Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-12
SAYSCAMP DODGE
MEN Will Be THE
BEST IN COUNTRY
Major General Plummer Declares Sc.
lectlyes Under His Command
Are Progressing.
WILLINGNESS Is MANIFESTED
Are Amenable TO Discipline and Are
Proving Themselves TO Be
Good Soldiers.
Special to The Argus).

Camp Dodge, Ia, Nov 12.-"At the
end Of nine months training OF the
Eighty ninth division. will feel able
10 accomplish anything with this di-
vision that any two divisions have
tried in the past said Major General
T. n. Plummer In talking OF the prog
ress OF training at Camp Dodge.
The general regards the national
army as the highest quality of SOL
diers ever placed in training, and is
confident that with true American
eagerness to accomplish things here
tofore unattainable, the men will de-
yelop into good soldiers before one
realizes the fact.
General Plummer secuted rumors
thai the division would go south soon,
or that IL would be ordered to France
within short time. He declared he
would rather train troops in the north
than south, as in the spring the men
would be more vigorous, after going
through a season OF cold weather.
Shoot All Winter.
Target practice will be taken up
this winter, even though the mercury
descends low according to plans of
the commanding general Of the can
Torment He cited an instance where
soldiers went through rifle practice at
Fort Smelling. when the thermometer
registered 20 degrees below zero.
The men will be bundled up we'll,
TO prevent them from contracting cold
and will then go to the rifle range
near the camp. Sighting bar exer-
dses and position and aiming exer-
clses are now putting men in shape
To go 10 the range fairly well instruct
ed ia the use Of the rife.
"One thing that strikes me-" said
General Plummer, is the willingness
90 the men of this division. They
will do anything we ask of them
They are amenable to discipline and
are making good soldiers.
Men Of High Calibre.
The clearly appearance Of officers
and men is remarkable and shows We
have a high class Of men with excel
lent soldierly qualities, as in trying
TO keep clean they display one Of the
requisites Of a good soldier.
While the men have not yet eXpe-
rienced hardships. there have beer
many inconvenience and the spirit
aud endurance OF all soldiers have
demonstrated that when real hard
ships come they will be met witt
cheerfulness and fortitude and viii
keep up the high reputation Ameri
cans have had In progress OF any kind
"l say progress because military
science. training and care of troops
and everything connected with sol
diertug. has progressed with the res
OF the world In fact, in many ways
leads in progress.
Nine Months Required.
1T has always been my opinion tina
men are not soldiers until they hav'
had nine months training, but at th
end OF nine months 7 will feel abb
10 accomplish anything with this divi
sion that any two divisions have &C
complished heretofore. This is be
cause ] don't believe any such mate
rial has been assembled and traine'
before.
Like the steel in the sword hlad
makes the quality Of the sword, TIL
highest quality of material makes tb
superior soldier, and | feel we hay
the highest quality OF men.
The earnestness with which tn
men are accepting the life of a sol
der is good. Like all Americans The
are eager to do little bit better tina
anyone else in acquiring the nm
points Of the military profession.
Take a high class America
with that eagerness and there is notn
Ing that can keep up with him, an
that is evidenced every day, as ria
through the division, watching ID
prpgress of training