The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-06
University OF Florida Training
'Fighting Mechanics" For
The Government

training for war service in vocation
al trades at the various universities
throughout the country as Fighting
Mechanics? Well, because of the
policy of the government not to dis
close information which may aid the
enemy, these article will not enlight-
en- you. However, it is permissible 20
say that here are about $50 UNIVERSE
ties which have contracted to place
their equipments and Institutional
forces at the disposal of the govern
ment to train enlisted men in voca-
tional work for over seas service.
The only institution Of Florida with
which the government placed a con-
tract for training white soldiers is
the State University at Gainesville.
This opportunity came in May when
the Committee on Education and
Special Training of the War Depart
ment made a contract with the Uni
versity, providing that men of the
national army be trained in the fol-
lowing trades-army truck drivers,
radio operations, electricians, carpen-
tiers, Observation-Disclosures, and ma
chinists. Under the terms of the
io n11nunH IN tolyn
this training except men indicted in
to the military service. Further
more, let it be known that none but
Florida boys are being trained here.
The great state university supported
by taxes of the people Of Florida, is
training Florida boys to go over the
seas and help whip Kaiser Willie
to a FRAGILE So eager were they
that a large number in deferred
classes volunteered. In the case of
many they would never have been
called had they not volunteered.
TIL present detachment arrived
June Is. They came from practically
every county in the state. Few, If
any, had ever had any military eX-
perience. They received their first
military training Immediately upon
their arrival when they were met at
the train by sure 'nuf lieutenant, who
marched them to the middle of the
street and out to the Engineering
building of the university on the
campus, where the Commanding Off.
Ger has his office. There the Local
Boards papers were checked and the
men turned over to another lieuten
ant who assigned them to quarters
in Thomas Hall, which is their bar
racks. After registration, the frs
thing the new recruit did was to ge
an empty bed sack, march over t.
the dairy barn (the sight of which
by the way, made most of the boy.
feel quite at home) fill their sack.
with straw, interspersed with SANE
spurs and other similar reptiles, hois
the bullying sack to his back with thu
grace with which he would hold =;
creased pig, and, to the tune of "ha!
foot, straw foot, hike back to tn,
dormitory and make his bunk read,
for the night.
The next day after arrival the edu
cational authorities considered tn,
first problem in connection with tn,
training Of the men, namely, the as
signment of the right men to the vo
cation for which they were fitted
This problem was solved by CAREFUL,
interviewing each soldier, and by con
scientious observation ON the part O
each instructor. How we'll the mel
were placed originally is testified {,
by the records in the fact that bu
about one per cent were transferre,
after being assigned to work durin,
the first twenty-four hours after ar
rival. The day after arrival, also
the men were assigned to miltar,
companies.
On Monday June II, the men be
gan their careers as soldiers in earn
est. At 515, as the rays of the SUI
began to dispel the darkness of tn
night, the sharp, clear notes of tn
bugle called them from their comfort
able beds to begin the serious bus
ness of preparing to help avenge tn
Lusitania's crime, the insults whicl
this country too long withstood fror
the degenerate Hun, and to assist i
our present job to make the worl
safe for democracy" In the arm
the day is not divided by the mono
otous pendulum of the clock, but b
the spirited cadence of the bugler'
calls.
For fear some pro-German Nigh
start a gossip and give the impre.
sion that the Florida boys are Above
to loaf and get into mischief, thi
schedule of week days week
given:-
First call, 5:15 a. M; reveill,
h.Oh. nrcn,,bl,r Z, 90. ..A.. III q . 90