The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-17
HOME ON FURLOUGH

r "The British and french military du-
 thorities are making systematic pro-
 visions for the men to get back home on
 furlough Every man gets at least 10
 days every four months. Special railway rates to soldiers also encourage them to go home at every opportunity. "On account of the greater distance in this country and the location of the cantonments in places necessarily far from the mems homes, it has not been possible for the war or navy depart ments on this side, and with the men in Drance it will be even more diffi- cult to keep up these personal con- tacts.
 Ib "Of the morale of our fighting men, I have heard only uniform approval throughout France. They are maintain ing that morale under conditions which, because of loneliness, strangeness and remoteness, do not, in themselves, pre- dispose to buoyance of mind. "Very important is keeping the American home a living reality in France are letters from home--cheer- ful letters giving complete news, per- sonal news not worth a line perhaps in any newspaper, but of real mo- ment to every member of that particu- lar family group. These letters must come regularly and frequently and leave no gaps in home history. And this serial story of the home life should be illustrated with plenty of snap shots and pictures.
 PICTURES OF CHILDREN
 News and frequent pictures of the children are peculiarly important Those at home sec the children daily. But from distance of 5000 miles and l in a war environment. it is difficult | to imagine 2-year-old as 2-year- | old child or to make a satisfactory | mental picture of how child left in
 curls and rompers looks as a real boy
 with hair cut short and sticking his
 hands into his first pants pockets Such home news keeps brother, fa- ther or uncle buoyed up and in fine
 fighting spirits. It's absence may send | him into battle worried, blue or mo-
 rose and in no mental shape to take
 care of himself or do his full part in protecting his trench mates.
 | Any worry about the condition of
 his dependents or relatives tends to | put a soldier into condition where I he is subject to shell shock. have this | on the authority of eminent specialists, who are dealing with such cases in the military hospitals. A soldier who is untouched by bullet or shell may, from shell shock, return to his trench in such nervous condition as to require hospital treatment and long rest. BY-PRODUCT OF WARFARE "The best insurance against this se- rious byproduct of modern warfare,
 the physicians say, is for the men to
 go over the top or meet charge in a bouyant, untroubled frame of mind, in which his sole concern is the grim business at hand. Cheerful letters from home help to produce mental att titude. but confidence that the home folks lack nothing is an essential foun- dation.
 Soldiers become concerned when let ters fail to come regularly, anxious and uneasy when disquieting rumors
 arrive. and worried and distraught when they learn of trouble at home. An American commander at the front
 and leading military surgeon in Par is both stated that the Red Cross could do nothing more important from military standpoint than to maintain the welfare of the homes of our fight ing men,
 There can be no more certain means of steadying his morale than to give him the assurance that, whatever may happen to his folks at home. the home service section of the Red Cross chap ter in his own town may be depended
 upon to act promptly, sympathetically
 and adequately to maintain the com
 fort and peace of mind of those he has
 left behind.
 ABSENCE OF THE MAN
 Children must be given educational
 advantages. Wives must not be al-
 lowed to wear themselves out to keep
 their homes together Legal advice,
 medical and nursing service, friendly
 counsel, recreation. real friends must
 not be lacking. Everything possible
 must be done to make the absence of
 the man as endurable as possible. And all these things must come from the people of the nation, not as charity there can be no charity in community repayment of such debt--but as an essential means of supporting our mil itary forces.
 ssThrouHh ita nation-H wide organixa-