Willmar tribune., 1918-01-02
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hfe Training.
Division Headquarters,

OuISAOAy nave COu0 ClOS0 u tu0 SOL
diers OF the Eighty eighth division OF
the National Army here.
The men from Iowa, Illinois, Mime
sofa and North Dakota training here
to aid Uncle Sam in establishing world
democracy and the defeat of kaiserism,
have been threatened with death
probably the most horrible and pain
ful that could be conceived.
Small particles Of ground glass have
been discovered in certain brands of
canned tomatoes and in rice which
government officials purchased for the
soldiers.
1t has been practically established
that the glass was put in the foodstuffs
by German agents working in the fac
tories where the goods were prepared
for shipment.
To have the slightest amount of
glass such as has been found in these
two varieties of foods lodged in the
stomach means a slow, torturous and
painful death. The membranous lin
ing OF the stomach and intestines be-
comes irritated and inflamed and grad
ually testers, causing death which
sometimes fingers for weeks before
finally coming.
The canned tomatoes in which the
glass was found are known as the
Air Line Brand" Large quantities
have been purchased by the army.
All of this brand which has been is
sued to regimental and separate or
ganiZatiOn commanders here has been
recalled and will be discarded. SINH
lar action probably will be taken with
all rice which has been issued.
The closest scrutiny is being main.
tanned in the preparation of all food
stuffs to be served the soldiers to pre-
vent any tainted goods being placed
before them.
The glass found in the rice indicates
that the preparations were gone into
in the minutest detail. The small par
ticles of glass had been made to re-
semble in shape the rice kernel and
by contact with the rice in bulk had
become covered with rice dust so that
they were hardly discernible from the
grain. Only by placing the rice in a
pan or bowl of water and washing
thoroughly could the pieces of glass
be easily found. When this was done
the rice dust was washed off and the
little glass particles being heavier
than the grain, settled to the bottom.
The first warning of the plot came
to Brig. Gen. R. N. Getty, acting divi-
sion commander, from Maj. Gen. w.
H. Carter, commanding the Central
Department at Chicago, saying officials
of the district attorneys office there
had been apprised of a German plot
to kill American soldiers and civilians
by placing glass in canned tomatoes
and certain brands of hominy. Imme-
diately precautionary measures were
taken to protect the soldiers. This
communication, however, contained no
warning against the possibility of find
Ing glass in rice.
Further warning of German plots is
contained in letter to General Getty
from the Council of National Defense,
saying alien enemies would attempt to
destroy, probably by fire, all foodstuffs
stored in the United States.
This plot was to culminate some
time during the Christmas holidays,
but thus far no evidence of its being
carried out has been discovered here.
Extra guards have been placed around
the big quartermaster's warehouses
and the supply stores of regiments and
seperate organizations.
Another message has been received
by the adjutant general of the state
from Provost Marshall General Crow
der, saying no more men will be called
to the colOrs until February Is, or
later. This means that the organiza-
ttOns here which were reduced by
transfers to national guard camps and
the new National Army division at
Camp Pike near Little Rock, Ark, will
not be brought up to war strength un-
til early next spring.
The attitude of the War Department
as indicated by the message is taken
with varying degrees of JOY and dis
satisfaction by the men and officers.
Some believe that withholding the final
increments to provide the division
with its full quota will greatly retard
the actual date when the division as a
unit will be ordered abroad for SER
vice.
This view Is taken because it is be-
lieved the soldiers will not have been
sufficiently trained before late next
summer for such move.
1t Is the contention of others that
because of inclement. weather condi-
tions, it would be- of little or no use
to have the men report for service be-
fore next spring, and that because the
men now here are rapidly developing
and learning the business of conduct
Ing military affairs, it will require but
a short time to whip the new recruits
into shape and be ready to move
Confinement in the barracks during
cold weather is also conducive to the
breaking out of an epidemic of con-
tagious disease.
1t is practically assured that men
selected for service with the eighty
eighth division and not yet called to
the colors will not have an Opportu-
nifty to attend the officers training
school to be opened here about Jan.
5th. recommendations for this course
have been made by regimental COM
manders to a board of officers appoint
ed to make the final selections and an
announcement of the names of the
successful candidates is expected soon.
The recommendations were restrict
ed to the personnel of the enlisted
men now In camp. It is not known
whether such training schools will be
conducted.
Soldiers successfully completing the
course will be commissioned provision
al second lieutenants and await the
time when they will be called to active
duty as officers.
The quarantine which kept members
Of the remount depot and Company B
of the 366th colored infantry regiment
confined to their barracks for more
than a week has been lifted.
= In these two organizations cases of
meningitis were found and 4 quaran-