488 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Vol. xv, 



of thcso can be used as an actual basis of comparison of percentages of illiteracy in the various 

 groups. The numbers are offered rather as necessary descriptive background and as a check 

 on interpretation of results. 



Another main type of limitation is that due to variations in the general conditions of 

 examining. Groups were examined with varying degrees of completeness, the selection being 

 sometimes such as to afford probably a random sample of the whole and sometimes affected 

 by a very definite bias of some sort. An important illustration of the latter type of variation 

 is the case of Camp Taylor as compared with Camp Lee. The work of examining began late 

 in the former camp and as a result a considerable number of men, picked by their officers as 

 inferior, were known to have been eliminated from the division before the examining began. 

 No such selection occurred at Lee prior to the examinations. In fact, any man suspected of 

 low mentality was especially likely to be sent to the psychologists for examination. Obviously 

 this difference between the camps should not be overlooked, even though it is impossible to 

 gauge it in quantitative terms in considering the results. Unfortunately in the majority of 

 cases the variations which existed were not known, or at least were not made a matter of record. 



Still a third limitation of importance arose from the general characteristics of the Army 

 which was being examined — the fact that it was largely an unknown quantity from the military 

 point of view. For example, in considering branch of the service, we are dealing not with 

 established units of known efficiency but with organizations just assembled from the incoming 

 draft. Obviously we can not expect to obtain from such elements norms which could be used 

 as standards to indicate the needs of different branches. The most that can be hoped for is 

 descriptive material, yielding information as to what was actually selected for each type of 

 service. Unfortunately the groups are imperfect even for this use, since many of the units 

 were unfinished organizations. Before going into active service they both lost and gained 

 men, thereby possibly changing their character to a marked degree. 



In presenting the data we shall follow the original separation by camps for each type of 

 comparison offered. Except in case of the officers' training camp candidates data have been 

 confined to examinations given prior to January 1, 1918, although the fall methods were con- 

 tinued without radical change until the latter part of April, 1918. The totals given in various 

 tables will often fail to agree with one another, since it has been necessary to make up the 

 present statement from summaries made from the material at various stages of completion. 

 No attempt will be made to note these discrepancies in detail as they occur. Since it was 

 impossible to handle all the cards at one time and by a uniform method, such discrepancies 

 were inevitable. 



Section 2. — Comparison of camps, enlisted men. 



Within each National Army camp it was expected that a series of divisions would be 

 formed and trained. The Seventy-sixth Division, National Army, was to be the first formed 

 from recruits sent to Camp Devens; the Seventy-eighth was to form at Camp Dix; the Eightieth 

 at Camp Lee ; and the Eighty-fourth, out of those drafted men sent to Camp Taylor. A perma- 

 nent camp organization consisting of a depot brigade, remount depot, camp quartermaster 

 unit, base hospital, and a few smaller separate units was also to be organized at the same time 

 in each camp. Later changes in this general plan did not affect the organization of the camps 

 before the close of the fall examining. 



Since these four camps, drawing from different sections of the country, furnished the 

 material for the fall survey, it is of interest to know whether appreciable differences appeared 

 in the mental caliber of the different stations. Ultimately such information regarding camps 

 would be of great importance to the Army. For example, a camp of relatively low caliber 

 should be expected to have an unusually large proportion of cases for discharge, assignment to 

 development battalions or labor organizations, etc. On the other hand, it should not be ex- 

 pected to 'furnish the same quota of men for officers' training schools, as a camp of superior grade. 



In tables 144 and 145 we present the percentage distribution of scores of white enlisted 

 men from each camp, together with certain constants computed from these data. In table 

 144 those excluded from examination a on the ground of illiteracy are included for consideration 



