The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-07-15
Close Home Ties Necessary for
High Morale Of Fighting Men

Mir. W Frank Persons. Director
American Red Cross, has just re
turned from France, where he orga-
nized the Bureau OF Home Service in
the American Ied Cross organiZa-
ton in that country. lie is more
firmly convinced than ever that prop
er conditions in the homes OF Soldl-
ers and sailors and the maintenance
of close and intimate contact be-
tween the men and their families Is
of the stuff of which morale Is made.
We cannot assume a passive attl-
tude," said Mr.. Persons. "on the part
of the soldier or sailor, satisfied IL
all is going reasonably we'll and pa
tiently waiting for things to right
themselves. The fighting man wants
to know all about what is going on at
home-all the details about his fam
ily and then about his friends and
his community generally. He wants
to be kept in touch with local civic
affairs and what is going on in his
town and State. We are coming TO
see that this interest is a powerful
support to mans stamina. 1t keeps
him sane and healthy. 1t braces
him up to know that those with
whom be has lived and who mean so
much to him appreciate the sacrifice
he is making.
The British and French military
authorities are making systematic
provision for the men to get back
home on furlough. Every man gets
at least ten days furlough every four
months Special railway rates to
soldiers also encourage them TO go
home at every opportunity.
..On account of the greater dis
tances in this country and the loca-
ton of the cahtonments in places
necessarily far from the mems homes
it has not been possible for the War
or Navy Department to make similar
provision on this side, and with the
men in France it will be even more
difficult to keep up these personal
contacts.
''Of the morale of our fighting men
l heard only uniform approval
throughout France. They are main
tanning that morale under conditions
which, because OF loneliness, strange
ness and remoteness, do not, in them
selves, predispose to buoyancy OF
mind.
Very important in keeping the
American home a living reality in
France are letters from home
cheerful letters giving complete news
personal news not worth line
perhaps In any newspaper, but of real
moment to every member of that
particular family group. These let
-C0III5 TeS uTdTI y StHu nv
quently and leave no gaps in home
history. And this serial story of the
home life should be illustrated with
plenty of snapshots and pictures.
News and frequent pictures of the
children are peculiarly important.
Those at home see the children daily.
But from a distance of 5000 miles
and in a war environment it is diff
cult to imagine a two-year old as a
three-year child or to make a salts
factory mental picture of how a
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, father or uncle buoy
ed up and in fine spirit. Its absence
may send him into battle worried,
blue or morose 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 a condition where
he is subject to shell shock. l 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, re-