Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-03-27
news ITEMS FROM
DOWN IN CAMP DODGE
Officers Pay No Slheeurb. Red
Cross Base hospltlI Being
Erected. New Commander.

Divisional Headquarters, Camp
Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa, March Is,
191S.-The $4,000 men, representing
the completed increment of the first
draft have been released from quaran.
tine and have been devoting their
spare moments in an Investigation of
the big cantonment. Entertainments
have been given in the several recrea,
ton centers and visit to Des Moines
has enabled the men to get q better
idea of their surroundings.
Since the arrival of the large con-
tingent the base hospital has found its
duties considerably increased. There
were 1900 men needing medical care
last week and this kept 105 nurses
very busy. A couple of deaths from
pneumonia the past week served to
intensity the dread Of the presence of
that disease which has been the cause
OF more deaths in the cantonments all
over the country than any other af-
fiction. The presence here Of 5000
negroes from Alabama, who are unac-
customed to the severe cold weather
that visited this section the past win
ter, caused the unfavorable health
showing made here, in comparison to
number Of other cantonments. And
now 1t Is announced that 5000 more
colored troops are headed this way.
The officers in the several canton.
ments have formed an organization
and are working to get relief from
congress. Their complaints has refer.
ence to salaries. Most people are un-
der the impression that officers have
snap in comparison with the meager
stipend received by privates, but the
expense account reverses this opinion
when closely studied. A schedule of
expenditures required of officers runs
something like this:
Equipment which will average al.
most $4,000 per month for the first
year, including original cost and re-
placement. Up to date he has had to
purchase this equipment in the open
market at an average expense Of $3.50
for foreign service.
Mess, whether on home service or
ON foreign service. II on detached duty
1t is increased. The cost on mess aver
ages from $4,000 to $4,000 per month,
and the officer has absolutely no de-
c1sion as to how much it shall cost.
Insurance costs the officer from IS
to 81 per month.
Practically every officer, as a mat
ter of patriotism and influence, has to
pay monthly towards the Liberty Loan.
II he subscribes only 500, that will
average SO per month.
In addition, II the officer is married.
he must maintain quarters for his fam.
lily. This is not provided In war times
as In peace times. II he attempts to
maintain his family near the canton,
ments the price is excessive; II at
distance, he is not able to protect
them against exploitation.
The officers receive pay as follows
Second Lieutenant, $141.00; First
Lieutenant, $4,000 per month, with
ten per cent increase for foreign serv-
ice. Out of 5000 men commissioned
at Fort Sheridan, only 1877 were com.
missioned captains. Fifty per cent of
them were married men with depend
ents. This proportion holds good in
other training schools for officers.
GEN. GETTY IN COMMAND.
When Gen. Plummer was in France
Gen. Getty was in charge of this d.
vision Of the National Army. When
Gen. Plummer received Official notice
to report at Fort Sill he returned the
command over to Gen. Getty again.
Whether General Getty will be per-
manently assigned to command the d.
vision is not known. It is thought
likely a brigadier general from some
other portion of the country will be
raised in rank to a major general and
assigned to Camp Dodge.
THIS MAN KNOWS A WHOLE LOT.
There is one man who knows all
about the individual soldiers peculiar
tiles and qualifications. He is Captain
Morrisey. whose title is divisional per.
sonnet officer at Camp Dodge. His
business is to know all about the men
and he does. II the department asks
for man from Camp Dodge qualified
for certain purpose Capt. Morrisey
can lay his hands upon the fellow
wanted.
A card index system has been ADOPT
ed with a card made out for every
man In camp. On the card one hundred
and four vacations are given. Soldiers
are required to check the particular
line OF work in which they are pro-
fctent, and the ralatiYa dagrea of eff.