The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-05-10
DIScoURAGINC LETTERS CAUSE
DEsERTERS FROM ARMY CAMPS

In a recent statement to the war
Department strongly advises against
discouraging letters to soldiers:
"Recent reports from commanding
generals of certain Army divisions
indicate that one of the fruitful
causes of soldiers absenting them
selves without leave is the discourag-
ing letter from home. Such letters
frequently give alarming and exag-
Grated reports of conditions surround
the soldiers family, that some mem
Der is desperately i'll, that all are
starving, or that they are being in
some way7 harassed. In instances
such letters have so preyed upon the
minds of soldiers that they have abb
sented themselves without leave to
go home, only to find that conditions
had been grossly exaggerated.
Meanwhile, the soldier had been
absent without leave-a serious mill
tary offense. His problem then be-
came deeper into trouble by desert
ing. Sometimes a mans pride or
fear has led him to desert
every soldier wants to receive
letters from home. They should be
frequent, cheerful, hopeful, and ap-
preciative of the sacrifice that he is
making for his country. They should
be full of family incidents and cheer
full home gossip. They should protect
him from trifling alarms and the
small annoyances of everyday life.
They should encourage him by giving
full confidence that his family and
his friends stand behind him in the
great enterprise he has undertaken.
"The value of such letters to sol
diers is beyond estimate. The harm
that discouraging letters from home
to him is clearly indicated by reports
at The Adjutant Generals office.
Here are some extracts from recent
reports of division commanders:
"T find, also, that many of the
families of the men write to them of
unsatisfactory conditions at home,
sicknes of relatives, and how much
various members of the family wish
to see the soldier. These letters, so
far as sickness, ETC., are concerned,
are often overdrawn, but, combined
with the homesick feeling, often re-
suit in the man going absent without
leave and finally being dropped as
deserter.'
"a division inspector submitted the
following in this connection:
"While stationed at Columbus
Barracks, Ohio, last year was
member of a general court-martial
that tried approximately 100 enlist
ed men for desertion from National
Guard regiments stationed on the
border. | believe am safe in saying
that at least 80 per cent of them gave
as their reason for desertion the fact
that they had received letters from
home to the effect that wife, sis
terri or mother was either dying, very
i'll, or in destitute circumstances, and
begged the man to come home at
once. Many of the men admitted
that when they arrived home they
found that the writer of the letter
had exaggerated conditions
"Many young soldiers, fresh from
home, suffer from homesickness, no
matter how Army officers may try to
make their surroundings pleasant and
comfortable and provide proper a
leTtin wife Bar3senemsumt sh
Extraordinary measures
have been taken by the War Depart
ment during the past year to keep
the young soldier actively engaged
while in camp with sports, amuse-
ments, and comforts that a whole
some psychology might be sustained.
Still, a type of soldier will yearn for
home and fall into a brooding mood.
1t is obvious how harmful to him and
to the service a discouraging letter
from home might be-"