Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-16
HOMES WILL
BENEFIT. FROM
ARMY WORK
Well Trained Young Men to
Insist on Better Health
Conditions.

Camp Lewis, Tacoma, Wash, April
16.-"Let me tell you that the million
men now in the United States army
and the millions who may eventually
home communities and stand for the
inadequate municipal control of
health hazards. Even at last Christ
mas time the Bowery boy in eastern
camps went honfe n dNthrew the coal
from the tenement bath-tub because
he had been taught in the army to
take q body bath at least twice a
before each meal, and not to drink
out of a cup some n else had
used. The city and country boy went
home and distressed his good mother
by telling her hat her ice-box was
dirty. No more will these men sleep
in stuffy bedrooms to avoid catching
cold. And when these millions Of
home communities after the war,
they will surely be a strong force for
a responsible, able and we'll financed
municipal health department"
In these words Colonel Peter &C.
Field, chief surgeon Of the 9lst divi-
sion, Predicted the future results to
be expected as a result Of the prac-
in the national army. Colonel Field
was addressing the citizens of the
city of Tacoma on an efficient health
department. and urging cooperation
between the municipal and army
health officers in order to protect the
soldiers outside Of camp as we'll as in
camp.
Colonel Field characterized Camp
Lewis as a new community. halfway
between Tacoma and Olympia,
where your sons and brothers have
formed a new little city,
Perhaps you will admit that the
national army at Camp Lewis has
what is known. even to the Huns, a
wonderful spirit, or esprit lie corps.
We perhaps take ourselves too SER
iously. But, we. perhaps more than
you, know the business ahead and
every day teaches US that the more
preventable disease hat exists among
us, just to h a extent are we less fit
to represent you over there.
II have said that the spirit Of these
men from your homes is truly won
derful. 1t is so much >depeper than
the similar spirit in evidence in the
regular n national guard divisions
that it has been the subject of re-
port by inspectors. 1t is so true a
spirit of to do and die if Unnecessary,
that it is reported the war depart
ment looks TO the national army divi-
sions to provide the backbone of the
whole army Of the United States
which includes regulars and national
guard.
IF representatives Of Portland,
Olympia, Seattle and Tacoma could
be invisible spectators in my office
during the many daily interviews
with soldiers of the wild west divi-
sion who come to me with requests
to be released from quarantine in o.
der that. they nay go home to see a
dying wife, child or mother, these
representatives would go away with a
completely new point of view. And
If they could read the letters from
the dear ones and hear the state
ments Of these men to the effect that
both mother and sister or wife feel
that permission to go back to their
sick ones should be decided entirely
upon the basis of what is best for all.
When the mother or wife writes that
she is quite willing to die without
seeing her soldier boy if the best in
~terests of the country demand it. and
the soldier boy standing before me
with tears in his yes states that he
is ready to accept the decision that
releasing him from quarantine or
training is detrimental or dangerous
to a community or his country. then
it is that my spirit of resentment is
apt to rise against those in civil COM
munities who would decide the mat
ter of protection of soldiers upon the
basis of the almighty dollar or po-
litical expediency rather than upon
the demand for united effort of all
individuals and all communities for
the final victory"