New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-21
Broker Collapses
After Failure at
Plattsburg Camp
New Yorker, Disappointed
Over Rejection, Suffers
Nervous Breakdown

New York business nan who tried to
do his bit and was rejected at the Of
fcers' training camp because Of physi-
cal disability is in a serious condition
tonight in the Champlain Valley hos
pital from nervous breakdown induced
by disappointment. Regulations forbid
mention Of his name.
The man is forty-fve years old and
stock broker. Afraid to risk a ply
steal examination in competition with
the thousands Of young men who ap-
piled for admission to the camp in New
York, he came direct to Plattsburg and
made a special appeal to the officers in
charge. When the army surgeons re-
jected him he offered to donate his au-
tomobile to the government for war
service and to drive il himself. But
this offer was rejected.
The broker fingered in Plattsburg,
going out to the post each day to watch
the officers in training at their drills.
He grieved constantly over his own in
ability to serve until last night he col
lapsed in the Witherel Hotel.
Sunday brought day Of leisure. and
a welcome one, to the officers training
camp. The parade ground ceased to
echo its endless round Of bugle calls,
summoning the men from one drill to
another. There was rest for sore feet
and sore arms-the anti-typhoid inocu-
lations of yesterday are beginning to
take-and a vacation for muscles grown
stiff and rebellious after a week Of un-
common labor.
Prepare for Rigid Schedule
The officers advised the men to take
it easy and prepare themselves for the
increasingly rigid schedule Of the COM
ing week. So far they have just been
doing chores, as compared with the
tasks which will engross their atten-
ton.
Drills under arms and the manual Of
sabre and bayonet will pave the way
to a two-hour march on Thursday. The
lecture and study hours also increase.
The only turnouts Of the day were
at 5:15 for morning report, and for
retreat at 5:45 in the evening. In the
interim tho student officers had full
opportunity to explore the possibili-
ties Of camp holiday. Many attended
religious service in camp and town.
At every church in Plattsburg men in
uniform were among the worshippers.
Several pastors preached special SER
mons.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul A. Wolf, the
commandant, received notification from
Governors Island that the 313 New
York National Guardsmen who were
expected in the morning will not ar
rive until May 81. The New England
outfit will be in on schedule. Colonel
Wolf expressed himself pleased with
the showing made by the men thus far
but says the real test will come with
the harder work.
Plattsburg is preparing itself for it,
debut as one of the summer social
capitals Of the East. For Plattsbure
is wartime capital, made and pro.
vided by the same decree that named
Plattsburg Barracks the post where
Americas future army officers are
learning their new vocation. Wartime
democracy rules. The town and coun-
tryside up and down the valley are fill-
ing up with the wives and families and
kin Of those who wear the uniform,
and who are coming to establish them
selves in the neighborhood Of the bar
racks for the period Of encampment.
Among the arrivals and the future
arrivals occur names which are house
hold social words throughout the land.
The same names with the masculine
prefxes are on the duty rosters out at
the cantonment, where every man Is q
soldier the equal Of his fellows.
Exclusive Clubs Represented
Most of the old families of New York
and New England, every exclusive club
in New York and Boston and every
great university in the East are repre-
sented by names which Colonel Wolf
forbids the correspondent to mention.
He rules that some might deem the
publication a special privilege accorded
those thus favored, and special privi-
leges are under the ban.
This is the oldest touch Of all. 1t
will be q social season unchronicled
and unsung as relating In any detail TO
the men in training.
Plattsburger who would normally be
shocked at the suggestion Of taking in
summer boarders" are opening their
homes 10 the families Of student off,
GERS. and none other need apply. The
bulletin board at post headquarters Is
covered with invitations from Platts-
burg people offering to lodge the fam
lilies of soldiers for moderate fees. For
those with much to spend are elegant
country estates which rent for IS much
as people want to pay.
Most of those who are coming here
to be near their relatives are choosing
simple abodes, after the example set by
Uncle Sam in providing quarters for
the aspirants to commissions. The rigor
of the training schedule will go far to
discourage the ordinary social activi-
ties. The men must remain in barracks
five nights a week, unless released by
snecial dispensation of the command
emit. which under no circumstances will
he granted on the plea Of o social obli-
cation. And woe to the one who seeks
to circumvent discipline by improvising
an excuse.
Social Life of Army Post
The unique social life Of an army
post is beginning TO evince itself at
the barracks, where the wives OF fami-
lies of the regular army officers are
beginning to arrive from the Mexican
border. from the Preside at San Fran
cisco and the various army stations
where their husbands were last on duty.
Mountaineering formed in the army
nosts of Alaska, Manila and the Canal
Zone are being renewed.
Mr., Paul A. Wolf, the commandant's
wife. has come from Brownsville. Tex;
Mrs c. E. Koerper. wife of Major
Koerper. of the medical staff; Mrs. Jo-
seph A. Baer. wife Of the post adju-
,snt. Mrs. Wainwright, wife Of Cap
tain + NJ. Wainwright, sdjutant Of the
New England camp; Mrs. Weeks. wife
Of Captain P. L. Weeks. and Mrs. Shaw,
wife Of Captain G. c. Shaw. are others
who have arrived.