Evening journal., 1918-10-30
ALIEN DRAFTEES TO
BE TAUGHT ENGLISH
Americanization Plan to be
Carried Out With Pros
pective Soldiers
WORK WILL START
FRIDAY NIGHT

/ leacnlng men or Delaware In the draft
who cannot speak English well-Amer-
lcanizing them-win be put into prao-
teal operation in this city on Friday
night, when Polish, Italian, Russian,
Greek and representatives Of other alien
nationalities, will meet In the court
room OF the Federal Building, for pre-
limlnary organization.
The men are drawn from Class ( and
Glass s. in the draft. and there are up
wards Of GOO OF them. While there is a
scattering Of nations, the vast majority
are OF Polish and Italian parentage.
This work undertaken by the Ameri-
canization Committee Of the state
Council Of Defense. has the authorize
tion Of the provost marshal generals or
ilce at Washington and his representa-
tive here, John j. Satterthwait head Of
the Board OF Instruction Of the Selective
Draft system for this State.
The program Of instruction that has
been selected. Is one that has been adop-
ted for draft men by the provost mar
shal generals ofilce, and is so simple
that It is believed there viii be little
diflculty In the foreign speaking draf-
tees understanding.
In order 10 insure the attendance Of
the draftee who cannot speak English
we'll. the State Council Of Defense Com
mittee, obtained from the draft boards.
lists Of all those who are aliens. and
who are in Glass I and those who are
in deferred classification because of
their alienship.
To all Of these the following letter
was sent informing them Of the meet
ing Friday night
Dear Sir: The Provost Marshal
General at Washington has requested
that men who do not speak English
well. and who are drafted or likely 10
be drafted into our n7fionsl army.
shall learn English before they 80 20
camp.
The Delaware state Council Of De-
fense and the Board OF Instruction
therefore request you 10 attend a meet
ing at the Federal Court room, second
floor, postofiice building. on Friday, No
vember T. at s O'Clock. This meeting
is for the purpose Of organizing men
who do not speak English into classes
for instruction in military English be
fore going 10 camp. olu are urged 90
be present in order that YOU may be
assigned 10 a class"
This letter was signed by both the
director Of the State Council OF De
Tense and chairman of the Board OF
instruction
Supplementing this letter the chair
man Of the four drsft boards Of vii
mington have indorsed the Americaniza-
tion movement and the draftees are to-
day receiveing a second letter. urging
them TO attend this meeting.
10 IS proposed to arrange the men
into classes and establish Schools as
convenient TO their homes as possible
The public schools Of the city viii be
utilized and also the L. s. Employment
headquarters. al Sixth and King streets.
Male teachers will be empolyed and the
Polish and Italian leaders Of the city
are cooperating with the state Defense
Council I'm obtaining suitable instruc-
tors.
The aid of skilled instructors in the
foreign languages named have been
promised from the military canton
ments adjacent Camp Dix will send
some. and so VIII Camp Upton. New
York. when the classes have been or
ganized.
Officials Of the cantonments and the
provost marshal generals office are
very desirous Of furthering the work
as speedily as possible. because itl
means a quicker induction into units |
going overseas for the foreign born n |
they understand English.
No one in the State Is more interested |
in the Americanization work than Gov !
ernor Townsend. and he is giving it his
heartiest cooperation.