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TRENCH AND CAMP
•»
CAMP HANCOCK, Augusta, Ga. .
EDITION, 10,700
GEO. B. LANDIS and J. EDGAR
PROBYN, Editors.
Published gratis by THE HERALD
PUBLISHING CO., Augusta, Ga.
ISSUED EVERY WgDNESDZ ✓
Vol I—Oct. 31, 19M7.—N0. 4.
Application has been made for
TRxNCH and CAMP for entry as
Mail Matter of the Second Class at
the Augusta, Ga., Posfoffice.
NOTICE.
This edition of Trench and Camp
is limited to 10,000 copies. An
effort will be made to place one or
more copies in every tent.
If parties are desirous of other
copies, application should be made
to the nearest Y. M. C. A. building,
where they will be gladly furnished
as long as they last.
As the edition Is limited to 10,000
copies, please do not throw your
copy away, when you are through
with it. Pass it on to some other
fellow.
News items, personals, programs,
meetings, announcements, etc.,
from all the units in the camp will
be welcomed by Trench and Camp
and printed as far as space per
mits. These communications can
be left with secretaries at any of
the Y. M. C. A. buildings and will
be turned over to the editors. All
copy should be turned in as early
as possible. No copy can be hand
led later than Monday noon, pre
ceding date of issue. Trench and
Camp will be issued every Wed
nesday by
THE AUGUSTA HERALD,
Publishers of the Camp Hancock
Edition of Trench and Camp.
WAR AND WORDS.
PROF. I. L. FOSTER.
Among the various phenomena, show
ing themselves in the presence of great
national crises, there is none more in
teresting than the development of litera
ture and language during these crises.
It is especially in the times of great wars,
when ideals clash and the human mind
becomes wrought to high pitch in its
zeal for justice and righteousness, that,
the results are most noticeable. As we
look through the literary histories of all
nations, we see certain phases of liter
ary expression rising to abnormal heights
under the spiritual impetus or man’s duty
at the time of great need. Heroism and
suffering seem to be the most potent in
fluences leading to rich and durable ex—
pression of human thought in verse and
prose.
At these times the literary revival is
always the strongest in the field of
poetry and song. It seems almost as if
the human heart can best express its
deepest feelings in measured lines. Ev,ery
great war has had its poet and its singer
who has stirred the people’ to unexampled
deeds of heroism. There are several
which stand out in special prominence in
this field,, such as "la Marseillaise,” "The
Star-Spangled Banner,” "Marching
Through Georgia,” “Yankee Doodle,”
"Dixie.” "America.” "The Battle Hymn
of the Republic.” The great Grench hymn,
pregnant with litetary value as well as
human heart throbs, has been worth many
battalions to the hard-pressed armies of
France. While throughout our broad land
at the echo of the sunset gun thousands
of our nation’s finest citizens stand at
stirring strins of our great son of war
and peace. Nor must we forget the work
of Lowell, Whittier, Whitman and others,
whose compelling verses led the nation
through the darkness of sin and slavery
into the light of freedom and justice.
Prose has seemed to respond less readi
ly to the call for spiritual leadership.
Each period has had its great names in
this field, each of whom has done yeo
man’s service in awakening public con
science. There is no more striking ex
ample of this than Mrs. Stowe's “Uncle
Tom’s Cabin,” the great prose epic of
the Civil War. Most of these books have
a limited range of application and their
value lies in the localized area of the cris
is whch brugiht them into being-
The present war has had practically
the effect on literature as those preced
ing. In the field of prose few, if any,
real masterpieces have appeared born of
the conflict or its problems. We natur
ally think in this connection of "Mr Brit
ling Sees It Through,” by H. G. Wells.
This, however, can hardly claim a place
among the enduring books of the day.
“Carry On,” by Dawson; “Over The Top.”
by Empey; “The Student at Arms,” by
Hankey, have all three of them a certain
personal touch which makes them read
able and attractive, but they can hardly
be classed as real literature. They are
interesting to read to get the human
equation in this titanic struggle between
two ’Opposing spiritual ideals of justice
and righteousness.
The journalist has fought his way to
public favor through stirring accounts
of the herculean struggles of>mighty arm
ies along miles of battle front. This war
has been particularly favorable to the
newspaper man and’he has taken full
advantage of it. The great appeal to the
imagination and the tremendous interest
at stake have offered brilliant -chances for
journalistic work from the field and many
articles which might be reckoned as liter
ary models have come from the pen of
some of our best known writers, inspired
to the enthusiasm of genius by the mar
velous evolutions of myriads of men on
the world's greatest battle fields.
In poetry the output has been consider
able, though, in general of rather medio
cre value. There have been "Hymns of
Hate” and answers thereto, but they
have largely been relegated to the scrap
basket, where they rightfully belong. Sev
eral of the English poets, among them the
laureate, have tried their hand and have
given inspiring verses. Several of the
TRENCH AND CAMP
“men in khaki” have contributed real
gems from the dugout and the trench.
Among these should be mentioned young
Rupert Brooks and Alan Seeger, both of
whom wrote some enduring bits of melodi
ous verse before their untimely “passing
on.” Seeger, in his "Rendez-vous With
Death,” has touched the high point of
spiritual exaltation, and we watch a
glimpse of the fighter himself, as he faces
the future, red with his own heart’s
blood.
In song we have little of importance.
Most of the march tunes that cheer the
soldier on hikes and parades are old
famiiiar airs. We have discovered two
or three which are holding their own fair
ly well. In this class put "Keep the Home
Fires Burning:” "Smile, Smile, Smile;”
“Tipperary,” “The Long Trail,” and oth
ers of lesser popularity. It is not prob
able that any of these will live after the
war is over. It is also likely that some
genius may some day discover a real song
with a catching melody which will live
and mark the “War of 1917.”
It is, perhaps, in the coinage of new
words and phrases, alive with the spirit
of a nation, that this conflict has been
most marked. We can find in these ex
pressions the will and vision of a -whole
.people, showing itself in permanent lit
erary values. Note, for instance, phrases
like "Carry on” with itn thrill of in
domitable energy; "Do Your Bit,” with
its undertone of sacrifice; "See It
Through,” with its ring of unshakeable
determination. Alongside of these may
we not put “On les aura,” “We Shall Get
Them,” marking the unflinching courage
of the Frenchman and “On ne passe pas,”
"They Shall Not pass,” the new motto,
purchased with blood, of the heroic city of
Verdun.
There are' others also with the taint of
slang from the trench and reeking field,
which have earned their right to live.
Some of them are remarkably touching
and expressive. Can there be anything
more appropriate than “Ging West” to
express the passing of a heroic soul in
a blaze of glory, as the radiant sun col
ors with its effulgent rays the western
horizon at the close of a cloudless day.
How well, too, "Fed up” gives us the
idea of sufficiency to the point of dis
gust! In "Gumming the Game,” there
is also a degree of expressiveness entire
ly its own. when you want to emphasize
the thought of spoiling well-laid plans.
"Thumbs Up” does quite well for “ev
erything is fine,” while “The best o’
luck may have a double signification as
to what the luck brings with it.
Tommy in the trenches speaks a lan
guage quite his own and ves to the fa
miliar things of his daily life peculiar
names. It is well to learn his vocabu
lary if you expect to be where he is.
Like most Anglo-Saxops, to talk with
Tommy you must talk the way Tommy
talks. Some of his terms are bound to
filter through into the language of the
common people, and, through that, into
the current language of the day in shop
and market place. In common with other
ideals, we must expect the standard of
speech to be greatly modified by the titan
ic struggle jn which we are now engaged.
FLAMING YOUTH.
Fate has all at once touched a hidden
spring, and the old quiet times of yes
terday have suddenly shot up very tall
and very terrible before us. But thank
God! He has touched an answering
spring in the hearts of the young men,
so that they, too, have leaped up, tall
and heroic, to face the terror and great
ness of the hour.
The youth of the world is seeing
and hearing something today that
many an older person has failed to
perceive. It is sad for those who
are left behind, but it is not sad for
the men themselves to offer their lives
at. the climax of youth for the sake
of a great adventure. It is sad to fear
to make the offer, or to make is grud
gingly, not knowing that there is a
great adventure afoot, that the king
dom of heaven has come nigh unto us.
Maurice Barres in his paper, Young
Soldiers of France, says: “Tracts of
the French soul which had long lain
fallow in us are beginning to be fruit
ful once again; and these young men
have won inner riches which we, their
elders had lost, x x x Acceptance of
sacrifice, the consciousness of a great
presence at one’s side —we come across
these again and again. x x x
Tonight we leave for the trenches. To
night I shall be watching oveh you,
rifle in hand. You know who is watch
ing over me.”
Shall our young soldiers fail to
climb tot he heights to which these
others have ascended? And who would
dare to hold them back from the at
tempt ?”—Margaret Prescott Montague
in the Atlantic Monthly.
NOT AT CAMP HANCOCK
OH, NO!
The First Night at Camp.
(By Corporal G. Caleb Clarke, 7th Co.,
C. A. C., Fort Screven, Ga.)
I'm there with two thin blankets,
As thin as a slice of ham,
A German spy was likely to guy
Who made ’em for Uncle Sani.
How did I sleep? Don’t kid me!
My bedtick is filled with straw,
And lumps, and humps, and big fat
bumps
Tiiat punched me ’til I’m raw.
Me, and my two thin blankets,
As thing as the last thin dime—
As thin, I guess, as a chorus girl's
dress —
Well. I had a deal of a time!
I’d pull ’em up from the bottom —
(My nighties, my B. V. D.’s)
A couple o’ yanks to cover my shanks,
And then my feet’d freeze!
You could use them for porus plasters
Or maybe to strain the soup,
(My pillow, my shoes. When I try to
snooze—
And I’ve chilblains, cough and
croup.)
Me, and my two thin blankets.
Bundled up under my chin—
Yes, a German spy was likely the guy,
And, gosh, but he made ’em thin.
APPRECIATED BY AMBULANCE
CORPS.
My Dear Sir:
I am glad of this opportunity to ex
press my appreciation of the great
work the Y. M. C. A. is doing among
the soldiers of Camp Hancock. It Is
not only my own opinion, but also
that of thousands of other soldiers
here, that I express when I say that
this organization can not be over
praised for its efforts to help the fel
lows in this camp in every way. It
certainly is deserving of the heartiest
support of every individual who has
the welfare and comfort of the soldier
boys at heart. Let me give you some
idea of the work it is cioing in Camp
Hancock:
There are eight Y. M. C. A. buildings
in this place. These buildings are
nothing more than large wooden shacks
but they mean mucn to the fellows
here. Inside there are benches and
tables all along the walls, and here
scores of soldiers are to be found ail
hours of the day, writing letters. Sta
tionery and writing facilities are pro
vided free. In the evenings these writ
ing tables are so crowded that we often
have to wait our turn to get a chance
to sit down and write. Letters and
packages can be mailed here and
stamps obtained too. Deliveries to the
postoffice are made more frequently
from the “Y” buildings than from the
different company mail boxes.
Every night there is something do
ing in the way of free entertainment
for the soldiers. In the building near
est my company camp, movies are
shown every Tuesda and Friday even
ings. These shows are certainly ap
preciated by the fellows and there is
always a full house these two nights.
Sunday and Thursday evening short
devotional services are held. No long,
tedious seiunons, but short, heart-to
heart talks with plenty of singing and
music, which appeal to the soldier au
diences. The whole service doesn’t
last over thirty or forty minutes.
The other nights there is always
something on the program. It may be
a humerous lecture by someone in the
employ of the Y. M. C. A., who travels
from one camp to another, or perhaps
a musical prograan rendered by some
Augusta ladies’ club. Often the pro
gram is left to the fellows themselves,
and these nights the entertainments
are by no means less pleasing than
when given by professionals. In fact,
quite the contrary.
In one end of the room there is a
piano and in the other a vietrola. These
two instruments furnish plenty of mus
ic and are worked overtime. The ladies
of Augusta have put curtains up in
all of the windows of this particular
building, giving it a "homy” aspect.
Here, too, these ladies gather at times
and mend ail the clothes a fellow
brings into them.
When a fellow doesn't have any par
ticular place to spend an evening he
will always drift over to the “Y” to
see what’s doing. Or if he is feeling
a bit blue or discouraged he walks over
to the “Y” where he is sure to meet
some of the gang and he is soon in the
best of spirits again.
Every possible courtesy is accorded
us by the Y. M. C. A. workers. These
men often go out of their way to do a
fellow a favor. They visit the sick and
injured in the Field Hospitals and come
and see the fellows in their tents.
Magazines and Pennsylvania news
papers are kept on file here. Here
also the man can obtain good books
with which to while away their leisure
hours in camp.
To appreciate the enormity of the
Y. M. C. A.’s self-appointed task, one
must visit the camps and see the great
work they are doing. That they are
performing this work is a highly’ cred
ible and efficient manner every one of
the 33,000 men stationed at Camp Han
cock can testify.
Very sincerely yours,
HARRY T. ANDERSON.
437 Flagler St., McKeesport, Pa.
(Now with Ambulance Co. No. 109.)
OUR PURPOSE.
We are going across the water
To fight a glorious fight
And the Grace of God is with us,
As we labor for the right.
We will take our place with Britain
And with the valiant French
And you’ll never see a slacker
As we labor in the Trench
We will bear aloft "Old Glory,”
Across the tyrant’s land.
As we carry light and freedom
To his disilliusioned band.
We will greet our German brothers
As only Sammies can.
We will show them naunght but friend
ship
When we meet them man to man.
We wiil teach them how to profit
With freedom as their guide,
And the high and lordly autocrats
Will slink away and hide.
Democracy shall then prevail
Upon this war-worn earth,
And .we’ll return in triumph
To the land that gave us birth.
—Glenn D. McElhattan, Company D,
112th Infantry, U. S. A.
A L TRUISTI C~ENC> EAVC R.
The spirit of friendliness to one an
other, among the men of the 108th Field
Artillery is so noticeable that Battery
A’s pet duck, “Bill.” has fallen in line
and pays a friendly call to the Medica’
Corps’ pet dog, “Bismuth,” every morn
ing. Bill also shows a fine spirit of
.•ending a -helping hand by picking the
fleas from "Bismuth’s” back.
Oct. 31, 1917.
SHRAPNEL-PROOF FIELD HOSPITAL
On Monday evening, October 22nd,
members of the Field Hospital No. 112
were the hosts at the fourth weekly en
tertainment being tendered by the offi
ces of the 28th Division, and to those
people of Augusta who are finding their
trips out to camp each Monday evening,
becoming worth while.
The Second Artillery Band left nothing
to be desired in the matter of their se
lections, the most popular by far being
their medley of Plantation Melodies. Pri
vate Thomas Bond’s-stirring recitations
from our old friend Kipling and Private.
Neelan’s oriental dancing specialty were
other numbers very much above the or
dinary.
There were numerous solos, quartets,
recitations, Hawaiian numbers, and a
battle royal between seven of Ethiopia’s
huskiest sons.
These entertainments, inaugurated by
Director of Field Hospitals Major Geo.
S. Crampton, and at whose instance the
platform with footlights and a pit for
the orchestra were built, are becoming
more popular eaeh week. Parking space
is to be provided hereafter for the auto
mobiles, since there is a tendency to
impede traffic in the road, owing to the
fact that there is insufficient room about
the platform to accommodate them all.
Competition among the hospitals re
garding these entertainments is rather
keen, as eaeh bunch of men are trying
to outdo the others’ previous shows, but
No. 112 seems to have just a shade upon
the others, as they are able to point
with some pride,—aside from their single
and several abilities as entertainers, —
to the shrapnel-proof field hospital and
dressing station, such as are in use along
the eastern and western allied fronts
“Over There,” and which is now about
completed and ready for inspection. The
hospital is partly "dugout” and lias the
familiar sand bag roof, covered by about
six more inches of loose sand until it
resembles just a large mound. It was
built under the personal supervision of
112’s commanding officer, Major Theo.
L. Hazlett, who has seen actual service
along the Russian front, having been
lieutenant colonel in the Russian Medi
cal Corps.
FOR GOD ANDJHE WORLD
A Pennsylvania Physician’s
Estimate of Camp Han
cock Soldiers
One of the most pleasant experiences of
my life has been to visit the boys in
Camp Hancock during this week. Asso
ciating with them in their tents; partak
ing of the mess served them; meeting
them in the routine exercise and drill
ing in camj; and mingling in the Y. M.
C. A. buildings at the evening service,
hearinb talks by the best known preach
ers and speakers; I can truthfuly say
that everything that can be done to make
happy, cheerful, healthy, fully developed
boys, is being accomplished.
The conduct of the officers toward their
subordinates, while authorative, is cour
teous and tempered by the experience
though which they have passed to arrive
at their present positions. In return the
boys thoroughly respect their superiors
and have confidence in thei rmethods to
prepare them for the struggle so nearly
before them.
While here I have seen the most won
derful sacrifice on the part of our sol
diers. Not only are they giving their
lives to the cause, leaving pleasant
homes and associates and remunerative
positions, .but are all buying Liberty
bonds to their utmost ability. Over sl.-
000,000 subscribed in this one camp. It
is a lesson for the ones at home to
read and assist in any object promulgated
in the interest of the war, or conducive
to better qualifying the soldiers that go
forth to win the war.
ft has been well said “soldiers win bat
tles, but money wins the war.” Our
duty as civilians should not be discounted
by cur soldiers who are doing both.
The Y. M. A. secretarial force is
the most powerful influence at work. I
have found them tireless in their efforts
to please the boys and contribute to their
physical comforts, and adding in every
manner to their social pleasure and
throwing the Gospel into their lives. Many
are here having given up large salaries
to fulfill the Master's injunction in their
ministrations to these saviours of democ
racy to the world.
To my mind, no body of men ever went
forth to do battle in the history of the
world better equipped in ever respect,
than our own glorious army, a typical
division of which is located at Camp Han
cock.
Everywhere have I found the bovs seri
ous in contemplation of the future, and
hundreds have given decision for the
Christian life this week alone. All are
happy and apparently content to do their
part in the purchase of freedom for the
world.
GEORGE L. BESWICK, M. D.
_ _ . , . Wilmerding, Pa.
Dr. Beswtek is a prominent physician
in Western Pennsylvania, president of
the Wilmerding Y. M. C. A. and rendered
good service at Camp Hancock in con
nection with the Sex Morality campaign.
~~UNCLE SAM ‘
NEEDS THE TIN.
Food Must Be Canned.
"Alaska produces about 150 tons of
tin each year, but the United States
requires some 60,000 tons,” says F. L.
Waldo in the Public Ledger.
"The food problem before us is a
metal-lurgical problem,” said one of
the Frankford Arsenal’s chemical staff.
‘Since food cannot always be eaten the
day it is produced, when the material
to can it is wanting, the food supply
itself is menaced. Tin from Bolivia
is now being smelted in New Jersey to
th eextent of perhaps 10 per cent of'our
needs.
"But Bolivia is a long way from
home!
“Ninety per cent of our tin comes
from the Straits Settlements the Malay
Archipelago.
“Tin is absolutely necessary to war
making—as necessary as lead, copper
or nickel.
“The Germans are probably getting
a good deal of their tin at p t from
Turkey and the Orient.”