Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 151, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1918 — “WAR BRIDES” DUPE SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

“WAR BRIDES” DUPE SOLDIERS

Women Fortune Hunters Arrested for Having More Husbands Than Law Allows. San Diego, Cal. —Almost since the United States entered the war soldiers have been victims of women fortune hunters. Girls at various camps are being arrested charged with having an over quota of soldier husbands, and in every case the question of insurance was the motive. This city has been no exception to the rule, and with the thousands of soldiers and sailors in training at the camps near by federal officials are always on the alert, and as a result two girls are under arrest. They gave their names as Miss Mae Smith and Mrs. Elsie Byrnes, and both are pretty. They were caught in the act of mailing about 20 letters to sailors and soldiers asking for money for clothes and traveling expenses. In every letter written by the girts whs the phrase: “I wish you oceans of love with a kiss on the top of every wave.” The girls also received 18 letters from ardent lovers and each letter contained money.