The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1918-05-16


generals Of certain army divisions In
dicate that one Of the fruitful causes
Of soldiers absenting themselves with
out leave Ii the discouraging letter
from home. Such letters frequently
give alarming and exaggerated reports
Of conditions surrounding the soldiers
family, that some member Is desper.
ately Ill, that all are starving, or that
they are being in some way harassed.
In instances such letters have %
preyed upon the minds Of soldiers that
they have absented themselves with
out leave to 60 home, only to nnd
that conditions had been grossly sx-
aggerated.
Meanwhile the soldier had been alb
offense. His problem then became
one Of facing the penalty or getting
deeper into trouble by deserving. Some
times q mans pride or fear has led
him to desert.
Every soldier wants to receive let
tiers from home. They should be ire
quent. cheerful. hopeful, and apprs-
ciative of the sacrifice that he n
making for his country. They should
be full of family incidents and cheer
full home gossip. They should pro-
| tect him from the trifiing 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.
1.-THE value Of such letters to soldiers
IL beyond estimate. The harm that
Encouraging letters from home do to
him is clearly indicated by reports at
the adjustant generals ONCE. Here
are some extracts from recent reports
Of division commanders:
"T 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, 90 FAR
as sickness, ETC., are concerned. are
often overdrawn, but, combined with
the homesick feeling. often result In
the man going absent without leave
and finally being dropped az q Do
segter.'
81 am now, through the newspa-
pers Of Indiana and through lecturers
h Kentucky, whom we are able to
reach through the ONCE Of the ad-
, 3utant general Of that state. endeavor-
Ing to advise the home people Of these
men Of the seriousness Of these Of.
lenses and that their efforts should be
Do assist every man In performing tha
: duty that has dsvolved ON him, ID
i tighten his worries. and. above all. b
| regard desertion In its proper light
, shall also attempt 10 get the WEES
Virginia papers to institute a cam
paign Of education along similar
lines.'
"A division inspector submitted the
following In this connection:
"'while stationed at Columbus bar
. racks, Ohio. last year was member
1 Of a general court-martial that tried
e approximately 100 enlisted men fol
n desertion from National Guard regi
d ments stationed ON the border. be
/ lisve / am safe In saying that at leasl
90 per cent of them gave a. their rea
: son for dessrtion the fact that they
had received letters from home to tn
n effect that o wife. sister. or mothss
! was either dying. very iii, or In dss
" tfSus circumstances, and begged tn
e man to come home at once. Many q
Il the men admitted that when they ar
: rived home they found that the writes
!. Of the letter had exaggerated condi
lions.
e MANY young soldiers, fresh iron
home, suffer from Inconsistencies, n
n matter how army oflcsrs may try b
le make their surroundings pleasant ana
y comfortable and provide props
IL amusements. Extraordinary meas
= urss have been taken BY the war de
i partment during the past year to kesI
/. the young soldier actively engages
l. while In camp with sports. amuss
ments, and comforts that wholesome
psychology might be sustained. Stu
n q. type Of soldier win yearn for hom
and fall into brooding mood. It 1
o obvious how harmful to him and b
| kW8 boENtC0 uAbcUutoutSu lwttUE IEVA
home might be-"
ID The enrolment Of more than 102, 90
ID boys between sixteen and twenty-on
Is pears of age for farm work this seasc
e IN the boys working reserve Of tn
y United States employment service ha
: been made By six states. according :
N IN announcement BY the department Q
Is labor. The states first reporting were
A. California. 1900; Indiana. 1S.845; \
linois, $4,000; Ohio. $4,000; Tennessee
TO 400; Wisconsin, $4,000.
le In Rhode Island high school boy
= are being enrolled In the reserv,
II trained in handling farm machiner,
At and sent In groups by automobile I
he farmers to demonstrate their ability.
n Mems colleges and universities a
/ making prompt response to the n
II quest Of Secretary Of Labor Wilso
a. that their students be enrolled In th
~ public service reserve and placed .