The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-14
A KANSAN IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER Xxx.
Camp Mills and Camp Merritt.

=
mer fifteen miles eastward on Long
Island at Garden City; the latter about
The anne distance north by west across
tho Hudson river over in New Jersey.
These camps are both used by the
government for the assembly of troops
| to go overseas. Sometimes the SOL
| diers remain there a month or two,
again only a few days. A large num-
Der CT Kansas boys at different times
have been at both camps, both of
which the writer visited on his trip to
New York the last week in April. He
has a wealthy friend who has fine
automobile. 1t is reputed to have
cost $4,000 and looks it.
Tie offer of this car to go to Camp
Mills was accepted and Col. John S.
Dean invited to go along. Dean is
the Topeka lawyer who gave up his
practice to accept salary Of less than
half his income in order to serve his
coul try. He was assigned to the Judge
advocates department, at Leaven-
worth; later transferred to New York,
promoted to be a lieutenant-colonel
and made chairman CT the commits
sion which appraises property COM
manoeered by the government.
In Thursdays State Journal there
| nouncing that President Wilson had
taken over 1900 acres near Washing
ton to be used for naval purposes.
Chairman Dean with his commission
will appraise this property and deter
mine what is a just price to pay for it.
| We set forth early one Saturday
afternoon. It was a beautiful day
such as that described by George Her
| bert when he said:
| Sweet day, so COOL SO calm, SO bright:
The bridal day Of earth and sky"
1t was less than an hours ride to
our destination. We went over smooth
hard-surfaced roads, by attractive
country homes and farms that looked
almost too good for corn and potatoes
| The automobile had various appli-
ances for comfort and convenience:
there was an ash tray which came in
handy; there was q speaking tube
which went from the rear seat of the
two occupants of the closed car, the
other terminal being near the ear of
the driver. We came to a smart viii
lage.
This must be jamaica" said I.
picking up the mouthpiece of the tube
to inquire OF the chauffeur.
Eyes, this Is Jamaica" said the
| 4 IL
rest.
Jamaica is the railway junction of
the Lond Island railroad, one branch
leading northwestward over to Oyster
Bay, the other eastward to Garden
City and Camp Mills.
The railway station for Camp Mills
is Country Life" for right there is
house, with its evergreen settings and
pool, which turns out the well printed
periodicals and thousands of books is
sued by Doubleday, Page & Company,
including Country Life in America"
and Worlds Work." the Page of
which concern is Walter Page, ambas-
sador to Great Britain. Herbert s.
Houston. formerly of Kansas and ac-
tive in the League to Enforce Peace
is vice president
AS we approached the camp first
saw more thar one aeroplane in the
air at the same time; there were four
and they swooped over the grounds
: circling round and round, now in the
distance, now above us, like huge
graceful birds, remining one of the
gulls which follow a ship at sea, or on
the lakes when debris from dinins
room and kitchen is going overheard
The uniform and the gold maple
leaf on the shoulder of my companion
gave rs ready access to the camp and
the headquarters buildings. 1t being
customary for q civilian to also &C.
knowledge salutes to the officer with
him, found my arm and hand work.
ing not infrequently. up and down like
pump handle. with the forefinge,
OF my open palm touching the brim o.
the hat at the upward stroke.
) Much to our disappointment. Maj
Gen. Charles L. Martin, in command
of the seth division. and the Kansa!
! boys with him were not there. The,
t were on the Atlantic, and shortl!
thereafter landed safely in France
t There were only two Topekans in thu
camp, Hugh Crawford and Marshal
= Hite. We hae a pleasant call on tn,
] latter, failing to see the former.
I Regretting that we had missed tn
d kansas soldiers, and being told tina
J there were quite number of them a
! Camp Merritt. we decided to visit tn
+ latter place on the following afternoon
which was Sunday.
A friend of Colonel Dean supple,
n the automobile this time. Mrs. Deal
. and Morrison, the son, were along.
r was another fine day. We went Vi
& thru Central Park and out along tn
y charming Riverside Drive, just abov
- L.