South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-11
SEC'Y BAKER ORDERS
HARD-BOILED ARMY
TACTICS CUT OUT
Orders New Attitude 10 be
Taken Toward New
Recruits.

WASHINGTON, April ia new
departure in the treatment Of re-
cruits in the army is ordered by
Bec'y Of War Newton d. Baker. who
has started out 20 make the army
more human institution in the fu-
ture than 10 has been I'm the past.
In a remarkable letter 20 Gen.
Peytou C. March chief OF staff
Eec'y Baker directs that recruits
shall be treated more humaueIy
and sympathetiCally. He declares in
this letter that 10 IS "a matter Of
wisdom and good sense 20 surround
the initial experiences Of these young
men with such precautionary meas
Ores as will preclude the possibility
OF their being unnecessarily severe
Recognize Human Element.
The letter continues.
The treatment OF the new soldier
must be based on the human ele-
ment much more than has been the
case I'm the past. We have given
our pledge that the new army shall
BE a really democratic institution.
not a thing apart from the people
but essentially "A part OF the people.
b. and for whom IL exists, and 10 is
incumbent upon every officer and
nOn-commissiOncd officer OF the
service 20 do his utmost 10 bring
This about. not only in drill and
discipline but also in human interest
and sympathy for the thoughts and
feelings OF the young civilian who
6ons our uniform.
Recruits should be invariably met
o. the station, no matter what the
hour. by a representative. prefcra bly,
Hrr n
izatiOn 20 which they are assigned.
If assignment to organizat ion has
not yet been made they should be
met by n representative. preferably
a commissioned officer. OF the COM
manding officer. Previous notice OF
their arrival having been received a
hot meal should he prepared and
waiting for them. this without re-
gard % the hour Of their arrival.
Youth Invariably Hungry.
Young men are invariably hun
gry. and there is no better first i'm
preston 10 be given than that Of
the thought that provides this first
Essential 20 comfort. They should
then. If not assigned. he assigned as
promptly as may be and not left in
the peculiarly homeless and fOrlOrn
condition Of unassigned recruits at
camp and rcgimental headquarters.
They should be conducted to their
town organization and be given an
opportunity TO dispose Of their eff
feCts, settle themselves in their new
quarters and secure n good nights
rest They should then be person
ally interviewed. collectively by the
organization commander and given
q talk which viii convey TO them
the feeling that they have reached
their military home; that though
under discipline and subject TO or
ders they are nevertheless among
and under friends and members OF
the same honorable profession.
They must be informed that their
organization commander and other
officers of the organization are ac-
Cessible to them and desire TO aid
them in the solution of not only
their military problems but their
personal ones. as well. and that 10
the good soldier everything is pos
sible
About the stern Behavior.
mo greater mistake can be made
ct this initial interview than 10
adopt an austere or unapproachable
or bullying tone with threats of dire
punishment for military misdc-
meanors. as yet unknown to the re-
cruit even by name. Tt must be
borne i'm mind that the recruit is
as yet undisciplined and that it Will