The Washington herald., 1917-05-14
Army and Navy News
Best Service Colaan I'm city.

branches In the government service, Is
rapidly assuming proportions far beyons
the expectations OF its most sanguine
supporters. Thousands Of young men
from every section Of the country who
have hocked to the colors during the last
month have found in the Marine Corps
just the kind OF life that appeals TO them
most
Consequently recruiting officers Of this
branch Of the service have been literally
swamped with applications. with the re-
suit that accommodations which proved
/ ample IN time Of peace were found want
ing, and II became necessary to provide
quarters for the new recruits as soon as
possible.
To meet the emergency, Col Charles
G. Long, commanding officer Of the Ma
rine Corps for the Philadelphis section,
with the sanction Of Mai. Gen. George
Barnett, commandant of the United
States Marine Corps, has established
great receiving camp at League Island
This camp is a veritable sea OF tents,
arranged In regular company streets and
equipped with every modern convenience
| known to military science. The tents are
big and roomy. affording ample protec-
| ton against the severest weather. Each
tent has a wooden floor set about five
inches above the ground.
| As quickly as the raw recruits arrive
at the camp they are lined up and imn1e-
diately given a warm blanket each and
| assigned to a tent. Afterward they are
compelled to pass a final medical exam
ination, which, incidentally, is more Sc
we're than the preliminary examination
given by the recruiting officers. II ac-
cepted they are sworn in by the executive
officer, taking the oath Of allegiance.
Provided with Uniform.
Then each marine is provided with
uniform. The uniform is the regulation
compaign outfit. consisting Of a khaki
suit underwear. shoes, socks, leggings,
flannel shirts, overcoat, and hat. The
men are then assigned to a company and
their training begins.
The training while preliminary in its
scope. consists of the general rudimen-
Itary principles OF drilling, marching, tar
get practice. overcoming obstacles such
as barbed wire entanglements, laying out
trenches. mining operations, open and
closed formations. etc. Later on the men
are given instructions aboard ships in the
yard
| Because IL is upon these men whom the
country will largely depend for its first
/ line of military defense, the officers in
charge of the camp are anxious that they
be given a thorough training first in the
rudiments and then in the more impor-
tant work incident to the branch Of the
selves
| The men are not driven. Their develop
ment is being accomplished by degrees:
The object of the officers is first TO
harden them. This is done by daily
marches and manual labor calculated to
develop and strengthen their physical be-
| ing The fact that the recruits are living
| in the open air greatly aids them in
reaching the physical condition so much
desired by their commanders
| This L. the Life.'
To saw that these sea soldiers" are be-
coming adapted to their new life would
| not cover the situation. The appearance
| of the men indicates contentment. They
/ are actually getting pleasure out OF their
/ work Every man wears a smile. They
| go about their work with will They
are enthusiastic. As one man put 1t. I'VE
| are glad to get away from the city life
with its monotonous grind Here we are
learning something and at the same time
| serving our country. We admire our Of
/ icers. They treat us like gentlemen.
! What more could we ask
This sentiment pervades the entire
| camp.
| or course. the men have their recres-
| ton periods. They have ample time to
| read and write after training hours. A
mail box is at the end Of each company
| street. Incoming mail is distributed by
the first sergeant. who plays the role Of
| letter carrier. Mail intended for the re
| cruits should be addressed to the Recruit
Depot, League Island. II possible. the
| company to which the recruit is assigned
/ should also be designated This will
| facilitate matters greatly.
The camp is situated on a broad pla-
| teau. east of the great marine barTa cks.
where large numbers of trained marines
are quartered. There are three big bar
| racks for marines at League Island.
while work on a fourth has already be-
gun. The recruit camp was established
April IS.
| Wholesome Diet.
The recruits in camp mess in the dining
halls OF the barracks They have the
came bill of fare as the regulars. which
consists of a wholesome diet. There is
no stinting on Uncle Sans bill OF fare,
and the meals are always ready at meal
time. Furthermore. the men in the
marine corps are receiving their pay on
time. On May 5 every man was paid OF
who had been sworn into the service up
to and including April 2S.
The officers in charge Of the camp are
Mai. John c. Beaumont Mai. Frank Hal
ford and Maj. William Clifford. All arc
men who have seen many years Of serv-
ice in the marine corps and are consid-
cred to be as capable men as the corps
boasts.
The regular recruit camp for marines
iJ a. Port Royal, s c, and the camp at
League Island was established as a sort
Of auxiliary to take care Of recruits en-
listed in the New England States.
Besides, the camp somewhat relieves the
main depot of the unusual strain which
would of necessity be placed upon Il
Under the present circumstances.
The camp at League Island, in addt
ton to furnishing accommodations for
the recruits, affords them a taste OF real
camp life and brings to them conditions
they vii be compelled to face once thev
are called into active duty. The tented
city is kept Immediately clean by the
men. who apparently take great pride ia
keeping it so. The company streets are
lighted by electricity, a luxury which the
| men cannot expect after leaving this