El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-01

more important than dollars, namely
I personal influence.
Splendid Personal Service Rendered.
The personal service, rendered by
I the men, and especially by the women
In all forms Of war activities is be-
2 -ond computation. And. even now
: when the war is over Tin the popular
I mind a large percentage Of tireless
{ wartime workers remain eon the Job. >
] realizing that the aftermath OF war
Z presents problems in readjustment
I that calls for as great, II not greater
} vision and service than was de-
I manded OF Us all in the days previous
I to the signing Of the armistice.
II this article were not concerned
[ with the presentation OF a specific
feature OF war time and after war
service, it would be profitable for
Z US 10 recount the many ways in which
our citizens might continue TO serve
through the agencies that gave TO
America the morale that was the
final determining factor in the win
ming OF the war
Morale Of Men Maintained.
One instance will suffice TO quicken
the imagination OF every patriotic
citizen Of Fl Paso. When America
entered the war il early became
evident that we must contribute to
our war weary allies, something more
than men and ordnance. Armies we
had 70 give If we were TO count at all
as the determining factor. Men by
ths millions we had 10 enlist, men
who had 10 be armed with all that
makes a modern fighting man. and in
addition according to secretary OF
war Baker. the men must be equipped
with the invisible armor" OF morale.
There might be delay in producing
the physical ordnance. but there was
no uncertainty as to how 20 produce
IT, II only needed orders from the
government and the great captains Of
Industry could be counted on to meet
every need OF the quartermaster and
ordnance departments
Invisible Armor" Provided.
But this order for the invisible
armOr" OF morale was something new
in the history OF the mobilization OF q
nation for war It was a matter that
called for swift decision and the Sc
lection Of men Of vision. conservation
and administrative ability. combined,
If the invisible armOr was to be
forged out Of the intangible forces Of
human nature. in time to be effective
IN cooperation with physical forces
being modified by the several de-
partments OF the army.
How Work Was Begun.
Failure here meant failure over
there The genius OF the men who
have directed Americas energies in
the great war was nowhere more in
evidence than in the organization Of
the war department commission on
training camp activities. This COM
headed by Mr.. Raymond B. /
Fosdick, promptly assigned TO the Y. |
IL c. a. Knights OF Columbus. Jew ]
ism Welfare board and the American I
Library association the task Of assist /
ing in the forging OF the invisible ar
NOR through the erection Of recre- [
ational halls and Libraries within the I
camps. To the Y ". c. A. was given I
the very important service OF the 1
hostess house where the loved ones
OF the soldier might meet him and I
where he could establish new ties OF
fellowship with women who would /
stand in the stead Of mother.
Work Outside OF Camp.
All this work was to be done with /
IN the camps But the soldier is not 1
always within the camp. It is not F.
wen that he should be. II is only hu- /
man that men should seek for relief I
and reaction from the monotOnous I
round OF camp duty and discipline and .
seek relaxation and recreation in the
nearest town adjoining camp, even
though that town be little more than
q crossroads village. Military com
have always feared the in
zluence Of the town on discipline and
morale. Experience justified them in
that fear. The soldier who served In
the Spanish American war paid a ter
-ible toll 20 the unregulated vice Of
The cities that were adjacent TO the
camps Of that war.
DemornIizfng Influence Overcome.
To overcome the demoralizfns in