Charlevoix county herald., 1916-07-28
Family Affairs
Worry Soldiers
DON'T KNOW WHETHER
WIVES HAVE FOOD
No European Nation Would
Tolerate Such Conditions,
Says War Correspondent

San Antonio, Texas, July 24.-Not
one soldier that rubbed elebows with
in all the armies of Europe in the last
two years ever worried as some of
these American soldiers along the edge
of Mexico, says w. g. Shepard, war
correspondent.
These Americans | refer to are
worrying about their families back
home; they don't know whether their
wives and children have enough to
eat Such a deplorable situation could
not possibly exist in any European
army, for European governments cares
for the families of their soldiers.
The Mexican government doesn't;
s, we don't. I've talked with hundreds
kf soldiers of six different armies in
Europe. talked today with my first
soldier of the new American armies.
talked to Europeans in artillery pits,
trenches and dugouts, but | talked
with the American in a Jitney going
from San Antonio to the army post.
If the Germans knew Britishers were
treating the families of their soldiers as
we are treating ours, or vice versa, the
fact would be blazoned worldwide as
an indication of governmental cruelty
by the enemy. It's not cruelty on our
part, only oversight, and the lesson
we've learned has cost unhappiness
and embarrassment in many American
homes.
If an American correspondent learn
ed from British soldier what learned
from Frank Shepkowski, my first
American soldier today, he would
break the British censorship to get the
story to the world. Shepkowski, OF
Company ii, Second division Illinois
Infantry, will march up the steps of his
little home at 1852 Emma street, North
Chicago, within a couple of days, give
his wife hug and say, "Well, Pm
home" He's got check from Uncle
Sam for $67 u and if he's careful after
paying his fare he ought TO have about
$40 to hand over to Mrs. Shepkowski.
He was born in Poland but has served
in the militia six years and his term of
enlistment expired today, his militia
career winding up with a blazing two
weeks holiday here in Texas.
1t was from Shepkowski that got
my first inkling that thousands of
Americans here who were snatched
suddenly from their families in the
little breeze of war which struck Amer
'ca three weeks ago are worrying about
folks back home and wondering wheth-
er they are getting food and other
necessities of life.
at wasn't so bad with me-" said
Shepkowski, because my wife was a
dressmaker and could quit my glove
cutters job and go to the front without
her starving, but there are lots of fel-
lows whose wives don't work and
they're worried stiff.
There were thousands of tragedies,
as grim as many in Europe, in Ameri-
can homes three weeks ago which are
just coming to light here on the border.
Gen. Funston and his staff officers are
hearing them. Shepkowski put his fin
ger on the greatest present fault with
the American army plan.
Can a man be good soldier and do
good work if he's wondering whether
his family at home has enough to eat?''
asked General Funston after leav-
ing the jitney, and making my way to
his hot office.
The general, whose perspiring head
was leaving patches OF dampness on
the leather back of the huge chair in
which he sat, leaned forward, saying
earnestly: "Of course not. permitted
fourteen men to return home yester-
day because their dependents were
suffering and have so many requests
for relief ep like grounds that it will
prove necessary to release several
thousands within the next few weeks
These men are given three and {
half cents mileage homeward. Money
which has been spent in bringing then
to the border, feeding them and out
fitting them, and then after two weeks
sending them back home, isn't wasted
II is our payment for the lesson tha
- ;n our new army plan we must provide
well for the care of soldiers families i
we are going to insist on taking mel
away from their families into the army
What about my family?" is the big
gest question in all militia camps aloni
the border.