La Junta tribune., 1917-09-27
ATLANTIC COAST ARMY CAMP
Andrew Lantz Writes Interesting
Description OF Army Life on
Atlantic Coast

graduate OF the La Junta high school.
who was later student for the min
istry, is now member OF the Third
Coast Artillery Corps, and located at
Fort Adams, r. l., having enlisted
from North Dakota. He writes an
unusually good description of army
life In one OF the mobilization camps
on the Atlantic Coast, which will be
read with interest by his many
friends in this city. 1t is as follows:
Another day is fast drawing to q
close. One Of those easy going rest
full days It has been. clear, bright
and for the most part uneventful.
Being Sunday varied and unique
spirit laid hold on the men. There
was something present not noticed
on week days. There always is. We
do not have much food for our bet
ter selves in the army. The soul
does not live by scrambled eggs and
beans alone. But when Sunday
comes, no matter how careless we
have lived, something in the day,
the way the sun shines or the sound
carries. or II may be in ourselves or
in the air permeated with prayers
by the Folks Back Home" makes
us drift far out to sea. but we never
get far from the Little Brown
Church"
This is an ideal place for a fort.
Besides its geographical importance
as defender OF Newport and valu-
able government property. It is sur
rounded by the essentials OF soldier
making. The dashing unconquerable
and the tireless waves as they roll
in from the Atlantic set a good ex-
ample for we men to follow. They
fight their way In but do not re-
main long. They seem to tell US OF
things going on over there,'' We
are soon GoinG "over tk2ea. We
won't come back until II IL all over.
"over there"
Giant battleships and many small
vessels come and 20 night and day.
Each has secret mission and Q
language OF It's own. We who live
here on the edge OF the war know
but little OF what Is going on. OF
course we are curious but content.
Fort Adams Is now n mobilization
point for troops bound for Berlin.
Fifteen thousand are here now,
trained. packed and ready. Trans
ports are anchored out a few miles.
and hundreds OF fathers. mothers,
sisters. brothers. sweethearts and
friends are here spending a few
hours. last hours perhaps. with tho
boy. The boy may never come
back but his work on the field will
help the United States win a world
championship.
An army camp IL a miniature city.
Every city institution from the Jail
to the council Ii present. No city
is as well governed. none is pop
ulated with more loyal. law-abiding
and patriotic citizens.
The intense drilling and instruc.
ton the men are now undergoing,
gives the place q real military A..
pcct. The men all seem happy hut
there IL no telling how many tears
are welled up inside. or how many
aching hearts are hidden behind
real American smilcs. The Ameri.
can boy II as chnngcabic as Q
March day. but March days make
a big change In the looks Of things.
We have plenty Of music here.
Music always turns the clouds inside
out u they have q silver lining. it
matters not what We happen 10 be
doing--cleanins cuspidors. laying
mines or digging sewers. II we hear
good music we do our work better.
Among 10 many men good musicians
are not hard 10 find. The Army
Y. ~. G. A. deserves unlimited cred.
II for the part II plays In making
our life interesting and pleasufsabje.
In . spacious building erected ~
the Y. n. c. A. may b sosnd porch
swinsr. lounges. reading aad writias
materials. games. plano aad iafors
nation bureau. Tslesrams and moa.
~ orders are looked after here.
In the evening entsrtainnssts q
. varied nature and . high class see
provided. Vaudeville. stock co.,
psniss and buriesqus. make our ~.
eaiasa altogether too short. Aatlel.
patton Of the evsnsas makes The ~
seem shorter though.
Life - we have Il y not - ~.
We are not dissslisslsd. but aa1.
ious 70 80 sonsthlAe 0ess ese)1.
ins. i.sttsss fron he0e helo Z ~.
A few geol "kaest leun - llNg
outs" With the sasmy voo11 ~ -