Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-09
One Month Brings Results

The war department finds tina a
month of regular routine of eating,
drilling and sleeping is enough TO
give most of the campers a new
attitude toward health. The at
tempt is made to carry back to the
campers home life the ambition Tor
physical fitness. Defects which can
not be corrected in the thirty days
at camp are called to the attention
of the boy and his family with sug-
gestion as to steps that will remedy
the trouble.
Besides serving to raise the
health standard the camps are found
valuable as characterization centers.
There is a prevalent idea that Amer
icanization concerns only the Tor
eign born. AS a matter of fact
many a native born citizen has far
more limited ideas of his RESPONSE
bility to the government than an
idealistic immigrant. The military
camp with its mixture of all classes,
and it's preachment of the same
I creed of Americanization to all, is
a training school in democracy.
The camps are a part of the ma
tional defense program. This / d.
Of the governments citizen camp
| project is not specially stressed now
because even the shadow of war
preparation is unpopular. Never
! theless the fact remains that these
men and boys who have been taught
the fundamentals of army service
are a valuable reserve to the ma
ton. Some military experts say
that a huge reserve of this sort
would keep us out Of war because
aggressive nations would recognize
it as a formidable weapon.
The war department hopes to en-
large its citizens camp program.
When the plans were announced
last spring President Harding said
that he would like to see a COM
prehensive system of voluntary mil
itary training established for al
least 100000 young men each year.
Judging by the response from the
men who are eligible that number
could easily be enrolled if funds for
training them were granted by con
| gress. Last year when the camps
were opened for the first time, 50.-
600 applied for admission. This
year there will be a much larger
number of applicants. The plan is
more widely known. and many of
last years campers will go back to
take another course
Three Courses Offered
The training is divided into the
Red, White and Blue courses. The
Red is for men without previous
military training. 1t gives them a
month of target practice, hiking,
drill, military etiquette, and ath
letics. The White course, for mel
with some military experience,
teaches the duties of corporal and
sergeant with instruction in some
special branch of army work. One
camp is to specialize in field artil-
lery, medical branches, and cavalry
another in -engineering; and others
in coast artillery, aviation, and mo-
tor transport service. The Blue
course is still more advanced.
The age limits for the camps are
seventeen to twenty-seven years ex
cept that men with prior training
in the army, national guard, or or
ganized reserves will be accepted III
to thirty-five years. The govern
ment is paying transportation and
all expenses of training for its
campers.
Major General ]. L. Hines sums
up the broad scope of the citizens
camps in a few words: THE can-
didates will be taught first, how to
serve his country in peace and in
war; second how TO take care OF
has body, build up his health and
live a happy. vigorous life; third
habits of self-control, resourceful-
ness, ~self-reliance, and other ele-
ments of a manly character; fourth,
discipline. precision. and a sense OF
order; fifth, cooperation and team
work" According to the general,
these are five of the most essential
principles of American citizenship.