Evening journal., 1918-08-17
JAIL FOR CAMP
DIX DESERTER
Clarence Bockman, Will
mington Private, Gets 20
Years for Leaving
ONLY SIX DIRECTORS
ARE LEFT IN CAMP

CAMP DIX, N. J., Aug. 1.-Two de-
serters were summsrily dealt with by
the Court-martial Board that heard
their cases here. One. Private Clyde
NJ. Ward, Of the detachment at the
School for Bakers and Cooks. who en-
listed at his home town. Fort Wayne
Ind, September 8, 1911, deserted about
November 27, and remained away until
he surrendered himself about June 10,
was given 10 years at hard labor al
Fort Joy, n. Y, TO be followed by a
dishOnOrable discharge. The other Pri-
vate Clarence BOckman, OF the Pi0n-
GERS, who, il was charged, appeared in
civilian clothing while a deserter, was
given 20 years and a dishonorable dis
charge.
The latter enlisted in Wilmington,
Del, April 2i, 1917, and deserted after
the regiment was assigned to Dix early
last spring. He remained away until
he was apprehended in Delaware about
June 2s. When he appeared the next
day in civilian clothes another charge
was lodged against him, but the evi-
dence did not substantiate this charge
and the board adiudged lim not guilty
OF It. Both sentences were approved
by Major General scott, camp CON-
mander.
The duties Of the hostesses at the Y.
W. C. A. House here are many, and
lately new responsibilities have been
thrust upon them by hundreds Of
mothers, who come from a distance TO
see their sons and then, when they
visit the HOOstess House, are so pl6as-
cd with the surroundings that they beg
Mrs Edward Pershing, the secretary
in charge, and her aides TO be mothers
TO their boys. Many Of them bring
their young men 10 the House and in
troduce them, requesting that while
they are in camp here they go there
whenever possible and, il in trouble,
seek the advice Of the women in charge.
as they would their own mothers,
who are too far away to give them
any help.
Despite the fact that DIX is now
housing thousands Of men, there are
only six conscientious objectors here.
and ii is expected that their cases Will
be disposed OF in the near future so
that the cantOnment officials will have
only the cases that come in each day.
The reason for the reduction for Dix
at one time had a company composed
entirely OF Obiectors, is an order from
the War Department allowing the fur
loughing OF the real objectors to work
on farms in various parts Of the cOun-
try, not near their homes, and in this
way Dix was able 10 release about 80
men to aid in the harvesting OF crops.
The men must agree 20 work con-
tinuously on the farms 10 which they
are assigned and failure 10 perform
their duty means that they will face
e C0urt-martial. The men are 20 re-
ceivc the regular private's pay, $50,
with bit more allowed for expenses.
and all over and above that amount
viii be turned over by the government
90 the Rcd Cross fund. The govern
ment is using this method as the best
way 10 dispose Of the men, who. on
account Of religious soruples, refuse TO
perform military duty.
Having uassed the test given by an
examining board Of officers, 30 sol |
diers who have been attending the |
English classes being conducted In the
various Y. NJ. C. A. huts, under the di- |
-cction Of II. A. Townsend, have been /
graduated" They have received no
diploma other than an order detail /
ing them to a line regiment and, as |
the school was started TO nc non-Eng- !
lish-speaking soldiers for the ranks, /
their best graduation" certificate is /
their placing in the ranks.
More than 1900 men are now regis /
tered in the school, and classes are !
held daily in the nine Y. NJ. C. A. huts, /
while 300 men have been accommO- !
dated in one Of the large artillery /
sheds. which has been temporary con-
Verted into a classroom. The course /
covers four months, but some men /
showed such an aptitude after one /
month that they were given a special
examination and easily qualified, only
four failing TO pass the test.
The Rev. j. Francis Behrens, pas
tor Of the Fiftieih Baptist Church, Of
Philadelphia. is now located at the
House Of Welcome, on the Poinlville
road, and will look after the men OF
the Baptist denomination.