Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-10-16
WEBSTER CITY I /. ! /
PECTED TO ASSIST
People Must get Behind Campaign to
Raise Fund for War Camp
Community Service.

Community Service.
The Freeman-Tribune Is IN receipt
| of the following self-explanatory let
ter from the War and Navy Depart
ment Commissions on Training Camp
Activities:
Washington, Oct. 13.-At the sug-
gestion of President Wilson the di-
rectors of chambers of commerce and
other city associations, or commit
tees of patriotic citizens, in cities
and towns all over the United States,
have been called on to get behind
the campaign to raise national
fund for War Camp Community Ser
vice. To each city and town has
been assigned the quota it is expect
ed to raise Of the total amount need
ed.
Community service for "the boys"
in training at the ninety or more
military and naval camps and posts
throughout the country, is not in
tended merely to amuse and enter
tain the soldiers and sailors. The
real purpose is to inspire the men.
help develop their fighting spirit and
increase their actual military eff
cheney. Army officers declare that
wholesome, healthy environment in
the communities surrounding the
camps will do this.
John N. WHY'S, of Toledo. o., au-
tomobile and aeroplane manufactur-
er. chairman of the national commit
tee on the War Camp Community Re-
creation Fund, appointed jointly by
Secretary of War Baker and Secre-
tary of the Navy Daniels, in a letter
stating the purpose of the fund calls
on every city and town to do its
bit" in this vitality important war
work of helping to make and keep
the army "fit to fight" through clean
environment. vi inHs
The people of the United States
should be made to realize, it is point
ed out, the important part they have
to play in helping to win the war.
The "first victories" will be won in
America, and will depend on the way
in which those who stay at home re-
ceive, welcome and hearten the men
who are ready to bleed and die for
their country that democracy may
live.
\ The community service is confined
entirely to work outside the camp,
as distinguished from what is being
done to provide leisure-hour enter
tainment for the men inside the
camp by the Y. M. c. A., the knights
Of Columbus the Y. M. H. A., and in
other ways.
Mr.. WHY'S summarizes the big
purpose of the War Camp Communi-
ty Recreation Fund when he says.
"The spirit Of the New American
army is to be made in the next few
months. Mere numbers do not make
an army; millions Of soldiers who
lack the fighting spirit can retreat
without struggle. The American
boys must know that the finest
ideals of civilization are in their
hands; that the folks at home are
living and fighting in their hearts.
Imagine your boy at training
camp" he says. where shall he go
and what shall be do when off duty?
The cities, big and little, adjacent
to the camps will do their best, but
without the aid of a national fund
it will be impossible to supply the
equipment and the trained personal
service necessary to make recrea-
ton system thorough success.
ut is planned to furnish enlisted
men hospitality in local social cir
cles, to promote wholesome amuse-
ment in public places, to supply
buildings, swimming POOLS etc. and
to prevent the exploitation of the
boys by commercialized attractions
of an undesirable sort"
Attended Baptist Association.
Rev. IL. E. viets and N McAninch
were in attendance at the annual