New-York tribune., 1918-02-27
East Side Soldiers
CCORDINC to mn estimate OF "The
American Hebrew" '25 per cent OF
= the soldiers in Camp Upton. or al

Ina the soldiers in Camp Upton or al
most 10000, are Jews, and of this
number about $500 hail from the East Side
! in Manhattan. Some have been but three
or four years in this country, and enlisted
in the National Army, inherently hating mill
tarsm as they have have known it in Rus
sia or Rumania. To the question as to the
aptitude of the Jews for military work Mr..
Lyman, head worker Of the Jewish Welfare
Board in the camp, replied: "Spcndid; all
officers speak very highly of the ability and
Willingness of the Jewish sodiers,' and he
proceeded to tell the following interesting
episode:
zone Of the commanding officers who had
never before come in contact with Jews did
not think highly of their military aptitude.
1t happened, however, that his company
at Camp Upton counted more than GO per
cent Jews. and he 'elt rather Disconnected
and apprchensivc about it. Two months
later. when number OF men were to be
transferred to Georgia, the commander was
required to pick out the men i~ his company
he wished shipped South. The result was
that he kept practically all the Jewish boys,
IS he learned by that time to like them.
What is moro, all the non-comm ssioned
officers in his company are Jews"
osting picture Of the Jewish soldier in camp.
Away from home, lonely and homcsick, they
come to the Offices of the Jewish Welfare
Board to pour out their hearts, even as
the Protestants seek comfort in the house
of the Y. NJ. c. A. and the Catholics in the
house of the knights of Columbus. The
board shows every kind Of favor. writes
letters for them locates relatives and friends
in Russia, procures copies of citizens papers.
obtains permission from the captain for
mnion (ten pcrsons) for saying Kadish
(praycr for the dead), provides recreation
for them, etc.
Orthodox services are held every Friday
night between 7 and s p. m. in one of the
Y. M. c. A. buildings. Sermons are preached
by well known orthodox rabbis. Besides this
Conservative Reformed services, partly in
English, arc being held by lights Of reformed
Judaism. With inc new order abolishing the
Saturday drill, the board has inaugurated
also Saturday morning services
Mr. Lyman cannot find words adequate
enough to praise the attitude of both the
Y. NJ. c. A. and the K of c. toward the
jewish Welfare Board in it's work for the
Jewish soldiers They do oil in their power
to bring the boys Of different creeds to-
%ether, to create mutual understanding and
friendship among them. AS an instance Of
he tells the following:
Jewish boy in Of the barracks put
ON his phylacteries to pray, when one of
tho Gentle soldiers passed an offensive re-
mark and made a threatening gesture Inn
.mediatolY three other boys. all Gentiles.
jumped to their feet, surrounded the jew
lsh soldier and kept guard over him while
he was praying.
Neither of, shc Christian organizations,
says Mr. Lyman, makes any attempt TO prose-
lyte the Jewish soldiers. but rather each
COOS all it can to make them better in their
own religion. Classes have been inaugurated
+ o teach them English There arc also classes
III French, American history arithmetic and
ether subjects, conducted by the three re-
l'gous organizations.
There is among tho jewish soldiers no en-
thpsiasm. Mir. Lyman finds. as the term is
commonly understood, no Dragging. but an
earnest solemn resolve to DO the work thev
ore called upon TO do and to do it we'll.