Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-11
SPIRITS or SOLDIERS
RESPOND TO SONGS
Singing as Essential as Rifles and
Training, Says General
81 Wood.
HEADERS FOR EVERY CAMP
As Fast as Selections Can BE Made
Leaders Will BE Assigned I" Cam
., comments by Commission on Train
ing Camp Activities.

1T lie Just as essential that the SOL
dicrs know how TO sing as Il is that
they carry rifles and learn how 10
shoot them said Major-Gcneral Leon
ard Wood recently. in a talk t" the
men Of his command AZ Camp Funston.
Fort Riley, kans, singing IS one OF
the things they should all learn. II
SOUNDS odd to the ordinary person
when you tell him every soldier should
be II singer. because the layman cam
not reconcile singing with killing. Hut
when you know these boys as know
them you will realize how mach IL
means TO them II sing. There isn't
anything in the world-evcn letters
from home--that Will raise soldiers
spirits like a good catchy. marching
tune
Camp singing. rs it is carried on to-
day in the army Cantonments and ma
val training stations of the United
States forces is 4 lesson in euthusi-
asm and experience III mass 9sy
chology. II you have never listened
TO 1900 or 5000 men singing pack
UP your troubles III your old kit bag
and smile, smile. smile" shouting !;
ioyouSly and learning meanwhile tha,
tho best antidote for worry and ph%
steal WEAKNESS is a Smile-it will b.
hard for you To realize how much sing
ing does mean in the life OF tie sol
dier and sailor.
The War Department Commission on
Training Camp Activities recognized
this fact, however. when it was or
Eanizcd last spring. ayui one OF the
first activities Of the commission was
to appoint singing leaders. The work
met with such enthusiastic support on
the part of the men and their COM
manders that more leaders, and still
more, were sent out. To-day there
are skillful leaders OF singing i'll near
II
tonments. in five OF the largest naval
training stations and in several of the
National Guard and mobilization CEN
ters of the regular army. As fast
as they can he selected. leaders will
be placed in charge OF the singing in
every camp where men are being train
ed for the land and sea forces of the
United States. for these activities have
been extended TO the navy as well as
tho War Department Commission on
Training Camp Activities.
Wholesome Surroundings.
THE government has called the
young MEN Of this country out Of home
surroundings and the part chat they
normally played in the community, 10
place them in wholly new envirsn-
ment." said Mr.. Hammer. OF the COM
mission, In discussing recently the de-
Nelopments that have taken place in
recreational work In the camps. For
this reason they mus; be given whole
some surroundings and activities tina,
will stimulate right ideals.
The hazards of camp life are ever
greater than those of tho firing line
in their subtle and far-rcnching effects
This is the conclusion of those VIII,
studied the copditions which prevaile,
among our own forces on the Mexican
border. or In the Canadian Frcncl
and British training camps. II ma,
is shot down in battle his family AM
community are proud to have mad.
their sacrifice on the altar Of service
But il is wholly different thing whci
a. young man-throuEh influences sur
rounding camp life-goes back to hi
FAMILY and community broken |,
health. a. moral and physical wreck
knowing these facts, members or tn
commission have asked college hcroc
to go into the camps to organize ath
letics. they have co-operated with tn
citizens In communities near the train
inE camps. so that these communitie
are linking up in social terms the life O
community and camp, they are placin,
song leaders and theatrical entertain
ments in the camps because singin
has been found to be not only the hes
co-ordinator in the army discipline, bu
also in tightening the hard work O
marching. Many commander ha
said that he has no fear Of the outcom
when his regiments go into ba,tl
singing" - =.
Song Does the Trick
Here is typical letter from one @
the song leaders. Jerome A. Swine fore
who is stationed at the Norfolk, Va
NavyYard:
When I started out on Monday
Mr.. Swineford wrote in personal let
ter TO friend. describing his initia
gong with the sailors at Norfolk IN
men had just had serious talk fror
tho chaplain on the responsibilities o