gcls_campsevier_074

Trench and Camp
Printed weekly for the Y.M.C.A. by courtesy of
Published under Auspices of National War Work Council Y.M.A.A. of the United States
The News and Courier. Edition for CAMP SEVIER Greenville, S.C.
Army news for army men and their home folks
Vol. 1. January 29,1918 No. 16

Nearly all World in European War.
Nine-tenths of the population of the world is now at war. More than half the governments of the earth are engaged in the struggle to preserve civilization or have broken off relationswith Germans and her copartners. Little more that one-third remain neutral, and most of these are the smaller States, who are prevented by their position from engaging in the conflict or whose influence would be without effect. It is the world against barbarism! These facts are stupendous, yet they are borne out by figures as the following tables will show:
The Allies.
Nineteen countries have entered the war against the modern barbarians. The following are their names, date of entry and population, including that of their colonial possessions:
1914.
Serbia, July 28 ......4,547,000
Russia, August 1........ 175,137,000
France, August 3........ 87,439,000
Belgium, August 4........22,571,000
British Empire, August 4...... 439,950,000
Montenegro, August 7........516,000
Japan, August 23........73,807,000
1915
Italy, May 23......37,398,000
San Morino, June 2........7,508,000
1916
Portugal, March 10........15,208,000
Rumania, August 27........7,508,000
1917
United States, April 6.... 113,168,000
Cuba, April 8........2,500,000
Panama, April 9........427,000
Greece, July 16......4,821,000
Siam, July 22......8,149,000
Liberia, August 7......1,800,000
China, August 14......350,650,000
Brazil, October 26......24,678,000
Total, 19 States...... 1,37,225,000

Relations Broken.
The following nations, all of North or South America, and all during the present year, have broken off relations with Germany:
Bolivia, April 14......2,890,000
Guatemala, April 27......2,119,000
Honduras, May 18......600,000
Nicaragua, May 19......600,000
Santo Domingo, June 8......710,000
Hayti, June 17......2,000,000
Chili, June 29......5,000,000
Costa Rica, September 21......431,000
Peru, October 6......4,620,000
Uruguay, October 7.......1,400,000
Ecuador, December 8......1,500,000
Total, 11 States......21,870,000

The Central Powers
Austria began the conflict at the instigation of German by declaring war on Serbia. Four days later Germany entered. Turkey began hostilities three months later without a declaration, and Bulgaria dallied with both sides eleven months longer beforejoining the Teutonic combination. Following are the dates and the population of each country, including colonial possessions:
Austria, July 2, 1914 .... 49,882,000
Germany, August 1, 1914 ...... 80,661,000
Turkey, November 3, 1914 ...... 21,274,000
Bulgaria, October 4, 1915......4,755,000
Total. Four States......156,572,000

The Neutrals
The following governments have remained neutral in the great struggle betwen right and wrong:
In Europe - Andorra, 6,000; Denmark and colonies, 2,872,000; Holland and colonies, 43,667,000; Luxembourg, 2,459,000; Spain and colonies, 21,350,000;
Sweden, 5,680,000; Switzerland, 3,742,000. Nine States; populatgion. 80,064,000.
In Asia - Afghanistan, 6,000,000; Persia, 9,000,000. Two States; population 15,000,000
In Africa - Abyssinia, 8,000,000; Morocco, 14,500,000. Two states; population 14,500,000
In North America - Mexico, 15,063,000; Salvador, 1,254,000. Two states; population, 16,317,000
In South America - Argentina, 9,000,000; Colombia, 5,500,000; Paraguay, 800,000; Venezuela, 2,780,000. Four states ; population, 18,080,000.
Total neutral population, 143,961,000.

At war, 19 states.......1,370,225,000
Relations broken, 11 States 21,870,000

Anti-German, 30 States...1,392,095,000
Germanic allies, 4 States....156,572,000
Neutrals, 19 States......143,961,000

World's population, fifty three States.....1,692,628,000

[subheading and article span columns 2 and 3 half page] Only twelve days more in which you can insurance
If he has no one within the "permitted" class he should buy it anyway, for reasons:
1. It is worth the premium charged to him, because in the event of disability it pays to him as long as he lives.
2. He cannot buy it after February 12 if in service October 15.
3. He may lose his insurability in the service without disability, and would then have the protection if he had subscribed for insurance.
4. He might create (almost certainly will) dependents in the future. Some of the mistaken ideas I have come across are as follows:
1. Some men are under the impression that rates will materially increase. Not so. Rates published on back of application.
2. Some men think automatic feature of bill protects all dependents. Not so. One covers wife, child and widowed mother.
3. Some men think insurance will be administered by corporationafter war. Not so. Contract will always remain a contract with the United States.
[column 3] 4. Some men are under the impression (I am informed that this holds Battery F, your regiment,) that insurance is only good where soldier married ("permitted" class" published on back of application). There is a lack of understanding on the part of some officers as to a man's rights to being excused or exempted under the law from allotments. The bill almost certainly provides the means to buy insurance if it is desired in every case - officers in all cases should familiarize themselves with the full law both from a standpoint of their duty to the men and the service, but also to avoid pecuniary loss to themselves if they are or hope to B Cs.
One excellent scheme I heard of in one case where the unit reached 100 per cent is a case where the company commander, after canvassing and securing applications from all the men he could, took the uninsured into his tent, singly, blindfolded them and had them try to walk around, telling them that is blinded, in the event of their subscription for $10,000 they would receive £57.50 monthly as long as they lived. The subscription was forthcoming in every case.
[column 2] The Sportlight (By Grantland Rice.
Revenge.
When the drill somehow seems longer
Than it ever was before;
When my back feels half-way broken
And my aching feet are sore;
When lectures crowd upon me
Until figures fag my brain,
And life, for just the moment,
Is an anguish and a pain-
Then it is I pause a second,
In the long day's rushing pace,
And I cuss the bally Kaiser
Till I'm purple in the face.
When a lengthy hike is ordered
Where the rocks are like a thorn;
When the reveille reechoes
On a cold and wintry morn;
When my pleasant dreams are vanquished
And I rub my half-shut eyes
To see gray dawn a-stealing
Out of January skies-
Then it is I find existence
Is bereft of all its thrils,
And I cuss the pop-eyed Kaiser
Till I'm blue around the gills.

Teaching French song to sammies.
Lieut. Raymond V. Phelan, commanding receiving company No. 4, Camp Joseph E. Johnston, Florida, is teaching the company to sing the French patriotic anthem, La Marseillaise.
Receiving company No. 4 is said to be the first in the United States to learn this great anthem of the French. In addressing his men at the first rehearsal of the song, Lieut. Phelan said: "An American army entering the battle line singing: "Arise ye children of the nation, The day of glory now is here,'

"will double the force and power of every French soldier within hearing." This military singing is led by Pricate Harry Garland, rec[ently] of the New York stage. Phelan [was] [f]ormerly with headquarters troop, Camp Dodge. He is a graduate of Western Reserve University in the class of 1902, and has been professor of economics in the University of Minnesota.

New Department of Army
Serve by Saving Is the Slogan.
A department for conservation, under the command of Col. James Camby, has been established at Washington, D. C. The need of such a department has long been felt throughout the army camps of the country, and its advent among them is warmly welcomed.
At Camp Sevier this important work has been entrusted to Lieut. Horner and a force of men under his direction. Although the department here is but in its infancy, as elsewhere, it is destined to become one of great magnitudeand of an ever-increasing value to the government.
A large building is now under construction on the reservation, in which will be housed this department and a repair shop in connectin therewith. Cooperation and a mutual understanding between the men of the camp and the department of conservationwill be the keynote of the success of this movement. In order that the best results may be obtained a conservation officer has been appointed in each organization, who reports the progress of his unit and the methods employed by him to prevent waste to the camp conservation officer. In this way the department is apprised of the conditions from day to day throughout the entire camp.
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance and far-reaching results of this work, which is practically limitless in its application. In view of these facts it is the patriotic duty of each and every man in Camp Sevier to do all within his power to aid this department in fighting waste and needless destruction of property. The folks at home are saving and making many sacrifices; why, then, should we in camp be wasteful?
Look every week in this space for announcements and articles from the conservation officer. Remeber, your aid will help shorten this war and bring victory for your country and its allies.

Metric measurement for all American guns.
Washington, Jan. 21. - Adoption of the metric system of measurement for artillery and machine guns and maps for the American overseas forces was announced today by the War Department. The change was agreed upon at the suggestion of the French Government to avoid confusion in France, where the metric system is used exclusively.
"The Italians have been busy breaking up hostile working parties and harrassing centers of military activity.

Allies Prepared For Blow In West - Baker.
Washington, Jan. 21. - The Allies are maintaining an expectant attitude on the western front, Secretary Baker stated today in his weekly war review, while recent events in Russia have greatly increased strategic freedom for the Central Powers.
The following review is for the week ending January 19. It says:
There is little to record in the way of military activity during the past week. On the western front the Allies are maintaining an expectant attitude."While the esemy has been busy concentrating his offensive forces the British and French have greatly strengthened their defensive positions, reorganizing their tactical arrangements, which, in many instances , are, or were, hitherto chiefly of an offensive character, and are now prepared for every eventuality.
"The recent events in Russia, which have removed from the theater of active operations over 900 miles of front in the east, the invading of Italyand the consequent shortening of the battle line in this section by nearly 150 miles, have resulted in greatly increased strategic freedom for the Central Empires.
"Reviewing the minor operations it is noticeable that ascendant initiative and alertness is again displayed by the Allies.
"We find the British and French active raiding the German lines, driving in outposts and patrols.
"Along the British front the enemy for the first time in many weeks maintained a relativelyh passive attitude. The British sent out numerous parties.
"East of Loos a sharply conducted operation by the British was brought to a successful conclusion. The Britsh broke into the German line and captured a number of prisoners.
"North of St. Quentin and east of Mericourt the British had brushes with the enemy, which resulted favorably.
"In the neighborhood of Lens a Canadian detachment launched a raid against the Germans, which was crowned with success. Not only were the Canadians able to penetrate the enemy's positions, but they held them as long as they deemed it expedient, and only retired after inflicting serious damage and taking prisoners.
"The air raids on Karlsruhe proved particularly effective.
"In the Italian theater the successes of the preceding week have been enlarged and extended.
"The Italians launched, successfully, along three seperate segments of the line, a series of formidable assaults, which resulted in a decided advantage for their forces engaged.
"The first attack was made east of Carpo Sile, in the Piava delta, which brought about a material extension of the Italian bridgehead along lower Piave.
"The second in the region between Monte Tomba and the Monte Solarolo, was a tactical gain of positive value, in that it greatly strengthened the Italian position in this area.
"The third and by far the most important undertaking resulted in bringing about a rectification of Italian disposition in the Monte Asolone sector, which rendered secure trench elements hertofore not devoid of serious weakness.
"This last achievement must be looked upon as of essential significance, in that it has removed the menace of the enemy being able to turn the Italian flank in the region of the Monte Grappa. The only reaction on the part of the enemy took place in the Piave delta, where the Austrians attempted to regain the ground lost east of Carpo Sile. The enemy was driven back without gaining any of his objectives and suffered several casualties. It would seem that it is now clear that the pressure of the Austrians in this area has been materially lessened.
"The British forces were active in the Palestine theater. Gen. Allenoy has strenghthened his defensive position and extended his lines. Frequent patrol encounters are noted. The enemy is being cleared of villages north of Jerusalem and a firmer hold on the Holy City is thus assured."