New Britain herald., 1917-10-19
Willing to Start for Berlin Now
 With Capt. Daly
ALL IN GOOD HEALTH
Members of First District Draft Board Visit Camp Devens and Report Finding Local Soldiers in Best of Spirits.

Members of the first district ex- emption board-Chairman A. F. Cor bin, Secretary J. J. Watson and Dr. T. B. Reeks-accompanied by Fred McEnroe, have returned from an auto mobile trip to Camp Devens at Aver
 Mass, and are enthusiastic in their r. description of the place. They say
 conditions there are admirable, the food is good and the men are for the most part we'll and happy.
 Yesterday the board took mess with the soldiers and describe the food as sustaining, wholesome and well cooked. The temper of the men they found to be good and no grumblins was heard. One of the first local men they met was Alderman John Stadler. The alderman, now private in the Ambulance Company, was drilling a squad of men, and the board was in formed elsewhere that he is in line for promotion to corporal. They also saw "Chick" Bonenfant, formerly of Company E. Bonenfant has developed into an excellent soldier, his com manding officer declares, and has been promoted to head corporal of the company
 The members have much praise for Captain Daly, in charge of the com- pany in which many of the local boys are assigned. Captain Daily promised that next Friday he would secure leave of absence for about 200 New Britain boys, if possible, and With a couple of lieutenants, would accompany them home to New Brit ain. From these men football team will be organized to play local team next Saturday afternoon. The program also includes a parade from the Arch street armory over the same route which the men marched several weeks ago. Captain Daly predicts that the public will be greatly sur prised at the development of the men and will not recognized them as the undri1led contingent that marched away so recently. Growing Like Mushrooms.
 The exemption board marveled at the magnitude of Camp Devens, and, to show how rapidly the camp ex- pands they state that at Il o'clock yesterday morning they had to make detour equal to the distance from City Hall to the South church be- cause a detachment of engineers was macadamizing the road. At 4 o'clock the road was completed. Also at Il o'clock they passed a section of heav- fly wooded land and at 2 o'clock the trees had been cut down and the land cleared for new buildings, which were in the process of construction.
 The New Britain men were greatly impressed by the esprit de corps of the soldiers and officers. One of the privates said: we would go right through the line to Berlin for Cap tain Daly," and this same spirit is manifest throughout the company.
 If there was one message above any other that the draft board brought back to the Hardware City it is for parents who are worrying for fear their sons are not properly cared for in body and in morals. The men are in charge of high-minded officers who realize that the soldiers must receive protection against temptations, and every possible restriction is enforced to prevent them from associating with vice. They are just as safe as if they were in theological school, one of the exemption board members said today Their physical welfare is also a point on which emphasis is laid, and every precaution is adopted to keep them we'll in body as we'll as mind.