Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1918-11-02
SOLDIERS LETTERS
Lieut.. Pitcher Takes Exceptions to an
Unsigned Soldiers Letter Publish
ed in Chronicle Oct. 18th.

! Custer, South Dakota.
My DEAR SIR The Chronicle for Oct.
18th publishes under the caption, "Sol-
dler's Letters" communication pur-
porting to come from soldier in France
which for perfectly obvious reasons has
been left unsigned other than by the
anonymous title of "Your Loving
| Brother"
This letter is so thoroughly egotistical
and cnurish in tone that it hardly mer-
its reply. However, since the Chron-
cle enjoys considerable circulation in
the Hills, and is pioneer moulder of
local opinion | think in all fairness to
large number of its readers this anony-
nous attack should be replied to and |
trust the Editor will give this reply the
same consideration he has the Soldiers
Letter" referred to, since the sentiments
of this amazing epistle are not shared by
any large number of soldiers. base
this opinion on my association with men
who have seen service in France as well
as those serving in the United States
and who hope to get chance overseas
and upon letters from soldiers "Over
There" whose slogan is, I'VE can lick the
Hun if the civilians hold ont"
The writer of this letter the publicity
of which is perhaps so ill advised, is SO
| sweeping in his assertions in advising
his sister to avoid the society of 'slack-
ers" that apparently he would put every
able bodied man not in the army in that
despsed category, completely disregard
ing the farmers, manufacturers, miners
and a host of other workers of the civil
liam army who are making possible his
own existence in France as cog in the
machinery of victorious army. lit is
not these so called slackers at home that
are buying the Liberty Bonds, living on
limited rations and giving until it hurts"
to whom does he think he is indebted
tor maintenance and tho are the civilian
hackers that the soldiers in France hope
will hold out.
ms young man, who apparently is
not believer in the maxim there is
glory enough for all" would apparently
begrudge those to whom he applies the
undeseryed epithet of "slackers" the
small entertainment of dancing and
other amusements, when it is SO we'll
known that the proceeds of these affairs
almost without exception 20 to swell the
funds of the Red Cross Although in
conclusion be rejects the knit goods pro-
ducts of the Red Cross as superfuous
and which be characterizes as stuff, we
trust he will never require the bandages
and other surgical material that the Red
Cross workers have so painstakingly pre-
pared and sent across.
Judging from the tone of this i'll in
formed young mans letter he has either
never received any benefits from the Y.
NJ. Z. A. or other war service organiza.
tions or else he itiagines their equip.
ment and service which they so liberal |
ly dispense lust happened" A little
thought on his part might inspire him
with conception that maybe some hand
that he does not want to encircle his
sisters waist dug deep into a pocket to
make possible that comfort to which he
is more than welcome, and in which he
could not possibly have been partici-
pant if he is member of the A. 4. +. in
France.
To the fair minded and informed sol
dier the necessity for many able bodied
and young men to claim exemptions be-
cause of the families dependent on them
and because perhaps other members
have gone to war is apparent as is also
the necessity for labor in farming and
other industries, labor in no way sup
piled by old or physically exempt men.
General Crowder has even emphasized
the need of farmers particularly and ad-
vises the claiming of exemption for this
reason.
There are possible some other state.
ments in this unusual letter, which in
fairness to the writer, be may never have
intended for publication, and | don't
hold any brief for the home guard, who
are perfectly able to justify themselves,
but have taken it on myself to answer
this indictment of the men at home be-
cause of the manifestly unfair spirit ex-
pressed. | sincerely hope that what ]
| have said will not in any way be taken
as detracting from courage and patriot
ism of soldiers "Over There" nor should
it influence any one who wants to enlist
and get in the scrap.
appreciate that if the writer of the
anonymous letter is oyer There" fight
ing or waiting for his chance to go in he
has me somewhat at disadvantage since
| have spent my year and a half of SOL
diering somewh here in the U. s. How
ever | am willing to bear the burden of
adverse criticism on that score. 1t is
we'll known that a soldier goes where he
is ordered aud not where his oft reiter-
ated personal desires might take him.
trust that in the future if the above
mentioned writer indnlges in any more
heroics at the expense ofthe home guard
that be will at least be spared the pub
licity of such sentiments outside the
bosom of his family.
! Sincerely,
RUFUSJ. PITCHER,