Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-18
CAMP DIX HONORS
CHAPLAIN DAVIS
Live Wire" From Delaware
Chosen President of Chap
lain's Association.
CAMP DIX, N. J., Fen. Is.

CAMP DIX, N. j., FEB. ~
Lieutenant Howard Davis, chaplain OF
The Delaware National Guard Regiment,
recently brought here from Anniston
Ala, for the organization of Pioneer
Regiment, has been elected president
of the Chaplains' Association Of Camp
Dix. The organization plans to fur
ther the spitirual interest Of the men
of the camp and to cooperate with other
agencies in providing for their enter
tainment.
The governments new playhouse
the Liberty Theatre-will be officially
opened this evening, providing means
to present the best American shows
for entertainment of the bows in train-
ing at Camp Dix Major General Scott
or member Of his staff will preside at
the brief dedication ceremony and,
Judging from the advance sale of tickets,
plus the admission available through
hundreds of Smileage Books that have
already reached the soldiers here from
friends at home, there will be need for
IS. r. O." signs long before the curtain
rises "Babv Mine" presented by the
Liberty Opera Co, will be the opening
attraction. There will be no reserved seats.
Manager William Wheeler has booked
series of the best productions available
for the first run Of his season, and pro-
poses TO make the big playhouse an i'm
portant factor in providing relaxation
and entertainment for the soldiers at
the end Of each day's work
The Army Theatre. also under gov
ernment supervision, was opened n
month ago Mt the Wrghtstown end Of
the camp The Smileage Books, how
ever, the sale of which are increasing
daily, will be good only for admissions
at the Liberty Theatre under the ar
rangement made for their use.
Religious services were resumed IN
Y. NJ c. 4. and X. of 6. buildings yes
terdav after an interval OF q month $
quarantine against measles. Several New
York cergymen. from home churches OF
boys in the Empire State units here, were
among the speakers. Masses were con
Quoted by Catholic chaplalns in the
Knights halls, yesterday morning, and
the main building yesterday after
noon an entertainment OF music and high
class vaudeville was presented.
SAILING MAY BE DELAYED.
Should Camp Dix be selected at one
Of the stations for completing the train
ing OF men about to take their places
at the front, the change will be only one
of many that have altered the program
for the Seventy-eighth Division as origi-
nally outlined Under this program
the complete division was to have been
ready for overseas duty by March. Ere
quent extensive transfers of troops to
other divisions and of large details to
special units have so depleted the ranks
that on the eve of the time or ginaliy set
for it to leave for Europe the division
faces the necessity of virtually rebuild
ing its organization from the new draft
There are reports that other States
than New Jersey and New York may be
called upon for men to complete the
division. The Z 900 men due from New
Jersey this month will not suffice TO fill
half OF the gaps. Should the War De-
partment make no call for the second
draft before May or June, the division,
If compelled TO wait for its full quota
from this call, could not hope to be ready
to go into the trenches in France before
late fall or early winter.
Tabulation of figures shows the extent
to which the army Y. NJ. G. A. extended
it's activities during the 2S days quaran-
tine for measles in the camp which ended
this week When the quarantine was
first made necessary ChefSecretary Joseph
T. Alling and his assistants extended their
activities, which had previously been con-
fined mostly to the nine regular \ ''huts'
on the camp grounds, to approximately
200 barracks where the men were isolated
during quarantine
During the quarantine & total of 2, I'D
meetings were held with attendance of
ia $50 by actual count. OF this num-
ber ,076 were religious meetings, with
an attendance of 39, ,063, and | ,046 were
entertainments, with an attendance of
"a ,967 One of the qIartets sent around
by the Y NJ, G, A. made new mara
thon" song record by singing lbs differ
ent selections in one day in the barracks
and hospital wards