Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-09-20

into Des Moines. In order to make
it possible to get to Camp Dodge at
all seasons of the year the city of
Des Moines is expanding $4,000
in paving Beaver avenue and the
board of supervisors of Polk county
is planning to eXpend $250,0eO in
completing the paving from the city
limits to the grounds, something like
five miles.
Health and Morals of Soldiers Safe
guarded
The government takes great care
OF its men. The first lesson given
the recruit when he makes his ap-
pearance is how to take care of him.
self. He is taught the value of per-
sonal cleanliness. The shower bath
is exalted and his personal appear
ance is given much prominence. He
is told how to eat. A good many
people think they know this already,
but the average soldier gets some
expert information along this line.
He is urged not to over-eat, to mas
sticate his food properly and to give
scruplous attention to regular ha-
bits. Regular hours to bed and
regular hours at rising in the morn
ing are fixed principle in military
parlance, meals are served without
the variations of minute. Every
man is vaccinated for typhoid fever
and smallpox. The men are taught
how to take care of their feet. The
teeth come in for special attention
and the tooth brush is as essential
as a rifle. Hospital service is in
sisted upon when the least ailment
,c
structing huge base hospital at the
cantonment to care for 1000 pa
tients. In addition, it has turned
Fort Des Moines into general hos
pital where some of the leading sur
geons and physicians of the United
States will serve their country.
The war department gives careful
attention to the morals of the men.
1t encourages Y. M. c. A. activities,
provides chaplains for each regiment
sets aside stated times for religious
services and guards with as much
care as possible the conduct of the
men when off duty or leave of alb
sence. In order to keep lewd women
away and to suppress the bootlegger,
Sheriff Griffin has established an
office at the Beaver avenue entrance
and also at Herrold, on the extreme
northwest. Competent deputies
are stationed at these places day and
night and the government provides
a strict police force for the camp
The department has also delegated
a number OF soldiers for police duty
in the city and these men will give
special attention to the soldiers who
are down town on leave of absence.
The city of Des Moines is raising a
fund of $4,000 to provide amuse
ments and entertainments for the
men at Camp Dodge. The govern
ment urges wholesome recreation
and soldiers with dramatic, musical
OF athletic ability are encouraged to
provide home talent" stunts.
Sanitation the Important Thing
1t is important to note the care
the government takes in guarding
the health of its army. The most
potent sanitary force in the world
may be found in the army medical
corps. 1t was the army medical
staff that expelled the yellow fever
from New Orleans and other cities
The same force made life possible
in the Panama Canal zone and the
residents of Cuba and the Philip
pines are witnesses to the transfer
nation wrought upon these islands
At Camp Dodge the first considera-
ton is for the health of the men to
be stationed there. Not only has
every precaution been taken in the
construction of the buildings and
equipment thereof but the enyiro-
ment has been given careful atten-
ton. The privies at every farm
home within the radius of five town
ships in Polk county were condemned
by government experts. Sanitary
closets of cement were required, the
farmer furnishing the cement and
the sand and the government experts
doing the work Screens are re-
CURED that flies may be absolutely
excluded from these closets. All
manure around barns and sheds
must be treated with chemicals that
flies may not have breeding place
These health precautions have had a
most wholesome influence upon the
farmers in the surrounding territory
Many of them have modernized
their homes, provided all conven-
fences and are now independent of
government inspection.