The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-25
SOLDIERS BEGIN TO
GET DELAYED PAY
Disbursements on Affidavits
Said to Be Made at Platts-
burg Camp.
MEN AHEAD OF PAPERS
Red Cross Home Service Offers
Help to Bridge Over
Financial Gaps.

According to an unofficial report, the
payment upon affidsvit OF soldiers
whose pay or family allotments, or
both, have been in arrears because
their service papers have not kept up
with them in their transfers, already
has begun at Piattsburg camp and
elsewhere. Rumors that this short cut
through army paper work was to have
official sanction and to be general
have been frequent of late.
An officer Of one Of the national war
work organizations estimated yester-
day that of the wounded sent homo
from France possibly 30 per cent. have
not yet received their pay for the last
few months. The War Department an
nounced last week that in these cases,
on making affidAvits, the men were to
have enough Of what is owing them to
cover the expenses of their Christmas
furloughs. Such partial payments
were made at the base hospital in the
old Greenhut store on Sixth avenue.
The wounded men, 1t Is said, have
simply outstripped their papers while
being transferred from hospital to hos
pital and across the Atlantic. But they
form a small percentage OF those af-
fected by delays. Men whose transfers
from one camp to another in this
country have been comparatively re-
cent are being mustered out not only
with Jobs to find but minus the money
they earned in khaki. TO Swing them
around" as the phrase is. until some
body's pay roll welcomes them.
Many With Pay Held Up.
The same authority who made the
calculation about the wounded thought
the percentage of all the non-wounded
whose pay is held up could not be
more than or 10 per cent. But II is
pointed out that or 10 per cent.
forms a considerable number of men,
especially when reckoned in terms of
units.
The average time OF the arrears of
pay is said to be four months. The
navy has been practically free from
such arrears, Men in both services
who know conditions say this is owing
10 the navy having the better system.
The soldiers semi official and tireless
friend Is the American Red Cross.
Having tried and failed to get atten-
ton through the army the nearest
Red Cross Home Service Section sta
ton is the place for him TO go or for
his relatives TO go. Every chapter has
a station. There are 1000 in the coun-
| try. The Red Cross has been an
rouncing this for a long time,
AS tho soldier sees II there are
roughly three classes OF men who have
back pay coming. The first are made
up of those still in the army where
there is no family allotment deducted
and the man himself is the only per-
son In difficulties. These cases are
relatively few, and many of them
right themselves in time II the soldier
| Is patient and remains in the army
long enough. He can report his
trouble to his company clerk, who will
get il traced,
The second class Is composed II men
I from whose pay no allotment was TO
/ be deducted, but who have been mus
tered out OF the army before their
papers were traced.
The third consists OF men still in the
army with both family allotments and
sheir own modest pay held up.
Red Cross Offers Help.
| The trouble seems 70 be that the
mans service papers are either de-
I 10 hn
thing can be done with reasonable
promptness. II the papers are lost
the next move officially provided is to
apply to Washington for new papers.
! ~ the headquarters OF the Atlantic
| Division, American Red Cross. it was
said the Home Service Relief is hridg-
! ing over Of the financial gaps for many
soldiers who apply.
! The Red Cross booklet, When You
Get Home" a copy OF which goes to
every soldier, contains this paragraph
on How to Apply for Arrears OF Pay"
Ordinarily each returning soldier
will be paid in full upon discharge. If
YOU have good reason to believe you
have been underpaid, consult the Homo
Service Section. There you will be
advised how 10 apply to the Govern
mont for further moneys. 1t is un-
necessary IN retain a claim agent or
, attorney to file your claim for YOU"
Henry Bruere, director Of the United
States Employment Service Of this
state, said yesterday that il the delay
OF soldiers pay is assuming serious
proportions there Is no question that
the fourteen war work agencies CO.
operating with the Employment Ser
vice Will make a concerted endeavor
TO get prompt action in Washington
These agencies are the War Camp
Community Service, the knights Of
Columbus, the National Catholic War
Council. the National League for
Women's Service. the Jewish Welfare
Board, the Mayors Committee. the
Board OF Education, the Y, NJ c. A.,
the Y. w. c. A. the draft boards. the
National Security League. the Saliva
ton Army. the Federation of Churches