New-York tribune., 1918-02-26
The Great War-13O6th Dav
First Camp Gives
Troops in France
Trench Training

a PORT IN FRANCE, Jan. "a
correspondence Of the Associated
Press).-Whcn the first American
troops reached this base in June and
July of last year. they we're outspokcn-
~ delighted with the camp, which lies
three or four miles from the seaport
Most of the men had come from long
months in Texas and Mexico. and they
could not say enough about the clean,
wooden barracks and the mild weather.
All succeeding troops that have dis
embarked here have been quartcrcd for
time at the same camp, which between
times has doubled its capacity and ac-
CURED a number Of new features: but
never word of praise escapes the
soldiers now, for as a wet weather and
winter camp it has developed disad-
vantages with which its authorities
have constantly to wrcstle.
It's very distance from town, which
at the beginning was regarded as an
advantage because it took the soldiers
out IN the country, away from the citv.
and gave the men a healthy hike. is to-
day disadvantage. All the permanent
troops at the pert. including the 5000
negro stevedores, must morning and
evening travel the three and a fraction
miles IN motor trucks that tear up the
roads faster than they can be repaired.
though loads of crushed stone are con-
stantly being distributed, thew are but.
drops in the bucketfuls Of mud and
ruts with which the roads are CORFU
gated.
Sleep in Mud and Rain
Fhe camp was originally believed to
be unusually healthy because of its DO
sition overlooking the harbor. high
above the town. But the site itself.
winch is on sort of plateau, is per
iectly fiat and every bit of rain that
descends remains on the plain. The
weather this winter has been peculiarly
RAINY, and the shacks in which the men
live nave, with the earth floors, become
over and again seas Of mud, through
"h!ch the men must wade and over
which they must sleep And the roofs
have been found to be so faulty that
ram streams in until the Inhabitants
OF each shack have to set ND their
iield tents over their hunks in order to
keep dry.
AS result, the carpenter force Of
the camp has been kept busy all winter
making repairs, though it has been
difficult and generally impossible to
substitute wooden for the eartLen
floors When the weather has been
really cold, which it has been part of
the time, it has been found that small
stoves, with which the shacks were first
equipped; were entirely Inadequate to
heat the buildings properly.
Recreation Provided
Great strides have been made in pro-
viding recreation and amusement for
the men. The camp which will hold
10000 men if necessary. now has two
Y NJ. c. A. "huts." which really are bic.
double halls, arranged so that the men
can play basketball on one side-ol give
entertainments on tic portable stages
while on the other they have librarie s
and writing rooms, canteens and social
rooms
Each "hut' has its outdoor athletic
Held. also. where baseball and football
are the rule every fine leisure dav. Two
I. NJ. I. a. men, assisted by several
women workers, are III charge OF each
building, operate the canteens, have
charge of the motion picture shows am 4
IN general look after the welfare of the
camp.
The camp authorities have rigidlv
divlded the camp in such a manner tha at
all colored soldiers who live there per
manently shall be by themselves. with
their own quarters and even the their
own \. NJ. c. a. building. which is in
the process of construction now