La Junta tribune., 1917-10-25
MAKING CAMP ENvIRoNs SAFE
La Junta Asked To Contribute 30lO
to War Camp Community
Recreation Fund

President Wilson says. The spirit
with which our soldiers leave Amer
lea and their efficiency on the bat
tie front of Europe, will be vitally
affected by the character of the en-
vironment surrounding our military
training camps"
II II obvious that the duration OF
the war and the toll OF life 1t shall
take. depends not alone on material
equipment. but also on the charac-
ter and the spirit of the men behind
the guns. The task OF the United
States is threefold: lst. to win the
war; I'd. to win It in the shortest
possible time: and Sd. to sacrifice
the minimum number OF lives.
To accomplish this task every
available resource is being organized
to safeguard the young men OF the
Army and Navy. and to develop the
highest possible character and the
noblest spirit.
Soldiers can be made or un-made
BY the character OF the training
camp environment. For the first
time In its history. our country. in
building its army. has made provis-
Ion at the. very outset to turn the
soldiers leisure hours. and the
training camp environment. into an
asset instead OF q liability.
Realizing that great battles are
won by man power. and not by num-
bers Of men. she has set high the
standard OF soldierly conduct. and
has laid the foundation for build
ing . great army OF men. the near
est perfect physically. the most alert
mentally. and the most sound moral
ly that the world has ever known.
Major General Leonard Wood says:
I'm order to be good soldiers. men
must be clean mentally. morally,
and physically. to have respect for
themselves and for the uniform they
wear. and nothing will contribute
thereto as much As good surround
ings. wholesome entertainment and
recreation
John n. Willys. chairman of the
National Committee on war-Camp
Community Recreation. more widely
known by reason OF his connection
with motor car and airpiane manu-
facture. says: Experience at the
camp already established has shown
the necessity Of wholesome environ
ment. The novelty Of camp life
wears off quickly. The routine OF
drill and instruction soon pals. un-
less there Is relaxation and q change
OF scene In the community nearby.
Imagine your boy At training
camp: where shall he 20 and what
shall he do when off duty. The
cities. big and little. adjacent to the
camps will do their best: but with
out the aid Of . national fund Il will
be Impossible to supply the equip
msnt and the trained personal ser.
vice necessary to make . recreation
system . thorough success. Il IL
planned 10 furnish enlisted men hos
pitaiity IN local social circles. TO
promote wholesome amusement In
public places. 10 supply bu,idinss.
swimming pools. etc. and 10 prevent
the exploitation Of the boys by com.
mescialised attractions Of an unde.
sirable Sort
The activities Of the war-Camp
Community Recreation Commi
do not in any manner interfere with
or duplicate the work Of the r. n.
c. A.. the Knights Of Columbus. the
American Liberty Association. The
latter have 10 DO with recreationai
activities within the camps. the
Community Recreation agencies With
features outside the camps. but ad.
jseent thereto.
II seems impossible for the gov.
ernment TO assume th centre re-
sponsibtiity Of oreanisins the details
Of this movement. Therefore II IL
ineumbeat upon private Initiative TO
promote and finance such an enter.
prise. Tho towns and cities adjac-
ant 70 our great training camps are
striving hard 70 meet their obiiga-
tions along these lines-some even
incurrins bonded indebtedness to do
their pnrt--but the task IL tremrn.
dous and has been imposed sudden
iy. They must have assistance from
the outside and II must come now.
A popular contribution IL being
made BY communities over the coun.
Try 10 further the interests of this
movement. -Four miiiionh Of dollars
will BE- required TO finance Il. May
towns aad cities have already raised