made up almost entirely of drafted men from the states west of the Rocky mountains.
When Goodman, Boatman and Peil arrrived at Camp Lewis they were not long in taking up in a small way the work dear to them. From time to time they sent articles to Oregon newspapers, telling of conditions at Camp Lewis in general and particularly of the way the men in volunteer Oregon companies were faring. They expected to continue this practice throughout the war, both because of the possible profits and because they wanted to keep as actively as possible in the game of slinging ink. It was not long, however, until Major General H. A. Greene, commander of the 91st division, issued a general order forbidding “any officer or enlisted man of the division from acting as a newspaper correspondent or from sending any matter, written or photographic, for publication.” With no little disappointment this order was read, but without a murmur, as any good soldier would have done, the boys discontinued writing stories.
This is bound to result in some staleness in the boys, but it is pretty certain that at the end of the war, if they are alive, they will walk into some Oregon newspaper office and ask for a job. And they will expect to get it. Meanwhile they are learning how to execute “fours right," how to check a hemorrhage, and how to lift a wounded man onto a litter to carry him to an ambulance.
P. H. Holmberg, formerly a reporter on the Evening Telegram, and for seven years a member of the staff, writes from the naval station at Seattle:
“It always has been my opinion that the navy is the best branch of service, and now, after about four months’ experience, I am convinced that I am right. The navy offers many opportunities for willing men, and this is true now more than ever before in the history of the United States.
“I enlisted in the Oregon naval militia in Portland on August 5, 1917, and left for the U. S. naval training station, Seattle, on August 9. Although my present rating is seaman second class, I have hopes of becoming a wireless operator before going to sea. The government is operating a radio school at the University of Washington, and I have been attending classes for about eight weeks. Like the majority of men attending the school, I knew nothing about wireless work before entering the service.
“The training camp is ideally located on Lake Union, only six miles from the Seattle postoffice. The men sleep in tents, and comfortable folding cots, with sufficient blankets, have been provided. A welfare building with bowling alleys, billiard tables, library and dance hall, is a feature of the camp.
“The caliber of men at this particular camp is of the highest standard. A large percentage are college men and come from the best families of this section of the country. Many men have already left for sea duty, and those remaining are ready to go. As Chaplain James often remarks, ‘They will be heard from before this war is over.’ "
