The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-07-20
MONEY RECEIVED FROM GOV.
FRNMENT DOESN'T PROVIDE
FOR FAMILIES.
A FAULTY SYSTEM
European Governments Care for the
Families OF Their soldiers.
Many Militiamen Are
Released.
BY WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 20
Not one soldier that | rubbed elbows
with In all the armies of Europe dur
ing the past two years ever worried
as some of the American soldiers on
the edge of Mexico.
These Americans I refer to are
worrying about their families back
at home; they don't know whether
their wives and childrenahave enough
to eat
Such situation could not possibl;
exist in any European army for the
European governments care for the
families of their soldiers.
The Mexican government doesn't.
We don't. | talked to hundreds of
soldiers in six different armies in
Europe. | talked today to my first
soldier in the new American army
! talked to the soldiers in the Euro
pean armies in artillery pits, dug
outs and trenches, but talked to my
first American soldier in jitney
while on my way from San Antonio
out to the army post. If the Germans
knew the British government was
treating its soldiers as we are treat
ing ours and vice versa the fact
would be blazoned worldwide as an
indication of governmental cruelty by
the enemy.
1t is not cruelty on our part; only
| oversight. 1t is the lesson we have
learned at the cost of misery and un-
happiness in many of our American
homes.
II an American correspondent
learned from British soldier what
learned from Frank Schepkowski. my
first American soldier. he would
break the censorship to get his story
to the world. When Schepkowski,
private in company Ii. Second IL
linois infantry, marches up the steps
OF his little home at 1882 Emma
street, North Chicago, in two days
he will give his wife hug and say,
We'll, I'm back home He got
check today from Uncle Sam for
$67.72 and if he is careful after he
pays his railroad fare home he ought
to have about $40 to hand over to
Mrs. Schepkowski. He was born in
h,tf s.,x
His term of enlistment expired today,
MS military career winding up in
blaze OF a two weeks holiday down
here in Texas.
There are thousands of American
soldiers here, who were snatched
suddenly from their families when a
little breeze OF war struck this coun-
Try three weeks ago, worrying about
the folks back home and wondering
II their wives and children are get
ting enough food and other neces-
sites of life.
1t was not so bad with Schepkow-
Ski he said, because his wife is 4
dressmaker and he could quit his
glove filters job and go to the fropt
without her starving. but there are
lots of fellows whose wives have no
work and they are worried stiff"
Thus the tragedies of grim Europe
that entered American homes three
weeks ago are just coming TO light
here. General Funston's staff Of
Ulcers after hearing these complaints
put their fingers on the greatest
present fault of the American army
plan.
Can man be good soldier or
good worker if he is wondering
whether his family has enough TO
eat?' asked General Funston. af-
Ter l had left the jitney and made
my way to his hot office,
The general. whose perspiring
mead was leaving patches of damp
ness on the back OF the huge chair
III which he was sitting. said
OF course not. permitted four