Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-04
SOLDIER CAN SAVE /
MONEY IN FRANCE
Minimum Pay of $33 a Month
Gives Wide Margin Over
Necessities. i
SPENDING is DISCOURAGED
SPENDING is DISCOURAGED
By JUNIUS B. WOOD.
Especial CnbIeErnm to The Star and
Chicago Daily News.)

Chicago Daily News.)
| Copyright 1917. by the Chicago Daily News
| Company
| AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUAR-
| TIERS IN FRANCE. August 4.-"Go to
war and save money" is the new slogan
for the American soldier. Those in
France now have more money than
they know what to do with-more than
is good for them, according to some of
the officers.
Under the increased pay scale the
lowest private gets $33 a month. All
the necessary expenses are paid eX-
cepting hair-cuts, laundry and tobac-
co. Some do not smoke and most of
them do their own washing. Food.
clothing and medical attention are fur
nished free.
Drafting of plan to retain con.
siderable portion of the pay in the
United States to the soldiers credit has
begun. Congressional action Is neces-
Sary to make the arrangement effec-
tive. The private will select his next
of kin to draw his savings for him until
he returns home from the war.
Hopes They Are "Broke."
Have the men spent all their last
cussinE the plan.
Il certainly hope So" he replied, fer
vently-
Soldiers now have the privilege of
depositing all or Il portion of their pay
with the government. Many in the
past have under this plan left the serv-
ice with savings amounting to thou
sands of dollars. More have frittered
their money away month after month.
and, being virtually penniless when
mustered out. have found it necessary
to re-enlist in a few weeks. Abundance
of money when it can be spent for no
useful purpose is not conducive to
discipline. say the officers.
Pending the adoption of the compul-
sorry saving plan, few company COM
manders have talked with their men
and advised them TO take advantage of
the opportunity to save voluntarily.
recommending the purchase of liberty
bonds at home or French war bonds
here. The plan is working well. Of
ficerS list the amounts each man de-
sires to send to the United States and
an army post office check covering the
total is sent home, to be divided by
the authorities there and mailed to the
different destinations
Teach Seriousness of War.
It is part of the training to impress
the men with the gravity of the con-
test in which they are involved. French.
British. Canadian and other colonial
contingents of the allies know it from
bitter experience. The officers now in
still the lesson of determination in the
men before it is burned into them by
blood. fire and loss of life.
Supplies of gas masks sufficient to
equip the men in the field have arrived
and viii be tested out at once. Gas
chambers are being constructed for the
purpose as a part of the intensive
training.
Gen. Sibert has returned, after accom-
panying a French general on a tour
of inspection through the French army
billets. He was much impressed by the
cameraderie existing between the
French officers and soldiers. The COM
general never failed to stop a
soldier decorated with badge or
medal denoting bravery, touch him on
the shoulder and inquire into the de-
tails of the act for which he was ac-
corded the distinction. In America no
honors similar to those in the French,
British and other European nations are
bestowed in recognition of distinguish
ed services. 1t is proposed to work out
a scheme of ribbons. crosses and
medals for the American troops.