The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-12
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC }. HAsKIN. Director,
Washington. ID. @.
CIVILIAN TRAINING CAMPS.

tories, schools and farms They will
learn to handle rifles. to wear United
States army uniforms, and to carry
themselves as soldiers. They Will live
for a month in the open, drilling and
exercising, absorbing ideals of physi-
cal fitness and gaining broader out
look on life
1t is safe to prophesy about these
citizen campers because 10000 of
them were trained last year by the
war department with highly satistac-
tory results Twelve camps were ali
that could be opened on the S90O.O0O
appropriation of last summer. This
year the war department expects to
have $2.7OO.0O0 and it is enrolling
men to attend thirty camps.
These camps will be open in July
and August. Applications are now
pouring in to commanders of the
corps areas into which the army di-
vides the country for purposes of ad-
ministration. 1t is estimated that
about half of the 10000 quota has al
ready been filled.
The citizens military training
camps are regarded by the govern
ment as an important investment. 1t
is said that every woman should spend
a few months training in a hospital
not with the idea of becoming a nurse
but so that she may be familiar with
principles of sanitation and nursing
for home emergencies. The war de-
partment says that every young man
tary training not only as a national
defense precautiOn, but also as a per-
sonal health asset.
As to the benefit of camping, it is
a recognized fact that as nation we
need to pay more attention to physical
education. With all the interest in
athletics in colleges and among work
ing men, a omparatiyely small per-
centaSe of people actually engage in
sports or exercise A crowd of thou
n <
OF men play ball. All are enthusiastic
patrons of athletics. but the onloOk-
ers get only fresh air and a little re-
Taxa tion-none of the physical benefit.
About One-third of the men who
apply for service in the navy and ma
rine corps fail to pass the physical
eXa mlnauon. Those who are enlisted
are not necessarily in perfect condi-
ton. The government repairs their
teeth. cOrrectS bad posture. and builds
up underweight conditions that lead
to disease.
Not so much can be done with the
young men who come to the citizens
military training camps, because there
is only a month to work in. Dentists
and doctors are in all the camps, how
ever, to treat minor troubles.
One Month Brings Results.
The war department finds that a
month of regular routine of eating,
exercise, drilling and sleeping is
enough to give most of the campers
a new attitude toward health. The
attempt is made to carry back to the
campers home life the ambition for
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 sugges-
tions as to steps that will remedy the
trouble.
Besides serving to raise the health
standard the camps are found valua-
III
Is prevalent idea that America MIA
ton concerns only the foreign born.
AS a matter of fact many native
born citizen has far more limited ideas
of mis- responsibility to the govern
ment than an idealistic Immigrant.
The military camp with its mixture of
all classes and its preachment of the
same creed of AmericaniZation to all,
is a training school in democracy.
The camps are part of the national
governments citizen camp project is
not specially stressed now because even
the shadow of war preparation is I'M
popular. Nevertheless, the fact re-
mains that these men and boys who
have been taught the fundamentals
of army service are a valuable reserve
to the nation. Some military experts
say that a huge reserve of this sort
would keep us out of war because ag-
greSsive nations would recognize it as
a formidable weapon.
The war department hopes to en-
large its citizens camp program.
When the plans We're announced last
spring President Harding said that he
would like to see comprehensive
system of voluntary military training
established for at least 1000 young
men each year. Judging by the re-
Spouse from the men who are eligible
that number could easily beS enrolled
if funds for training them were grant
ed by congress Last year when the
camps were opened for the first time,
$4,000 applied for admission. This
year there will be much larger num-
Der 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 athletics. The white
course, for men with some military
experience, teaches the duties of cor
poral and sergeant with instructions
in some special brach of army work
one camp is to specialize in field ar
tillery, medical branches. and cavalry;
another in engineering: and others in
coast artillery. aviation. and motor
transport service. The blue course is
still more advanced
The age limits for the camps are IT
to p years, except that men with prior
training in the army, national guard,
or organized reserves Will be accepted
up to 35 years The government is
paying transportation and all expenses
of training for its campers.
Major General J. L. Hines sums up
the broad scope of the citizens camps
in a few words The candidate viii
be taught first how to serve his
country in peace and in war; second,
how to take care of his body, build up
his health and live a happy. vigorous
life; third. habits of self-control, re-
Sourcefulness. self-reliance, and other
elements of a many character; fourth
discipline. precision. and a sense of
order; fifth, cooperation and team