Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-05-09
nrscOuRArINC LETTERS CAUSE
DISSECTION FROM ARMY
LIFE.

Z y 4
In recent statement the War De-
partment strongly advises against
discouraging letters to soldiers:
"Recent reports from commanding
generals of certain Army divisions in
dictate that one of the fruitful causes
Of soldiers absenting themselves with
out leave is the discouraging letters
from home. Such letters frequently
give alarming and exaggerated re-
ports Of conditions surrounding the
soldiers family that some member is
desperately 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 sol
diers that they have absented them
selves without leave to go home, only
to find that conditions had been gross
ly exaggerated.
Meanwhile, the soldier had been
absent without leave-a serious mill
tary offense. His problem then be-
came one of facing the penalty or get
ting deeper into trouble by DESERVING.
Sometimes a mans pride or fear has
led him to desert.
"Every soldier wants to receive let
tiers from home. They should be
frequent, cheerful, hopeful and ap-
preciative 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 the 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 under
taken.
''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 -Adjutant Generals Office. Hers
are some extracts from recent. re-
ports of division commanders:
"T find, also, that many Of the
families of the men write to them of
unsatisfactory conditions at home,
sickness of relatives, and how much
various 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 re-
suit in the man going absent without
leave and finally being dropped as
deserter.
"T am now, through the newspa-
pers of Indiana and through lecturers
in Kentucky. whom we are able to
reach through the office of the adult
ant general of that State, endeavoring
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
the 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 best Virginia papers to institute
campaign of education along similar
lines
"A division inspector submitted the
following in this connection:
While stationed at Columbus
Barracks. Ohio, last year was
member of general court martial
that tried approximately 100 enlisted
men for desertion from National
Guard regiments stationed on the
border. ] believe I am safe in say
inc that at least 90 per cent of them
rave as their reason for desertion the
fact that they had received letters
from home to the effect that wife,
sister or mother was either dying,
verv i'll, or in destitute circumstances,
an begged the man to come HON. at
once. MANY Of the men admitted
that when they arrived home they
found that the writer of the latter
had exaggerated conditions.
"Many Young soldiers. fresh from
home. suffer from inconsistencies. no
matter how army officers may try to
make their surroundings pleasant and
comfortable and provide proper
amusements. Extraordinary meas
ures have been taken by the War De-,
partment during the past year to keep
the young soldier actively engaged
while in camp with sports, amusements
and comforts that wholesome psy-
chology might be sustained. Still,
type of soldier will yearn for home
and fall into a. brooding mood. It is
obvious how harmful 70 him and IN