The Irish standard., 1917-12-08

"The Young Mems Christian Associ-
alton represents the Protestant de-
nominations, which will roughly con-
tribute 60 per cent of our new army.
The knights of Columbus
represent the Catholic denomination,
which will constitute perhaps IS per
cent of the new army"
The Secretary Of War does not say
by what means he arrived at the esti-
mate of IS per cent of Catholics in the
service. But he must have based his
figures upon some reasonable and ap-
proximate data, ready to his hand as
Secretary of War.
EnIistments in Catholic centers.
In letter of September %, 1917,
Paul R. Martin, director of publicity
for the knights of Columbus commit
tee on war activities, in reply to an
inquiry as to the proportion of Cath
olics now in military service, says:
"Such reports as we have received
would lead us to believe that there
must be at least 40 per cent. The
navy chaplains, who have done more
statistical work of this kind than any
one else, say that the United States
navy today is 60 per cent Catholic.
The regular army has been in the past
as high as rs per cent Catholic. This
was owing to the fact that the great
bulk of enlistments come from Cath
Ollie centers, such as New York, ILL.,
nois, California and Massachusetts"
The Rev. Louis J. O'Hern, c. s. p,
official representative of the American
Hierarchy at Washington for the
placement of Catholic chaplains in
military service, states in an address
on 1.-THE Chaplains and the Camps:
ut is an actual fact that the ratio
of Catholics in the volunteer army is
far out of proportion with our popu-
lation, which speaks we'll for our pa
triotism. Both the regular army and
the national guard contain so many
Catholics that I honestly believe 40
per cent is not an overestimate."
The proportion of Catholics in the
navy is even higher than that in the
army. The Rev. Thomas Regan, U. S.
A., chaplain aboard the U. S. S. Min
nesota, reports that out of 1900 men,
800 are Catholics-over 60 per cent. 1t
is reported that out of 1000 aboard
the Won Steuben 900 are Catholics-75
per cent. The chaplain Of the Kear-
sarge reports that so per cent are
Catholics.
"In the marine corps, which is
L, off ~
fighting men in the world" says Fa-
ther O'Hern, there is supposed to be
the highest average rate of Catholics
in any branch of the service, namely,
so per cent. l have no definite figures
at my disposal, but believe this esti-
mate to be correct"
The Problem Of chapIains.
It is evident that the response of
Catholics to the call to arms for ma
tional defense has been out of all pro-
portion to their numbers, which makes
a very definite and concrete refutation
of the charge sometimes put forward
by ignorant people that Catholics are
not patriotic.
This, however, is a matter of little
concern for the moment in face of a
very serious difficulty confronting
Catholics, and the country at large as
we'll, in supplying chaplains for our
soldiers.
Nothing will so conduce to the
moral discipline Of our troops as the
presence and comfort Of chaplatns.
This is especially the case with Catho-
lies, who are in the habit of seeking
the spiritual advice and consolation of
their priests, especially in times of
stress and danger.
Under the present law the supply
of chaplains is utterly Inadequate:
One chaplain for every regiment, and
a recent regulation has raised the reg
mental force from 1900 to over 5000
men! Under this ruling there will be
only forty.seven Catholic chaplains in
the new national army. Catholics are
striving, at their own expense, to sup
ply the enormous deficiency by send.