The deserting man, unless he elopes with another woman, generally goes to some cheap lodging house or, if of foreign birth, he may seek out the quarter where those of his nationality reside and become a lodger in a family in which his native tongue is spoken.  Hence, a canvass of the lodging houses—­armed with a photograph if possible—­is a desirable first step.  All of the social worker’s casual acquaintance with the foreign quarters of his city comes into play in the search.  If the man is in the city some “landsmann,” some “paesano” has seen him, and knows where he is to be found.  It may even narrow down to finding the particular house on the particular street where the immigrants from a particular village in Sicily or Galicia have their abode.  The pool-rooms and saloons of the district can often be made to yield information, especially if a man visitor can canvass them.  In dealing in this way with mere acquaintances of the man, it is usually not necessary for the social worker to tell who he himself is or to state the purpose of his inquiry.  In talking with relatives or close friends, however, it is often best to lay all cards on the table and convince one’s listener first of all that the man sought will have fair treatment and a chance to state his side of the case before any proceedings are begun against him.

Even a relative who has never been seen may sometimes be induced to act effectively.

A man who deserted his wife and family was reported to have gone to his brother in another city.  Nothing definite was known of the brother except that he was a telephone lineman.  No address could be secured through the company, but they agreed to forward a letter to this relative.  He never answered; shortly, however, the deserter reappeared, having been persuaded to return voluntarily by the brother to whom the letter had been addressed.

During the war local draft boards were of the greatest assistance in finding deserting men.  Election records too have been of real value in the case of men who were voters.  Passports and immigration records may in some instances yield information helpful in establishing whereabouts.  Where there is actually a warrant out for the man’s arrest, the active co-operation of the postal authorities can sometimes be secured in furnishing return addresses on envelopes delivered to persons with whom the culprit is known to be in correspondence.

Problems of family desertion involving men in service during the war were in the main handled by the Red Cross Home Service.  Before the war, private case working agencies had learned that the regular Army and the Navy often seemed desirable havens to would-be family deserters.  The difficulties of finding them there were great, owing to the fact that they often enlisted as single men under an assumed name.  It has usually been possible to gain excellent co-operation from the military authorities if there are any clues whatever.