The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-31
AMBULANCE men
PREPARING FOR
QUICK SERVICE
'No-Mans-Land'' Just Out of
Chicago Furnished Training
for Red Cross Drivers.
(By Associated Prea.l

~AScSSAetS4 4
CHICAGO. Oct. 31.-Hair.raising
rides at midnight over "No-Man's-
Land" situated four miles from Chi
Cages loop district, form a part OF the
training at Camp Scott. the Red Cross
station which has guaranteed to send
1880 expert ambulance and truck
drivers to France and Italy before
Jan. /.
The camp, which Is the only Red
Cross branch ever placed under mill
tary discipline in America, sprang In
to life almost overnight. Residents
blinked and rubbed their eyes as the
little city Of white tents flared up IN
their midst and the summer section
Of famous pleasure resort was given
over as barracks.
1t was less than two months ago
that Major H. P. Harding, now COM
mander at Camp Scott, was summon
ed to Washington by Red Cross offic.
ials, who had just received an 8. o. S.
call from France and Italy for drivers.
Eighteen hundred by Jan l." came
the call.
1T can't be done." some experts
said.
1T can be DONE" Major Harding re.
torted, and set out to do 1t.
Army officers expert in the work
were detailed to race the recruits
through the intensive course Of one
month. after which they are ready for
overseas service. In seven weeks
one-third of the required number were
either overseas or getting final instruc-
tons as mechanics, drivers and SOL
diers.
OF the straightforward Red Cross
drivers now on the battle fronts Of
Europe, only the men turned out from
this camp will receive pay. They get
$50 q month while training and $40 a
month after embarkation. They have
the same status as privates In the
army, and are commissioned lieuten-
ants when able to take over an am
bulance In France. Men from 16 to
So are eligible, except those in class
one. Two other camps soon will be
established; one in the east and one
in the far west.
Get Military Drilling.
The recruits, who include farmer
boys, movie actors, business men Of
means and grocer clerks, have had at
least one year in driving car.
In one week they are given as much
military drilling as was formerly re-
ceived in the state militia In a year,
officers said. The second week they
are farmer out" for expert mechan-
zeal work in big auto shops; the third
week they are given further military
training and during the final stretch
they drive over the shell-gashed trails
Of the miniature No-Man's Land. Night
driving Is the final test.
A sturdy lad from the north woods
81 - aot
his skill. He climbed onto the seat
Of "Maude," the camps most flippant
and tempermental car, stepped on the
the rugged trail of mud. Down into
gullies and over ten-foot bumps the
car raced. sometimes on four wheels,
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 a minute before plunging down
the other side and standing on tip
toe in the mud with back wheels hum
ming In mid-air.
Calmly enough the lad held his seat
and brought the car to position ready
for the final tesla she'll crater.
Maude crept forward cautiously
and poked her nose along the brink
of the precipice. For brief moment
she paused. Then with grunt and a
snort she suddenly did a standing
broad jump to the opposite side.
beautiful" chuckled an officer In
admiration
Luck" grumbled a rookie with a
bandaged head who had failed the
preceding day.
"For the edblooded boys who want
quick action and chance to be m
Europe in six weeks from now. this
unusual camp offers unprecedented
opportunity" said the officer. I'VE
need 100 more men at once. And
well get them"