January 10th, 1918.

Hon. Newton D. Baker,
Secretary of War,
Washington, D.C.

My dear Mr. Secretary:-

It seems to be practically impossible to get either action or information from the Commissioner of Military and Naval Insurance. One of the most intelligent and patriotic men in the State said to me a few minutes ago that he did believed that this officer was a myth, as he had never heard of any one getting an answer to any letters or telegrams, nor had he been able to learn where a single dollar had ever been sent to North Carolina although we have over thirty thousand men in the camps.

To be specific:- On the 23rd day of October 1917, the Adjutant at Camp Lee, Petersburg, Virginia, was notified that Robt. W. Rhodes, serial number 3049, from Norfolk County, Va., had a dependent mother, a dependent sister thirteen years of age, and a bed ridden step father, all in the most destitute circumstances and wanting and deserving an allotment of a portion of the soldier’s wages and the additional allowances made by the Governor. On the 31st day of October the Capt. of Company E., 318th Infantry, in which company Private R. W. Rhodes serves, wrote to the Chairman of the Local Exemption Board at Columbia, N.C., as follows:-

“In reply to your letter of October 23rd, I wish to say that this soldier has made an allotment which will be taken out of his November pay and will be sent to his mother by the Government.”

On November 26th, 1917, the Chairman of the Local Board wrote to the Commissioner of Military and Naval Insurance in regard to this matter and he has received no reply of any kind nor has the mother received any portion of her son’s wages nor any allowance from the Government.

This case is not exceptional but is typical of the hundreds of letters that are being received in this office in regard to dependents of soldiers in camp. Women and children are suffering because the allowances made by the Government are not reaching them and I deem it my duty to you to call your attention to this state of affairs.

With much respect, I beg to remain,

Your obedient servant,

[unsigned]

B_G