Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 222, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1918 — “A HOMESICK BOY MAKES A POOR FIGHTER”—DANIELS [ARTICLE]

“A HOMESICK BOY MAKES A POOR FIGHTER”—DANIELS

Jndßanapohs, Sept 27.—Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels visited Soldier’s Recreation House No. 1 of the War Camp Camunity Service here recently. He -was much impressed by the work whch this organization is carrying on for the Commissions on Training Camp Activities of the War and Navy Departments, as exemplified in this house, and said: “It is a great work that the War Camp Community Service is doing, and I wish that every mother with a boy in the service could visit your wonderful club houses and see how the good people of the camp cities are working to give the men in uniform homes away from home. The exceedingly high moral condition of the navy and army, both at home and abroad, is the most convincing argument or testimonial of the practicality of the work being done by you and other civilian agencies. “A homesick boy makes a poor fighter, and his depression cannot fail to lower the morale of his comrades. The work which your organization is accomplishing, therefore, not only promotes the welfare of the individual soldier, but constitutes a vital part in building up the Government’s gteat war machine.” IA recent investigation of the causes of desertion among young soldiers,, made in the East, discloses the fact that in over 1,500 cases the young soldier had been led to quit the service because he was homesick. Just the desire to see the old folks and return to the scenes they knew and loved induced these men, who, after all, “are only boys grown tall,” to leave the army and risk severe pun-, ishment. ■ ______