Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1918 — INTERESTING LETTER FROM DR. M. D. GWIN [ARTICLE]

INTERESTING LETTER FROM DR. M. D. GWIN

Camp Greenleaf, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Editor Republican: It is my impression that, of all the letters published in your columns, none have as yet come from this camp or described the environments of Chattanooga. This city claims 100,000 people, not typically southern as to peoples, having 300 manufacturing plants and a good railroad center. It is surrounded by mountains and valleys—the latter interlaced with winding rivers and railways. Historically, this portion immediately surrounding the city, is probably of greater importance to the Union soldiers than any in the country. ’ ... ..

To the west a few miles lies a long mountain range—9o miles to be exact—whose highest portion —is 2,700 feet above sea level. It is called Look Out Mountain and is surely well named for it is possible to see five states when the air conditions are favorable, from its crest. It is climbed by cable, trolley, auto and on foot if one is game enough to follow the winding government road as it seeks the ledges back and forth gradually mounting higher and higher until finally the crest is reached. The view is the finest I presona'ly ever saw in the way of scenery, ts interest brings a constant stream of people who look over the valleys, in the relic houses, and read the hundreds of tablets and monuments in memory of*’ our soldiers who fought for and against General Grant’s commands. The crest of the mountain is inhabited and has several towns. To the north direction is “Signal Point,” a mountain point almost as ligh and also of considerable interest.

To the east and south is the still more famous mountain—Missionary Ridge—lt is now a National Military Park and is a procession of fine government roads and the tablet markngs of the numerous troops in the jattle of “Missionary Ridge.” Beyond this ridge is the camp called Fort Oglethorpe, of which my own cartip, Camp Greenleaf, is a section.

This covers thousands of acrest and covers all branches of the service except that of aviation. There is even an intern camp within 300 yards of this section. The Germans are surrounded by guards plaped in elevated stands armed with machine guns. These guards are probably lj)£l yards apart. At the present t/fne there are between 2,000 ands3,ooo. Germans in internments. The entire camp probably has from 30,000 jto 50,000 as its full capacity. ’My own section likely has 2,000 physicians and the purpose seems to collect them here in order to teach a uniform method in medicine and also teach us all there is to know in the military service within 4 to 6 weeks time. And if lam any judge, they come as near succeeding as it is at all possible among humans. Any man standing this course for 6 weeks should without any question stand any hardships. It is constant rounds of drill, trench work, inspecting the plan of medical aid from the front trench clear back to the base ipspital, gas mask drills, lectures on medicine and surgery and quizzes on military rules and customs. It is in brief, the most intense work possible and it is obvious that if all branches of the service take the situation as seriously as the medical, it will be but a question of time when the world will once again assume a normal condition. And I doubt not that they all will do their part. Yours truly, M. D. GWIN. Sunday, July 28, 1918.