South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-30
RECREATION WORK
IN A RMY CAMPS
Report Shows Progress of
United Effort to Make
Friends for Boys.

munity recreation for soldiers and
sailors in camp in training for the
new American army, and the man
ner IN which 10 is 90 be carried on,
Is explained in report made public
today by Raymond b. Fosdick. chair
man Of the war and navy depart
ment commission on training camp
activities The report was made a.
Mr.. Fosdick by victor x. Manning.
one of the field secretaries OF the
Playground and Recreation associa-
ton of America. through whose eX-
perienced workers provision is being
made for furnishing recreation for
the men In uniform at the so or
more camps.
Three dollars for each soldier and
sailor-a total o. GOODS 10
be raised for this purpose A nation
al committee. on which prominent
men and women are serving. has
been named by Seq Baker 20 con-
duct the campaign for the War
Camp Community Recreation fund.
Mr.. Manning shows the relation
Of the War Camp Community Rec
reation fund 70 the work which is
being done inside the camps by such
agencies as the Young Mems Chris
tian association and in the exclusion
Of vice and vicious resorts from the
camp neighborhoOd.
shows Need of Work.
He shows also how the Playground
and Recreation association OF Amer
lea through work done by its repre-
sentativcs. already has demonstrated
th. ,ooI ~ L,,TIfvo nm al oor4g n r
recreation and amusement for es-
tablishing camp and community on
the best basis.
The community organization
work" says the report. which is
that OF interpreting the adjacent
community 20 the boys in camp and
Of interpreting the life of the soldier
10 the citizens. is 10 be done by the
playground and Recreation associa-
ton Of America through its trained
workers experienced in this field.
What this service means is explain
I'd by one Of these community or
ganizers. Ira W. Jayne of Detroit,
as follows:
The object in each community
is much the same-tO convince the
citizens that this boy in uniform 3
still a human being, that he has been
uprooted suddenly from his native
soil. stripped Of every social prop
and safeguard-his family ties. his
friends. his church. his neighbOr-
hood. his fraternal groups, his bust
tes,s connections and the influence
II women Of his kind and 50 sud
denly transplanted without their
-,
tercsted in him as an individual, as
g. person helping him 20 reesta blish
those social connections with this
community upon which he was ac-
lustomed 10 depend at home; that
he should be neither patronized nor
exploited that he was a civilian yes
erday ass they still are, and that
ne will. let us hope. return 10 his
home a civilian tomorrow
To Coordinate Forces.
Mr.. Manning reports that in each
city near a camp. social AID recre-
atonal forces will be brought to-
-ether i'm one cOmmittee--represe
ativeS OF churches. clubs, lodges.
schools, colleges, recreation centers.
parks. moving picture agencies.
women's agencies-in fact, every
force for good In the community
that can be used in working for the
highest welfare OF the enlisted men.
4 census will show the mems church
preference. trade or profession. OF
what societies they are mem bers.
what their special interests in dra-
natiCs. athletics. music or other
amusements or recreation may be,
and what other special interest they
have.
Mr.. Manning's report explains that
the community work IS OF two broac
types. that OF large cities and that o.
small communities. He says that
'one Of the great problems is how
10 provide recreation in the city Of
small size. and points 20 one west
ern camp Of 10000 men. located
near a town Of less than 5000 At
this place the war Camp Community
Recreation fund committee plans TO
spend over $4,000, IN clubs
and auditoriums needed for the en-
tertainment Of soldiers in the nearby
community. The report shows what
has been done a. the Newport. r. l..
naval training station.
Inc ann III every comm unity the
report says. is - make the soldie~
or sailor acquainted with families or
individuals who Will be his friends
Activities for entertaining the men
include auto rides, sunday dinners.
athletic and field events, dances. en-
tertainments at clubs, theaters and
moving picture houses. the permits
sion 20 use swimming pools i'm clubs.
OF billiard and pool rooms and other
club facilities-in fact 20 provide
for the enlisted men every form OF
recreation which the civilian enjoys.
I'm giving themselves 20 the boys
III uniform" Mr.. Manning says. .n
concluding his report. citizens and
cities are finding their own souls
and. after the war. a new spirit OF
..tfsrrebfr r,-fTf nravaf1 W