Military Men Stumped by Acts of Mennonites

1917

Associated Press Telegram

Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio, Nov. 1. — Officers at Camp Sherman were further perplexed today when another delegation of Amish Mennonites joined the ranks of rebelling conscientious objectors and refused to obey orders.

Thirty of the fifty recently transferred to non-combatant service at the base hospital now are in open rebellion and there are prospects the strike will include the whole number of the religious sect. Efforts to give them some task at which they can not object have proved of no avail.

Although most are excellent judges of livestock, they refuse to do work about the remount station because it is part of the military camp. They were questioned as to what they would like to do and to find if there was something at which they could raise no objection but that did not solve the problem.

"What would you do if you saw that women were forced to walk about the hospital in mud?" was one of the questions put to them by an officer.

"Build walks," was the reply; so they were to start building walks about camp. But they rebelled, declaring that the walks would be used by soldiers. Anything a part of Camp Sherman or having to do in the slightest way with the men of Camp Sherman is disapproved and they have openly and successfully evaded all tasks. Guard house confinement was given up when it brought no results. Other punishment is of no avail. The men likewise have refused to permit their beards to be cut or to shave. It is contrary to one of their religious beliefs to shave. So far as officers here know, the thirty now on strike are the first to balk military rule in war times, and "get away with it" as officers frankly admit the Mennonites are doing.