The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1918-07-12
CAMP PIKE NOTES.
By Erwin Funk
Camp Publicity Secretary }

that it IS any hotter this summer than
usual. but most of the boys are living
a more strenuous life than they are
accustomed to following at this seas
on OF the year. Taking man who
has been indoors fer years and sud
denly shooting him out TITO the July
sun for hours of steady drilling is
mighty big change to say the very
least And it is only recognition OF
the serious needs of the nation for
soldiers that gives lot of the fellows
the grit and the determination to hang
On log after they have passed what
they always considered 70 be the lin
II Of human endurance. We have
Just as many heroes IN Camp Pike
as they have oversee even though the
men are getting no medals.
Ana lille they are seeking no spe
cial recognition for it, whole lot of
credit is due to the Y NJ. c. A. sec
retaries for the splendid way in which
they are sticking to their work. A
majority of them are men who used
to take their summer vacations lust
about now and many have their own
summer homes. But there are few
furloughs and vacations for the Camp
Pike ~" men. as the force IS short
handed and most of the secretaries are
doing extra work rather than getting
relief because of the heat.
Several huge warehouses in the
camps are filled with great piles of
winter clothing, turned in by troops
hat have gone east in the past
months, and that are now being care
fully examined by experts to see
whether it is worth cleaning and
mending for further use. or whether
it shall GO to the junk man as old
rags. All bedding and old equipment
is washed and disinfected, and il too
is used if not too far gone. Uncle
Sam is practicing conservation him
self these days.
While there is reported to be a
steady decrease in profanity in most
Of the army camps of the country,
there is still plenty of rough talk
among the men. Little Mable, j.
years-old. was at camp with broth
er the other day and to her great
delight was Above, to eat at mess
rith the soldiers. Upon IL return
[ ha baI r,,,ny faT -
army life. AS':.!,e permission OF her
mother to PLAY at supper tire that
she was at tn. so, p, she att f.om a
/ tin plate, usel /, II cup, and aston
is1ed the assembled family by calling
out, pass them beans, you crazy
| boobs."
Selling stamps and handing oat en-
velopes and paper to the new men
continues to be the biggest item of
work just now at the "Y" buildings
One secretary gave away free IN a
single afternoon, 1000 envelopes and
paDer in proportion. The eolored ''Y"
/ sold $4,000 worth of money orders
/ in single week. In addition to the
work in the buildings, the secretaries
visit the men in the quarantine areas
| to give them the same opportunity for
writing home. Special outdoor NOV
les are frequently given for the men
in quarantine, who attend in a body
and under the auspices of a sergeant
chaperone.
Of course jobs cannot be found for
ali the soldiers in the army who have
some special trade, but men enough
are found to fill almost any kind of
a job. A walk aong one section of
! the quartermasters area through
what is known as the Utility Section"
would give some idea of the many
lines of trade represented among the
enlisted men. 1t includes roofing,
masons, millwork, sign painting, cleo
trio Welding, steam fitting tin work.
electric repairs, plumbing, auto re-
pairs, stove repairs, etc. Uncle Sam
does not aim to be dependent upon the
labor of outsiders any more than he
mas to and so utilizes the enlisted men
for all the needed trades.
Here IS tribute paid to the Y NJ.
Q. A. by the chaplain of the famous
Black Watch Regiment of Canada,
which went out with LOO men and
came back with one officer and Sc
men: "The Y. NJ. C. A. in my opin-
ION IS the greatest organization in the
army. 1t is your bank, your bureau of
information. They can't do enough for
you. No matter how hard or how tough
man is he takes off his hat to the
Army Y. NJ. C. A. It's the best friend
he has
A great many letters are coming
from civilians who want to get into
the next Officers Training School
A great many stories have gone forth
with regard to the large number of
student officers that will be accent
ed here this summer and fall. There