Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1918-01-30
CAMP DIX SURGEONS
TO HELP BOARDS
Plan Expected 10 Speed Up
Draft in New York and
New Jersey
BUILD DUGOUTS
OF SNOW DRIFTS
Special 10 THE EVENING JOURNAL.

cpeclet 10 lhE ENtNlND JOJhNAL.
CAMP DIX. y. j.. Jan. 1910 speed
up the calling OF the next draft, sur
geons from Camp Dix will be sent out
TO aid many Of the local boards in New
York and New Jersey in examining re-
cruits summoned for service under
orders issued yesterday. War Depart
ment officials believe that much time
will be saved under this plan and con-
siderable expense for the Government,
as there will be less likelihood Of unit
men being sent to camp, only TO be
rejected and ordered back TO their
homes A thorough preliminary ex-
animation by an army surgeon also VIII
eliminate the need for a second ex-
animation here, and a third point in
favor Of the use OF the surgeons as
examiners for boards is that il tends
to prevent any reflections that may
seem to show fayorliism.
Plans for the organization Of lafson
school for the division were announced
this afternoon. The work will be under
direction Of Major s. z Megill, division
signal officer and the course will cover
a period Of two months. Officers from
each infantry brigade and regiment and
many "non-coms" will be selected for
the instruction. men with college and
technical educatlons being preferred.
This school Is regarded as one Of the
most important vet established at the
camp as II deals with communication
systems and intelligence department
work, taking In such subjects as wire
less. rockets, lag-signaling, piseons,
dogs, sirens, runners and other highly
specialized lines OF work at the front
Major General SCOTS plan for
greater development Of music and sing
ing among the troops Of his division
was advanced today by orders for the
appointment Of a music oflcer in each
regiment the latter TO have aids In each
company. Il will be their duty TO see
that the men are offered every Oppor-
tunlty to crafty their desires for mel
Ody, which the general, from his study
Of conditions at the front, Is convinced
IS a strong factor IN STRENGTHENING the
morale Of men under the adverse con-
ditions Of trench warfare.
Their path TO the regular bombing
fleld cut on by big drifts, Camp Dix
lnfantrymen yesterday converted the
snow piles into model trenches and
dug-outs in which to. practice grenade
throwing. which began yesterday foI
all infantry troops The practice tool
on all the Joy Of a schoolboy melee
when some officers permitted compa-
MES 20 man opposing trenches anc
lombard each other with snowfall
grenades There was an additional ad
vantage in the use OF the snowballs
as 10 was not necessary to recover thes'
missiles from the deep snow, as wa
the case with the practice bombs.
he.grenades used are OF the mos
modern type. They contain no explo
sive except a time fuse and cap, IN
latter going of with a sharp report Il
acquaint the men with the time !
would take a real charge 20 explode
Teaching the soldiers to hurl IN
bombs at lust the right instant is prov
ing the most difficult feature Of tn
instructors task. II a bomb Is throw
too soon. an axle foe can pick II M
and hurl 10 back with deadly effect int
the trench from which 90 came. Henc
precision In timing. the men are bein
taught, is quite as important as goo
aim.
Determination Of Major Genera
Scott 10 make the most Of the time 10
training work Is seen in orders issue
this afternoon, advising organization
commanders that weekend holiday
FOR their officers and men begin at moo
on Saturdays. Many. Il is said, haV
been knocking or work, sometimes a
carly as 9 o'clock Saturday morning
10 catch early trains to weekend des
tinations. The order at present anecI
only officers who are not Included IN
der the quarantine regulations, but WI
apply with equal force TO all when IN
health ban IS lifted. Discharge Of man
convslescents and the reporting Of onl
six new cases today brought IN
measles record lower than at any tim
since the quarantine went into ehec
a total Of 7i'cases being reported
Investigation here shows that Cam
nix soldiers are one Of the best-sho
lot OF men in any American trainin
camp and that foot troubles have bee
reduced 10 the minimum The sing
complaint Is that, IN some regiment
while there have been plenty OF shoe
there has been q shortage or certai
sizes. which has caused inconveniens
TO the men unable to get a perfect Il
This latter situation is rapidly beir
remedied.
TODAY declared the shoes Issued 10 the
men have been Of good quality, and tn
is verified by the Quartermasters d
partment. Not a pair Of the "pape
soled" shoes, which have aroused Dill
complaint in some sections, have be-
found among the footwear consigned
Camp Dix, according to Major E.
Tompkins, division quartermaste
Since the camp opened, out OF the mo
than 10000 pairs OF shoes issued lie
than 25OO have been turned back, al
the majority Of these have been In
condition that would warrant the
repair. The average life OF a pair
shoes here seems to be between tv
and three months, and this, army oil
GERS OF experience declared today
exceptionally high.
THE average recruit, who mas DC
used to getting a six months or mo
wear out OF shoes at home, Is su
prised when his heavier shoes wear o
so soon, until he figures that ne
wearing these shoes In hard drllll
or work on tho toughest Kind
ground approximately eight hours
day, and then he wonders how IN
wear so long" said reglmental ofilc
In service on the Mexican bord
marching over the sharp sand
gravel wore out the best kind OF she
IN q month or less
ARREST DELAWARE SOLDIERS.