Evening journal., 1922-08-29

Uncle Ted had just returned from
one of bis frequent trips TO Washing
ton. ana had gathered the children
about him for the story that they al,
ways expected after his Visits TO the
National Capital.
Did you see anything new this
timer" asked Jack. II suppose you
listened to some of the debate in
Congress, and called at the Depart
ments. but can't you tell us about
something else that we haven't heard
of before?"
Yes" chimed Ruth. "how about
a soldier story? We haven't heard
much about soldiers since the war
ended. Have they all taken off their
uniforms and gone homer"
No. said Uncle Ted, 1--WE have
more than hundred thousand men
still in the Regular Army, but what
is even more important as a national
defense is the training that the gov
ernment is giving every year to our
citizens. 1t was General Leonard
Wood who conceived and organized
Plattsburg. New York. You remem-
Der that the late President Roosevelt
thought very highly OF the project,
and paid a visit to the men at Platts-
burg and complimented them on the
work they were doing. That was be-
fore the United States entered the
Great War. and the men trained
there were of tremendous aid in get
ting our draft army into shape.
The men at the Plattsburg camp
ho - haft t...4
since then the Government has rec
ognized the benefits of citizens mill
itary training. each year Con-
gress appropriates money for the
purpose. In all parts OF the country
camps are established every sum-
mer, some of the big cantonments
built during the war being used for
the purpose. Regular army officers
and reserve officers are detailed to
the camps as instructors, and the
students receive an intensive course
in drill and the science of war. This |
year the camps opened on July 27 /
and closed on August 26. About 2S.- /
600 men were enrolled many of /
them high school boys. They all
voluntarily gave up a months time
and effort, without pay. in order that
they might do their part toward a
more effifficient national defense.
Iheir expenses were paid by the
government Hard work and .ang
honrs were their daily program, but
canvass of the men shows that
practically every one Of them il will
.ns ana anxious to attend the carnps
again next year.
ne Oh those big citizens training
lamps Is near Washington. A. co,,n
Sieaoe' Maryland, where many ;hou-
sands OF men were trained for o,,er
seas nghting. There were oso
students at that camp. and ,yl,ia
was in Washington they all n,,'-o.,,s ,
into the city and We're revie,,o5 -, ,
President Harding on the big r,,i,nss
south of the White House. rha~o
was>a battalion of infantry, a 12-gun
battalion of artillery. and a battal-
ion of cavalry. with three fine bands
one of them mounted President
Harding. Secretary of War Weeks
General Pershing, and many officers \
from the War Department reviewed
the boys as they marched past.
Their appearance would have done |
credit to any Regular Army organi- l
zation. the infantry maintaining (
their lines with precision. and the |
artillery and cavalry executing diff /
cult maneuvers as though they had |
been accustomed to army life for
years. The sight made my blood
tingle, and I could easily under
stand how 1t IL that the applications