Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-30
GREATEST SINGING army
IN WORLD FOR AMERICA
Ono Way in Which Commission on
Training Camp Activities Begins
Work to Win War.
STUNT NOT ALL RECREATIoNAL
Men in Camp Show Their Enthusiasm
and Enter Into Training With
Zest-Makes for Military Efficiency
and More Spirited Soldering.

Kaiser. he isn't going to know what
to make Of 1t, for they will make their
onslaught singing-and singing many
things not at all complimentary to
kaiser BILL" but very expressive OF
how thsy intend to 'can" him and
push him off his throne"
Tho United States is to have a sing
Ing army. ono that swings along with
rhythmic Yankee Doodle" style that
Is direct result Of the spirit Of train
Ing visioned by General Martin, in
command Of the regular. army mobiii-
cation camp at Syracuse, n. Y. when
no said: we must have more songs
that will get the mems feet Off tho
ground"
And this singing stunt is not all
recreational; 1t has an efficiency war
purpose behind 1t as well. for 1t is a
| recognized fact among all military au-
thorities that an army that goes about
it's work singing will get further on
march with less fatigue and be more
ready to go into n hight smiling.
This Is one way In which the COM
mission on training camp activities of
the War Department. with Raymond
B. Fosdick as chairman. is helping to
win tho war-by spreading content-
ment and good spirits among the SOL
diers and at tho same time keyins
them up for tenser. more earnest &C.
complishment in deeds OF arms
Teaching the United States Army to
sing. to take Joy in the singing and
to 20 into battle stronger and more
eager because OF the singing. is one
OF the little stunts the commission has
set itself to do.
Need OF War Songs.
Last Decoration Day, speaking in
the memorial amphitheater In tho Ar
lIngton National Cemetery. Isaac II.
Sherwood. Congressman from Ohio
who participated In Iorty-three battles
Of tho Civil war and was l23 days
under fire, complained that the United
States needed some new war songs.
and cited some Of the old martial
jingles that made the soldiers forget
they were weary and hungry. Less
than three months later Congressman
Sherwood changed his mind He heard
the student ofncers in the Fort Myer
camp at their war graduation" sing
over There" Every person who at
tended that graduation was more inn
pressed by the singing OF the boy
officers. who wero just receiving their
commissions TO lead the great army of
liberty. than by tho presence OF Presi-
dent Wilson, the words OF Secretary
Baker or the attention OF tho highest
officers OF the military forces OF this
government and the allies.
That was singing which was spon-
taneous. that the young officers had
burst forth with from their own ex-
uberance. To-day there is at Fort
Niger and the other training camps for
officers. as there will be at all the
thirty-two National Army and Ma
tional Guard training environments, a
leader Of camp singing. And we'll
has the scheme worked that portion
of the training camp schedule for regu-
lar instruction has been set aside for
singing lessons The military authori-
ties agree that 1t Is time excellently
spent
Lee F. Hammer. a member OF tho
Commission on Training Camp Activi-
ties, formerly Of the recreation division
of the Russell Sage Foundation, has
organized the camp singing schools
In all OF the camps the fellows have
showed their enthusiasm by writing
new parodies on old songs. and brand
new lyrics and music. with the result
that there Is now on the presses a
book OF army songs which Is being
made just the right size to fit COM
fortably in the shirt pocket of the
soldier
This singing has two objects-frst to
give the fellows In camp a good time
through furnishing recreation and re-
freshment, and, secondly, because 1t
makes for military efficiency. more
spirited soldering.
Mems Men in Charge.
Extreme care has had to be eyer
cised To get just the right men in
charge OF this work in the camps,
men who know not only how TO sing
themselves and to lead big chorus,
but mons men. men who can handle
mon, so that the boys will not be
able to play horse" with them and
break up the party" For example.
there Is jeffrey O'Hara. at Fort OgIe-
thorpe, Ga, man eating man." big
dominating. with ripsaw spirit, but
Keen sense of humor, who can smile
ana crack joke. and who generates
good cheer. In tact. the whole scheme
is typified by one Of the most popular
of the camp songs:
"Pack Up Your Troubles,
Pack up your troubles in your old kit
bag
And smile. smile. smile
While you've lucifer to light yo,,r
fag.
Smile boys. that's the style
what's tho use Of worrying?
1t never was worth while, so
Fach up your troubles in your old kit
bag,
And smile. smile. smile.
Homer A. Rodeheaver, Billy Sun
days choir leader, is going to give all
the time he can TO this line of work
as patriotic service. and is going 70
be special attraction at some big
nights" in the cantonments.
The work OF Kenneth s. Clark, who
10 now song leader at the historic
Fort Myer post, is an old Princeton
song leader and an editor OF Musica)
America. The way he stirred up the
student candidates for commissions