132 REPORT OF THE PSYCHOLOGY COMMITTEE 



The first noteworthy event in the control of militar/ 

 morale traceable indirectly to the influence of psychology in 

 the army, was the preparation in March, 1918, by Colonel 

 E. L. Munson, of the Medical Corps, of a memorandum en- 

 titled "Need for a systematic plan for the psychological 

 stimulation of troops in promoting fighting efficiency." This 

 memorandum, which was prepared for the Surgeon General, 

 was referred to the Division of Psychology, and after endorse- 

 ment by that Division forwarded to the General Staff for 

 consideration. 



While Colonel Munson's memorandum was under advise- 

 ment, representatives of the Psychology Committee were 

 able to further the Interests of psychological morale through 

 numerous conferences with Interested army officers and 

 through the organizing at the suggestion of Dr. F. H. Keppel, 

 Third Assistant Secretary of War, of two group conferences 

 for the discussion of the morale problem and of ways of meet- 

 ing the military need for enhanced morale. 



These conferences were followed by favorable action with 

 reference to Colonel Munson's recommendations, and there 

 was ultimately established in the War Department the Morale 

 Branch of the General Staff with Brigadier General E. L. 

 Munson in charge. 



Thus Indirectly the Psychology Committee succeeded In 

 stimulating military interest and in acquainting the War De- 

 partment with morale needs to a degree which shortly led to 

 most important official action. 



In August, 191 8, the Psychology Committee voted to 

 organize a subcommittee on Morale under the chairmanship 

 of G. Stanley Hall. Unfortunately he was unable to assume 

 this responsibility and the committee was never appointed. 



A considerable number of men trained in military psychol- 

 ogy were also trained at the Medical Department Training 

 Camp, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, for practical work in mili- 

 tary morale. Conspicuously important among the officers 

 engaged in this work were Major William S. Foster, Captain 

 Elliot P. Frost, and Lieutenant H. D. Fryer. At various 

 times as many as twenty-five trained psychologists were en- 



