New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Pershing Demand
For Chaplains Not
Deemed Criticism
Prompted by Soldiers Wishe.
Instead Of Shortcomings, Is
Churchrnen's View

Representatives Of organizations es-
pecially interested in The moral wei.
fare of the United States army ex.
pressed the opinion yesterday ths.
General Pershing's request for more
chap plains at the front is prompted
not by any shortcoming on the par
of the troops. but by their expressed
need for spiritual help, additional to
that provided by the Y. N. c. A. and
other associations.
Bishop William Frazer Mcdowell,
OF Chicago, chairman OF the Federal
Council of the Churches, which, en-
bracing most denominations, is vitality
interested IN the chaplain problem, is
IN New York attending a council Of
bishops of the Methodist Episcop'l
Church. He said:
II am pleased that Genera! PEI
shing agrees with us that more chap.
lains are necessary. 1t is not a nes
thing, We have been working on j.
at Washington for some time: the Sen.
ate committee has already acted on ii
and the Secretary of War has promised
his help.
Explains Shortage
The shortage OF chaplains at The
front is due TO changing the regimen
tai unit to conform TO the Europesn
war plan. The regulation says that
there shall be one chaplain to reg
ment, and this was all right while
regiment Was only 1,200 men. bus
now regiment is $500 or $500 men
and so three chaplains TO a regiment
as suggested by General Pershing
would give the same proportion as DC,
lore the change in the regiments
unit.
Il speak for all the churches when ]
say that we can supply all the cnap'
ialns needed. Some Of those who az
now working for the y. II. c. A. ns!
have to De transferred to the field oaI
am sure the Y. N. c. A. will not nlasa
tnat, since their work, even in tie !.
A.. c. A., is purely spiritual, whiea v I,
only one side Of the work of that OF
ganization.
The churches are loyal" Or. ~ ",
Dowell added. "The twenty bishop
here have been discussing what tss.
personally were doing, and l am apN
to count q dozen OF their sons who ~
now in service. think every one '.
us who had a son to give has gi'''
him."
Regulations Sufficient
Mrs. Ella A. Boole, president OF ias
State ". c. I. L., said that there Nss .ss
undoubtedly a shortage Of chapaliaas
IN the army. she pointed out tnat ~ ~
United States is negotiating VIZ VIZ
France to allow the same restrctvvslss
and safeguards to be applied 10 .us
troops overseas as to th2se al ho~a ~
This. she said. would be sutfciens.; =
prevent drunkenness and other ,';.s e'ng
the appeal for chaplains pe,rs
prompted solely by spiritual need -
pressed by the men themselves. -.
"Mon IN danger need religious he'p'
she said. -
W. H. Anderson, representing ~ ~
anti Saloon League, agreed thaIi iOr M
need for chaplains and the neeo .ssr .s
safeguards against liquor and osp, sate
temptations were distinct and sepslss
He announced that DR.. e. J. NON, ne
assistant general superintendent = .;r ~
league. ard DR.. James Cannon, ens,e rar
man Of the National Legislative ,e."s. 1ss
mittce of the league, viii go TO fi'N'
soon TO study conditions there. .. "a
None of those mentioned was ayr
give hand testimony as TO m'nr ne
conditions among the troops. go
James K. JOY, editor of The 'a,,s "a,
tian Advocate" and DIR. Edwin l.. ,hs
ham, resident publishing agent o. I'd
Methodist Book Concern, expfsWssrrss xpWsrs
confidence in tho American soiuss.ssss
and said that stories of drunhen.i,..scs,, =. ~,
and other vice that had come 70 wv
were hearsay.