The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-12-24
$4,000 RECRUITS
TAXED CAPACITY
OF Army STATION
Hundreds Slept in Blanket
Rolls on Floors-Cold
Added to Discomforts
MOST OF MEN
OF DRAFT AGE
Fifteen Thousand Recruits
Slept in Central Young
Mems Association

Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 24.-When
the arrival of army volunteers at
| Jefferson Barracks began to slacken
1 last week the post had accumulated
more than $4,000 recruits, a number
unparalleled in its history, and so far
| SURPRISING it's capacity that on the
last night and the night before sew
eral thousands were housed and fed
in st. Louis. Hundreds Of them
slept rolled up in army blankets on
the floors of houses at the barracks
and at places where they were quar-
PrevaIence of the ssyerest cold
weather Of the winter throughout
last week caused considerable dis
comfort to recruits arriving in num-
bers too great to be examined
promptly, made trains late, upset
schedules for the days work and for
meals at the army post and taxed
the temper of the "noncoms" put in
charge Of the new arrivals. But it
failed to chill the ardor Of the men
who were entering the army Of their
own accord rather than wait to be
drafted.
Most Of Recruits in Draft Age.
Most of the recruits were regis
tered men taking advantage Of the
the new draft regulations, effective
at noon yesterday, barred them from
the regular army. They came from
every part Of the Mississippi valley,
the recruiting offices in all towns
and cities being rushed to the same
extent as that in st. Louis, where
more than $500 men were enlisted
during the last week.
The states contributing recruits to
Jefferson Barracks were Missouri,
Illinois, Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Michigan, Nebraska, Kansas, North
Dakota and Louisiana. The recruits
from parts of some Of these states
were sent to other posts.
Central Y. NJ. G. A. Houses 300.
More than 1900 recruits slept at
the Central Y. NJ. G. A. at Grand and
Franklin avenues. They brought
blankets furnished at the barracks
and slept on the floors, filling the
lobby, corridors and office rooms.
The railroad Y. M. C. A. took care OF
800. These had cots in addition to
their blankets. More than 1000 were
housed at the First regiment armory.
They slept in blankets on the floor.
Meals for these were furnished by
the government.
Oficers at the barracks permitted
those recruits who had funds and
who wished, to go to hotels and to
buy their own meals. Many availed
themselves Of this privilege and
there was some complaint that ho-
tells had taken advantage of the sit
uation and overcharged. Col. Q. ii.
Murray, commandant at the bar
racks, said there had been no gem
eral complaint Of this, and he
thought the instances were few.
Although Jefferson Barracks was
prepared for a great number of new
recruits as a result of the new draft
regulations, the number that came
greatly exceeded expectations.
Number 5000 More Than Expected.
1--WE got fully 5000 more than we
expected" said Colonel Murray.
On the last day long lines of men
stretched out from the receiving bar |
racks facing the parade ground. |
There was room for only small |
part OF them inside, and they had to |
await their turn to enter. This caus-
ed some to stand for hours in the |
snow and cold wind. AS fast as they |
could be run through the receiving |
barracks they were issued army 4
clothing.
The barracks mess halls presented /
the unusual scene Of almost con-
tinuous performance. There are two
mess halls, the old seating 1900 and
the new seating 5000. Last week 1t !
took three or four sittings to the /,
meal to feed all the men, and there
was always uncertainty as to wheth-
er the group to be found at the
tables at p. m. was the last dinner
or the first supper group.
Many recruits who arrived after long
trips on delayed trains were taken
to the mess hall first. Hot meals in
a warm room did much to make them
view their outlook cheerily.
Some, in the inevitable confusion,
went long hours without food, and
had to stand hungry in the line of
applicants. They were almost as
good natured as the fed ones.
Every available building at the
barracks is being used to house the
men. At night men rolled in blan-
kets occupy the floors of the post
hall, the Y. M. C.. A. hail. the
knights of Columbus hall and the
extra space on the floors Of the per-
manent buildings.