Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-23

dents and alluring spots for the
weekend family picnics. Two SWIM
ming ponds ideally located, lie at
each end of the camp area and ap-
preached by shaded. woody-roads,
where daily swimming classes are
conducted. Woods, grass. pungent,
piney air with wide-open sky
spaces, make that area at Camp
Devens. to my mind, an ideal New
England Recreation Ground.
Next you state that nothing has
been done to provide wholesome d.
version for the members when off
duty" Every evening in the week
the students may be seen gathered
together in either the spacious Tee
reation hall or the several halls of
the Visitors House. These houses
are attractively decorated with flags
and cretonne and brilliantly illumi-
mated. They are provided with COM
Portable reclining chairs, writing
tables and writing materials, pool
tables, pianos, n library and supply
of current magazines, all free. Every
evening We have rousing chorus sing
ing and impromptu entertainment.
Also card parties with prizes to the
winning players, company parties
individual birthday parties. and out
door and indoor games and musical
concerts, as well as band concerts
by the camp band, composed of
trained musicians from the regular
Artillery band. In 1922 1t was pos
siblc to procure from one of the
leading vaudeville houses a weekly
vaudeville show with the highest
priced artists performing. So that it
would appear that the diversional
end of the program had not been
neglected as might appear from the
view of an outside observer.
AS for the arriving contingents of
students being put to cleaning up
debris left by those preceding them"
In the first place the arriving stu
dents are the first to use the area
since it's closing the previous year
when the previous c. NJ. r. c. stu
dents leave it on the last day Of Au-
gust. with the exception Of two
buildings on the outskirts which are
used during July by the students Of
the r. o. T c.
In the second place for a soldier
student soldier or group of either to
leave behind them any signs of debris
would be contrary to- all army regu-
lations which. by the way is one of
the invaluable lessons imbibed by
these student-soldiers during their
training. No. there is no debris for
the incoming students to clean. Fur
thermore, three weeks prior to the
opening of the camp squads Of SOL
diers from the regular army regi-
ments quartered at Camp Devens, are
detailed to the work of making ready
tho orpa for tho ronanfion IF tho Sfit-
dents. On my arrival at camp on
July 31st., the day precious to the
official opening of the c. NJ. T. C., ]
found the area in perfect condition,
barracks. mess halls and grounds.
1t was Spotless Town in the highest
sense of the appellation. The stu
dents arriving on the first day of
August find all preparations COM
pleted.
Facilities for settling down to the
training, features to lend interest
and inspiration should be provided"
Several hundred citizens arrive at
Camp Devens on the first and Sec
ond days of August. They are arriv-
ing in army trucks from the railroad
station and by private automobiles
all during the two days and into the
nights. The third morning Of Au-
gust finds these several hundred citi-
zens with civilian clothing packed
away, completely equipped as stu
dent soldiers. thoroughly examined
individually for physical fitness and
reused by the sound of reveille.
marching forth from their barracks
to begin their training. I only wish
we might have the same speed and
efficiency in our civil life. AS for in
spiration and interest one need only
TO listen to the groups of students
gathered in friendly chats each eve
ming TO realize that neither of these
elements are lacking. Gold, silver
and bronze medals are awarded by
the War Department and the Mill
tary Training Camps Association, as
well as silver cups by the latter as
ISOLATION. One gold and six bronze
state medals. one for each of the
New England states, are awarded by
the Corps Area and six State Civil
ian Aides to the Secretary of War,
all of these trophies being awarded
as prizes for excellence in achieve
ment in athletics and general con-
duct in training. II anyone thinks
for one moment that there is any lack
of interest in the procurement of
these prizes by this group of red
blooded Americans I will merely
state that be is lacking in magma
ton.
AS toa~she organization of clubs.