Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 156, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1916 — DR. CURNICK VISITS CAMP RALSTON [ARTICLE]

DR. CURNICK VISITS CAMP RALSTON

Is Entertained By Company M and Tells of Fine Spirit Shown and What the Boys Need. Dr. Cumick returned from Indianapolis Thursday. He has very kindly given us an extended report of his visit to Camp Harrison. He adds his testimony to that of all the others who have visited there that the congested condition of the interurban cars makes the twelve mile trip a very uncomfortable one. The Big Four railroad, which passes near the grounds, is not catering to this class of business, as they are busy preparing the equipment of the road to handle the troops and supplies when they are ordered to the border. The railroads running south from Indianapolis are ready at a moment’s notice to take the troops, having twelve engines fired and ready all the time standing in the railroad yards. The first tent inside the grounds is a large circus tent where fruits, candy, etc., are for sale, and where many of the thousands of young ladies who visit the camp are treated by their soldier boy admirers.

The Rensselaer boys are about the seventh street from the entrance. Dr. Curnick was taken in charge by the officers of our company andhp ~Had warm words of praise for the courtesies shown him. Captain Tuteur was just calling the roll of soldiers to .take the federal enlistment oath when Dr. Curnick arrived. The men were * lined - up on one side and the Plymouth company on the other when. they took the oath of allegiance to the U. S. It certainly reflects great creidt on our little city to know that every member of the company was willing to do all that was possible for the defense of the nation. The other company w r as not so fortunate, nine refusing to take the oath. There were ftiorc than 800 of the Indiana troops who thus refused and who will be tried before a court martial and discharged without honor. Their comrades decorated them with yellow badges and subjected them to all sorts of ridicule. Terre Haute was much disappointed in the company from that city when one hundred of their members refused to take the. federal oath after they had given them an enthusiastic demonstration when they left for Indianapolis. Had they taken the oath they might then have applied for a discharge had it been necessary and in most cases it would no doubt have been granted. , Dr. Curnick was invited to address the boys. He told them how loneLy we were since their departure; h<Jw we were expecting complimentary reports of them and how willing we were to hSlp them in every possible way.

The National Council of Federated Churches was ahead of us in the matter of supplying the boys with pocket testaments. Thursday *Dr. Pierson, an officer of that organization, distributed 3,000 testaments. The Rensselaer boys made an unusually fine showing in-the physical test and all around they compare very favorably with any other company in the state. They suggested that if home folks wished to remember them in a practical way they might do so by sending a supply of new postal cards and postage stamps. Many of the boys are unable to write on account of the difficulty in being able to obtain supplies and small change. Then, too, they are very busy and as the camp grounds comprise 2,600 acres, it is not always easy to send a written message. Dr. Curnick suggested that this might be done by popular subscription and that he would head the list with a dollar. The men from Indianapolis were thus supplied with thousands of cards and stamps. Many visitors to the camp carry fruit and edibles of all kinds. Rensselaer people who desire to remember the boys in this w T ay would do well, however, to buy the “eats” in the city just before going out on account of the hot weather. The only difference in the quarters of the officers and men is that the formei* have cots in their tents -while the men sleep on their blankets on the ground. Any who go must prepare to endure great fatigue, as there is no place to rest* but on the ground and in the hot sun. The training received is fine for the boys and the value of this experience cannot he calculated.