The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-06
Soldiers Seeing New York
Overstay Their Leave and
Miss Sailing.
DISCRETION EVIL GROWS
Hosts Here Asked by Army to
Scan Each Warriors
Pass.


after the names OF $50 soldiers on a liz,
OF 500 enlisted men at the time Of de-
parture Of a transport for the war zone
recently. and as a result kind hearted
New Workers. are receiving some GEN.
sure from the Department OF War for
indirectly encouraging men TO overstay
their leave.
Desertions from the army at the port
OF New York have been larger. than
should have been the case and are grad
ually increasing. with the result that the
above figures represent the largest pro-
portion OF men that have go far been
absent when their organization sailed.
should Ask to See Passes.
The situation Is becoming serious and
the War Department Is Of the opinion
that hospitable families and societies Of
the metropolis are In a small measure to
blame, inasmuch as they do not ask the
soldier when his pass expires Each
one is given a blue card which states
how long he will be allowed to remain
away ard at what hour he must return.
The officers In charge feel that those en-
tertaning soldiers should ask to see the
pass in order that the man will not be
kept away from his company too long.
The soldiers for the greater part have
never visited New York before. and as
they are only allowed twenty-four hours
to see the city feel that they would like
few hours more to become acquainted
In Americas greatest city they find
many organizations and some well dis
posed families have provided inexpensive
and comfortable stopping places for the
use OF both officers and men. In this
manner it Is an easy matter to see the
city at very low cost and al the same
time receive wholesome food and clean
bed.
A large number OF the men have not
been In the army a great while and
when they encounter such hospitality
and interesting surroundings find it hard
to break away and retoin their respec-
tive companies. The result Is they de-
eide TO stay for another day. Then
when that day has been SO interesting
they find the parting. even harder and
say. "Oh, well. what's day or So and
prolong the stay for a week A. the end
of the week some Of the men go back.
but too late to sail with their organiza-
tons Others feel that they are In
trouble anyway and think they may as
we'll leave the army entirely as to face
tho music for the present offence. with
the result that they desert.
Another cause has been found which
is giving the army authorities consider
able worry. A large percentage OF tn.
troops are men OF means and come
from wealthy families. Their mothers,
fathers. brothers and often sweethearts
have the means to pay visit at tho,
last port before going overseas They
see but little of the soldier here until
when the day of departure draws near
ha gets his leave. Boy and family visit
A cafe, theatre or beach, and when the
day Is over the family feels it, would
like TO have him a little LONGER.
often Lead. to Desert1On.
He is urged 10 have his pass extended,
but. knowing this IL impossible, and
feeling for his mother or sweetheart.
he determines to run the risk or stay
ing away for a short while. This course
often leads to absolute desertion. al
though a great many men do return be-
fore their companies go overseas. Home
sickness too, has caused great many
soldiers from Southern camps to cast
off the uniform and go back TO their
families.
The situation has reached such
crucial point that Major-Gen. David C.
Shanks, in charge OF embarkation at
Hoboken. has asked the newspapers TO
urge those New Workers. entertaining
soldiers to first see that the boys are
not encouraged to overstay their leave
anC to get them away in time to report
tor duty. With this mater IN mind
Gen. Shanks July 10 forwarded the
following l,tter to Major-Gcl. FrnLk
Mcintyre. principal assistant to Gen.
March, Chief Of Staff, Washington.
There is bit Of propaganda work
ttat needs to be done at this port. II
undertaken tactfully l feel sure that
good results will ensue. There is en-
tirely too much in the way OF absentee
ism "a. w. o. H. and too much in the
way OF desertiol on the part of troops
ba sein; through this port. Many OF the
men have never seen New York before.
They come to the city on pass and over
stay their leave. Some Of them go away
for good and a great many return 10
camp after their organizations have
gone and have to be placed in our over
sea casual camp. For instance. a sim
gle company sailed yesterday with
twenty-one absentees.
New Workers Too Kind Some times.
THE people OF New York are most
kindly disposed toward all soldiers. They
are too kind sometimes. and in this ex-
cess OF kindness do injury to the mill
tary service. Our people now are all
keyed up-everybody wants TO do his
mad "a 70 he
the way and they will do the rest.
Now then for the proposed propa-
gnnda: I am quite sure the New York
papers. properly approached will take
up this matter. They will tell the peo-
Pie that II is the business of every SOL
der who comes to New York for over
sea service to sail with his organiza-
ton. They will tell our citizens that
any man or woman who knowingly al
lows or knowingly encourages any SOL
die to overstay his leave from camp is
thereby doing gross Injury TO our coun-
try.
This Is the finest time in the world
to start little benevolent propaganda
in regard to desertion. Our people need
to be taught to deapise a deserter.
am bringing this subject up because
believe the time Is ripe to do some good
work in the lines above outlined
II would ask every citizen to make
sure that the soldier whom he enter
tains Is neither a deserter nor absent
without leave. My judgment tells me
that considerable good can be accom-
p!ished on the above lines"
Girl HyIan's Executive Secretary,
Miss Frances W. Rokus, 1877 Grand
street, Brooklyn, confidential stenogra-
nher tn Mayor HXlan sInca lonu hafo.A