The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-08-31

OF MY VISIT TO
CAMP SHERMAN

brother In camp sherman, knowing
the while that relatives and friends
Of the boys in that camp would DO In
terested 70 read OF what they are do
ing. how they are treated and what
are the actual conditions under which
they soldier.
Arriving at Columbus. 81 miles from
camp YOU cannot but know that the
boys are somewhere around. for there
is every accommodation that the sol
der would want provided for him,
free coffee and rolls at the Red Cross
stations. free information bureaus. the
Khaki club at 9Th and High streets.
where reading. lounging. baths. bill
lards. etc. are free. community hous-
es and go forth.
I took the short line to Chinlcothc
and got there at $50 a. m
The impressions gotten in this town
would take a little more space than
would be allowed to use 81 ] Will say
that It Is strictly military town.
There were about %. 600 instructors.
in autos. some without. the streets
looked little more crowded than state
and Randolph on a Saturday night.
The crossings, street corners, depots.
are all partolled and regulated by the
Military Police (M P) and say they
Loop cops have nothing on them they
have supreme authority. know all and
take care Of the public in a very
crcditable manner.
Hundreds Of taxis and buses are
doing splendid business taking pas
sengers TO camps. which + about four
miles away. for only CSC a person.
The drivers will let YOU on q the
right place as the whols camp is sec
tional and lettered 50 YOU don't have
difficulties to find your party II YOU
knew the regiment. colnpeny and sec
ton numbers.
The camp itself IS large IN fact It
would take good walker hours 10
go around it.
The main streets are black with au-
tcnobiles. each one containing friends
and relatives OF the BOYS The camp
itself is fun Of life One company
drills here. next company has the gas
mask drill. the other has bayonet
drill and 50 on, everyone doing their
share. officers and privates alike. re-
CARELESS Of sun and heat. with hut one
idea TO get there, and to know all.
Noon time you can see the family
picnics where some uniformed hero
presides One particular farmer wo-
man about IS years old, so TO Judge.
brought four chickens and fruit and
b. cad 70 share IL with her boys and
friends, under trees. in canteen porch
es every where you see a mother loving
her boy. or some wife or sweetheart
putting her arms around her hero and
holding him like she would never let
go.
There are plenty Of canteens where
everything in line OF drinks. candies
and fruits also tewelry and clothing
can be had The prices which the
boys pay for same are as we pay here
Movies. and sometimes vaudeville
are some of the pastimes or the boys
There 3 also an immense building
which is the Community House where
uniformed men enjoy club privileges
and there is dancing and music for
him. also a pretty partner provided in
case he has none Every church Is
represented b. a building Of its own.
The Y. NJ G A have several places
and they sure help The boys lot.
In camp there is perfect order. for
the NJ P are there 70 see 70 II.
Everybody IS courteous and ohllg
ing and they 60 out Of their way to
direct you or get your party. Each
company has a special man on visit
ing DAYS to help you find your boy
or fAiend-
To say that c1eanness reigns su
preme is only right. and It would make
the crankiest house wife envious to
see the quarters. mess halls. tables and
kitchens they scrub them three times
a day. from ono end TO another and
not a scrap of paper IS to be found IN
camp or street or for that matter. in
the whole camp.
The food is plain and wholesome.
the kind that makes your blood red
and the muscles hard. and the boys eat
it with more gusto than your fancy
restaurant meals.
A word about what the boys are do
ing there; they are learning the art
OF being singers. I mean Yankee SOL
dfers They are taught everything
they ought to know from the school
OF the soldier bayonet drill. rife shoot
ing. gas mask drill Gin a real gas
housed to throwing hand grenades
They learn all that makes the real
Yankee soldier the inspiring spirit Of
his allied brothers.
The morale and spirit OF the boys in
camp mot only when they are off
dutv1 but after II to "A hours Of
hiking or rife range practice, or gas
house practice and with at least rs
mounds OF weight on them all the
while say their spirits and deter
nfnatfon Is Just splendid anr the only
way for us to realize that no matter
how much IS asked OF Us for their sake
ia to go there and watch what they
are doing for Us. who enjoy life and
have everything we desire ana money
can buy.
II we would give a thousand times
more than we do we could not repay
their sacrifices.
I spoke to at least fifty different Of
fcers and boys. and gather that their
only wish IS to pass the pre-overseas
examination so as to go over and not
be left behind.
The man who has that misfortune
considers himself the most unlucky
being there
They say: If we are soldiers. we
want to know ali and 60 over where
we can repay the Hun the just debt
only with the largest interest he ever
got
In conclusion. viii say. II Kaiser
Bill with his band OF butchers and pi-
rates, could only have seen these boys
on a Sunday. the day Of rest, headed