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TRENCH AND CAMP

[Column 1]

TRENCH & CAMP

Published weekly at the National Camps and Cantonments for the soldiers of the
United States.

National Headquarters
Room 504, Pulitzer Building
New York City

JOHN STEWART BRYAN
Chairman of Advisory Board of Co-operating Publishers

Camp and Location; Newspaper; Publisher

Camp Beauregard, Alexandria, La; New Orleans Times Picayune; D.D. Moore
Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas; Fort Worth Star Telegram; Amon C. Carter
Camp Cody, Deming, N. Mexico; El Paso Herald; H. D. Slater
Camp Custer, Battle Creek, Mich; Battle Creek Enquirer-News; A.L. Miller
Camp Devens, Ayer, Mass; Boston Globe; Charles H. Taylor. Jr.
Camp Dix, Wrightstown, N. J.; Trenton Times; James Kerney
Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa; Des Moines Register; Gardner Cowles
Camp Doniphan, Fort Sill, Okla; Oklahoma City Oklahoman; E. K. Gaylord
Camp Forrest, Chickamauga, Ga; Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times; H. C. Alder
Camp Fremont, Palo Alto, Cal; San Francisco Bulletin; R. A. Crothers
Camp Funston, Fort Riley, Kan; Topeka State Journal; Frank P. MacLennan
Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga.; Atlanta Constitution; Clark Howell
Camp Grant, Rockford Ill; The Chicago Daily News; Victor F. Lawson
Camp Greene, Charlotte, N. C.; Charlotte Observer; W. P. Sulivan
Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga; Augusta Herald; Bowdre Phinizy
Camp Jackson, Columbia, S. C.; Columbia State; W. W. Ball
Camp Johnston, Jacksonville, Fla; Jacksonville Times-Union; W. A. Elliott
Camp Kearny, Linda Vista, Cal; Los Angeles Times; Harry Chandler
Camp Lee, Petersburg, Va; Richmond News Leader; John Stewart Bryan
Camp Lewis, Tacoma, Wash; Tacoma Tribune; F. S. Baker
Camp Logan, Houston, Texas; Houston Post; Gough J. Palmer
Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas; Waco Morning News; Charles, E. Marsh
Camp McClellan, Anniston, Ala; Birmingham (Ala.) News; Victor H. Hanson
Camp Meade, Admiral, Md; Wash., D. C., Evening Star; Fleming Newbold
Camp Pike, Little Rock, Ark; Arkansas Democrat; Elmer E. Clarke
Camp Sevier, Greenville, S. C.; Charleston, S. C., News and Courier; R. C. Slegling
Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Miss; New Orleans Item; James M. Thomson
Camp Sheridan, Montgomery, Ala; Montgomery Advertiser; C. H. Allen
Camp Zachary Taylorm Louisville, Ky; Louisville Courier Journal; Bruce Haideman
Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas; San Antonio Light; Charles S. Deihl
Kelly Field and Camp Stanley; San Antonio Light; Charles S. Deihl
Camp Upton, Yaphank, L. I., N. Y.; New York World; Don C. Seitz
Camp Wheeler, Macon, Ga; Macon Telegraph; P. T. Anderson

Published under the auspices of the National War Work Council, Y. M. C. A. of the
United States, with the co-operation of the above named publishers and papers.

A WORD OF GREETING TO OUR NEW SOLDIERS

[Left column]
With the response to the second
draft, hundreds of thousands of Amer-
ican citizens will be brought into con-
tact with Trench and Camp. To them
a word may be addressed at this time
that they may understand the aims
and ideals of this newspaper.

In a very special sense this is a
soldiers' newspaper, as President Wil-
son wrote when Trench and Camp
was first projected. It is intended that
its columns shall reflect the life in the
great camps and cantonments of the
country. Trench and Camp is not the
organ of any movement except that
great comprehensive movement of
converting civilians into soldiers, to
hearten and inspire them and to fill
them with courage for their great task
of ''making the world a decent place
in which to live''.

Trench and Camp is unique in two
respects. It is unique in the history
of warfare because this is the first
time that an entire army in the field
at home has ever had its own exclu-
sive paper. In previous wars some
divisions, regiments or companies had
little papers of their own but Trench
and Camp, with its thirty-two editions
thoughout the country, serves the en-
tire army today. This newspaper is
unique in the history of journalism in
that this is the first time a peper has
been published in thirty-two different
parts of the county, appearing simul-
taneously in New York and California,
Massachusetts and Florida, Michigan
and Texas.

The aim and ambition of Trench
and Camp, in the words of President
Wilson, is to ''interpret to the soldiers
the hope and enthusiasm of the nation
behind them and to interpret to the
nation the fine determination and
spirit of our men in arms.''

It is true that Trench and Camp is

[Right Column]
published under the auspices of the
National War Work Council of the
Young Men's Christian Association.
But that is merely incidental. The
paper is ''THE AMERICAN SOL-
DIER'S OWN NEWSPAPER.'' The
circumstance of Y. M. C. A. instru-
mentality is but another instance of
Y. M. C. A. co-operation in any move-
ment for the well being of the army.

A newspaper plays an important
part in any community life - and an
especially important part in such
community life as characterizes the
army. It tells a man what his neigh-
bors are doing. It inspires all who
read it with the idea of the unity in
the great purpose. It should, as Gen-
eral Pershing said in reference to the
work of the chaplains, ''Inculcate lofty
ideals of Americanis,'' and it is try-
ing its level best to do that.

The young men of the second draft
are to feel then, as they read the pages
of Trench and Camp, that soldiers all
over the country are reading the same
editorials and the same special arti-
cles - in a word that in Trench and
Camp they have a common tie.

Every issue of Trench and Camp
has certain local pages which tell of
the happenings in the camp which that
particular edition aims to serve. These
pages can be made more newsy, more
entertaining, more helpful if all the
soldiers will look upon Trench and
Camp as a friend, make the acquaint-
ance of the regimental news represen-
tative and tell him - or better still,
write for him - those happenings of
such interest that they are discussed
when soldiers meet.

Trench and Camp looks upon the
arrival of the increments of the sec-
ond draft as a splendid opportunity
for further service - that service in
which this newspaper was conceived
by those having a deep and abiding
interest in the welfare and content-
ment of the nation's soldiery, and thay
service to which it will inflexibly de-
vote itself so long as America's army
is in the field.

SEDITION IN THE SQUAD TENT

[Left column]

When all is quiet in the company
street and men have retired to their
tents they do not cease to be soldiers.
This is a fact which the new men par-
ticularly should bear in mind. All
that they have and are they have sur-
rendered for the while to the great
common purpose of serving the coun-
try.

In the quiet hours in the squad tents
come many opportunities to forget the
obligations of soldiers. Freedom of
speech sometimes runs riot. The men
come to feel that they are away from
restraining influences and they some-
times express themselves in a man-
ner that they would not dare to as-
sume in public.

There is criticism of the sergeant
of the commissioned officer, even of
the government itself.

This is a sedition in a hideous form.
The way to win the war is to forget
all disagreements and differences and
to hope for, believe in and think only
of VICTORY.

The President of the United States
is the Commander-in-Chief of all the
armed forces of the country. Too of-
ten this fact is lost sight of by the
young soldier. Disrespect to him is

[Right column]
punishable according to army regula-
tions. Disrespect to him, especially
at a time like this, should be unthink-
able, according to American tradi-
tions.

The soldier in the ranks, the officer
in the subordinate place - everyone in
the army - needs something of the
spirit which Tennyson immortalized
in those lines. ''Theirs not to reason
why; theirs but to do and die.''

One of the most fertile fields upon
which Prussian propaganda thrives is
that of discontent; and discontent
would be impossible if a man catches
something of the true spirit of Ameri-
canism.

From discontent to outspoken criti-
cism is but a step. Outspoken criti-
cism is a breach of discipline, which
is a cancer in the side of the army.

Yet it is not in defense of rules and
regulations that this message is ad-
dressed to the American soldiers.
Rather it is an appeal to that intangi-
ble something that binds us all, that
feeling which is common to every one
of us which makes us thrill and fills
us with pride when the first notes of
the National anthem mark the close
of a soldier's day.

A good soldier does his duty and
keeps his mouth shut. Let us all be
good soldiers.

[Column 2]

The Sunlight On The Sword

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF TRENCH AND
CAMP FROM A CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IN
THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

Sir:

Prussian propaganda manifests itself in many forms. Not
the least insidious is that which constantly refers to the attitude
of the Prince of Peace towards this war.

What would Jesus Christ think of the war? Can you as a
Christian justify your own participation? Can you conceive of
Jesus bayonet in hand, going over the top to plunge the cold steel
into the vitals of another human being? Can't the churches do
something to stop the war?

Germany Hears That ''All Goes Well''

These questions follow each other in just about the order given, all
of which is carefully studied, as is every other move of the German propa-
gandists. There is no minister in the country that has not been confronted
by the questions and there is scarcely any active layman who has escaped.
What is the result? Meetings are called in great churches throughout the
land to discuss the ideals of peace! To discuss the ideals of peace at such
a time as this when we are steeling ourselves for the great sacrifices that
the war must demand!

Meantime the Germans propagandist gets word through some mysteri-
ous channels that all goes well and he wins the commendation of his chief.
His report is no exaggeration. All does go well with his own project. Too
well. Public attention is diverted from the one great issue and the ideal
of a unified America is still in the remote future.

This, then, is a word to the preachers. It is a message straight from
the heart of a Christian soldier to Christian ministers all over the land.

Prince of Righteousness First

1. What would Jesus Christ think of war? The question is
given in the phaseology of the church and, in the opinion of a simple
soldier, is very poorly expressed. Is is not what WOULD Jesus think
but what DOES Jesus think. A soldier who has seen the influence of
Jesus in the hearts and lives of men does not contemplate Jesus as the
church does. The soldier thinks of Jesus as an ever-present comrade,
not as a Divine Being who walked the earth nineteen hundred years
ago and has been merely a memory ever since. The soldier somehow
feels that Jesus, in Whose feet and hands are wound prints, Whose face
is more marred than that of any other man, is the same Jesus Who
denounced wrong-doing, Who hesitated not to apply the scourge and
Who came not to bring peace but a sword. Jesus, according to the
simple reasoning of the soldier, is indeed the same yesterday, today
and forever. In Bible days He was alluded to as a priest forever after
the order of Melchisedec - and Melchisedec was first of all King of
Righteousness and then King of Peace. So a soldier thinks of Jesus -
Prince of RIGHTEOUSNESS first; then Prince of PEACE.

2. Can you as a Christian justify your own participation? May
not the question be answered by asking another? Can you as a Chris-
tian justify your failure to participate?

3. Can you conceive of Jesus, beyonet in hand, going over the
top to plunge the cold steel into the vitals of another human being?
It is difficult. But it is infinitely more difficult to think of the same
Jesus standing supinely by while a great liner is torpedoed and her
precious cargo of helpless women and little children are sent to the
bottom. It is infinitely more difficult to think of the same Jesus stand-
ing by while Belgian girls are ravished.

4. Can't the churches do something to stop it all? Undoubtedly
they can. In the first place they can refrain from diverting the thought
of the country from the one great issue. America has only one task
just now. That task is to stop the war by winning it; and by winning
it so decisively that the monstrous thing which reared its ugly head
shall remain inert to the end of time.

Blinded by propaganda insidiously launched in the name of Jesus
Christ, certain spokesmen for the church cannot see that, in spite of the
horrors of war, there is something of glory in it still.

What, shall we see but the shot and shorn
Here in our manhood's might outpoured?
Warthe calls to the fortressed Orne
What of the Sunlight on the sword?

There is sunlight on the sword. As the course of the war runs we are
coming more and more to realize that life is not ease, not the sum of
possessions, not length of days - but the grandeur of the human soul. Tje
war is making tremendous demands upon mankind just now; but it is re-
paying in magnificent revelations.

When the Tuscania was struck by a torpedo and British seamen on
the brink of eternity chanted ''God Save the King'' to the American soldiers'
''Star Spangled Banner,'' the antiphony resolved itself into a symphony
that must have reached the high heavens even as it came across the water
and touched the heart of America. And the motif of that symphony was,

''Then conquer we must for our cause it is just;
And this be our motto, In God is our Trust.' ''

Can't the church do something? Yes! It can preach the kingdom of
righteousness as a forerunner to the reign of peace.

Righteousness first - then peace!

Now it is ''peace, peace, when there is no peace.''

The most effective way for the church to deal with the present crisis
is to peach a gospel of unselfish devotion to the common cause. And if
the church would reach the ultimate in her effort, let her translate that
gospel into terms of food-saving, of labor concilation, of bond-buying - of
doing.

The church of dim religious light and medieval symbolism is as
dead as the lifeless Christ that some of her ministers have preached. The
church of service and of sacrifice is as vital and as vitalizing as the Christ
Who hovers about the battlefield and gives unto parched lips the water of
life; Who visits the widows and the fatherless in their affliction - the Christ
Who is the same yesterday, today and forever and Who is only just being
comphrended.

LIEUTENANT, U. S. A.

RECORD INSURANCE

The members of one company of
Marines now in France took out gov-
ernment insurance aggregating $2,545,-
000. This is the high record. Out of
the 255 men in the company, 254 took
out the full $10,000 of insurance. The
other man too out $5,000 worth.

MAIL IT TODAY

Mail this copy of Trench and Camp
home. Also mail all the other copies
you get. It will make mighty inter-
esting reading for the home folks and
for you when you get back from
''Over There.''

NO HALF ESCAPED

Tommy - ''Half of 'em we got with
machine gun fire, half of 'em with the
rifle, then we fixed bayonets and killed
another half of 'em!''

Funny Man - ''And what happened
to the rest?''

Tommy - ''Oh, we took 'em prison-
ers!'' - London Opinion.

SEEKING REST

''Why do you think a man like
Jaggers, with a wife and growing
daughters, is so anxious to go to the
front''

''I heard him say he wanted rest
and quiet.''