The Glenwood post., 1922-09-07
.uacle Tets Bed Time Stories
Current Events for the Children
and Grown-ups, Too
UNCLE TED TELLS
OF TRAINING CAMPS

Uncle Ted had just returned from
one of his frequent trips to Washing
ton, and had gathered the children
about him for the story that they
always expected after his visits to
the national capital.
"Did you see anything new this
timer" asked Jack. "I suppose you
listened to some of the debate in con
gress, and called at the departments,
but can't you tell us about something
else that we haven't heard of beforef"
eyes" chimed in Ruth, chow about
. soldier storyf We haven't heard
much about soldiers since the war
ended. Have they all taken off their
uniforms and gone homel"
"No," said Uncle Ted, eve have
more than hundred thousand men
still in the regular army, but what il
even more important as q national de-
Tense is the training that the govern
ment is giving every year to our citi-
zens. 1t was Gen. Leonard Wood who
conceived and organized the first citi-
zens' training camp at Plattsburg,
New York. You remember that the
late President Roosevelt thought very
highly of the project, and paid visit
to the men at Plattsburg and compli-
mented them on the work they were
doing. That was before the United
States entered the great war, and the
men trained there were of tremendous
aid in getting our draft army into
shape. is--si
"The men at the Plattsburg camp
had to pay their own expenses, but
since then the government has recog-
nized the benefits of citizens military
training, and each year congress ap-
propriates money for the purpose. In
all parts Of the country camps are es-
tablished every summer, 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 instruct
ors, and the students receive an inten.
sive course in drill and the science of
war. This year the camps opened on
July 81 and closed on August 26
About $4,000 men were enrolled, many
of them high school boys. They ali
voluntarily gave up months time
and effort, without pay, in order that
they might do their part toward {
more efficient national defense. Thei
expenses were paid by the govern
ment. Hard work and long hours wer
their daily program but canvass o
the men shows that practically ever.
one of them is willing and anxious t.
attend the camps again next year.
Zone of those big citizens training
camps is near Washington, at Cam
Meade, Maryland, where many thous
ands of men were trained for oversea
fighting. There were 1,o5s student
at that camp, and while I was i
Washington they all marched into tn
city and were reviewed by Presiden
Harding on the big Ellipse south of tn
White House. There was batallio
of infantry, 12-gun battalion of al
tilery, and a battalion of cavair'
with three fine bands, one of thel
mounted. President Harding, Seer,
tary Of War Weeks, Gen. Pershin,
and many officers from the war d.
partment reviewed the boys as the
marched past. Their appearance woul
have done credit to any regular arm
organization, the infantry maintainin
their lines with precision, and the a
tillery and cavalry executing difficu
maneuvers as though they had bee
accustomed to army life for years. Tt
hight made my blood tingle, and
could easily understand how it is tn;
the applications for the camps eae
year are far in excess Of the numb
that can be accepted.
"After the review the artillerymt
and the cavalrymen dismounted al
gathered with the other soldiers in
group near the president to receive h
congratulations on their splendid sho'
ing. Mr.. Harding declared that IL
review had furnished most impre
sive and reassuring spectacle. In &