Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-26
SOLDIERS FACING HOMEWARD
MUST PASS THROUGH THE MILL
Men Who Emerge, Dirty and Infested, From
Camps and Battle6elds Subjected to
Expert Cleaning Processes.

fcation cards, etc.--are cleared and
in order
The third room has two long
benches. two long tables and a row of
ash cans. Hinged sides to the room
make it possible to remove the ash
cans from the outside. Here the SOL
der separates himself from all his
personal belongings. Equipment and
all that dread word conprehends fall
from him. both ordnance and quarter
master, and he steps into the fourth
room, boasting of earthly possessions
only towel and a. piece of SOAP
both newly acquired. The ash can
contains all the rest; and that. spir-
tied away by unseen hands. disappears
into unknown regions. What eventu-
ally becomes of it's contents he knows
not, nor greatly cares AS a matter
of fact, they are taken away and I'M
dergo treatment and reclamation.
And in the fifth room that soldier
undergoes his five hundredth or six
hundredth physical examination since
has nothing else to do. it is his delight
to examine you physically. Medicos
have nothing much to do.
If he is all right the soldier goes on
into Still another of the innumerable
long steamy rooms. If he is all wrong
he is shunted one side into the yawn-
ing infirmary wagon. This room is
full of showers and steam and hot
water and the smell of soap. all of
which are supposed to be very bad for
coolies. In fact, this might be called
the chamber CT horrors for the coolies.
When they have passed this test they
are. il not dead. at least in an awful
fright.
Next Visits Storehouse.
The cleaned. solitary. but naked SOL
der next steps into storehouse. Here
are arranged neatly on pigeonholed
shelves every last item that a soldier
is supposed to own, and arranged ac-
cording to the exact order in which he
wears and carries them-that is, he
gets his tape for identified ton tag and
his undershirt first and his ordnance
last. Into the equipping and dressing
room he comes as he came into the
world, and out of it he. steps a COM
plete American soldier.
All but his haircut and shave A
mammoth barber shop of fifty chairs
count 'em, fifty--still awaits him.
He can now go to his assigned bar
racks to await the time when, suf-
ficient number of men from this sec
ton having gathered, he is pro-
nounced a member of a full strength
| casual company and is moved to the
embarkation camp.
From that moment his history is
unit.
! Before the time of sailing perhaps
some days or even weeks must elapse
He must be held in readiness, nor per-
mitted to stray. 1t is dull work, but
even waiting must have an end. There
comes time when the Navy says to
the personnel officer at the docks that
1t has a ship with such a capacity
ready for home. and the personnel Of
fcer at the docks so informs the per-
sonnet officer at the camp. The latter
refers to his priority list and his
morning report, and reports such and
such units for embarkation. They
shoulder their packs and march to the
( docks in tow of special guides There
are guides everywhere TO- show each
unit, each man. by prepared lists. just
where he shall go. At the foot of the
gang plank the embarkation camp
bids him-and his record-farewell.
And to an Army man here is a beau
tiful arrangement: for in the Army a
man and his record are presumed to
be inseparable. If they ever drift
apart dreadful things happen. The
man is adrift. He may even become
casual, and that. as l must have
made clear, is a terrible fate II the
transport took him over at camp, for
example, and if. on the way to- the
docks, he should break his wishbone
or something and be sent back to a
hospital and his record should go
right on without him-dont you see ,
But embarkation wsll have none of tina
1t escorts him and his record tout
ensemble as we say in our fluent
French. to the edge of the water and
wishes him a good trip.
At the Mil, near Bordeaux, alone.
they can de}ouse or delice them at
the rate of 5000 a day, 10000 a
month. Bring on your ships,