Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-09-14
UNCLE TED's BEDTIME STORY
UNCLE TED TELLS OF
TRAINING CAMPS

WIG " h&S AfSH0cHt SIhpS W " ASH
ington, and had gathered the child
REQ about him for the story that they
always expected after his visits to
the National Capital
did you see anything new this
time?n asked Jack. Il suppose you
listened to some Of the debates in
Congress, and called at the Depart
mnts, but cant you tell US about
something else that W ehaven't heard
of before ~
"Yes," chimed in Ruth, s'how about
soldier story? We haven't heard
much about soldiers since the war
ended. Have they all taken off their
uniforms and gone home 2"
No. said Uncle Ted, I'VE have
more sthans hundred thousand men
still in the regular army, but what
is even more important as national
defense is the training that the gov
eminent is giving every year to our
citizens. 1t was Gen. Leonard Wood
who conceived and organized the first
citizens training camp at Plattsburg,
New York. You remember that the
late President Roosevelt thought very
highly of the project, and paid a
visit to the men at Plattsburg and
complimented them on the work they
were doing. That was before the
United States entered the Great War,
the men trained there were of tre-
mendous aid in getting our draft army
into shape.
'"The men at the Plattsburg camp
had to pay their own expenses, but
since then the Government has rcog-
nized the benefits of citizens mill
tary training, and each year Congress
appropriates money for the purpose.
In all parts of the country camps are
established every summer, some Of
the big environments 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 ~ war. This year the camps
opeed on July 9th and closed on
August 26th. About $4,000 men
were enrolled, many Of them high
school boys. They all voluntarily
gave up months time and effort
without pay, in order that they might
do their part toward more efficient
national defense. Their expenses
were paid by the government. Hard
work and long hours were their daily
program, but canvass Of the men
shows that practically every one of
them is willing and angious to at
tend the camps again next year.
zone of those big citizens training
camps is near Washington, at Camp
Meade, Maryland, where many thous-
ands of men were trained for over
seas fighting. There were 1858 stu
dents at that camp, and while was
in Washington they all marched into
the city and were reviewed by Pres
ident Harding on the big ellipse south
Of the White House. There was a
battalion of infantsy, 12-gun batta-
lion Of artillery, and battalion of
cavalry, with three fine bands, one of
them mounted. President Harding,
Sec. of War, Weeks, Gen. Pershing
and many officers from the War De-
partnent reviewed the boys as they
marched past. Their appearance
would have done credit to any Reg
ular Army organization, the infantry
maintaining their lines with preci-
sion, and the artillery and cavalry
executing difficult maneuvers as
though they had been accustomed to
army life for years. The sight made
by blood tingIe, and l could easily
understand how it is that the appli-
cations for the camps each year are
far in excess of the number that can
be accepted.
"After the review the artillerymen
and the cavalrymen dismounted and
gathered with the other soldiers in a
group near the President to receive his
his congratulations on their splendid
showing. Mr.. Harding declared that
the review had furnished most inn
pressive and reassuring spectacle. In
the midst of peace, and with the Reg
ular Army reduced in accordance
with our ideals, he said he liked the
assurance Of safety that came with
the evidence of military efficiency he
had just witnessed.
1T is fine thing for the young
manhood of America" declared the
Ito turn from the ordinary
Of the vacation season
to a study of military service and
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