Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-01-30
AMERICAN CAMPS
HUM I'M FRANCE
United States Sends Soldiers
Faster Than was Expected
BY HERBERT ADAMS GIBBONS,
European Correspondent OF The Evening
TeIedranh
Chaplain R. r. McFetridge,
10Sth Field Artillery,

European Correspondent OF The Evening
Telegraph
AS I visit these ports from time to time
l am struck with the rapid increase in
facilities, and also with the rapid growth
in the IDEAS of the American general
staff 1t is not indiscreet to say that the
plans of bringing an American army to
France have developed on a far larger
scale than was conceived for the first
winter of General Pershing's command in
France. Our boys are coming in increas-
ing numbers and they are comiiig faster
than was ever expected. AS an illustra-
tion of this, General x told me that twice
within the month of November the plans
decided upon for this port had been en-
larged
This is a very populous country, with
plenty of fruit and vegetables and poultry
and dairy products. Inexhaustible areas
OF forest are also not too far away So
wood cut and sawed ON the ground can
be relied upon for construction and fuel
The lot of the men in this part of France
Is very happy one, and the problems Of
the commissary and medical departments
are not great. Everything would indicate
the wisdom, during the coming six
months, Of establishing large training
camps in this region, where there is room
for vancouver fields, plenty of fuel and
food and climate conducive to the pres
ervatfon of good health for the soldiers.
or course the men are all keen to get
to 'the front" as they call--and believe
to bo-our training camp areas within
the army zone. But unless the men are
ready to go right in the line. it is much
more sensible to have them complete their
training here
Organizing Training Camps.
Our military authorities when they
tackled the problem of sending an army
TO France, had to take into account po-
Htical considerations. But now that the
earnestness Of our intervention has been
given France, now that the French know
trat we are here and mean business as
quickly as possible, the indefinite de-
velopInent Of training camps far from
ports of landing. in a country~whose ma
tural resources have already been taxed
to th9 uttermost and whose transporta-
ton facilities are over burdened as it is,
would be foolish.
That is the reason why General Y and
his associates are bending every energy
to establish camps that viii be more than
simply depots in which disembarking
troops remain for few days The idea
is to make thees centers near the ports
Of landing training camps themselves.
The American military men are con-
structlnS and organizing the camps with
French aid, just as deliberately and thor
Oughly as the English organized their
camps in the winter of 1915-1916, and on a
scale that would give German food for
thought, could he see what Is being done
This is the season Of frost and chest
nuts and fallen leaves. ConseduentJy for
Americans, it is the season of football
In almost every yaacnt field one secs
goal posts General X tells me that it is
the policy to encourage all the men to
play football, and give them space and
time to do so. There is no better sport
during the period of acclimatization.
During Thanksgiving week, an elabor-
ate schedule Of inter-regiment and in
ter-service football matches was arranged
The marines claim the championship But
there is more discussion here about their
right to this title than there is about
Germany.s chances Of pulling through the
fourth winter