Evening star., 1940-12-01

pictures and athletic contests formed
the bulwark of entertainment, in
which the Army was aided by the
Y. M C. A., the Knights of Colum-
bus. the Salvation Army and others.
World War entertainment, how
ever, and the personages it helped
to render famous-George M. Conan.
Irving Berlin, Harry Lauder. etc
constitute both vast and another
story.
Morale efforts did not stop with
the doughboys. The Creel commit
tee took up the fight on the civilian
side with a "gentleman's agree
ment'' censorship of the press,
propaganda through writing, speak
ing, singing, advertising. and in the
then infant but growing medium
the motion picture.
Probably every one who lived dur
ing the brave times" will remember
Mr.. George Creels four minute
men, who visited theaters, churches
and group meetings to deliver brief
talks on the war, counter harmful
rumors and give the latest news Of
Allies victories. Theirs was the
function now assumed by the radio.
After the war the Morale Di-
vision still had important work to
do during the let-down period OF
rehabilitation. Now the concern
was not to make men fighters but
to keep them as contented as possi-
BILE while they were being mentally
and physically rehabilitated into
normal civilian life.
Thrift in saving money and In
vesting in war risk insurance was
encouraged and great efforts were
made to counter the radical propa-
ganda which was pouring into the
country at this particular time.
All sorts of contests and games
were promulgated and prizes award
ed. One competition, which seems
quite amusing today, offered an
award to the company having the
most men who could repeat their
general orders in English.
Now, as the whole world perhaps
is again marching to war, the re-
organized Morale Division is study
ing all of these experiences of the
past, improving on the successful
experiments, discarding the others,
endeavoring to perfect morale as the
science it truly is.
Advances Are Seen.
Already advances and new meth
DDS of approach are apparent. No
longer will the Y. M. c. A. and the
other soldier welfare groups be
allowed inside the cantonments, but
encouraged to operate in the towns
and cities beyond their gates. AS
well, it is expected that the various
communities will provide wholesome
entertainments for Americas new
armies and consider the boys as
belonging in the communities, even
though they are in uniform"
Great stress will be laid upon the
motion picture and the radio. Two
theaters, holding 1,100 men each,
will be erected in all the major can
tonments and will show f1rst-run
movies-just so they are not a detri-
ment to morale building.
Borrowing a trick from Hitler's
vaunted army, the division is ar
ranging for a quantity of sound
trucks which, in addition to public
speaking work, will supply music
and radio programs to the men,
whether in camp or on the march.
1t Is reported that similar trucks
kept up with the Nazi invaders as
they swept through the Low Coun-
tries to Paris.
More than $4,000 has been dis
tributed through the corps areas
for recreat;onal purposes. Fort Ben
ming, Ga, for example, has already
a topnotch football team. Other
gymnasiums will eventually be con-
structed at all of the big encamp-
ments.
Development of the intellect Is to
be encouraged through libraries and
post newspapers. Hostesses at serv-
ice clubs will arrange for social
events and card games and brighten
the atmosphere Of the cafeterias.
There are endless possibilities
from which the division can choose.
It must merely remember that what
they advocate-they cannot COM
mand-must be good. and 1t must
make Pvt. John Glotz not merely
happy but aggressive, fierce and
courageous. -