Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1918 — PREPARING FOR WAR AND AFTER [ARTICLE]

PREPARING FOR WAR AND AFTER

OUR SOLDIER BOYS RECEIVING SPLENDID TRAINING AS MECHANICS. It is a marvelous revelation to visit -the work shops of the soldiers who are receiving mechanical training. The Republican editors at the state were, by the courtesy of the Marion Club, of Indianapolis, and the kindness of Adjutant-General Harry B. Smith,, privileged to visit the shops at the Speedway and also at the Institution for the Deaf at Indianapolis. Some six hundred mechanics are busy at the Speedway at work on airplane motors and airplanes. These soldiers in training have as their instructor the very best mechnics to be found anywhere. Many of the soldiers have had previous training in the line of work in which they are now engaged. For instance, a soldier .who was cutting the linen and fitting it to an airplane had been previously smployed in a New 'York tailoring house and had received for his services some SIO,OOO a year. He is working now for Uncle Sam for $30.00 per month. The enthusiasm and interest the men displayed was wonderful. While here we were shown the great Liberty Motor which will one of these days carry over Germany so much high explosives that the Huns will be compelled to surrender.

From the Speedway we were taken to the Institution for the Deaf. Fortunately the arrangements of the buildings at this institution are admirably adapted for a barracks. Some eleven hundred soldiers are here. Many of them are men in the limited service, but all are receiving a training that' will make them great soldiers and mechanics. They are busy fourteen hours of the day. Everything including the serving of the meals is arranged in excellent order and under the very best system. Here the soldiers were studying and making mechanical tests and experiments. They have as their instructors the very best mechanics to be found anywhere. They give attention to all kinds of motors and ignition. Many of the people of Indianapolis have loaned their automobile to these soldiers for the purpose of letting them study the motors. These cars are returned in the very best possible condition Tor the work on them has been done under the direction of expert mechanics. The soldier who goes to the war from places like the Speedway and the Institution for the Deaf, with the training as fighter and mechnic will be twice armed against the foe. Auto truck, tanks and airplanes are to be great factors in the winning of the war and these men will be able to fight and also to make instant repair of machines that become disabled. At the latter institution we enjoyed the drill by the soldiers and the music of the splendid band. Besides sending out soldiers and mechanics this institution is sending out a great many band leaders. Superintendent Johnson, who has been in charge of the Institution for the Deaf for the past thirty-five years, and who has planned the present buildings and arrangements, which ‘are ideal for the use they are now serving, has arranged to call the instructors together and arrange to carry on the woik for the education of the deaf this year by correspondence and thus give the use of the buildings and grounds to the government for war purposes. It is possible that several thousands of the soldiers will be sent here to receive the efficient training offered. The Major in charge here is the father of the vocational education idea in the army.

The airplane and the > automobile are to be an important part of the future life and industry of this country, and when these men who have had this mechanical training have returned from making the world safe for democracy they will have received a preparation that will make them most useful citizens of this great country. Fortunate indeed is the young man who is inducted into the service if he is permitted to receive the training offered at the Speedway or the Indiana Institution for the Deaf. We were permitted to see another side of the life and training of the soldiers from these places when the Speedway band furnished the music at the entertainment given the editors by the Marion dub in the evening. The splendid physical training the boys were receiving was demonstrated by some very nice exhibitions of boxing and wrestling the soldier boys gave at that time. It was a great inspiration to be with these boys and to know the real conditions under which they are Sk ing prepared for war and also for future civic life. As the war is sure to burn from our social and political life much that is dross and useless, so will it giveback to uP better men physically. The world’s work will be much improved because of the efficient mechanics that have been developed.

building now occupied by W. C. Babcock! At present the uper floor is being used by Mr. McKay for tire repairing. The most of the rooms are unoccupied. *'