The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-12-12
TRAINING CAMP
ACTIVITIES
Mr.. Fosdick Now Overseas to Reor-
ganize the Work

game the WOfk
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE War De-
partment Commission on Training
Camp Activities announced today that
there was to be reorganization and
extension of the work of the nom
military organizations operating
abroad with the American Expedit-
ionary Force Raymond B. Fosdick,
chairman of that body, who went to
Europe with the Presidents party,
sailed in response to a request from
General Pershing that he put into eff
feet for the benefit of the soldiers
over there the same ideas and methods
of work which the commission has ap-
piled for the benefit of the men in the
camps in this country The Commits
sion's work in this country will con-
tinue as usual during Mr.. Fosdick's
absence.
Heretofore it has been impossible,
owing to the constant change and
movement of bodies of troops, to or
ganize the work of these bodies as it
has been systemitized here under the
direction of the commission. Now
that different conditions exist, it is
General Pershing's idea that there
should be readjustment and systemi-
zation of all this non-military work
among the soldiers.
Mr.. Fosdick is expected to be
abroad couple of months, visiting
France and that section of Germany
occupied by the American troops On
previous trips to Europe he has had
opportunity to observe the operations
of the various relief organizations
working there. This time he will re-
port to General Pershing recommen-
dations for changes he deems desir-
able in their organization, equipment
and methods of work and will super
wise the beginning of the desired
changes.
Attention will be given to a contin-
uation of the social hygiene education
and the campaign for the prevention
of venereal disease which General
Pershing has made so important a
part of army life and which has co1l-
stituted a valuable part of the Com
missions work here. It is the gov
ernment's policy not only to maintain
a healthy and clean army there, but
to bring back home soldiers without
wounds save those received in honor
able combat with the enemy.
One of the chief problems now con-
fronting the military authorities and
the non-military organizations work
ing abroad to keep the American
soldiers, 5000 miles from home, con-
tent and cheerful when their work
lacks the excitement and stimulus of
actual warfare. In the training
camps in this country, the Liberty
Theatres with their varied activities,
educational as well as theatrical, camp
singing and athletics were relied on TO
make the routine of cantonment life
'tolerable. The Y. M. C. A. and
knights of Columbus, which are
among the affiliated organizations
supervised by the commission on
Training Camp Activities, are MAIN
talnlng an Overseas Theatre League,
with many entertainment units. The
soldiers of the Expeditionary Force
have, of course, their own regimental
and company song leaders, trained
here. Quantities of athletic equip
ment, which was particularly difficult
to obtain in the earlier days of the
war, have been shipped abroad for the
use of the soldiers, so that the earlier
lack ought to have been pretty we'll
overcome by now
Mr.. Fosdick's recommendations for
further work will take in all these
matters, as well as the operation of
the huts maintained by the non-mili-
tary organizations, their handling of
supplies to be sold or given to the SOL
diers, and the like.