The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-06

dollars IN machinery ana equipment
in addition to that already possessed
by the University have been expend-
ed to train the Fighting Mechanics"
as these soldiers are called.
There is no play work in their
training. The automobile men are
trained to drive a three ton govern
ment truck through stumpy land and
in sand, and to repair al makes Of
automobiles-and Fords. The car
penters plan and are building the
barracks to house some of the men
of the next detachment, as well as
making an addition to the mess hall
for accommodation of the students and
soldiers when school commences in
September. The radio operators con-
structed their wireless station and
send and receive messages as they
will be required to handle them later
under service conditions. The cleo
tricians do practical wiring, the bench
woodworkers make all sorts of furni-
ture as they will naturally be called
upon to do when they seek to replen-
ish the devasted sections Of France,
and the machinists are becoming
skilled in work with which they must
have familiarity when they get "over
there
Work of the Young Mems Christian
Association
So important does the Y. M. G. A.
consider the work that the University
Florida is doing that it has sent an
Army Secretary here at it's own ex-
pense to look after the men just as
is done in the large cantonments. He
has received sufficient supplies to
last Is months, which indicates the
importance of the work as estimated
by the Y. M. G. A. and the reading
and writing rooms are filled with the
men at night who are relating to
their companions and friends their
experiences in the army.
Military Training
The Commanding Officer of the de-
tachment is a captain, Of the national
army. Each company is in command
of first lieutenant. The other army
officers on the staff of the command
ing officer for this detachment in.
clude medical officer, also cap
tain, dental officer, who is a lieuten.
ant in the Dental Corps, lieutenant
from the Quartermaster's Corps, and
a second lieutenant who is police
officer and summary court.
The men here are under the same
discipline as if they were in large
cantonment That they enjoy the
military training is evidenced by the
eager interest they have taken and
the raid progress made.
Recreation
Each company has base ball team
and rivalry between them Is keen
Boxing bouts are Of daily occurance
: and the men are acquiring skill |,
F, handling themselves. The Y. M. G
A. is Of great help in serving thu
!, problem of what to do with the mel
during their few leisure hours.
1t should be very gratifying to tn,
. people of Florida to know that thu
: government has given both the in
. structional and military work at tn,
!, University of Florida rating of A
the highest rating it is possible t
: give. The work necessarily was has
: tily organized, but both the militar,
and educational stats have throw
!, themselves into the task whole heart
I eddy, and have cooperated very close
ly. This spirit has been responsible
; for the high rating given the worl
by the War Department.
!, The present training detachmen
: will leave Gainesville by August Ii
2 The men will have been at the Uni
= versity of Florida in training tw,
months at that time. No one know
=, where these boys will be sent. Me-
= in some Of these trades are badl
4 needed over seas, and it is possible
: some men may be sent across" yer,
soon. Most of the men will likely b
dispersed to various advanced train
t ing centers. Those who do not max
! good in technical work will be sen
to depot brigades and soon will b
9 found in the trenches.
r The War Department has inform
ally advised the University of Florid
: that 1t will be definite policy t
/ train men at the various state inst
e tuition until the present fiscal yeal
T June 80, 1918. A contract for tn
9 training of Florida men for the perio
l. of two months following August 1:
t has just been signed. On that dat