New Britain herald., 1919-02-24
HEIR BIT
Wing GERMANS
n America Give More
Nan Proportionate Quota

4ew York, Feb. 24.-That the Jews
sAmerica, have contributed more
Nall their proportionate quota to the
Mi1aed forces of the United States in
4he war is shown in the official WAR
kRecord of American Jews which has
hJhst been issued by the American
NSJeWish Committee. through It's Office
of War Records at 81 Union Square.
While the report does not pretend
to be a complete record Of the actlV-
tiles of all Jews who responded to
THE call of their country 1t is Suffi-
GENTLY comprehensive to Indicate the
Important part that they played. The
total number of Jews in the military
and naval service of the United States
is estimated at from 10000 to 300
600. or from -Four to five per cent. OF
the total personnel of the American
forces at the time the armistice was
signed. The Jewish element in the
general population Of United States
is about three per cent. The Jews Of
America have therefore. according to
these figures. contributed at least
one-tIird more than their proportions
ate share.
This excess is explained by the
presence Of about 10000 Jewish VOL
unteers in the service. Other con-
tributing factors were to be found in
the more effective operation Of the
draft system in the thickly populated
urban centers Of the north and east
which happen also to be the centers
Of Jewish population, and in fact
that the majority Of exemptions on
industrial grounds were chiefly in
agriculture, mining and in the metal
industries, where Jews are not eX-
tensively employed.
The files Of the office of Jewish War
Records already contain over 100 900
individual records, of which about
$4,000 have been minutely classified
and tabulated. The number of Jew
ish commissioned officers so far re-
corded include 5,162 in the amy. 206
in the navy and 40 in the marine
corps It is proba BILE, however, that
these numbers will be more than
doubled when the record will finally
be completed. The highest rank
reached by Jews is that of briga der
general in the army and marine corps
and rear admiral in the navy.
The readiness of American Jews to
fight for their country is shown by
the fact that - per cent of those in
the army were in the combat branch
cS. Wnlle III the army as d WnOle only
about so per cent. were in these
branches. Their Casua tiles Mount to
about 10000. of whom probably 1000
were killed in action. Other evidence
Of the quality OF their courage is
found in the long list of citations for
valor furnished in the report and in
the testimony Of commanding officers
like General Bell, Lieut.. Col. Whittle-
sey and Captain Harrigan who train
ed the Jewish recruits in camp or led
them in action.
From information now at hand,
concludes the report, which is signed
by Julian T1oavitt, the director, ut has
become apparent that the record Of
Jewish war service, when fully. de-
velCped, will demonstrate conclusive
ly that the same qualities which en-
abled the Jew to survive through the
centuries--his capacity to endure,
without breaking, prolonged and in
tense nerve strain: his initiative, his
elasticity of mind, his ia Guilty for or
ganzation, and above all his ideal
ism have also enabled him to fit him
self successfully into democratic
army fighting for word dem ocracN.