Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-04-15
CPL MANSON HOME
RETURNS TO WAUSAU ON
DISCHARGE FROM ARMY
AT CAMP GRANT

Cpl. John Manson, Jr., son of Mr..
and Mrs. j. N. Manson, returned to
Wausau Saturday night, after nine
months of service in the United States
army, six months of which were spent
in France, during which time he was
an instructor in machine gun school.
Mr.. Manson enlisted in the army last
June and was sent to Camp Grant.
where he remained through the sum-
mer, finally leaving with the Seth
Division.
Hit Hard By Flu
The epidemic of influenza, which
was raging about the time this divi-
sion, hailed as gem, when it left
Grant and eager for fight, began its
overseas journey, prevented the par
ticipation of the seth Division as a
body in the final battles of the war.
A large per cent of the organization
Mr.. Manson was with, was stricken
with the malady, and little could be
accomplished. Cpl. Manson, with 9TH
er commissioned officers, was
shortly separated from his company to
instruct. The overseas trip was made
on the Olympic, the first landing on
the other side being at South Hamp-
ton, England. LeHavre was then
reached, and he proceeded to Asque
located near St. Andre de Coupzac.
For some time before returning to the
states Mr.. Manson was stationed at
lie Mons, mahcine gun center.
Not Like U. S. Camp
1.-THE camp lie Mons would hardly
be recognized as an army training sta
ton as compared to the camps in the
United States" Mr.. Manson said,
speaking to a Pilot reporter en-
stead of splendid wooden barracks
and floors, pup tents and the cold,
cold ground were in vogue there. In the
mill at this place there was one
kitchen which, l should estimate, fed
on an average of 5000 men daily.
Four or five stoves were always well
fired and food was constantly being
prepared to be served" Mr.. Manson
tells of the sham battles which were
frequently staged at this place in
which infantry, artillery, machine gun
and trench mortar men participated
Oftentimes the casualties in these
miniature battles were not small, but
the soldiers had to know how to take
care of themselves and to fight when
their call for the front came.
Explains Y. M. C. A. Attitude
--"MOst OF the criticism of the Y. NJ.
L. AZ declares Mr.. Manson, "reSts
Only on one point in the final analysis
that the association sold things, |
have asked many persons who have
been in all parts of France and in
the fighting lines, what their complaint
of the association is. Asked if they
were always furnished writing paper
they would answer, Always if the
entertainments were satisfactory and
their answer would be Fine if the
reading rooms were all right and they
would answer, Yes
"'Well, what is it then that's the
trOubleY l would ask them. well,
the Y. M. C. A. charged too muchv
This was generally the answer. 1t
was not the fault of the Y. M. C. A.
that it charged too much for it was
charged by the United States govern
ment, which turned over its canteen
service to the Y. This criticism, as
far as can see, comes only from those
who expected to get everything for
nothing"
Cpl. Manson arrived in the states
several weeks ago but moved west
ward rather slowly. He will remain
in Wausau for a time and may re-
turn next fall to the University of
Wisconsin, where he was studying
prior to his enlistment.