The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-12-11
FROM THE TRAINING CAMP

We wish more people would brins
in their letters or copies of the let
tiers they receive from the soldiers
Their observations and their express
sions regarding conditions in their
lonely hours devoted to letter-writ.
ing, constitute the best. history we
can get of the war just now, and
they are interesting to ALL The god.
mothers of these men have letters
they could send to the press for pub
LEGATION that would add much to the
current literature of the county at
this time.
The following is part of letter
received by the editor of The Re-
publican from Fremont Kutnewsky
whose desk at The Republican office
is used byothers during his absence.
More and more of the boys stay
in camp on Saturday and Sunday,
and pay day don't excite such an
overwhelming interest as at first
Allotments have been put before the
men until few of them are receiving
more than half their pay. It is sur
prising how many receive less than
half. l helped make up the allot-
ment blanks, and I learned why
some of the boys stick around camp
on liberty days. Some were sending
as much as $40 and $25 to mother
or wife. l had to go thru the huge
base hospital camp for, ten of our
men on the sick list. And those in
various degrees of illness of the body
saw to it that certain amounts of
their pay should go to somebody ait
home.
One boy was sending alimony
money to divorced wife back in
Utah. There was little girl, so by
applying he could secure, perhaps,
some additional government money.
He allotted SIS and applied for the
additional. "She may as well have
it," he remarked, "but she'd never
believe | had anything to do with
her getting it."
The base hospital is a camp spread
out over a dozen acres, l believe.
1t took me all morning to interview
my ten men. l couldn't find one;
the records were twisted and nobody
knew what ward he might be in.
Even at the camp prison-the
"Hoosgow boys considered
and acted with thoughts for some
one at home.
Next came the insurance, very
liberal insurance, so that nearly all
the boys feel they must take the
full maximum, $4,000, costing be-
tween Sc and 81. I also helped sign
them up for that, and it was in
spring for me to see them come up
one after another and sign away a
considerable portion of their month
ly allowances so that somebody
should get that insurance in case the
worst came to them. There is also
a very good annuity for total dis
ability. The average man in my
company here is worth from $4,000
to $4,000 of insurance. I don't be-
lieve one is drawing his full pay.
So they stay in camp. Today
every man and his brother put out
a washing. Clothes swung in the
breeze from ropes connecting each
tent with the next. I put out one
too.
Tell Mrs. Trego I will write soon
If not today. We have plenty Of
sugar and everything to eat. We eat |
too much. 1873.
I have been wondering at what |
camp they call cantonment,. Can
1t must be south or
east / have never heard anything
but cantonment.
They pronounce Kearny this way,
sKerny," and not. "Karny," as we
want to, as new corners.
passed a splendid Thanksgiving
lay with friends in Los Angeles, in
! fine little horny bungalow, where
here was lots Of welcome. I have
! pressing invitation to go there for
Is many days as I am free at Christ
mas time.
Sincerely yours,
N.."....r FREMONT