Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-02-16
GENERAL PERSHING
WANTS CHAPLAlNS
Says Task Before Men Demands FOrti-
tude Born of Courage and Lofty
Spiritual Ideals Asks For
Three to Reriment,

After more than eight months in
France, after observing conditions
surrounding the troops, and after
fully realizing the responsibility rest
ing upon him as the military leader
of this country in the war for peace,
General Pershing says the tasks be-
fore his men requires fortitude born
of great courage and lofty spiritual
ideas. To inspire his men with this
truth he asks that three chaplains
be assigned TO each regiment, instead
of one as the law now provides.
In n cable to the War Department,
the General makes known his sense
of responsibility, and he appeals to
the churches of the United States for
help in the fulfllment OF what ap-
pears TO him to be solemn trust
General Pershing. il is considered
by thinking officials in the Depart
ment. has caught some glimpse of the
trying hours that await his vast army
before victory shall be won. and he
recognizes that there is a power over
and above that of arms and men,
which, in the righteousness of the
cause they represent, must be relied
upon to carry them over the top.
In all the apparent chaos attending
the preparations for the full partici-
patton of the United States in the war
to bring peace to the world, the cabled
message Of appeal from General Per-
shing is regarded as the first fft in
the cloud that has brooded over the
allied armies for many months His
message, received by the Adiutant-
General for the Secretary of War, is
as follows:
I'm the fulfillment of it's duty to the
nation. much is expected OF our army
and nothing should be left undone that
will help it in keeping the highest
state of efficiency. I believe the per
sonnel of the army has never been
equaled, and the conduct has been ex-
celleut, but to overcome. entirely the
conditions found here requires forti-
tude born of great courage and lofty
spiritual ideas Counting myself re-
sponsible for the welfare of our men
in every respect, il is my desire to
surround them with the best influence
solemn trust, it seems wise to request
the aid of the churches at home.
ITO this end it is recommended that
the number of chaplains in the army
be increased for the war to an average
of three per regiment, with assimi-
lated rank OF major and captain, in
due proportion, and that a number be
assigned in order to be available for
such detached duty as may be re-
quired. Men selected should be Of the
highest character, with regulations
well established as sensible, practical,
active ministers or workers accus-
toned to dealing with young men.
They should be in vigorous health, as
their services will be needed under
most trying circumstances. APP
pointees should, of course, be subject
to discharge for inefficiency, like other
officers of the National Army.
1T is my purpose to give the chap
lains' corps through these forces a
definite and responsible status and TO
outline direct and enlarge their work
into cooperative and useful aid to the
troops (Signed) PERSHlNG."
The present law, providing one
chaplain for each regiment, was pass
ed when there were but 1,20O officers
and men in a regiment Since then
the number of officers and men in an
infantry regiment has been increased
to $500 and more. A bill is now be-
fore Congress to authorize the ap-
pointment Of chaplains at the rate of
one to every 1000 men in all branches
of the military establishment