The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-07-19
STATE GUARDSMEN'S
CAMP WILL BE IDEAL
Congressman Blackman Says
AnnistOn's Climate is Delightful.

The war department announced that
work was being rushed on the Annis-
ton (Ala.) military training camp and
that it would be completed and ready
to receive the Maryland National
Guardsmen, who will be trained there
for service in France, by August 10.
Major C. L. Dulin, of the Quarter
masters Department, who has charge
of construction at Admission. will be in
Washington today for a conference
with General Mann, of the Militia
Bureau, and they will go over in detail
the plans for the camp.
The construction plans call for 1876
kitchens, 135 messhouses, Is bath
houses, warehouses and streets and
roads. The men will be housed under
tents instead of wooden cantonments
like those being constructed at Camp
Admiral for the selective draft army.
Representative Fred L. Blackburn,
who was born and reared near Annis-
ton and who represents that district in
the House, in describing conditions of
that community said it is regarded as
1.-THE healthlest spot in Alabama"
''At the outset. said Mr.. Blackman
81 wish you to tell the Maryland Ma
tional Guardsmen that they are lucky
to be assigned to the Admission camp.
Although going to the far South, they
will not suffer from swelterlng, op-
pressive heat at night nor from sultry
weather in day. Admission is located on
plateau, 900 feet above sea level be-
tween two mountain ranges. There
are not 10 nights during the whole sum-
mer which are not cooled by mountain
breezes. In fact, the cool nights of
Admission are famed in Alabama. Hun
dreds of Alabamans go there during
the heated months on account of its
climate. The Maryland boys will find
that the sun does not shine so hot at
Admission during the day. There is no
record of case of sunstroke at An
niston.
The water IS another thing they will
enjoy, Admission gets its water supply
from huge spring in the hills, which
is capable of supplying 300. 600 persons.
The water is pure. 1t has not yet beer
decided whether the training camp viii
| get water from Admission city sources
or from four large springs on the camp
grounds. Health conditions at Annistor
are among the best in the South The
pure mountain water and air are enc
mics to sickness, and my prediction is
that the Maryland boys will thrive dur.
ing their training period. They vii
not need many doctors, if any.
THE Admission camp already has E
notable record for its healthful qualI
ties. During and after the Spanish
American War troops from Arkansas,
Tennessee, Wisconsin and Alabama
were encamped at Annlston. Some OF
these soldiers had seen service in Cuba
and came there in a rundown condi
ton. They showed marked improve,
ment in health and practically every
man left Admission a we'll man.
The MARYLAND boys are going to one
of the four or five permanent military
| training camps in the United States
Last spring the War Department bought
the site where the guardsmen will be
trained as permanent camp for the
Southern troops. The health record,
the climate and the water of that sec
ton are responsible for its selection.
The camp site contains 16, 500 acres.
1t Is eight miles long. On one side it
is fianked by magnificent state road,
as smooth as asphalt streets, which
runs from Mobile to Rome, Ga. On
the other it is fianked by the mountains.
The mountain forms the background
for the artillery range, which the
army officers have declared to be the
best for training gunners in the
United States. There also has been
established there a range for train
ing machine gunners, and this has
been praised as the best of its kind in
the country.
The drill ground is enormous.
have been told by army officers that
three divisions, or 10000 men can use
it in msneuvers. This stretch practical
ly is level with only a hill here and
there, which does not interfere with
troop movements.
There will be plenty of amusement
around Admission for the Maryland BOYS
when they have day or night off. At
Oxford, 30 minutes ride by trolley, is a
lake, which is a noted summer resort of
North Alabama. There the guardsmen
will find boating, swimming, dancing
and all kinds of amusements which 90
with summer resorts. A large park is
located on the lake.
THE Marylanders also will find a
charming community at Admission, 1t
is new city of about 10000 people. 1t