The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-22
CAMP LEE

A little over 500 men arrived in
Camp Lee Sunday afternoon and yes
terday morning THIS comparatively
small number will pass through the
mastering Office in a hurry, for the
800 and some y I'D men who arrived
last Saturday are already receiving
their discharge.
AS yet there is a shortage IN Vic
tory Buttons of the bronze variety
at Camp Lee. for every man, of
course. who is now being discharges,
Is entitled to one with very few ex-
ceptions However the silver but
tons for wounded men are on hand
both at the mastering office and the
recruiting office in building 272i.
While troops are not arriving fun
steam" as 1t were. the recruiting Of
fee is nevertheless about the liveliest
point in camp. The enlisting and re-
enlisting of men for all branches of
the service is still continuing with
unabated Lriskness and the grand to-
tai enlisted at building 2721 grows
by leaps and bounds. Last night the
1900 mark was passed and a good
start was made on the nineteenth
hundred.
A heretofore somewhat unnoticed
advantage OF the service was learned
from some of the men now eniisting.
hE al my iiidiiitdAHs tpIE III many
Spanish speaking countries and the
men have noticed the facility with
which a language Is learned through
actual contact with the. natives. Also,
in the post schools of the army there
is usually class in Spanish. Young
men Of today know that we are ac-
celebrating trade of commercial rela-
tions with South America, now more
than ever before and therefore re-
allie the value OF thorough knowl-
edge of Spanish for use later in civil
life where more and more opportuni-
ties are being offered to young men
to travel IN the Spanish speaking
countries.
Needless to say. the man who has
command of this very important Ian
guage can demand a much higher
salarY than the one who only speaks
English. Joining the army is afar
More interesting way TO learn than ito
take ii up in some school or by cor
respondence when at best only an in
complete conversational ability is ac-
quired in the new tongue and in
most sesesuch poof pronunciation
that the student finds the time spent
in the study more or less worthless.
In the service there is Die oppor-
tunity to get first hans acquaintance
with this language and to acquire
the ability to carry on fluent con-
versltion with perfect accent and pro-
nunc.ation so hard to acquire through
the ordinary method where teachers
and books are the only source of in
formation.
The Engineer corps is one of the
favorite branches ON account of its
useful pursuits connected with en-
cheering, Many a. construction en-
gineer. surveyor or highly paid drafts
man owes his success to army train
ing along those lines both in the en-
gineer corps and in other branches.
Since the latest ruling whereby a
civilian may enlist for one year only.
many young men without previous
service are taking advantage OF the
privilege This privilege does not APP
ply to all branches of the service. of
course. since it would be quite I'M
reasonable for instance to enlist a
man for one year for service in the
philippines, give him one months
Through. then ship him to the islands
which would consume at least anoth-
or month and then back to United
States for discharge. Naturally this /
wouldn't be worthwhile and therefore
only three year eniistments can be
accepted for service outside OF the
United States
Any civilians who desire full in
formation regarding any branch Of
the service should write, or call In
person at the recruiting Office In
Camp Lee, or phone 1913. Camp Lee.
The same applies to discharged SOL !
Oilers. II pays to keep informed for
rules governing enlistments change
from time to time and new attrac.
ions are added TO the servtcA