The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-04-22

War Making Christians
OF Our Armies Abroad
Ancient Theory That War
Brutslizes Is Shattered
Demand for Bibles by
Soldiers Unprecedented

Demand for Bibles by
Soldiers Unprecedented
D. RAy TUCKER
WASHINGTON Brighter
General William r. Arnold. CHIEF
q chaplains Of the army. has re-
ceived voiuminous reports from
the Philippines which suggest
that war may make good Chris
tians Of men instead Of brutsliz-
ing them. In all his files per-
haps the best evidence Of
soldiers reaction 10 the scream
ing. falling shadows Of death 10
the human experience Of Lieut.
Col. Warren Clear on Bataan.
The colonel. who Was never a
habituai churchgoer ieaped into
q fox hole In the midst Of an
intense bomhardment from the
skies. A sergeant squeezed over
to make room. When explosions
opened the earth and ripped
trees roundabout, the noncom
prayed aloud without any shame.
Soon words forgotten since
childhood came TO the officers
lips a. ne echoed his compsn-
Ions beseechings for divine
watchfulness. After the enemy
planes had passed over. Clear
remarked more TO himself than
10 his companion: I'VE prayed :"
Yea replied the other quite
casually. I'VE did. There are
no atheists in the fox holes Of
Bataan-"
In another engagement q
Catholic priest saved the regi-
mental commanders life. The
latter expressed his gratitude.
Father" he said. IF I can ever
do anything for you. just ask IL"
MY son." replied the padre.
you can make me happy by 60
ing to mass every Sunday"
Clear says that he 10 taking that
advice. When my wife kissed
me goodbye a. sailed for
Manila" he tells friends. she
kissed an atheist. Now she has
q believer for . husband
Doughboys at home and
abroad are begging their par
ents for cigarets. spending
money and letters, but their
next hunger appears TO be for
Bibles. The demand from troops
overseas exceeds requests from
those stationed In this country.
hut the extent Of domestic re-
euirements il surprising.
A cleric who Travelled 1000
miles through the Philippines IN
January and March reported to
General Arnold: "our supply Of
scriptures has long since gone.
and hundreds OF the boys are
begEing for the Bible. The Holy
Book 10 being read here as
have never seen II read before
The same minister told how he
had observed soldiers with a re-
legious document In one hand
and q Carand rifle in the other.
Another reverend said the troops
were eager for sermons and
services. but that they wanted
TO hear about the humble, simple.
old-time religion. Our A.E.F.
may not return a. members Of
any formal sect. according TO
other communicates. but they
may come back better Chris
tians than they were when they
left.
The sacred writings 10 far dis
tributed have heen donated by
private groups. but the army II
printing q vast number for every
soldier who elects to receive
one-the Old Testament and col
lateral studies for Jews, the
King james translation for
Protestants. . collection Of pas
sages based on the Douay ver-
sion and prayer books for Catho-
lies. All three volumes were pass
cd on by appropriate church
groups before selection and pub
location. And the quartermsster
general ID cooperating with
CASPIAN Arnold by seeing that
newly ordered biouses have
pockets large enough To con-
tain the Lords word.
No announcement ever provok-
ed such childiike enthusiasm
among corpulent beldins heroes
rs news that an army specialist
corp would be formed under the
leadership Of ex-war Secretary
and ex-tennis star Dwight E.
Davis. But the candidates for
this civilian Foreign Legion"
should keep on their shirts and
their wigs for = while.
The novel organization has not
yet gone over the top. The sen
ate restored the 5000. 900 dol
lar appropriation which the
house threw out piqued that
this semi-militzry outfit Was
created by executive order and
not by legislation. Probably the
lower chamber will bow to the
senate action. but there will be
q fight In conference. Since the
maximum personnel at the start
viii be only six thousand. petiti-
TONERS will have difficulty in
making the grade. And for some
reason the administration de-
mands that every man be nomi-
mated by the president and con-