Evening journal., 1918-05-21
START WAR GARDENS
FOR ARMY CAMPS
Men at Camp Dix Set the
Pace in Producing
Vegetables
FIRST BROWNING
GUN AT CAMP

CAMP DIX. Wrightstown. n. J., May
2-The first Of the Browning ma
chine guns assigned to the National
Army here arrived yesterday and ord
nance oflcers, anxious to see the much
discussed weapon in action, are pre-
pairing to give it an immediate field
test. The light Browning. or automatic
rife, las been thoroughly tried out in
target ,and field work here during the
{ last two months and having been
shown TO be the most satisfactory Of
any in use. the mcshine sun following
! the. same general plan OF construction,
has been the subject Of many enthusi-
& astic predictions. One OF the most in
I terested spectators when the guns are
tested here viii be Major General
i Scott who was 9 member of the army
board that approved the original
Browning plans
( Announcement Of the award Of
+ French war honors TO colored troopers
OF the fifteenth New York Infantry, a
battalion of which did training and
police work here during the early days
of Camp Dix yesterday stirred the en-
thusiasm Of the 3i9th Colored Field
Ariillerymen as they went 30 the range
20 man the big guns for the frst time
IN actual firing. Oflcers say the Negro
soldiers are elated at the record their
brothers are making on the western
front and are anvious 10 get to the
battle line.
Erection OF a big grandstand adioin-
Ing the bleachers has been commenced
ct the Division baseball diamond Cap
tain il. o. Caldwell. new camp athletic
officer, hopes to have the stand com
lpleted for the inter-camp game at the
weekend. Captain Caldwell has called
a conference OF athletic officers TO COM
lplete plans for the big Memorial Day
program, when It Is planned to bring 40
least i0,0O0 men into the games.
The first Of Uncle Sans much-dls-
cussed war gardens for army camps was
afiicially Instituted at Camp Dix yester-
day by the Conservation and Reclama-
.tion Department Of the Ouartermaster's
Corps cooperating with the National
War Garden Commission Between 800
and 200 acres Of unused parade grounds
withintthe cantonment reservation will
be put under immediate cultivation and
will be farmed at present by soldiers
physically disqualified for overseas ser
vice. As the department has the.author-
,itysto use prisoners Of war, It is likely
THAT ,German captives will be assigned
tO.work under direction Of the soldier
farmers when the plans are extended
The enterprise will be directed by Lieu
tenant p. v. Champnn, Of Buffalo, heat
lof thef Conservation Department undei
Lieutenant Colonel F. r. Tompkins
camp quartermaster. Norman G.. Nc
a Loud. OF Cleveland, is the National Wa
Garden Commission representative IL
the undertaking.
The flrst 800 acres OF the camp farm
will consist Of $50 acres planted infpo
taioss; 30 acres IN beets, 30 in swee
corn. 80 IN onions and. 30 in beans. No
only will these,crops add, to thesfoo'
production and reduce the costlof arml
commissary maintenance. but officer
point out that every bushel grown herr
will save Just so osmuch transportation
It will provide a definite employment
tforgthe, drsftedsmen unlttfor. militar.
sservioe and also for many GONZALES
cents sat the base hospital whom sur
'geans are anxious to treat by som
form Of outdoor occupationl thereby
While therlr duties will be agricultural
tho soldiers assiined to the farm vii
be kept ia constant touch with militar,
tilfe, and Lieutenant Champlain plans Il
form them into q regular company.
( The lifting Of the ban on visitors Il
kfhe camp at o'clock last evening founC