11. Secret Military History

1910-0625, the Mann Act, the White-Slave Traffic Act, or the Blackmail Act.
Foreign women were eager to come to the USA. Farm girls love big cities. Their only skill was sex. They eagerly engaged in prostitution. Hookers were everywhere streets, cabs, bars and hotels. This was a causing a problem.
The 510-page book came out one year prior to the Mann Act. This is the introduction:
A complete and detailed account of the shameless traffic in young girls, the methods by which the procurers and panderers lure innocent young girls away from home and sell them to keepers of dives. The magnitude of the organization and its workings. How to combat this hideous monster. How to SAVE YOUR GIRL. How to SAVE YOUR BOY. What you can do to help wipe out this curse of humanity a book designed to awaken the sleeping and protect the innocent.
This is the Dedication: To the Army of loyal workers who, in the name of God and humanity, have enlisted in this Holy War for the safety and purity of womanhood. Stronger than dark the light. Stronger than wrong the right.
He was not concerned with brothels; he saw ice cream parlors and fruit stands as the source of girls for prostitution.
Not mentioned in the book, it was written by the DA in Las Angeles.
Organized prostitution, brothels and red-light-districts were closed within four years of this book’s publication.
Mann Act made it illegal to: Engage in interstate or foreign commerce transport of any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or *any other immoral purpose*.
Stopping White Slavery was the primary reason of the Mann Act.
There were only a few charges brought and they had more to do with adultery.
The NYT came out against the Mann Act, how the act led to extortion. The paper labeled the Mann Act "The Blackmail Act.".
*Debauchery: Catering to someone’s every desire in sensual pleasures; scandalous activities involving sex, alcohol and drugs without inhibition. In 1986, the phrase, “any other immoral purpose” changed to “any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense.”

1914-0628, Religion, the Sailor’s Prayer:
"Dear Lord, I’m just a sailor. A protector of our land. A servant called to battle when my country takes a stand. I pray for strength and courage and a heart that will forgive. For peace and understanding in a world for all to live. My family’s prayers are with me no matter where I roam. Please listen when I’m lonely and return me safely home, Amen."

1914-0915, Military Disbands Brigade for Cowardice.
During WW1, the British Army set up Bantam battalions for men 5 foot 3 inches and below. The army had a ban on short men. The Army then scrapped it on condition that those below a certain height were put together into special "short stature" units.
When hostilities began in August 1914, the minimum height for a soldier in the British Army was 5-ft 3-in (160-cm). Thousands of men who wanted to fight were turned away from recruiting offices, seemingly surplus to requirements.
A local MP Alfred Bigland, wrote to the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener asking for permission to set up a unit for short, able-bodied men who wished to fight for their country. The War Office gave its blessing. Soon 3,000 men who'd been barred from the army were selected for two Birkenhead battalions. Called Bantam battalions they were reserved for men of 5-ft to 5-ft 3-in and below with an expanded chest of 34-in.
The idea quickly spread to other parts of the UK. By the end of WW1, 29 Bantam battalions had been created across three divisions two British and one Canadian. 1,000 men in each battalion more than 30,000 Bantam soldiers enlisted. The word Bantam evoked an aggressive chicken this was the battalion emblem. The image was small, hard, plucky men fighting for their country.
In December of 1916, 26 men in the Bantam’s, 19th Durhams were sentenced to death for cowardice or leaving their posts. The Bantam experiment was over. The 35th division's sign was changed from a Bantam cock to seven interlocked 5s. Its soldiers were merged with conventional army units. Today, 2015 a British soldier can be just 4-ft 10-in tall (148-cm).
2020-0523, Gender, USAF removes all height restrictions to be a pilot.
The restriction kept many women from becoming a pilot. Prior to this a pilot had to be between 5’4” and 6’5” tall.

1917-0615, Health, Wound Certificate.
US Soldiers who were wounded in action during WW1 were awarded a framed certificate, the caption reads, “The accolade of the new chivalry of humanity. Served with honor in world war and was wounded in action.” The purple heart medal was not authorized until 1932.