The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-02
Hair-Raising Rides for cred
Cross Drivers.
They Are Over No Mans Land
as Well.
A GREAT Big TASK AHEA[
Want 1880 Men by First of the
Year.
And Mai. H. P. Harding Has
Tackled the Job.

Chicago, Nov. 2.-Hair-ralSing rides
at midnight over "No-Man's-Land,"
situated four miles from Chicago's loop
district, form "a part Of the training
at Camp Scott, the Red Cross station
which has guaranteed to send 1,SOO
expert ambulance and truck drivers
to France and Italy before January 1.
The csmp, which is the only Red
Cross branch every placed under mill
tary discipline in America, sprang into
life almost over night. Residents
linked and rubbed their eyes as the
little city of white tents flared up in
their midst and the summer section
of a famous pleasure resort was given
over as barracks.
1t was less than two months ago
that Maj. H. P. Harding, now COM
mander at Camp Scott, was summoned
to Washington by Red Cross officials.
who had just received an S. o. S. call
from France and Italy for drivers.
Eighteen hundred by January l."
came the call.
ut can't be DONE" some experts
said
at can be DONE Major Harding re-
torted, and set out to do it.
Race Them Thru.
Army officers expert in the work
were detailed to race the recruits thru
the intensive course of one month
after which they are ready for over
seas service. In seven weeks one
third of the required number were
either overseas or getting final in
structions as mechanics, drivers and
soldiers.
OF the seventy thousand Red Cross
drivers now on the battle fronts of
europe, only the men turned out from
this camp will receive pay. They get
xxybiI trai I'M, nd $40
a month after embarkation. They
have the same status as pr;vates in
the army. and are commissioned lieu
tenants when able to take over an
| ambulance i'm France. Men from 1e
to SIS are eligible, except those in class
1. Two other camps soon will be
esta blished: one in the east and one
in the far west
The recruits. who include farmer
| boys, movie actors, business men of
means and grocer clerks, have had at
least one year in driving car.
Much in Week.
| In one week they are given as much
| military drilling as was formerly re-
| ceived in the state militia in a wear,
officers said. The second week they
are EARNED outn for expert mechan-
ical work in big auto shops: the third
| week they are given further military
i training and during the final stretch
they drive over the shell-gashed trails
Of the miniature NO Mans Land. Night
| driving is the final test
| A sturdy lad from the north woods
l'of Wisconsin was summoned to test his
skill. He climbed onto the seat of
''Maude." the camps most flippant
fand temperamental car, stepped on the
gas, and the car began dancing over
the rugged trail of mud. Down into
gullies and over ten-foot bumps the
| 1afi on, |, aIe
| more often on two. Finally came the
| hill test, an incline sharper than a
| staircase
| A hop, skip and jump and "Maude"
| had topped the rise. where she paused
| but minute before plunging down the
| other side and standing on tip-toe in
] the mud with back wheels humming
! in mid-air.
| Calmly enough the lad held his seat
and brought the car to position ready
for the final tesla shell crater.
Then "Maude" Jumped.
"Maude" crept forward cautiously
and poked her nose along the brink
of the precipice. For a brief moment
she paused. Then with a grunt and a
snort she suddenly did a standing
broad jump to the opposite side.
| Beautiful" chuckled an officer in
admiration.
Tuck" grumbled a rookie with a
| bandaeed head who had failed the
preceding day.
For the red-blooded boys who want
ouick action and a chance to be in
| Europe in six weeks from now. this
unusual camp offers unprecederted
| opportunity" said the officer 1--WE
need HOO more men at once. And
We'll get them"
| kanS9n 6 PrfSor,or