The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-10-19
TENNESSEE BOYS
WELL CARED FOR
Rutledge Smith Returns From Atlanta
And Greenville, Where He Finds
Men in Splendid Condition. Happy
and Busy.

uOn, at ALldnIa, hutleuRe Smltn, cndiT-
man State Council of Defense, spoke
Interestingly of the work being done at
those places.
"At the Gordon cantonment," said
Mr.. Smith, 'fve thousand acres of cot
ton fields and woodland has been con-
verted into a city with a capacity of
caring for comfortably $4,000 men.
The cantonment is laid out with pre-
else regularity and the entire camp is
so systematized as to bring forth the
utmost efficiency. The selectmen of
the national army are all housed in
two-story buildings with large win
dows and a perfect ventilating system,
lighted throughout with electricity,
containing ample bath and toilet facil-
tiles, and with all the conveniences of
modern homes. The men sleep upon
iron bedsteads with comfortable steel
springs on clean and comfortable mat
t~resses, are supplied with double blan-
kets and sleeping bags. The mess
halls are models of sanitary owen
fence and are supplied with the most
modern devices in the way of ranges,
ovens, ranges and cooking utensils
prepared daily is the best that the mar
ket affords and a complete balanced
ration is furnished every soldier. Ev-
cry article of food that is essential for
his welfare and the upbuilding of
blood, bone and muscle is given him.
"The camp is supplied with an album
dance of pure water from the city Of
Atlanta, and the sewage system is such
as to afford perfect health conditions.
The streets are wide, graded high in
the center so as to produce a quick
drainage. The soil is sandy and with
in a few minutes after a hard rain it
het center so as to produce a quick
rifle ranges are nea at hand where
the men practice shooting, and the
soil is of such character as to make
possible effective trench work such as
is practiced in Europe. I have never
seen more perfect conditions for the
complete comfort and health of human
beings as is displayed in these camps.
"The men are schooled in every
branch of learning that is necessary
to bring them up to a good average
condition, and instructors are provid-
ed in every department of work to de-
velop the highest degree Of skill in the
individual man. Doctors, dentists and
chiropodisits make it practically i'm
possible for the physical man to get
out of fix.
every form Of athletics ard anus
ment thar is pIaper and Wholesome 6
humankind is provided, and the spiri
lal welfare is especially taken care of.
| was asked after having been show
the encampment by Maj. Swift, con-
mander Of Camp Gordon, if there was
anything | could suggest that could
further be done. | was compelled 10
say to him that | believed it was i'm
possible for more to be done in this
connection than had already been done
The men are happy, satisfied and arc
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of
patriotism and are doing their full
part towards preparing themselves
for the defense of their country.
THE same conditions exist at Camp
Sewer with the exception that instead
OF the men living in houses as they do
at Camp Gordon they live in tents ar
ranged along the same system of
thoroughfares as exist in the canton
ment. The reason why tents are used
at Camp Sewer is because this camp
is made up of national guardsmen who
are used to this method of being hous-
ed, and as this is the method that
more nearly approaches warfare, it
approaches another step nearer the ac-
tual preparations for the front than
does the cantonment which cares for
the selectmen. The Tennessee men
have taken very high rank and they
were particularly commended by Gen.
Scott, the commander in charge, for
their magnificent showing in the lib
erty loan parade on last Friday. In
this connection | want to compliment
the first training battalion of the old
Second Tennessee under Major Burke,
which had the distinction of subscrib-
ing the highest amount for liberty
bonds of any battalion in
81 want to assure the relatives and
friends of those who have friends ana
relatives in these camps that they are
surrounded with everything that they
should have, that they are comfortable
and we'll cared for and that they are
being given a training which will not
only prepare them for the serious du-
ties which they will Immediately en-
gage in, but for the real problems of
life which will be presented when the
war is over and it is the men in these
receiving this splendid training
that will enable the country to take
a step forward the like of which it
would not ever do had they not been
pnt in position to receive this splen-
did instruction"