report there
| AS the War Department has said that
| it would be the policy of the depart
ment to assign such officers to the troops
from their own states. it is expected
that they will shortly be notified that
they are to report at Camp Meade in
stead of Camp Lee.
| Provost Marshal General Crowder yes
| terday announced the disposition of the
$4,000 men to be drafted into the fed
eral military service.
Allotment for Camp Meade.
| The allotment for Camp Meade aggre-
| gates 40,SS4, and consists of 929 men
| from the District of Columbia s2s59
from Pennsylvania and 1896 from Mary
| land. The allotment for the canton
ment at Petersburg. Va. aggregates
4s.0s6, and consists of drafted troops
from Virginia, 1895: from Pennsyl-
vania, $4,000, and West Virginia. 9.101.
Secretary Baker YESTERDAY approved
! the disposition of the $4,000 men of
| the first draft, as recommended by the
provost marshal general. The average
number of men allotted to each of the
sixteen cantonments is approximately
| $4,000. Those going to American Lake,
! Wash. come from Alaska, Washington,
Oregon. California, Idaho. Nevada. Mon
| tana. Wyoming and Utah, totaling
46.1o9.
| Those allotted to San Antonio Tex,
! include the troops from Texas and Okla
homa, 6,109.