Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-05

Camp Devens. Aver. Mass. Oct A.
(SpeciaD.-With the restlessness and
gnawiag of loneliness expressed on many
OF their faces thousands of soldiers are
nightly surging through the business sec
ton Of Aver craving for some of the So
cial life and recreations. that they left
behind them at home. This town is abso-
lutely barren of amusements and this
great horde of men in khaki are at loss
to know what to do or where to go so
they just parade up and down the main
street and then hike off for their barra cks
and bed
"A half dozen blocks Of dimly lighted
stores, moving picture house Of the hall
type that accommodates only few hun
dred persons, few "hole-n -the-walr
billiard rooms and soft drink establish
ments make up the life of Aver. There
are no clubs. no lodges. or church organi-
cations to offer them recreation and they
depart for their barracks overpowered
with loneliness. To hundreds the event
of watching trains come and go from the
Aver station offers some excitement
Thus far the men in khaki have stood
the strain Of. nothing to do until tomor-
row with great forbeaEance They flock
to Aver in such great crowds they are no
longer regarded as human beings by the
residents but are merely men in uniforms.
Uprooted from his native soil, stripped of
every social prop and safeguard. his fam
lily ties. his friends. his church. his neigh
horhood. his frat2rnal groups. his bust
ness connections and the influence of the
women OF His kind and suddenly tran
sported without their gates he Is in no
mood TO stay in the big barracks when on
liberty and he sets out for Aver in search
Of some Of these things and in few
hours returns much depressed.
Something has got to be done TO solve
this problem. 1t is one of the big situa-
tons that have developed since the gla-
has worn off and the soldier boy in his
hours Of liberty has begun to look about
for the things that lookup his hours
OF an evening at home.
The commission on training camp ac-
tivities appointed by Secretary of War
Baker anticipated this situation and quite
recently assigned this work to the plav-
grounds and recreation association OF
America They have had a field represen-
tative ut camp for several weeks and are
now making plans for the organization
of the social and recrcational forces of
the communities adjacent to the camn
These forces will be brought together
IN one tee-repreSentative Of
churches, clubs, lodges schools, colleges
recreation centers, parks. moving picture
agencies wo,nens asences-in fact
ever; force in the communities that can
he used in working COR the highest vel
fare Of the enlisted men
At the sugge ston Of President Wilson.
rational movement has been under
taken by the comm ssion on training "a mn
activities to raise funds to be used TO as
sist the communities in this important
work. Fred A. Richardson. who repre
sents the commission, was visitor to the
camp today. He stated that it was no,
only the duty and responsibility of the
citizens OF Aver but every community
in New England to assist n this work
Mr.. Richardson has been assigned bv the
commission to take charge of the cam
paign in New England He has opened
offices in the Kimball Building. Boston.
One of the boys of the 1o3d Infantry
formerly the I'd Maine sends us the fol-
lowing, which will not only amuse and
interest many but perha ps give a pointer
to someone higher up in the line Of
looking after our men: