Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-06-26
STRENUOUS LIFE r. i.
ATCAMP DODGE
Daily Program i. a Stiff One
Camp to Be Enlarged-Heakh
Conditions are Improving,

Divisional Headquarters. sSth Divi-
sion National Army. Camp Dodge, Des
Moines, Iowa, June "a. 1918.
The limitations of furloughs, the an
nullment of down town privilegees ex-
cept in a restricted sense on Saturday
nights and Sundays, the Improvement
of every minute in some phase of TRIM
ing all point to preparatory effort
which means an early departure for
overseas service.
The arrival of another increment of
men has made additional demands upon
the officers and a number Of those who
have taken special work at an officers
training school have been indicted into
service. Among the new arrivals are
5000 negroes, mostly from Tennessee,
although Alabama is still furnishing col
ored troops enough to replace those re-
jected because of physical incapacity for
service. The men from Tennessee are
husky bunch and they are enthusiastic
over their new experience. 1t Is their
first trip away from home and the
strange environment of the northland
is having a good effect in that it stimu-
lates activity and prevents home-sick-
ness.
The various benevolent activities are
busy with the new conditions that have
been injected because of the presence of
large contingent from Missouri. Those
who cannot read or write are being
taught by volunteer instructors from
Des Moines in addition to the volunteer
work from men in khaki. Classes COM
posed of from $50 to 200 men have been
formed and the men from the Ozarks
an education.
Every branch Of military training is
now being rushed with vigor. The artil-
lery practice has been resumed, gas
masks, trench warfare and all Of the
special features that must be taken into
account are given aggressive practice
and long hikes are sandWiched in be-
tween so that every moment is Occu-
pied.
Next week the men will be given
strenuous practice upon the ranges.
ticipate in this drill. This is indicative
of the speed in training newer men
of the division. Within six weeks they
have been put through the preliminary
drills and become acquainted with the
guns sufficiently to warrant target
practice on the range.
When the infantry regiments go on
the range they will get a taste of camp
life away from the barracks. Cooks
will accompany the regiments and
field kitchens set up on the range so
that the MONDAY meal will be pre-
pared there and served to the men in
their mess kits.
To get an idea of the strenuous life
at Camp Dodge it is only necessary
to study the daily schedule. The
bugle blasts at 5:45 in the morning
is the first cali to duty. Breakfast
follows and the following schedule
marks the duties imposed for the day:
$50 to 7:15 a. m.-Policing grounds.
1880 to 500 am. March to drill
field.
500 to $3.50 a. m.-Setting-up ex-
ercises.
$50 to 900 a. m.-School of the SOL
der, followed by ten minuets recrea-
ton or rest.
s:4o to 1000 a. IMPOSITION and
aiming drills.
10000 to 1890 a. m.-School of
squad followed by ten minutes recrea-
ton or rest.
1o:40 to 1900 a. m.-Manual ''of
100 to HAS a. m:-schoof- of
squad.
11:15 to 11:45 a. m.-Return to bar
racks.
Following mess "assembly' is blown
at lis and the companies are march
ed back to the drill grounds for the
afternoons work. Setting-up exer-
cises come first after dinner, followed
by manual of arms, and squad drill.
and the school of the soldier, until
400 p. M, when forty-fve minutes
are devoted to organized recreation
which is also considered of Importance
in the training of the soldier. RE
treat" is blown at 500 followed by
of n m
taken out for sighting drills and other
training until 1880 p. m. Following
this drill lectures are given In various
barracks by medical officers on hygiene.
Taking Out Insurance.
With the coming of so many new
men the various side-lines have devel-
oped the need of unusual effort The
most conspicuous feature is that of get
ting the men to take out life insurance.
While this is not absolutely compulsory
the effective presentation of the matter
has practically prompted universal &C
quiescence. Each man takes out $4,000
insurance and In case OF death While
in military service his dependents will
draw $50 month for 20 years. That
will make a total of over $4,000, the ex-
ira amount being interest on deferred
payments This plan takes the place of
pensions. In case of disability from
wounds or sickness the insurance allot-
ment is pro-rated.
Health Much Improved.
The health of the men has greatly
improved since the coming of summer.
Pneumonia has been practically elimin-
ated and hospital work has been mater
tally lessened. However, with such
large number in camp several hundred
men must be given medical attention