The Maccabaean

AN unwritten law of the American Army is that religion should not be discussed by the enlisted men. A corporal gave me this information during the short rest between drill upon the hot parade ground of Cuartel Meisic in Manila. Somebody had made a so-called funny remark about Jews and I had hotly resented it. This action on my part was foolish, as far as the place was concerned, for military discipline is rigorous. Then it was that the veteran smoothed the matter over with that remark mentioned above.

Nevertheless, the custom is frequently violated. I rarely hear arguments between the different Christian denominations, but the Jewish question is discussed more than once and I have to stand the brunt of it. The men of my Company come from all parts of the United States. All of them have the idea that the Jew or "Sheenie," is a pawn-broker or clothing-dealer, and a cheat at all times. I heard some of their experiences; they were bad, of course, but the few cases ought not to reflect on the whole race.

The cook, who had treated me loyally from the day I joined the Company, was at outs with me for months on account of an answer I had given him. He had made all kinds of remarks about Jews when I warned him that I might say something that he would not like to hear. He did not stop and I replied: "Jesus Christ was, according to the belief of the Jewish rulers an anarchist and had to be executed to preserve the order of the state." This answer made the cook raging mad. That night I had to explain to a corona of interested men the meaning of my words. I impressed upon them at least two facts: That I would not stand any insults to Jews and that I did not enlist with the expectation of fleecing my comrades in games of chance or with the

hope and intention that I would become disabled in service in order to receive a pension.

I get along well with my comrades, for in the army a man is a man. The time, however, when I show a hot temper is when the Jew is under discussion. Life is so lonely here, news from the States reaches us so seldom, places of recreation are only of the low order of saloons and houses of ill-fame, that a soldier cannot enter the society that suits his more refined taste, and he is compelled to keep that in which he is thrown. The minds needs refreshing by discussion or he becomes stupified.

The Jews in the Philippine Islands can be eounted; they are not a credit to our race. I therefore do not make their acquaintance. I walk often about the town or sit meditating in a steamer-chair. But if anybody imagines that this dolce far- niente is a pleasant life for an active mind, he is mistaken.

I would have subscribed to THE MACCABAEAN long ago were it not for the fact that magazines sent to soldiers in the Philippine Islands are easily miscarried. For instance, newspapers my father had sent from Germany did not reach me, and other mail matter was lost. The reason for such failures is perfectly clear to me, but I do not care to discuss it here.

A Chicago friend sent me the July number of THE MACCABAEAN. I devoured the contents. They braced me up wonderfully, for I could see how energetically men and women of our glorious nation strive to carry our cause to victory. One editorial recommendation struck me forcibly; every town in which a Zionist society is, should report matters bearing on Zionism in that town or section of country. I noticed that New Orleans had Zionists. Let me ask