Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-23

J any large stock of information. Ont
building is very much like another ant
,, so the impression is OF a number o
buildings. To see Camp Dodge re-
qulres not an hour but really severa
days. After realizing that each build
ing of one kind houses a company
after seeing several thousand mer
drilling here and there in companies
and battalions with the understandings
that but 10000 men are encamped here
and that the men at drill are anly 6
part fthese the observer is able b,
a little calculation to apprehend wha
a vast thing an army of a million IS
or course it is less comprehension thar
apprehension. No man and less of all 6
civilian is able to visualize an army OF
| a million men or the crowded strip
| miles long and II miles wide where
| ) million soldiers We're crowded to-
gether as at Verdun. The soldiers a,
Camp Dodge represent the male voting
population of city of 10000. Wts
the laborers and other civilians Of q
city OF 100000 or 100000, Camp Dodge
is but one Of mony environments and
camps. But multiplied in the mind ii
offers an idea of the magnitude and
| NtSNitSS VA oUi pltSSIl ~ pa siNAoi'
and of what is to come. For the
chances are that this national army OF
a million will become a national army
OF 100000 before the war ends.
Visitors to Camp Dodge who dash
thru the streets OF the cantonment may
see a collection Of implanted barracks
and buildings of one kind and another
! but they have not see Camp Dodge II
| their observation stops there. For the
| buildings are merely buildings. Those
who see with minds and hearts as
| well as eyes see Camp Dodge as an
| epoch. the beginning OF a new future
| for America and the world. The can
| Torment Is the camp Of the New De-
mocracy not only civil but military. In
| the correct analysis there Is nothing
there but men and an Idea. That is Camp
Dodge and Camp Dodge is one Of many
other Cantonments where men pause
and shelter for a time before group
ing themselves together to establish
the idea universally. Camp Dodge IS
the Great American Purpose.
What Camp Dodge Is.
Physically it is a big camp. 1t covers
an immense area and has cost great
deal Of money. The purpose of this
article however, is not 10 count two
by fours and shingles and siding boards
in terms Of thousands with the price Of
material attached and estimated but
TO offer II possible real view OF Camp
Dodge the mastering place Of the men
Of the middle northwest called by con-
sSrlption 10 form a national army;
called as this country had never before
called men to military service and
accepting the duty as never men &C
cepted CONSUMPTION in our history.
Camp Dodge is men. That includes
officers also. What manner OF men? Let
the commanding general answer. Il m
proud beyond words OF my command
OF this division. There was never IN
all history such a division Of men
gathered together. There are college
men, sons Of wealthy parents and
working men and every walk Of life In
the 90. 600 soldiers in this cantnnment-
There are men with ability to som-
mand with proper training but nobody
would know il by the way all strive
TO Go their part and their duty. The
spirit Of the soldiers here is splendid.
I used to think seven years was re-
outsite to the making Of a soldier but
these men will be fine soldiers in nine
months"
The general u.aant it and the correct
ness Of his estimate was borne in when
the machine in which the writer with
a West Point captain was blocked by
a thousand or so OF men marching IN
from the drill grounds. Armed and un-
formed in column OF tours the bat
taIions swung past heads up and SOL
dierlv. They looked like soldiers and
marched like soldiers and the impress
sion was plain that they felt like SOL
dIrs. See those fellows march" eX-
claimed the captain. Three weeks OF
drill and look at them. Why l wouldn't
miss going to France with these men
for any thing that could be offered.
Are they extraordinary was asked.
Yes" ne said. Il have had experience
with eastern and southern troops but
they are not Of the class Of these. the
others lack their stamina and class. we
have a cross section out fthe finest
part Of the American continent and It's
citizenship here. Beginning Il you
please with Montana including North
and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa
and the part Of Illinois that We get
at this cantonment the finest men in
the world are 10 be had and It takes
fine man to make the finest soldier 1t
takes good men to bring enthusiasm
oft o. a general with gray hair and
captain who will soon be a major
Il he gets his deserts al least-who
have handled new men for years-but
the men OF the middle northwest with
their physique and their spirit and in
telIigence and evident purpose did it
and will do It. For they are real men
Not merely soldiers but men with
capital ".
The Morals Of the Cantonment.
The morals OF tl> cantonment are
very much better in all probability
than those Of any town in this or any
other country with voting population
Of 10000. The fact is thaT there Is no
drunkenness or social vice within the
camp and It's prescribed limits. NJ
Des Moines conditions are about as
usual. The city has its prostitutes and
It's bootleggevs as was true and Will
proDab ply continue TO be true OF citieA
But X is Just to say that a real effort
IS being made TO curb both BY the
city. An old newspaper man who has
made his beat in Des Moines for the
past twenty five years. said that the
city was astonishingly free from that
calls Of panders under the circum-
stances and that a real effort was be-
| ing made to protect the visiting SOL
d!ers Colonel Harbeson reports that
twenty-n!ne soldiers have been arrested