The Colorado statesman., 1918-05-11
In a recent statement the war de
partment strongly advises against dis
cournging letters to soldiers:

IeCtul TepDTIS ITOu COullluhhihb
generals of certain army divisions In
dlcate that one of the fruitful causes
OF soldiers absenting themselves With
out leave is the discouraglng letter
from home. Such letters frequently
give alarming and exaggerated reports
of conditions surrounding the soldiers
family, that some member is desper-
ately Ill, that all are starving, or that
they are being In some way harassed-
In instances such letters have 20
preyed upon the minds of soldiers that
they have absented themselves with
out leave to go home, only to find
that conditions had been grossly ex-
aggerated.
Meanwhile the soldier had been abb
sent without leave-a serious military
offense. His problem then became
one Of facing the penalty or getting
deeper into trouble by deserting. Some
times a mans pride or fear has led
him TO desert
"Every soldier wants TO receive let
ters from home. They should be fire.
Quent, cheerful, hopeful, and appre-
ciative OF the sacrifice that he 10
making for his country. They should
be full of family incidents and cheer
full home gossip. They should pro-
tect him from the 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 soldiers
is beyond estimate. The harm that
discouraging letters from home do to
him is clearly indicated by reports at
the adjustant generals office. Here
are some extracts from recent reports
of division commanders:
81 find, also. that many Of the fam
flies of the men write to them OF un-
satisfactory conditions at home, sick
ness of relatives, and how much va
rious 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 result in
the man going absent without leave
and finally being dropped as de
serter.'
"T am now, through the newspa-
pers of Indiana and through lecturers
in Kentucky, whom we are able to
reach through the office Of the ad-
jutant general Of that state, endeavor-
ing to advise the home people of these
men of the seriousness of these Of
fenses and that their efforts should be
to assist every man in performing tbs
duty that has devolved on him, to
h. nd ohnua oil
regard desertion in Its proper light.
1 shall also attempt to get the West
Virginia papers to institute cam
paign of education along similar
lines
"A division inspector submitted the
following in this connection:
"'While stationed at Columbus bar
racks, Ohio, last year I was member
of a general court-martial that tried
approximately 100 enlisted men for
desertion from National Guard regi-
ments stationed on the border. / be-
lieve 1 am safe in saying that at least
90 per cent of them gave as their rea-
son for desertion the fact that they
had received letters from home to the
effect that wife, sister, or mother
was either dying, very Ill, or In des-
titue circumstances, and begged the
man to come home at once. Many OF
the men admitted that when they ar
rived home they found that the writer
of the letter had exaggerated condi-
TONS
MANY young soldiers, fresh from
home. suffer from homesickness, no
matter how army officers may try to
make their surroundings pleasant ana
comfortable and provide proper
amusements Extraordinary meas
ures have been taken by the war de-
partment during the past year to keep
the young soldier actively engaged
while in camp with sports, amuse-
ments, and comforts that wholesome
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 discontented letter from
home might be"
The enrolment of more than 100000
boys between sixteen and twenty-one
years of age for farm work this season
In the boys working reserve of the
United States employment service has
been made by six states, according to
an announcement by the department OF
labor. The states first reporting were:
California, $4,000; Indiana, 1S,S45; II
linois 25,OOO; Ohio, $4,000; Tennessee,
1900; Wisconsin, $4,000.
In Rhode Island high school boys
are being enrolled in the reserve,
trained in handling farm machinery,
and sent in groups by automobile to
farmers to demonstrate their ability.
Mems colleges and universities are