Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-22
War Camp Community Service.

ing clean environment around all mill
tary camps" is the slogan on which is
based the campaign OF the War
Camp Community Service" With the
campaign we'll under way and with
the heart Of the American people being
aroused to the vital importance of
roper surroundings for the men now
preparing to fight the battles OF
democracy, confidence was expressed
today by officials of the service here as
to the outcome of the work.
Although much service already has
furnished the men at the various
camps by the people Of the nearby
cities and towns. a vast amour still
remains to be done. Many Of the
smaller towns near training camps are
taxing themselves to the utmos to care
properly for the men in camps. who
many times outnumber the popula-
tons OF the surrounding communities
by three or four times.
The Community Service workers are
not providing h~aphazard recreation but
something like unto what has been
taken from them in their separation
from home ties. The community serv-
ice committee is not only effecting di-
rect beneficial results to us by aiding
in the creating of high moral stan
dards INC clean recreation but Indirect
~ it is influencing all classes of So
ciety to help towards the desired goal.
AS to the way the men feel toward
being made "at home" a young stu
dent aviator has written a letter in
which he y
wv enlisted men like to be able to
associate with the citizens. Most of
the men want dances where they can
meet decent people on a social footing.
There is no mother, or wife, sweet
this human fellowship more tina any
thing else, and it ought to be supplied
us"
Interesting letters have been re-
ceiyed here from a large number of the
boys who have enjoyed the home
hospitality of the good people in cities
and towns near training camps. These
letters bubble over with the deep, sin
ccre appreciation of the men toward
the kindnesses shown them. In some
cases the men. not able to express
themselves well. have gone to their
sergeant or one of the young lieuten-
ants for assistance in framing up the
letter OF hanks they desired to send
to people who had entertained them.
For instance, one boy wrote as fol-
lows:
The dinner l attended yesterday
was one of the most enjoyable events
of my life. Such courtesies shown the
boys by the good people of your town
make them feel that they are APP
preciated. and certainly puts red blood
in their veins and makes them more
eager to defend Old Glory when called
upon"
Not the least advantage of all is the
moral betterment of the communities
that can be reached from the military
amps, Some of them richly deserve
cleansing fire for their kaiserism Gus
sedness. Some Of the booze cities of
AZ Sunh,ISatts hn,ra pa~, A..
would shame Sodom.
High Army officials assure Governor
Milliken and Adjutant General Presson
that they are amazed at the splendid
quality Of manhood, physically and
mentally, that have come down to the
army camps from Maine. They I'M
hesitatingly and unreservedly say that
they take off their hats to the bows
from Maine as the finest military ma
terial in all the world.
DO these officers understand the
reason"
DO they know that hundreds of these
boys never saw a saloon until they
we've 'dlitu llto the service OF the
| nited States and were ordered out of
their own State?
DO they realize that these boys are
real men because the great majority of
them have not been nursed and reared
on the slop of the booze trustc
DO these officers remember the small
percentage OF venereal diseases among
the Maine troops as compared with
those from other states
Col. Conklin of the 5000 H. A. at
Camp Devens, Aver. Mass. SAYS the
highest type of manhood in the world
m from New England and the
Maine men appeal to him as the finest.
Even the writer's for New York.
Springfield and Boston papers pay the
highest compliments to the boys from
Maine. Sometimes their terms are ex-
~travagant in praise of the physical
giants" and "all college mem. from
Maine.
We are proud OF these boys as we
have reason to be, as federal army Of
ficers are. and we wish them 10 retain
their position as peers among men.
\ federal army man said to Gen.