Perth Amboy evening news., 1917-10-04
CAMP DIX. LIFE
Of OUR SOLDIERS
What Local City Official Saw at
WrightstoWn on a Visit
There Yesterday.

Several Perth Amboyans- visited
Camp Dix at Wrightstown yesterday
and upon their return were full OF
stories as to the general appearance
of the boys at the national army can
tonment, and the way they are TAX
/ ing to the army life. Optimism ap-
parently reigns at the camp and the
boys are really well satisfied with
their lot, though some grumble bit
promised better food soon they bear
1t with grin.
| Among the tales Of the boys were
one on Louis Pavlovslky, the shortest
man in Company D. At inspection
the officer of the day looked Louis
! over and asked him how he ever got
| there. The youthful Amboyan braced
US proudly and said. They passed
me. SIR" They passed you for mess
sergeant" the officer replied; you're
too short for anything else" And
Louis was promptly put on that Job.
Soldering appeals to most OF the
boys and recent example illustrates
the point. One OF the rockies ap-
preached a superior officer with a
smile and said:
Great day, aint 1t, Captain?''
The captain called him down, tell
ing him the proper method OF ap-
PAOdSA " I'LL OuCST duQ now 10 walt
for a return salute before speaking.
Without the salute the rookie re-
piled, Il got cha, cap" and walked
away.
One Of the local parties at the
camp yesterday was one taken down
by Alderman 3. William Hilker. One
Of the party, on their return to this
city, made the following comment:
with our boys at Camp Dix the
visitor is most impressed with the
neatness and clean cut appearance Of
them all. Yesterday they had their
usual mid-week half holiday and sew
eral Perth Amboy parties were con-
spicuous by their presence among the
! boys from town.
Our soldiers had a ready and cheer
full smile and greeting for all and 1t
goes to show they are all made of
: the right stuff, even II the smile Is q
| little forced when one inquiries OF
them how they like their camp life.
"They feel that conditions will i'm
prove as supplies and equipment are
continually arriving in increasing
| quantities, although some Of them
think that should a few train loads of
rice fail to arrive 1t would be missed
from the bill of fare for at least one
meal. The most OF them felt as il
I they would rather have 1t served un-
cooked along with some old shoes In
| front Of a church. They also i'm
pressed one by a remark casually
dropped once-in a while that the ordin-
ary bean crop had been rather prod
uctive during the past year or two.
But with 1t all they looked as trim as
pin and trained right up to the
minute.
They get up early and 90 to bsS
early and work all day and sleep hard
all night. They are the picture OF
health and when the most of them
come up to see US soon, maybe on Sat-
urday next, we are the ones that are
going to be surprised and agreeably
surprised at that.
Is that Company D Of the 811th which
contains most OF our boys, Is the crack
company of the regiment. something
for us all to be proud Of. One little
tit bit let drop yesterday concerning
one of our boys Ono names mentioned) }
who was feeling rather glum at the
time, was asked by his superior. how
he liked It said he didn't like 1t for
How do you like 1t yourself7" No
tanswer.
| Another hustling young rookie
from Perth Amboy when asked yes
terday how he liked to have to lay
off half day said he didn't mind as
he thought half a loaf was better
than no loaf at all.
1.-THE camp at present has all the
ear marks Of western boom town
with the objectional features cut out
and about a hundred times as large
and we'll worth q visit at least once a
! week, especially while the weather
man is SO kind, and 1t also gives our
boys some diversion, all work and no
play, ETC., and they also let 1t be
known yesterday that II the Perth Am
boy girls want to become even more
popular all they have to do Is to come
along"