Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-06-19
1000 CITIZENS MADE
AT CAMP DODGE

Weekly Letter Filled with Interest
ing Items Typical Of Life
in Camps.
Divisional Headquarters. SSth Divi-
sion Of the National Army. Camp Dodge.
Des Moines Ia. June II, 1918.
The most interesting event transpir-
ing at Camp Dodge these days Is the
making Of American citizens out OF
there, getting ready to become part
Of the great army overseas. A dozen
different nationalities are represented by
the motley throng and all are anxious
to become citizens of this country.
District Judge Thomas J. Guthrie,
assisted by his clerk. A. H. Bode, rep
resents the government and he makes
sure that the men know what they are
seriousness Of the citizenship. The con-
about. He impresses upon them the
stitution of the United States is read
there are any who do not comprehend
the full import of the document an
interpreter explains the troublesome
paragraph or section in the language
upon the Y. M. c. A. is instructing
foreigners in the use of the English
language. Capable instructors are
foreign birth who have good COM
mand of English render valuable as
sistance. Foreigners are urged to use
the English language in conversation
among themselves and for this pur-
pose an effort is made to keep the men
from gathering in groups and convers-
ing in their native tongue. That is a
difficult matter for in spite Of the eff
forts put forward the men of any one
VIII When N this happens the native tongue
predominates in spite of the injuncs
the men to learn English compensates
for many discouragements that crop
out here and there: One of the sur
number of the men who cannot speak
the English language were born right
here in this country. Some of them
were educated in church schools
their parents is used:
There are Swedes, Norwegians, Greeks,
Russians, Italians, Hungarians, Bohem-
| ians and an occasional Armenian. One
man in particular has been very help
full to the instructors because of his
versatility; He speaks fiuently seven
different, Languages, although a Rus
Other phases of Y. M. G. A. educa-
tional work is the teaching of those
whose education has been wholly neg
Gently came to this cantonment from
neither read nor write. These men
| are from the Ozark mountain region
to have much merit. Instructors find
| it difficult matter to teach men, in
| many cases older than themselves, the
rudiments of an education.
It Costs Money to Equip an Army:
1t is stated that it costs $4,000 to
Thoroughly train and equip soldier
and get him on the firing line in
France. When the amount represented
in some of the government checks that
pass through the Des Moines banks is
taken into E account this fat becomes q
Mears, paymaster of the SSth division
at Camp Dodge, drew check through
the Des Moines National Bank against
s2,71s,5a1:s1. The payroll of the Off
GERS at Camp Dodge amuonts 20 over
100000 month. Add to this the
monthly stipend, of the men, the cost
and care of the thousands Of horses
and mules and some idea can be form.
! ed Of the responsiveness of preparation
| for war.
0n1cers Guilty Of Fraud.
Second Lieutenant Jere F. Bolger Of
Gun Company, 34sth infantry, ha:
been tried by general court MARTA
charged with, giving checks without
them He has has been Sentenced e to con
fnement within the limits of the camp
for three months and given a severe
reprimand by the commanding gen
eral There were 16 specifications il
the charges, involving more than $4O0.
Drafted Men May Join Marines.
Postmasters over the country hav'
been instructed to give public notice
in every community that men VIII
were registered June 9Th, having be
come of age the past year, can enlis
need not await classification. Thes,
men must present their registratio,
cards and certificate from their loca
board stating that they, have the con
rine corps.
Conserving Man Power.
Men are not discharged for an!
physical infirnity or any other caus
if it is thought possible to rectify tn
at Camp Dodge requiring the organi
zation of development battalions. Thes
new units will take over all men no
immediately fit for service, to Civ
them intensive training to overcome thei
faults mental or physical. Men ignor
ant of English may be included
Those, who after a thorough trial
show they cannot be trained for US
".Oficers should bear in mind" tn
order concludes, success in conserv
ing the man power of the nation ca
be attained only through untiring eff
fort and exercise of good judgment o.
the part of the officers concerned"
Experts to Camp Dodge.
The war department has issued tn
following order:
Sixteen first lieutenants of the denta
reserve corps headed by First Lieu
tenant Herman A. Allen, are assigne
Contract Surgeon Arthur A. sween
is ordered to Camp Dodge with tn
board examining the command for nerv
Gus and mental diseases.
Second Lieutenant James E. Gay /
ordered to Camp Dodge as assistan
to camp ordnance officer and First Lieu
tenant Walter Jillson, medical reserv
corps, is ordered from Camp Dodge t
Waco.
r. N. c. A. Activities.
Secretary Hanson, in his report TO
May, gives out some interesting figures
There are eight Y. M. c. A. building
. Of erection: Approximately S4,665 me
: participated in athletic events promote
by the red triangle association durin
the month and 91,247 more enjoyed ther
by ss5 aed ohe
entertainments by 1851 men.
Nearly LOO educational classe
were held with 55,94S students attend
ing forty-six educational lecture
were given with 1921 men attending
anu Till Iy-AFO CuuSdLAOudA NAuOo Wei
in progress with 862 men attending
The 343 religious meetings of tn
month drew 4o,969 men and the %
Bible classes had an attendance o
1856.
Other figures given in the repor
show an estimate of 27S,225 men usin
the buildings during the month, 483
939 letters written in them, sac, 9
worth of money orders sold, 6,S4
books circulated.
Grand Army Men Visit Camp Dodg,
The greatest inspiration the youn
men at this camp have received sine