Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-02
PEP" MARKS WORK
AT Fl. MYER CAMP
New Jersey and Pennsylva-
mia Boys Send Home an
"All's Well"
HAPPY IN ARMY WORK
Student officers in Strictly Mill
tary Atmosphere at Post
Near Capital
By a star correspondent

FORT hYER, Va. June R.-There are
several hundred PENNSYLVANIA and New
Jersey boys among the $500 young men al
ne omcers' reserve training camp here
Many Of these were assigned from their
nome towns TO the camp at Fort Myer. but
number were sent here to be trained be-
eeuse they registered from Washington.
where they were IN school at the time the
reserve corps camps we're authorized.
The camp is in charge Of Lieutenant
COLONEL Charles w. Fenton, an infantry
commander with wide experience in the
ualnlng Of young army officers Captain
Hebcock, who Is adjutant Of the camp and
VINO has also had considerable experience
told the correspondent Of the EVENING
LDpoER that the boys were in the best Of
eonditlon and that he had seldom seen
gach trim and heathy-looking men as the
aggregation at Fort Myer.
The bo,-7 ere Under the physical direction
% Captain Herman j. Koehler Captain
Aoehler is probably one Of the b 90 known
men In the service. For years ne - been
eetalled ns physical Instructor q. Wet
foint. He is recognized as one OF .s
tsading calisthenlsts and trainers Of the
country. He has put the boys through a
stin course Of sprouts" and is now select
ng q number Of the student officers, who
VIII be given special courses in calisthenics
and used In this and other camps as special
Instructors.
IT'S HARD WORK
The hard training is having no bad effect
On the men. They are showing grit in their
work.
In talking with the EVENING LEDGER's
correspondent many expressed an admira-
uon for the way in which things were
handled in the army.
For while the young officers here grew
hysterical over a threatened shortage Of
UNIFORM and equipment, when a notice was
posted on the bulletin that officers as
.,,1H
chase uniforms from the same depot 1t
was later explained that there was no dam
ser OF shortage, but men who have already
received commissions and are on active
service will have to make their personal
purchases the same as the officers Of the
regular army.
The spirit Of competition Is keen among
me prospective officers There Is a typical
American open and fair manner Of playing
me game to see who from among them
viii be chosen for the signal honors Of be-
coming officers for Uncle Sam. But under
lying this one can see the dead-earnest
seriousness with which they are bidding
tcr the commissions that they know will
not go the rounds"
Every man is striving to do his best and
become the most proficient soldier of the
army gathered here under make-shft post
eondtions, In their drill, in their gun
pointing their study and general activity !
there is a punch that shows they are fight |
ing the square American game Of the best |
man wins, and each one Is trying to be |
enc OF the best men,
This spirit is helping to develop the mill |
tary instinct-the second nature of obedi- |
ence. All day long they go through their |
formations and other work that never re- |
lakes until the officer in charge calls, fall |
out"
TAKEN SERIOUSLY
The writer saw the evidence of this when |
he nrrt arrival the drill grounds
company had been maneuvering over the
ealmpus through several hours of drill and |
were returning to barracks for mess They
stumbled valorously through a mud hole
Just before being brought TO dress" in
nont or the barracks. smile broke out
en- several faces and became contagious.
The first sergeant stepped In front of his
eommand, saluted and expressed his ideas.
This tom-foolery is going to be cut out,
y I'm to be hrst sergeant this week Be-
!ieYe me- you'll cut 1t out or you won't
drill"
In just about half a second the whole
company understood and took the Officer |
rom the ranks" at his word. The men are
ehosen from the ranks Of the company every
week to act as officers over their own or
sanixation, and 1t does not matter how close
you bunk to your officer or how well YOU
know him, his word is law, and serious
law, when he is in command
But these are only few details Of what
me IRE at Myer ls. II Is the same at all
N the camps, but these details show just
ne conditions under which the boys from
View Jersey and Pennsylvania are living
IN MILITARY ATMOSPHERE
Right on the edge OF the Fort Myer reser-
alton, the boys are situated in an especially
Military atmosphere. The administration
luildlngs OF the post encircle IL at the north.
he District National Guards are encamped
D service tents 10 their south Two miles
ver the Potomac TO the east the War and |
'avy Departments building can be plainly
cen The drill field runs to the very gates
{ the National Cemetery at Arlington,
Fhere the soldiers Of the sixties and those !
4 the war with Spain lie buried, and less
han fve minutes walk 10 the northwest |
he gigantic naval radio towers at Arling-
on rear their heads TO signal orders TO the
eets around the world They are so close
} Fort Myer that the regular cavalry troops
the post have been crowded for room, and
ne War Department Is contemplating the
'ase OF surrounding ground TO make room
or both forces.
The men are exceptionally well suited
18th the camp conditions
Tell the people from home that we are
etting along all right. Everything is ali
|. X here" said one of the boys. IAN we
ant Is TO know that the people at home
now We are living well, and everything
Be ts satisfactory. OF course, the work Is
ard, but we expected 1t, and we certainly
,uldn't expect better conditions for the |
ork we are doing. They are making better
lAn otIt of afS and fbay ara