The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-03

|
Mai. Frank G. Reilly, commander re-
ceiying station at Camp Funston.
held every commissioned office
including that of regimental sergeant
major. the highest nom commissioned
rank. His long experience made him
an expert authority on administration
| in army affairs. and therefore pecu-
| liarly fitted, for the post to which
| Colonel Bigelow called him.
| In accomplishment OF his plans he
| had the cooperation of Colonel Bige-
low and the valuable assistance of
| Capt. Thomas r. Elkins and of First
| Lieut.. Byron Smith.
A Perfect System.
Efficiency experts from all over the
country have inspected the Funston
system worked out by Colonel Bige-
low and Major Reilly, and have de-
clared it perfect in every particular.
| Many of the cantonments have
adopted it. and it is said there Is
| contemplated a move to have it uni
| yersally adopted in American camps.
Nine barracks buildings are used as
| the receiving station. Seven of them
are utilized as temporary quarters to
| house the new men for a few hours
| pending examination and their trip
| thru the chutes. Two standard bar
racks buildings and their attached
| latrines provide all tho space required
| for the entire process
| On arrival of the trains bringing
| the draftees, they are stopped at
crossing near the receiving station. A
| detail Of sergeants are on hand.
Fall out" is the first army order
| the new men hear, and as it fits in
well with their civilian experience,
| they fall out of the train and line up.
| The recruits are then assembled by
1 a. I@%-
| county lots. according to whether they
are from cities or country communi-
! ties.
Get Hot Meal.
Each man carries his baggage. and
| all are made to- stand in line. They
are then marched to barracks. where
| they are served with hot coffee and
sandwiches.
MOL in line finds himself before
| the register desk. His local board pa
pers are on hand, his name is verf-
fled and entered in a loose leaf regis
| ter.
On the register is a column for his
name, the number on the papers ac-
| companying him, the information they
| contain, if any papers are missing, the
date of his induction into service and
the final disposition or the organiza-
! ton to which he finally is sent from
Camp Funston.
| Fills Out Data Card.
At the same desk a typist makes
| out a data card, which is handed to
| the recruit and which he carries on
his trip thru the receiving station.
The card has space for his full
name, race local board location, Sc
rial draft number, order number.
army serial number. the date he re-
ported at Funston and the date. of his
| induction. The recruit is asked to
verify the spelling of his name be-
fore he leaves the desk
This card subsequently is initiated
| by each man who examines him, and
at the conclusion of his induction into
the service, glance will tell if it is
properly filled in, and that there is
no duplication of records.
He next passes an officer. who
takes possession of and checks his
these are placed in an envelope. This
property is returned to him upon COM
pletion of the tour of the station.
Ships Clothes Home.
Next comes the express. and par
| eel post desk. The recruit is divest-
ed of his civilian clothes and is left
in his Father Adam costume. Ship
ping tag, receipt for the clothes and
card in hand, he goes to tables pro-
vided for wrapping and there sur
renders his clothes. He gives instruc-
tons for sending them home, or 9TH
erW1se Tor their disposition and gives
| the shipping tags to enlisted men de-
tailed to do the wrapping.
Here he is issued a barrack bag
containing such articles of clothing,
equipage and ordnance supplies as are
OF standard size and do not require
special measurements.
His name and serial number are
written on a tag which is tied to
the bag, and bag on shoulder and
card still grasped in his hand, he en-
ters the runway to the latrine.
Arrived there, he is met by a guide,
who takes charge of bag and card
He Takes Bath.
i A cake of soap and towel are hand
ed him, and he is told to battle. Ablu-
lions performed, he again takes pos
session of bag and card and still nude
continues his journey thru a chute to
the medical department.
He again surrenders the bag, which
is checked. A line of doctors stand
awaiting him. Heart, lungs, orthepedic,
venereal, neuro-psychiatric and tuber-
culosis specialists have their offices
here.
The recruit has his chest thumped,
his heart examined, must walk, jump
and go thru PAGES and finally must
stand mental tests before his medical
. examination is completed. II the pre-
lfmipArN tAsfa d0 NOT show him sound