New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-02
PLATTSBURG, Sept. 1.

Hep. hep. hep-hep-hep!
Rockies full of beans, and they can't
keep step.
A half dozen of the children of the
post, here, born and brought up in
the atmosphere Of things military,
chanted this roundelay as they stood
along The road leading to mess hall
on the opening day OF the camp and
watched the student officers tramp by.
There were men of importance in the
civilian world in the dust-hued COM
panies marching past--lawyers, ply
sicians, millionaires and powers in
business-yet there was no hint of re-
spect IN the irreverent chant.
These men may have been of i'm
Dortance. Probably many of them
would eventually achieve posts worthy
of consideration in the world of SOL
Gers which the children knew. But,
for the present, they were only rock
ies-althorgh the authorities here have
banned thet woodland they manifestly
couldn't keep step. Therefore, the tri-
umphant song continued until the last
company had filed past.
Some of those at whom the gleeful
ditty was directed grinned sheepishly.
Others apparently did not notice it.
Their minds were wholly occupied with
= hnc nT
and interval. And when you are in the
midst of one hundred men who know
little more of this art than you do
yourself. concentration is an essential.
Uniforms at the camp are still scanty.
Until last week there was a glaring
shortage of hats. There was something
rather startling in observing candidates
setting out to defend democracy in
khaki clothing of military cut, sur
mounted by a straw "kelly" with a
glazing hatband. Yet those who STROBE
along beneath panamas, fedoras and
even golf caps saw no humor in the
situation.
Last of Volunteers
And there was no humor, when you
stop to think for 4 moment. This is
ness on which any Of the candidates
have ever embarked. They are fitting
themselves to lead men into and out
of danger. If they prove themselves
worthy, they may eventually achieve
power of life and death over hundreds
of their fellow countrymen. They real
ize this. and although their ranks re-
Sembled somewhat the redoubtable
force once marshalled by the mighty
General CoXey, they neither smiled nor
cavorted, but went where their officers
told them as efficiently and quickly as
they could
The men who have come to this camp
may have in the future many claims to
fame. One they have achieved already,
though it is doubtful if any Of them re-
aliZe il. They are the last of an old,
obsolete system which the nation is
cutting away as fast as possible; the
last of the men who in years gone by
have fought our wars, most inefiici-
emily, although at times valiantly,
I They are the last Of the volunteers.
Other camps there will be, if this war
drags on. But their members will not
be those who have come forward will
lingly and without individual bidding
b 10 anu tIt NOuHllN' CdHuludltS
for the officers training camp will be
picked from the wealth of raw material
offered by the draft army so soon to be
in the field
Those who struggle through the
simplest military tactics here this week
are the last OF a vanishing type. They
are the men who have been allowed TO
devote their lives to the work of the
, nation, at their own volition. Hence
forth the United States will not ask
that her citizens serve her She
viii take them as she wants them. She
will sort them out and test them in the
draft cantonments. and those whom
she judges worthy may be sent here to
learn 10 command their fellows.
So, the flattsburg idea, initiated as
voluntary training school for civil
isns during their vacations, has passed
through its secondary stage of volun-
tary training school for officers, and
will soon enter upon third phase. Both
here and elsewhere the "Plattsburg
camps" are destined to become the
West Points of our National Army,
which no one may attain without a
competitive examination.
Town Is Indifferent