Milford chronicle., 1922-09-01
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
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 al
ways expected after his visits to the
National Capital.
did you see anything new this
time?" 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 before? "
"Yes," chimed in 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 home?
mo" said Uncle TeTd, 1--WE have
more than a hundred thousand men
still in the Regular Army, but what
is even more important as the ma
tionaI defense is the training that the
government is giving every year 10
orr citizens. 1t was Gen. Leonard
Wood who conceived and organized
the first citizens training camp at
Plattsburg, New York. You remem-
her that the late President Roosevelt
Thought very highly of the project,
and paid a visit to the men at PIatts-
burg and complemented 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 getting our
draft army into shape.
"The men at the Plattsburg camp
had to pay their own expenses DuG
since the Government has reorganlzeu
the benefits of citizens military tram
ING. and each year Congress appropII-
ates money for the purpose. III al
parts of the country camps are esUaD-
Iisbed every summer, some OF the Dig
cantonments built buring the war pc
ing used for the purpose. RegulaL
ARMY officers and reserve ofhcers are
detailed to the camps as instructors
and the students receive an intensive
course in drill and the science OF war;
This wear the camps opened on July
27tb and closed on August zoIh.
About 28.OO men were enrolled, many
of Them high schol boys Iney all
yolrntarilv gave up months Tune
and effort. without pay, in order that
.tbav might do their part toward
more eficient national defense: Hafu
work and long hours were tneIl uSsllS Ssn,,
program, but a canvass OIL me - nii1F Of
shows that practically every o4e td u
them is willing and anxious 10 aCCenu
the camps again next year. --.-.-.
Gene of those big citizens tralnlnS
camns is near Washington at lamp
Meade. Maryland, where many t@nou- @
sanJe of men were trained Tor over
eos fiobting There were l,O58 STU
Jents at that camp, and while l was
in NV Washington they all marched lhto
+bo citv and were reviewed by Presi-
don't Harding on the big Elllpse souIn
oe tLo white House. There was
battalion of infantry, 1z-Sun ~
TALON of artillery, and a DaICaIIOn III @ Of
caveIrv with three fine bands, o1e VI
them mounted. President HaruInsi
Secretary of War Weeks, Genera
PoTs,inS and many officers ofthe war
,oonor+n9ent reviewed the boys as Iney |
mast. Their appearance Woulu
have done credit to any Regular army
the infantry malnIalnlne
their lines with precision, anu Sne &c a.
tillerv and cavalry executing oilicuI. @
manOeuvres as though they had DeeH
accustomed to army hte ioL nd
The sight made my blood IinsIo' - &c is
[ could easily understand now ~ 1s
that the applications for the cantPo 4to
each year are far in excess Ol 'l0
number that can be accepted -,
"After the review of the arIlllely
men and the cavalrymen dismounteu
and gathered with the other soldiers