The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-01
Kansans at DOniphan Receive
the Best of Training.
Frank willard Tells of the
Work at Fort Sill.
MEN THERE FOR THE WINTER
Tents Made Permanent To
Stand the Cold Weather.
Battery A Has Received Its
New 6-Inch Guns.

Kansas troops in Camp Doniphan
Fort Sill, Okla, are receiving prac-
ticalIy the same training, save actual
experience under boche fire, as Perish
ing's men in France, according to
Frank G. Willard, official photogra-
pher at the camp and formerly the
oDerator of a wel1-known studio here,
who was in Topeka Friday afternoon.
Pershing himself, is directing TINS
training by cable. Every day instruc-
tions and lectures are received by Ten
eral Barry, commandant, from the
American expeditionary commander
and are used to control the policy of
instruction. The lectures, which bear
upon the latest phases and methods OF
warfare in existence in Europe, are
read to the officers and transmitted
to the men.
Willard told a wonderful story of
how the Kansas men are progressing
in the arts of warfare. They have
finished their course in gas" train
ing and are now being lectured and
put through their PAGES under the
British officers. mostly captains, VIII"
came to America direct from the bat
tfefronts. Scores of these officers
are distributed through the camp Ihe
men are taking to their work like
ducks to water. The morale of the
camp is the highest of any in exist
ence. There are 10000 men in the
entire camp. The prison stockade has
only eleven inmates.
There For the Winter.
The former Topekan discredited ru
mors and reports here to the effect
that the men at Doniphan will leave
for France or some point of embarka
ton Immediately.
THE camp is being transformed
from a summer one to winter one"
he said. The tents are being made
permanent and every tent practically,
is being equipped with a stove.
Il was told on high authority that
the troops would not move until they
get their equipment or rather, com
plete equipment. The war depart
ment itself has not yet received a
part of this and indications are that
the men will not be fully equipped
for foreign service before February.
That makes February the earliest
date they can leave.
THE reports that the Kansas
troops would leave Immediately
started thru the permanent assign
ment of attachments that have been
temporarily located at Doniphan."
Battery's New Guns.
Battery A, the Topeka unit of the
! Kansas field artillery, has received its
new 6-inch guns, according to Will
| lard and is working OUT with them.
also been equipped with the 6-inch
field pieces. The new guns were re-
ceived only a few days ago.
Willard branded as false reports
| that the camp is not in a good sani-
| tary condition.
Less than two per cent of the men
are on the sick roll We have had a
| few cases of sickness but the per-
centage is small in comparison with
the large number of troops in camp
The men are well fed. They have
everything they want to eat. Why
the meal that is given a soldier at
Doniphan would cost so or IS cents
| in one of the cities around camp"
Willard highly commended the
work that is being done by the Y NJ
c. A. THE men feel that they could
not get along without the organiza-
| tion," he said. 'It is promoting
friendship among the men and fur
nishing them with ways to keep from
feeling homesick and lonesome The
Y. NJ. c. A. don't tell 'em they'll go
to hades if they don't do so and so,
either. There's no preaching. 1t ex-
tends the hand of friendship and the
men swear by it