RECRUITS CAMP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3061, 24 April 1917, Page 6

RECRUITS CAMP

THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS. Tho preparation of the new winter camp at Tauherenikau is proceeding actively. The camp, as already announced, is to be divided into four distinct parts, in order that the. recruits from each military district may be segregated during tho first month of their training. The separation will be .complete. Tlie experience of previous winters has shown that the recruits bring into the camps such complaints as measles, influenza, and diphtheria, which have » tendency to spread rapidly and assume the form of epidemics at a-period when, the men are unseasoned and unaccustomed to military conditions. The medical authorities hope. this year to nip epidemics in the hud.' The fact that the recruits are to spend their first month,in terfts instead of huts does not mean that the huts are unhealthy. Tho huts, as they • are constructed now. have given satis- 1 faction. But it vrould be impossible to provide a hut camp stilted to the new scheme in the time that is available, and the tents have an advantage, moreover, in the fact that, they will contain only eight men each." The discovery of a case of sickness will involve the isolation of eight men-only, whereas each compartmont of a hut contains thirty men. The tents will be fully waterproof, and they will all have wooden floors. Metalled roads, are now being constructed to give access to the tents, and the ground that has been chosen is thoroughly well drained. Each division of the new. carcp will have its own drying room, so that the troops mav be able to dry their clothes and boots 'in wet weather. Writing and reading rooms, canteens, cook-houses, and sanitary quarters will all be dis-' tinct for each division of. the camp. At the end of a month the recruits will be accustomed to canro conditions and the open-nir life, and they will then proceed with their training under the usual conditions. This arrangement will not involve anv loss of time, since the first month of the training period is devoted normally to squad drill and other exercises conducted by small ■ groups of men. ..'•■''■ '.-■■"