The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-08
DARING RIDING IS
PART Of TRAINING
NOVERSEASW WORK
Red BIOOded American Youths
in Red Cross Ambulance
Service Do Daredevil Stunts
Preparatory to Sailing.

CHICAGO, Nov. S-Hair-raising rides
at midnight over NO Mans Land,
situated four miles from Chicago's loop
district, form a part of the training
at Camp Scott, the Red Cross station
which has guaranteed to e l,Soo ex-
pert ambulance and truck drivers TO
France and Italy before Jan. l..
The camp. which is the only Red
Cross branch ever placed under mills
tary discipline in America, sprang into
life almost overnight. Residents blinked
and rubbed their eyes as the httie
city of white tents flared up In their
midst and the summer section OF a
famous pleasure resort was given over
as barracks.
II was less than two months ago
that Maj. II. p. Harding, now com,
mander at Camp Scott, was mmone
to Washington by Red Cross officials,
who had Just received ali :. .. 5. call
from France and Italy for drivers.
Eighteen hundred by Jan. j. came
the call.
1T can't be done" some experts
1T can be done" Maj. Harding re-
torted, and set out to do II.
Army officers expert in the work
were detailed to race the recruits
through the intensive course OF one
month, after which they are ready for
overseas service. In seven weeks one
third OF the required number were
either overseas or getting final in
structions as mechanics, drivers and
soldiers.
or the 10000 Red Cross drivers now
on the battle fronts OF Europe, only
the men turned out from this camp
will receive pay. They get $50 a month
while training and $40 a month after
embarkation. They have The same sta
tus as ~privates In the army and are
commissioned l~ieutenants when able to
take over an ambulance IN France.
Men from IS to So are eligible, except
those in class one. Two other camps
soon will be established. n in the
East and one IN the far West.
The recruits, who include farmer
boys. movie actors, business men OF
means and grocer clerks, have had at
least one year in driving a car,
In one week they are given as much
military drilling as was formerly re-
CeiVed in the state militia In a year,
officers said. The second week they
are "farmed out" for expert mechan-
ical work In big auto shops; the third
week they are given further military
training and during the final stretch
they drive over the shell gsshed trails
Of the miniature No Mans Land, Night
driving is he final test.
A sturdy lad from the north woods
OF Wisconsin was summoned to test
his skill. He climbed onto the seat OF
NIuhoSt Nv NhAiip . AhPioiS 49,
temperamental car, stepped on the ga
and the car began dancing over the
rugged trail of mud. Down into gullieS
and over 10-foot bumps the car raced
sometimes on four wheels, more Otter
IN two. Finally came the hill test. al
incline sharper than n staircase.
4 hop, skip and jump and MaudC
had topped the rise, where she pauset
but a minute before plunging dow
the other side and standing on tiptoC
in the mud with back wheels humminl
in midaIr.
Calmly enough the LAD held his sea-
and brought the car to position ready
for the final tesla shell crater.
Maude crept forward cautiously ant
poked her nose along the brink of thu
precipice. For a brief moment sh,
paused, Then with a grunt and a snor
she suddenly did a standing broad juml
to the opposite side.
Beautiful" chuckled an officer II
admiration.
Luck grumbled a rookie with :
bandaged head who had failed the pre-
ceding day.
For the red blooded boys who war
quick action and a chance to be
Europe in six weeks from now tn
unusual camp offers unprecedented or
portunity," said the officer. I'VE nee
LOO more men at once. And wen &c
them"