Evening star., 1940-09-15
All War, No Play DuIIs
Army, So Fun Will
Spice Draft Life
Uncle SONS New Morale
Division Will Provide
. Hostesses n Everything

The War Department Is develop
ing extensive plans to provide
wholesome recreation for conscripts
and National Guardsmen during
their year of military service.
In large Army posts there will
be Army hostesses, first-run Gin
emas, athletic programs, libraries
with well-stocked shelves, club
houses and organizations to pro-
mote social activities.
Subject to policies laid down by
the general staf1, the detailed plans
for recreational activities are now
being worked out by the newly
established morale division in the
Adjutant Generals Office. In shap-
ing the recreational program this
division will have the benefit of
lessons learned during the World
War, when 100000 civilians, in a
few months, were initiated into
Army life.
Progress of the war in Europe
War Department officials point out,
emphasizes the Importance of
morale, both in the armed forces
and in the population behind the
lines. The aim of the new division
is to keep the morale of the Army.
now being greatly expanded, at as
high a level as possible, and to
establish close cooperation between
each camp and neighboring COM
munities.
"Y" and "Caseys" to Cooperate.
During the World War the Y. M.
c. A., the Knights Of Columbus
and other organizations established
recreational and welfare centers at
Army camps. Under present plans.
the War Department, through the
morale division, will have entire
charge Of welfare work on mill
tary reservations. Other organiza-
tions will be free to establish recre-
ational facilities for the benefit of
soldiers, outside military reserva-
tions. The Red Cross will continue
its home service activities on Army
posts, rendering a valuable service
in keeping soldiers in touch with
their families.
AS in the World War. the Army
hostess will be familiar figure at
every large camp. After the demo-
biliza ton of the wartime armies. no
new Army hostesses were appointed.
At the present time only eight or
ten are still on the rolls. Each of
the larger camps will have a head
hostess and two assistants. One of
the assistants will have charge of
the cafeteria in the service club, the
other will direct the camps social
activities. They receive pay from the
Army, generally through post ex-
change funds.
Selection of hostesses will be made
by the morale division, or the COM
manding officers OF corps areas.
Where possible. hostesses will be
chosen who have a wide acouaint-
ance in the neighboring COM
munities.
Busy Job for. Hostess.
Hostesses Will chaperone mothers.
sisters, and soldiers sweethearts. ar
range dances and other social events,
and assist citizens in planning par
ties for enlisted men. The service
clubs will have overnight accommo-
dations to take care of mothers. and
other members of the family Of
soldiers seriously i'll in the camp
hospital
The War Department will place
particular stress on athletics. Some
athletic equipment will be made
available to National Guard units
called into service this month. Soft
ball, baseball, volley ball, boxing and
mass games will play an important
part in the athletic program Be-
cause of the expense of equipment,
football will probably be confined to
the organiza ton of teams represent
ing divisions or other large units.
As supervisors of athletics. the Army
will call to duty many reserve off,
GERS with experience as athletic
coaches OF schools and colleges or
other organizations.
As a morale builder, easing the
strain on a soldiers nerves, the
Army sets great store on motion
picture entertainment. There are
about 100 motion picture theaters
in Army posts today. and the num-
Der will be increased. The theaters
usually charge a 20-cent admis-
sion fee to soldiers and their FAM
lilies. BY buying a book of tickets
a soldier can spend an evening at
the movies for about IA cents.
Latest Films to Be Shown.
The latest films from Hollywood
will be shown. War Department
off1cials said the pictures will be
grade A or grade B films.
AS part of the welfare plans, the
camps will put on their own theat-
ricalS. Many of the best-known
stars of stage and screen have Of
fered their services in entertaining
at the camps. The program also in
cludes mass singing. and an Army
song book will probably be published
to encourage the soldiers of 1910
and 1941 to continue the Army's
long tradition of song
Plenty Of Good Books.
In each of the larger camps the
War Department will provide a IL
brary. containing about 5000 books.
carefully selected. The titles will
fiction, biography and his
tory. These libraries will also keep
on hand the latest magazines. In
addition to the camp libraries the
War Department will maintain a
number of smaller travelling Ii
braries. These will be shifted from
post to post, offering soldier read
ers a wider range of choice.
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