The Washington herald., 1917-11-06
MEADE TROOPS
kept TOO BUSY
FOR RECEPTIONS
Arrival of |, ,488 More Men
Unmarked, as Selectives
Work, Work.
By ANDREW r.. KELLEY.

By ANDREW n. KELLEY.
Camp Mead, Admiral, Nd, Nov. s.
Incoming hosts Of prospective soldiers
who have dropped out OF civilian
life to pick up the selected mans
burden in this cantonment numbered
1.tss men today.
They found their comrades who had
preceded them hard at work on the
most intensive drilling that has yet
featured the program Of a days
real soldiers and no receptions, such
as featured the arrival of the Sun
day groups. were possible.
Tomorrow So men will arrive from
Washington and will be assigned at
once to the S12th Machine Gun Bat
talon, 543 from Maryland counties,
who will be assigned to the 313d In
fantry. and 2e5 from Pennsylvania,
who also will be assigned to the 313th.
Apart from a few stray units who
viii arrive later in the week to make
up for deserters, delinquints and those
rejected for physical disability at the
camp the roster of the Seventy-ninth
Division from the first quota of the
seiective draft will be complete.
Quakers Vote Today.
The most interesting feature of
tomorrow's program for the Penn
sylyania boys will be the voting for
candidates on the Pennsylvania
state ticket by the boys in olive
drab from the Keystone State. 1t
will begin att o'clock under the
direction of military election Off
GERS, who were sworn and instruct
ed in their work today. II is cleo
tion day in Maryland also. but since
the legislature of that State made
no provision for absentees to cast
their ballots. only those who have
furloughs will be able to visit the
polling booth. The officers have
been generous with passes, however,
and most of the Baltimore boys will
have chance to pay a visit to their
home voting districts.
Bomb drills have started for the
infantry units. and sighting and
manipulating the Lewis machine
guns form some of the new work
started today. Each of the District
companies has several of these
guns, and squads are taking turns
in their use. The men are encour-
aged and surprised when they learn
that they become expert marksmen
without ever firing the gun. through
learning the lessons in sighting and
handling the weapon.
About the happiest lot in the big
oantonment are the colored troops
from Washington. They take to the
military life and very few discon-
tented recruits will be found among
the 400 housed in D Barracks. They
also have entered heartily into the
sport program, and arrangements
were made today for a football team
composed of colored soldiers from
the District, which will compete
with companies from the Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland regiments.
What they desire most is musical
Instruments. There is a wealth of
musical talent among the colored
men. Three quartets have been
formed.
Camp Meade's Future.
For weeks there has been specula-
ton among the soldiers about the
future of Camp Meade, the question
being whether or not the big wooden
city would be a permanent training
camp. From semi-official informa-
tion that has filtered down from
Washington, it is practically certain
that efforts will be made at the COM
ing session of Congress to keep the
cantC tCnments after the war for COM
pUlsory military training purposes.
Several officers here declare a bill
has been prepared for presentation
early in the session. containing pro-
vision for compulsory military serv-
ice, the continuance of the canton
ments and the alteration of age lin
its for the proposed second draft.
Compulsory military training has
been vigorously opposed, but the i'm
provement shown in those undergo
ing training probably will eliminate
much of this opposition. The gov
eminent Is not likely to permit the
LOGS of the s16,000.0o0 which has gone
ments.
of the soldiers at Camp Meade and
the other cantonments of the ma
t:onal army have been announced.
They call for sixteen theaters. each
of which will seat 1900 soldiers.
Maude Adams. Ethel Barrymore and
Utner stars of the legitimate stage
will ba among those who will enter
tain the soldiers on what will be
known as the Liberty Circuit, and
Cheating Cheaters," Turn to the
Right" Inside the Lines" and Here
Comes the Bride are some Of the
road attractions that have been
booked.
"SmiIageo Soon on Sale.
Marc Klaw is chairman of the COM
mittee which is booking the attrac-
tions and he already has arranged
for the sale of books containing 6
cent coupons, known as "Smileage,"
as part of the ticket scheme for the
soldiers. These books contain 81 and
s worth Of coupons and will soon
be offered for sale to the public
through the State Women's War Re.
lief. Seats for the performances will
cost Is and % cents.