The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-01-15
News Notes From s't ~.
F g.. Camp wheeler


Champ Wheeler, Ca, Jan. 15.-Of-
ficers and enlisted men at Camp
Wheeler must actually pass throuhg
lachrymatory and asphyxiated gas
chambers, in taking their course of
instruction in the gas defense train
ing. Unles they can properly adjust
their gas masks while in these cham
bers, they will receive the same eff
feet from gas they would on the bat
tlefields lover there" This part OF
the training is given to instruct the
men how to adjust the mask during
a dreaded gas attack.
Quite a large number of officers and
men have completed the gas defense
course of instruction, but they have
never been actually exposed to the
gas, Those who pass through the gas
chambers successfully will be classed
as graduates. They will be used as
gas defense instructors in their units.
Approximately seven hundred Off
GERS and men will be put through the
gas chambers each day, until every
man in the Dixie Division has gone
through. Groups of rs men will en-
ter the gas chambers at time. Just
before entering the chambers, they
will go through a regular gas defense
drill in which they will be again in
structed how to adjust the mask to
prevent gas reaching their nostrils or
mouth
In having the men actually come in
contact with the poisonous gases
commanders believe they can get bet
ter results in putting students
through the school. Some of the
Georgia Florida, and Alabama sol
diers dread the ordeal, but they must
take the test.
The men will begin taking the gas
tests next Monday. Division officers
hope to put every man in the entire
division through the tests Ia one
weeks time. They will go through
by regiments.
The army tuberculosis board has
found 500 victims among the enlisted
men of the 31st division. Out O.
about $4,000 men, this is not consid
cred bad record. The board stated
in it's report that the majority of thu
men were effected before they en-
tered tn service. Those who have de
veloped tuberculosis since entering
the army will be sent to Fort Bay
ard, New Mexico, fort reatment, il
the United States tuberculosis hos
pital.
The board having finished its worl
here, has been divided into two sec
tons and will visit other camps to be
gin examinations. One board wa.
sent to ort Morgan, Ala, to examine
men there. Another board went tt
Camp Johnston, at Jacksonville, Fla.
to examine members of this com
mand. Still another board went tt
Fort Scriven, near Savannah, Ca, t,
test the lungs of every soldier there
Col Louis c. Duncan, division sur
geon, stated sometime ago that so PEI
cent of the drafted men sent to Cam,
Wheeler were physical wrecks" ant
the report of the examining boart
pretty near bear out this charge
Some tubercular victims have alread,
been sent West for treatment, ant
others will follow. Those who hav,
advancer cases will be discharged, i
is said.
The coal famine that has held Ma
con in its grip for the past month hal
affected Camp Wheeler. Gen. ]. L
Hayden, commander of the 31st di
vision, has issued an order, prohibit
ing officers and enlisted men from us
ing electric lights between the hour
of 1880 a. m. and p. M, except a
the base hospital and at division
headquarters.
The coal shortage has affected tn
operation of the electric power plan
at the camp and for this reason tn
current has been cut short. Unit
more coal can be delivered at tn
camp, the order of Gen. Hayden wi
remain in effect.-Jacksonvi M,
tropolis.