The Detroit times., 1917-04-16
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

1 ne rev. W llllAU ~ Abhlucout oA
81. Matthias Episcopal church. Mon
day indorsed the emergency fund
being raised for the Thirty -nrst
Michigan infantry a. one OF the
most worthy objects now before the
people Mr.. Atkinson is chaplain OF
the regiment
Friends OF the regiment have
started 20 collect 81. 600 from pa
triots who can well AFFORD TO give
Il. and have the frst day received
$500 towards this FUND.
The story OF a soldier who rsesiv'
ed message that his mother had
died. and vet had no money 70 go
from the training camp at p Paso.
to Detroit. 70 attend the funeral, Ia
told BY Mr. Atkinson.
The relatives who sent this mes
sage 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 Atkin-
son.
Such r. not the case. The gov
eminent will give a soldier a fur
Tough TO look after important per
sonal Affairs, but will 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 AT 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 peck
cts and raised a purse Of $50 and
| hurried him 20 the railway station
All OF the necessities OF n sol
der are, OF course. supplied by the
government. but there are quite a
number Of extraordinary needs that
are met only by the so-called com
pany fund OF each company in the
regiment. This company fund 10
never supplied by the government
and must be maintained by donA-
lions from the soldier body The
same law and regulation governs the
regular army that does the national
guard, but In the regular army the
regiment or company being on duty
AZ all times from year TO year and
devoting SIS whole time TO the mill
tary. has a better opportunity 10
have such a fund from mess 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 At the start
AT Camp Cotton. for instance.
each Detroit company wanted q
lawn hose 10 keep the company
street and grounds about the com
pany kitchen sprinkled. so the dust
wouldn't spoil the food The supply
officer made requisition for this
hose The depot Quartermaster at
Fl Psso told the supply onicer that
each company should buy hose out
OF its company fund That was all
very we'll 20 tell the regular army
which had such funds. Some OF the
Detroit companies raised money 20
buy hose, and some OF the oficers
went down into their own pockets
10 supply them II the companies
had had emergency funds there
wouldn't have been any question
about supplying this comfort and
hoalfh.Paving convenience
When n came 20 promoting The
/ physical we'll being Of the soldiers
by athletics. the soldiers on a pay
OF tl5s month went down into their
pockets gladly 20 buy foot balls and
others quipment
Whether II Is 10 DO social work
among the troops promote athletics
add del.caoiss 10 the ration on feas,
days. or take care IN a humane way
81 any emergencies IN the regiment
the so.calied company fund is one OF
The Erandest things in the army"
The contributions for this fund
can be made payable TO any news
caper In the city, which will prompt
, w forward II 20 The committee In
charge. or 10 can be sent 70 Col
Walter Barlow, corporation coun
sells Office, city hall
J