OCR Text |
Show AMUSEMENT FOR THE ARMY. Hoped to Prevent Desertions and Console Con-sole Soldiers for Loss of Canteen. Amusement halls are to be provided pro-vided for the soldiers of the army at the cost of the government, says the Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia Record, to replace in part the advantages taken from them by the abolishment of the canteen two years ago, the privileges of which have been sorely missed by th troopers. troop-ers. If the records for desertion and petty offences are compared this year with those of last year, it would appear ap-pear as if the abolition of the canteen had other than a wholesome effect upon the morals of the service. Last session, in oroer to provide) reading rooms, gymnasiums and recreation rec-reation halls which the profit of the canteen allowed, Congress authorized an appropriation of half a million dollars dol-lars to establish amusement halls at the army posts throughout the country, coun-try, and a board of o.'Iicers will shortly short-ly be appointed to visit the various posts. In many cases it will be necessary neces-sary to erect a special building for this purpose. At other places it will be possible to utilize buildings already In existence. The abolition of the canteen feature of the post exchange materially reduced re-duced the revenue from that source, and it has become necessary for the government to provido some means of entertaining the soldiers when they are off duty. |