Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1917 — “Socks For Soldiers.” [ARTICLE]

“Socks For Soldiers.”

Our war department, the National Council of Defense and the State Council of Defense have spent a great deal of time and money investigating and observing the various experiences and needs of the soldiers now in the field of battle. Among the more important things developed is the fact that one of the most terrible conditions of the war is the “trench feet” of the soldiers, caused by badly fitting and badly dyed socks. In many cases blood poisoning resulted The soldiers spend their time in trenches often in water to thier shoe tops or above. This situation is surely bad enough during the summer, but in the winter season it is unbearable. With this knowledge, a number of Indiana women, with the co-operation of the State Council of Defense, are working wit hthe sole object of furnishing wool and knitting socks to be ready for the first Indiana regiment to be called. To facilitate this work the state has been divided into fifteen districts, with Indianapolis as state headquarters. Each district, composed of several counties, has its center, or local headquarters. Our district consists of Porter, Lake, Newton, Pulaski and Jasper counties, with Rensselaer as headquarters. All supplies are sent here to be distributed throughout the counties of this section and the local committees will meet here. Mrs. Ora T. Ross, who is secretary of the local Council of Defense, has charge of the supplies for this section and wool and needles can be secured from her at the Navy League room. This work is .quite distinct from that of the Red' Cross or The Navy League and does not conflict with theirs in any way; in fact, it has their heartiest co-operation. This is an knit socks for Indiana soldiers. Many of our men and boys who are neighbors an<T friends will go from this state to take an active part on the firing line in France and we want to make them as comfortable as possible.

Many times people question the wisdom of knitting socks by hand when machine-made ones could be more easily secured. Machine made socks are of poor grade wool and because of the mechanism of the machinery the wool is dragged by weights until it loses its elasticity. Machine-knitted socks last only onethird as long as hand-made ones and are not nearly so comfortable or so easy on the feet. The .women of Indiana propose to furnish 4,000 pairs of socks by September Ist. These socks will be perfect, without seams or knots. The yarn has been boiled before making up and each pair of finished socks will be inspected. The directions given must be followed carefully and experienced knitters are particularly desired to do this work. There now remain seven weeks until September first and Jasper county’s quota of 70 pairs of socks should be.ready by that time. The wool and needles are ready. Let the knitters come to the front!