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Show Home Comforts CAMP UFE AT FORT DOUGLAS Mrs. George Atkin returned from a visit to her son George, Jr., at Fort Douglas a few days since. In an interview in-terview with the News Mrs. Atkin said: "Camp life at Fort Dougles is not so severe as one pictures when at home surrounded by modern conven-iences conven-iences and comforts. The best description de-scription of the conditions and environments en-vironments that I can give is contained con-tained in this letter from George:" Salt Lake, Aug. 15, 1917. Dear Mother: We are pretty well settled now In camp. We received our mess-kits today, and for the first time I ate from the Government. Our kit consists con-sists of an aluminum plate and cover cov-er a clasp is attached to it so one can put their knife, fork and spoon in it and it can be closed. We also' have a large cup of the same material. mater-ial. Each man has to wash his own dishes. When the mess call is blown by the trumpeter the different companies line up, each company, having a cook. Well, we line up, all the same as a bread line and we pass by the cook and his helpers. One man gives us our bread, no butter; another our coffee, another two kinds of vegetables, and one our dessert. des-sert. The food is well cooked and is wholesome. We are not allowed to eat in our tents, but all squat down on the ground, and there is no shade where we are, but nevertheless neverthe-less the food is ceitttlnly enjoyed as this outdoor life gives .one a great appetite. The sanitary conditions are very good. Nobody is allowed to throw scraps of .any kind on the ground. 'A large garbage can is supplied sup-plied and anyone caught throwing scrapB any place but in the can is due for a good calling down. I don't know when I have felt better bet-ter physically; it sure agrees with me. We have not had a chance to get to town for two days as most of us were pretty well tired out when our day is over. We have to roll out at 5:15 in the morning for roll call, breakfast at 0:10, loaf until 8. band practice at 8:30 for two hours. We are then off until dinner at 12 noon; band drill a couple of hours in the afternoon, cleaning camp later and supper at 5:30 p. m. George. Mrs. Atkin says further: "A sweet seriousness pervades the atmosphere and the feeling of good will is impressed on all sides. Of course the boys can not forget home " and mother and any visitor from their locality gets a warm and hearty welcome. George was chosen out of the 1400 men for a member of the regimental ball team, and by the report re-port from the Salt Lake papers he was there with the goods. "The company will paHS through Milford en route to California September Sep-tember 15th." |
