New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-20
fStir Corrspordenc~l


CAMP UPTON, Long Island, Sept 10.
Out of the windows of FIVE special
trains another National Army mere
ment got its first glimpse to-day of the
primitive jungle city in which New
Workers already accomplished in the
peaceful arts of pushing pens and
planes and the man ahead on the sub
way platform are to learn how to put
their heft behind bayonets.
1t was a glimpse Of buildings huge
and bare and implanted, of thickets that
disappeared yard by yard as one
watched before the attack of an army
OF axemen. of criss-crossing roads in
every state of evolution, OF motley
companies of marchers, which appeared
to be made up in equal parts of civil
ians and soldiers.
One after another. within the same
hour, the trains halted on siding and
discharged their loads of clerks and
carpenters and lawyers and statesmen
and shopkeepers-the fighting men OF
tomorrow.
Begin Eating at Once
So thoroughly was Camp Upton pre-
nar.d that within a half hour after the
arrival OF each trainload the newcom-
ers were sitting down to full and APP
petizing meal in the receiving barracks
TO which, district by district, they mad
been assigned.
This second increment was IN many
ways more interesting to observe than
the first had been, and the cheerful
manner in which the authority OF the
officers was accepted and the alacrlty
and intelligence displayed in obeylng
strange commands may be taken as
fairly indicating the spirit of the Ma
tional Army As whole.
The men of the "first . per cent for
the most part were early starters by
their own request. These OF the second
increment's first instalment came 10
camp to-day because this was the DAY
arbitrarily set for their coming. Among
them the hold-backs of the draft-tne
men who might not feel the patriotic
irspiration to give themselves uhre-
seryedly TO the service OF their country
would naturally be expected 10 ap-
pear.
But if such there were they were not
n n. nicked out casually. Altogether,
il is true, the men of the second mere
ment are a graver and more serious lou
than those who preceded them INTO
camp. As they detrained there was
dearth of the carnival spirit that
marked the arrival of the merry first
. per cent
No Picnic Ahead of Them
On the way they seemed TO have
come to the collective conclusion that
no picnic lay ahead. None Goes, ior
that matter; and that the men realize
il, and approach soberly what docs lie
ahead, is no shame to them. Inc DIG
and important point is that they APP
rroach it without complaint, steeled 10
face whatever the future holds IN such
a way as TO make Americas honor safe:
That was the impression one got OF
them as they trudged along the dusty
roads between siding and barracks, lug
cling the bundles that held all the per-
sonal belongings from which the draft
had not cut them adrltt. here, you
would say, were men to whom Joo mao
hen given. and who had made up their
il was a lob wholly or partly distaste-
full was a point past discussion.
The weather was something TO try
their tempers, too. Most, having read
of the snap that is a characteristic OF
the September air of camp, had come
bundled in winter clothing and carry
ing overcoats. But as they travelled
out on Long Island they were travelling
back along the calendar, and ~ was
July day they found at the END OF the
journey.
So their first was q sweaty and firing
march. The sides of the roads they
trod were lined with men in khaki and
men in multi. Among the former were
both regulars, brought here as IN
structors. and men OF the first per
cent" but so we'll do their uniforms
suit the rockies that it was almost i'm
possible to distinguish the one from the
other.
There was a lot of mild hazing in
dulged in by the pioneer rockies, whose
humor took the turn Of singing out 70
the newcomers that the food was bad
and that there would be no blankets
for them, although frost always came
with night.
These direful prophecies were soon
to be proved false, for Immediately
they had got outside the good dinner
that waited the men of the second IN
crement they got blankets and were as
signed TO beds that were far from I'M
comfortable besides, there was not any
frost. The night was summer night,
and even the blankets were super
fuous.