Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-23
Thinks Misinformed
Regarding c. M. T. c. Area

Boston, Mass, Jan. II, 1924.
To the Editor of the Journal,
Augusta, Maine.
Dear Sir:
I have read with much interes,
and establishment the editorial con-
tanned in your issue of January 9TH.
headed Matters of Training
Camp" which has been brought &c
my attention by one of the c. NJ. T. c.
Students, and you are evidently sc
greatly misinformed as to the actual
conditions existing in that portion OF
Camp Devens known as the c. M. r.
Z. Area, the area designated as the
Hospital Area during the War, (and
you are apparently in favor of this
form of training.) that I felt that
you would welcome enlightenment
and I am going to request of you
that in all fairness you publish my
letter in it's entirety.
In my position as civilian hostess
at the Citizens Military Training
Camps held at Camp Devens for the
three years beginning with 1921, the
year of the holding of the first Citi-
zen's Military Training Camp, and
being present during the entire
month in person at the camp, living
there twenty-four hours a day,
mingling constantly and continually
with the officers and students, In and
out of the barracks and mess halls,
ever the training and parade grounds,
up and down the main and company
streets, morning. noon and night,
feel confident that you will agree
with me that | should have some
first-hand information as to condi-
- - n
Camp Devens.
Taking your objections in the order
In which you have presented them, I
wish to say that while Plattsburg is
without question an ideal training
camp, and permanent as you say. you
are evidently unaware of the fact
that the C. NJ. T. c. students are
housed in tents during the month of
training, while at Camp Devens there
are large. thoroughly ventilated
scrupulously-c ! a n, well preserved
barracks. needing only a few coats of
paint to make them excellent dwell
ing quarters (and not leaky as some
newspapers have stately with hot
and cold shower baths in each barrack
up and down stairs, with a constant
supply of running hot and cold wa
ter, with windows opening to the air
and sunshine on all sides and with a
heating apparatus which can be util-
ICED at moments notice in case of
continued cold, rainy spell of
weather. There is not to my know
ledge. a single building, barracks,
recreation hall. or gymnasium, used
for training and reational pur-
poses, In this area, which Is not In
sood condition.
So much for the buildings AS to
appearance let me state that the
Visitors House welcomes during the
month of August an average of 5000
visitors each Saturday and Sunday
weekend. with whom the chapIains
and hostess In charge of the house,
aresin constant contact, and I have
yet to hear single disparaging COM
ment on the appearance of the area
or the condition OF its buildings. To
the contrary the visitors are out
spoken in their admiration OF the
camp and It's cleanliness. The entire
area is covered with grass which is
kept green and moved by SOL
diers. not students. The paths to the
company barracks are gravelled and
outlined with field stones which the
students voluntarily take 1t upon
themselves in company pride, to keep
whitened. IN competition with other
companies, the competition being also
self-imposed. All about are album
dant groves OF young pines, which
provide a most attractive, shady spot
for the quiet afternoon study and
lecture, periods for groups OF stu