New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1918-03-06
CAMP 10NCE- OYER
SeARES RECRUITS :. [. ]
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. AND.
VACCINATION PROVE
AN ORDEAL
FIRST PAY DAY FOR NEW MEN
FALLS ON ALL FOOLS
DAY, APRIL /.

Torment is What the newcomers at
Camp Dodge are writing to the home
folks. It was a great sight for on
lockers and great experience for the
young men as train after train pulled
into the siding at the great encamp
ment The men who came last Sep
TENDER received no greetings from
those who had been in the service be-
cause everybody was having his first
taste of military life, but with this
last arrival things were quite different.
Thousands of men who had been drilling
and doing various other military
stunts for the past six months, were on
hand ready to give the boys a cheerful
greeting. It was a great event in the
life of every new arrival and the cordiaity
with which the new men were received
made everybody feel that a friendly
spirit predominates at the big army
camp. The men who have been here
all winter, including the crack regiment
belonging to the regular army, are giving
the new men all the assistance possible,
and as soon as quarantine is over there
will be some high-class stunts pulled
off at the Liberty theatre and at the
big halls maintained by the Y. M. G..
A., the Knights of Columbus and the
Lutheran Brotherhood, for the special
benefit of the raw recruits. The nine
regimental bands will join in another
great concert and there will be enough
entertainment to dispel home-sickness
if such should manifest itself.
Army Needs Diversified
One Of the interesting things in CLASH
flying the new men is to note how quickly
fellow drops into tie very place best
suited to him. Previous occupation,
special preparation along any line or
the bent of mind and inclination fore
Swallowed in the questions asked, en-
able the authorities to quickly place, q
man in that branch of the service for
which he is particularly fitted. And
there is use in the army for men from
every calling and class under the sun.
The new men had heen reading about
the camp, many Of them had visited It
so they were not slow in adopting TIE
n etaods and customs in keeping with
the new order of things. Gen. Plum
mer, gray-haired and sedate, but with
a cordiality that makes everybody at
ease, gave personal attention to many
details and tie 1000 officers We'd with
each other in contributing to tie well
fare of the new arrivals. Since spend
ing three months with the armies Of
our allies in France, Gen. Plummer is
mighty proud Of the American soldiers
and he is especially @gratifed over the
conditions at Camp Dodge and the
splendid record the men are making in
the various and complicated drills OUT
lined. Col. Ralph P. Howell, who has
had the duty#of assisting each man to
his proper unit, is being highly COM
plimented upon the manner in which.
he has kept the long line of men NOV
ing. Howell makes very few bad
guesses, and most of tie. arrivals will
find themselves assigned to congenial
duties. One practice being followed
in the present increment is the assign
ment Of men with special qualifica-
tions to the depot brigade. Tie depot
brigade will act as a reservoir from
which other units may draw skilled
soldiers when needed, or from which
mechanics, 1nasons, etc., may be as
signed directly for service in France.
The Medical Examination .
One Of the experiences most dreaded
by the average '.tenderfoot' is the med
ical examination. There is nothing
especially serious that happens but
about all of the men enter upon this
part Of the military program in a
nervous condition. A couple Of hum
dred men, with every vestige OF cloth
ing removed, are lined up along the
side Of the room. A military expert,
perhaps he was your physician at home
but he is now major or captain, grasps
the first man in the ranks by the arm
and quicker than you can say Jack
Robinson, the fellow has been vaccin-
ated. He has just about time enough
| to say ouch when another surgeon
takes him in hand, gives him dab
just behind his left armpit with an
iodine swab, and shoots him full Of 9
couple million dead typhoid germs
Some Of the recruits begin to get ner.
vous at this stage Of proceedings. A
small percentage Of the biggest, husk
lest recruits Of the lot faint dead ava,
shortly after disrobing, either through
nervousness or excitement, or because
Of the touch Of the vaccinating needle
However if your recruit should faint
he will find immediate firstgaid treat
nrent. a husky sergeant will pick hin
from the floor, lay him carefully on,
table, and give him Whit or two 2