Evening journal., 1917-09-25
EVERY comfort FOR
NATIONAL ARMY MEN
Friends Back Home Will
See That Cantonment
Life is Not Dreary
DELAWARE SONS
MAKE PROGRESS

Wilmlngton's young men VINO are
now in their training cantonment al
Camp Dix, Wrlghtstown, n. j., and
those who are to be sent there later
will be well cared for and will lack
nothing in the way Of the little things
Of life such as tobacco and daintles II
plans now on foot IN this city and, IN
fact, throughout the State, are carried
10 completion. The various organlza-
tlons Of the city the members OF which
have been called on the draft and sent
70 the camp are having committees
formed for the purpose OF looking
after the comforts Of their members IN
the camp.
The Benevolent Pioneer Literary AS
ISOLATION has inaugurated this work
and this organization already has a
military service committee the special
duties OF which are 10 see that tho
members Of the Pioneers who are IN
Camp Dix get tobacco, reading mat
ter and other luxurles which are not
listed IN the regular army quarter
masters supplies. Other organizations
are preparing TO do the same so that
the fraternal men in the camp VIII un-
needs become apparent from time TO
time during their stay In camp they
will be met by their societies. 40
doubt there will be an abundance OF
these supplies from private sources so
that the soldiers who are members OF
no organization Will be able to share
the comforts from the outside With
those who are, for Delawaro's men are
known to be too generous to see any
Of their number want for anything
which others may have.
The movement ds said to be such
worthy one that those societies
which have not made any plans for
the care Of their members in camp
are being urged TO do so. The army
provides we'll for It's men, but Il does
not supply them with every thing.
The food Is plentiful and wholesome
and the clothing allowances are all
that any man could wish. but they do
not get luxuries, and 1t is these that
the friends Of the men can provide
Tor them. Care Will be taken at the
camp bysthe surgeons to see that the
boldiers are not overfed or made Ill
by the generosity of kheir friends
On the outside.
The men at Camp Dix are making
a record for speed in preparation for
service. This was apparent yester-
iay when rifles were distributed
lmong some OF the companies. and It
Vas announced that other rifles have
arrived for distribution to other COM
pnnies. II is not customary. the OFF,
GERS say, 10 place guns In the hands
Of recruits for several weeks, but so
high is dheetype of men found in this
new army and so rapid their progress
in acquiring the foot. squad and COM
pany drills that all the infantry
probably Will be learning 10 handle
rifles within a few days Tho rifles
issued FIR drill are the Krag-Jor-
gensens. Before the men go 10 France
they will be armed with the most
modern rifles.
Delaware's men who, because of
their mechanical skill. Drawn and SUI
perior intelligence and training, have
been assigned to the machine gun bat
talon do not expect TO be permitted Ia
handle their machine guns for some
time. In fact, none OF these dangerous
weapons have arrived IN camp, but Il
is not thought they win be long in
getting down the rudiments Of the
work so we'll that they Will be al
lowed to handle these death-deallng ma.
chimes. Machine guns are too power.
ful, shoot too far and too rapidly Il
be classed as toys. and II is believed
Delaware's contingent will be thor.
oughly instructed in the preliminary
work before they come to the actua
handling Of these weapons. But they
are anxious to get them into theh
hands in order that they may demon
Btrate their ability to handle them anC
70 justify the Judgment Of their ON
lers In giving them charge Of this very
important branch OF the service.
The men who went TO Camp Dix
from this city and State last Wednes-
day were given royal reception by
those Of the first five per cent who
had preceded them. They appreciated
this and they now realize what 1t is
10 have friends in a strange place "a
greet them. Accordingly, they are go
Ing 10 try 10 make things pleasant for
lhe next contingent from this State
when they arrive In camp on October
}. They are already planning a recep-
ZION which will make the newcomers
lit up and take notice, they say. and
The camp officers are giving them every
support and encouragement in this un
dertaking
Friends who try 70 smuggle intoxi
bants TO soldiers in the camp viii no
only bring disgrace and trouble upol
the heads OF the recruits, but Will fac
the highest penalties the Department o
Justice can bestow, according TO al
announcement from division headquar
ters today. Likewise, those who pl
the incoming recruits with liquor d
them a grave injustice. for the mo
who reports in camp drunk begins hi
record with a black mark.