Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-05-17


give alarming and exaggerated reports
of conditions surrounding the soldiers
family, that some member is desper-
ately i'll, that all are starving, or that
they are being in some way harassed.
In instances such letters have so
preyed upon the minds of soldiers that
they have absented themselves with
out leave to go home, only to find
that conditions had been grossly ex-
aggerated.
Meanwhile the soldier had been alb
sent without leave-a serious military
ofense. His problem then became
one of facing the penalty or getting
deeper into trouble by deserting. Some
times mans pride or fear has led
hir. 20 desert
Every soldier wants to receive let
ters from home. They should be fire.
quent, cheerful, hopeful, and appre-
ciative of the sacrifice that he is
making for his country. They should
be full of family incidents and cheer
full home gossip. They should pro-
tect him from the trifling alarms and
the small annoyances of everyday life.
They should encourage him by giving
full confidence that his family and his
friends stand behind him in the great
enterprise he has undertaken.
'The value of such letters to soldiers
is beyond estimate. The harm that
discouraging letters from home do to
him is clearly indicated by reports at
the adjustant generals office. Here
are some extracts from recent reports
of division commanders:
:" I find, also, that many of the FAM
lilies of the men write to them of un.
satisfactory conditions at home, sick.
ness of relatives, and how much va
rious members of the family wish to
see the soldier. These letters. SO far
as sickness, ETC., are concerned, are
| often overdrawn, but, combined with
| the hOmesick feeling often result in
and finally being dropped as a de-
serter'
at am now, through the newspa-
| pers of Indiana and through lecturers
in Kentucky, whom we are able to
reach through the Office of the adj
jutant general of that state, endeavor-
ing to advise the home people of these
men of the seriousness of these Of
fenses and that their efforts should be
to assist every man in performing tbs
duty that has devolved on him, to
tighten his worries, and, above all, to
regard desertion in its proper light.
I shall also attempt to get the West
Virginia papers to institute a CAM
paign of education along similar
lines
"a division inspector submitted the
following in this connection:
"fWhile stationed at Columbus bar
racks, Ohio, last year was member
of a general court-martial that tried
approximately 100 enlisted men for
desertion from National Guard regi.
ments stationed on the border. I be-
lieve / am safe in saying that at least
90 per cent of them gave as their ,rea
son for desertion the fact that they
had received letters from home to the
effect that a wife, sister, or mother
titue circumstances, and begged the
man to come home at once. Many Of
the men admitted that when they ar
rived home they found that the writel
of the letter had exaggerated condi
TONS
"Many young soldiers, fresh from
home, suffer from homesickness, NJ
matter how army officers may try tt
make their surroundings pleasant ant
comfortable and provide prope
amusements. Extraordinary meas
ures have been taken by the war de
partment during the past year to keel
the young soldier actively engages
while in camp with sports, amuse
, ments, and comforts that wholesom
psychology might be sustained. Still
a type of soldier will yearn for hoIn
and fall into a brooding mood. It i
obvious how harmful to him and t
the service a discontented letter from
home might be-"
The enrolment of more than 10000
: boys between sixteen and twenty-on
years of age for farm work this seasol
: in the boys working reserve of tn
United States employment service ha
, been made by six states, according +
| an announcement by the department o
: labor. The states first reporting were
California, $4,000; Indiana, 1S,845; I
linois, 25,000; Ohio, $4,000; Tennessee
: 4,200; Wisconsin, $4,000.
7 In Rhode Island high school boy
l are being enrolled In the reserve
i trained in handling farm machiner!
and sent in groups by automobile
: farmers to demonstrate their ability.
D Mems colleges and universities ar
i making prompt response to the RI
: quest of Secretary of Labor Wilso
s that their students be enrolled in th
t public service reserve and placed o
: farms this summer to assist in foo
production. They will be placed wit
d farmers through the United State
s employment service, with the aid {
/ the county agents of the departmer
of agriculture.
e Swimming is to be taught soldier
in some training camps this summt
5 as military requirement, accordir
n to the commission on training cam
It activities. A statement by the cor
: mission shows that 11S,000 soldiers
n camps participated in organized ba
IS ket ball last season.
% The allotment of meat purchas
g. for the army, navy, and marine corr
r. and the allies has been consolidate
.e in single bureau. with headquarte
in Chicago.
"a The Italian minister of agricultu
;r has decided to make obligatory Il
If cultivation Of certain staple fo'
crops in excess of the quantity fc
merly grown.
II During the spring the cultivate
rs Of potatoes, corn, and vegetables W
,e be increased at the expense of su