Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/25

 Another situation arose when orders were opened and it w^as discovered that more than one-half of the men commissioned would have to go to France within a month.

Contrary to common reports, there were comparatively few men of large means in the Training Camps. The great majority, particularly among older men, w^ere men w^ho had made large financial sacrifices at great hazards both to themselves and families, and frequently these same men who were classified as the most capable leaders were absolutely dependent upon their salaries and the strictest economy to keep their families from disaster.

When these men and others who were w^ithout families, but who had no large reserve, read these orders, they did not see how they could comply with the regulations to report at the Port of Embarkation fully equipped. Some came to the Commandant's office to present their resignations. The situation w^as serious. These men must be provided w^ith money w^ithout the usual security and w^ithout any delay.

The responsibility of meeting this situation fell immediately upon the Association Board of Directors. The policy adopted at that time lies at the foundation of all subsequent success the organization may have had. It w^as proposed to loan $250 to applicants who w^ere ordered to foreign service and $75 to those ordered to home service — repayments to be made at the running rate of interest on the basis of $15 for Second Lieutenant, $20 for First Lieu- tenant, and $25 for Captain, per month, until paid. It was further agreed that the question of a man's financial condition or his personal standing should not be brought up, but that in every case possible where a man honorably stated that he needed the money for equipment, or for making emergency arrangements previous to such service, that the Board would grant him the amount.

In preparation for this loan, Maj. Albert A. Sprague, II, Capt. John A. Stevenson, Lt. James Hutchins, Jr., and Maj. J. W. E. Taylor interviewed Chicago banks and arranged with the Merchants Loan & Trust Company, Harris Trust & Savings Bank, First National Bank, Illinois Trust & Savings Bank and the Continental & Commercial National Bank for the necessary loans of $1 75,000. At the same time they arranged with Mr. J. J. Mitchell, president of the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank, and others, for the organization of a Citizens' Committee.

Upon their return to Fort Sheridan on the closing day of the camp, information was sent to the companies that these loans would be made.

More than one thousand men were in the line that asked for these loans, and the Board of Directors worked practically all night, so that the men could get their checks and take the trains to their homes for the brief period before they reported for duty.

On the last morning of the camp, the Association advanced to its mem- bers over $125,000 and helped many a man to go home with head up and heart stronger and purposes higher because he had been able to depend upon

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