The Detroit times., 1917-04-17
COMPANY
FUND AIDS
SUFFERERS
Chaplain Atkinson
Tells How 1t Serves
In Emergencies
is OFTEN USED TO
PROTECT HEALTH
$500 Given On First
Day to Sum Sought
By Regiment

ST Matthias Episcopal church. Mon
day indorsed the emergency fund
being raised for the Thirty-hrst
Michigan infantry as one OF the
most worthy objects nov before the
people Mr. Atkinson is chaplain OF
the regiment
Friends Of the regiment have
started 10 collect 5000 from pa
triots Vho can well AFFORD TO give
IL. and have the first day received
$500 towards this fund
The story OF a soldier who receiv-
cd message that his mother had
Died. and yet had no money 10 go
from the training camp al Fl Paso.
10 Detroit. 10 attend the funeral, is
told BY Mr. Atkinson.
The relatives who sent this mes
cage no doubt presumed that the
government having taken the sol
diers 1000 miles from home would
provide railway fare home for such
an emergency said Chaplain Akin
son
such is not the case The gov
eminent will give a soldier a fur
Tough to look after important per
sonal Affairs. but viii not pay his
railway fare 10 or from home. In
the case IN question the soldier WAS
distracted over not being able TO
start home al once II may or may
not have been possible for him TO
have gotten the money from home
for this trip The comrades OF this
soldiers went down into their pock.
cts and raised a purse OF $50 and
hurried him TO the railway station.
All OF the necessities OF a sol
der are. OF course. supplied by the
government. but there are quite a
number OF extraordinary needs that
are met only hy the so-called com
pany fund OF each company in the
regiment This company fund IL
never supplied by the government.
and must be maintained by dona-
lions from the soldier body. The
same Law and regulation governs the
SECULAR army that does the national
guard. but in the regular army the
regiment or company being on duty
at all times from year 10 year and
devoting its whole time 20 the mill
tary.S has a better opportunity to
have such a fund from ness ALLOW
ances. contributions, or various en-
terprises.
The average national guard com
pany. however. going from civil life
into the military service must do
without such a fund for a consider
able time unless the friends OF the
regiment equip II AZ the start.
At Camp Cotton, for instance,
each Detroit company wanted a
lawn hose TO keep the company
street and grounds about the com
pany kitchen sprinkled. 30 the dust
wouldn't spoil the food The supply
oficer made reQuisition for this
hose The depot quartsrmaster at
Fl Paso told the supply ofhcer that
each company should buy hose out
OF its company fund That vas all
very well 10 tell the regular army
which had such funds. Some OF the
Detroit companies raised money 10
buy hose. and some OF the officers
went down into their own pockets
to supply them. II the companies
had had emergency funds there
wouldn't have been any question
about supply Ing this comfort and
Loalth-saving convenience
when IL came 10 promoting the
physical well.being Of the soldiers
by athletics. the soldiers on a pay
OF SIS a month went down into their
rockets gladly 70 buy foot balls and
others QWpment
! Whether II is 10 do social work
among the troops, promote athletics
add del'cacies TO the ration on feast
| days. or take care in a humane way
Of any emergencies IN the regiment
the so-called company fund is one Of
the grandest things IN the army
The contributions for this fund
can be made payable 10 any news
caper m the CITY, which vii prompt
w forward 10 70 the committee In
charge. or 70 can be sent 10 Col
Walter Barlow. corporation coun
sells ONCE city hall.