Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-02
IS DOING
MUCH FOR SOLDIERS
war Camp Community Service
Worker Tells Of Efforts in
Cockade City.
MAKING MEN FEEL AT HOME
wonderful Transformations Are
Produced In Space Of Few Weeks
after Raw Recruits Are Received
1t Training Camp.

In the Army and Navy Club at Pc
tersburK constant stream OF young
soldiers passes In and out--great husky
fellows from tho fertile fields of Penn
sylvania. from the mountains Of West
virginia, from Maryland. and from the
mountains. plains and sea coast Of Vir-
kihta' The brown OF sun and wind Is
IN their faces. their eyes have the clear
steady gaze Of the prairies. and in every
movement OF their erect figures one
military life.
What study in transformation!
what study in Individuality. But a
rev months ago. these men had been
plain citizens of great democracy
miners. farmers. merchants. machinists.
umoermen. fishermen. engineers. edu-
Gators. doctors. lawyers. and ministers.
ihe signs manual Of calling had been
Imprinted upon each OF them-the
sauint OF the miner, the slough Of
the farmer. the pnllor OF the scholar
and tho stoop of the ONCE man. No
OF clothing, education and environ
ment. But now miracle had been
wrought. The blow OF bugle and a
Few short weeks in a cantonment, had
lroned out" these twisted figures. had
pared away the crooks and curves OF
untntored habit and had nodded in
thcir places the erect form and hard
ened muscle OF military training. They
were now the potential units OF fine
lighting machine.
MANY PROBLEMS FOR
UNCLE SAM To SOLVE
In accomplishing this miracle. Uncle
Sam had many problems to solve
problems far beyond the mere enlist
ment. equipment. and drilling OF men,
He understood that the transition from
private to military life was a severe
one. and that unless II could be made
- he.
spirit. the future morale of his boys
would be seriously menaced. To &C
complish this end he saw clearly that
the boys should be surrounded by home
comforts as far possible-that the
conVenienees and pleasures and genial
consideration OF the old days should
be thrown across their pathways to
the uttermest extent. This was par
ticuiarly true. he felt for their idle
hours--for those periods OF military
relaxation when their minds would in
evitably turn-with regret to the old
days OF sacred love. familiar surround
inss and sweet remembrances Presi-
dent Wilson had felt this poignant
need when he said. THE spirit with
which our soldiers leave America and
their cmciency on the battle fronts
OF Europe will be vitality affected by
the character OF the environment sur
rounding our military training camps"
To meet this need in an efficient
manner. the war camp community SER
vice was organized. II is an outgrowth
OF the Playground and Recreation AS
ISOLATION Of America. The latter or
Eanization sends TO each community
near a training camp one or more OF
Its trained community organizers
whose business II is to form strong
representative local committee, with
many subcommittees. and 70 CO.
operate with these In protecting the
soldier from exploitation and making
him feel At home. The association is
now working in no or more of these
communities
ASSOCIATION SUPPLEMENTS
RESOURCES OF COMMUNITY
The association also supplements
local resources. especially when the
local community is small in proportion
to the number of soldiers Gas for in
stance when there is "A training camp
OF 10000 men and the only community
within reach of IL contain, Lose ,bao