The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-25
Then New Men at Funston Dis
card Civilian Toys.
No Time Lost in Handling Last
of First Draft.
QUARTERS ARE COMFORTABLE
Men Are Put in Camp Apart
From Veterans.
Vaccinations Begun After They
Get Their Equipment.

Camp Funston, Kan, Feb. 25.-The
new plan of receiving drafted men at
Camp Funston was given an actual
test when twenty-three men OF the
list contingent of the first draft came
into camp. Fifteen were from Mar
shall county, Missouri, four from
Kansas City, Kan, and four from
Riley county, Kansas The majority
OF the men will not arrive until
THURSDAY and Friday, altho small con-
fingents will come in each day. in
Guiding a Kansas contingent OF Sixty
seven Tuesday.
The new men alighted at the Fun
ston depot, were met by orderneS ana
in less than an hour had changed their
civilian clothing for complete equip
ment Of olive drab, were CLASSIFIED by
occupational qualifications and exam
ined by medical officers.
sszFhe plan of handling the men is
efficiency itself and contains no lost
motion or time from the moment the
man steps into the first room of the
Barracks until he energies a full
fiedged soldier in every respect.
Get Baths in Hurry.
In the first room the men are
stripped of all clothing. Shipping tags,
wrapping paper and Irvine are pro-
vided and a branch express office mas
been esta blished in the room to ena-
BILE the men to get rid of their civilian
clothing. Shower baths are between
rl1e barracks and after a bath the men
are examined by medical officers Co
ing into the next room they pass be-
fore quartermaster clerks, VINO issue
clothing and pass them on to the per-
sonnet officers, where they are classl-
fled by occupations. An insurance
and an allotment officer take charge
of them and a mastering officer puts
the finishing touch of the soldier upon
them.
Z From the receiving stations they
marched to trucks awaiting on the
Golden Belt highway and were trans
ported to the second training unit,
more commonly called the second de-
tention camp. There they were d1-
vided into squads of five and assigned
to tents to begin three weeks 'pri-
mafy'' course in soldering Active
work Will not begin until the latter
part of next week, after the remain
der of the contingent. approximately
twenty-five hundred men, arrives
Quarters Comfortable.
The n.en spent a comfortable first
night in army life. Their tents are
floored and sided and a conical stove
furnishes what little heat is needed.
Comfortable spring cots, with straw
filled mattresses and plenty of covers,
We're found waiting for each man.
The T1ajority of the newly arrived
men spent the first evening looking
over the camp site, viewing the seen
cry and asking questions as to what is
ahead If them.
All is in readiness for the arrival
of the remainder of the contingent
and its handling in expeditions man
nsr.
Three weeks will be spent in this
camp. receiving vaccinations, having
cultures taken. studying military bear
ing. customs and rudimentary points
of training.
Col. Martin l.. Crimmins, command
ing officer of the 164th depot bri-
g4de, has been placed in command of
the second training unit. He succeeds
Lieut.. Col. Ralph Mccoy. who became
adiutant of the seth division