The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-16
Special Correspondence to The Sun

SVS'tuf tOvTcspbfusN's ~ StN'
LONDON. Jan Fin a thousand hos
tells, nuts, halls. tents and buildings, from
the sand stretches of Egypt. the bluffs
OF Galllpoli, from muddy Flanders TO
drab London. hundreds Of thousands OF
British soldiers made their Christmas
and New Years under the kindly aus
pices of the Y. VI. G.. A.. There were
songs and m~errymaking. good food In
plenty. and Of religion enough to main
tain the character OF the season.
Soldiers. mud stained and tired from
the front on leave. lonesome and at
loose ends in this great city of London.
many without friends or relations. Others
obliged 20 walt for home trains. have
been gathered In their thousands into
the big Y. NJ. G. A.. building in Totem
Ram Court o II the huts and hoetels
ut the various railroad termini. and
made to feel that Christmas cheer and
good will are not merely idle mouthings
but realities.
There Is probably no more remark
able story In the war than that of the
activities and work OF the once despised
V. VI. G. A. OF England.
The war came and with n the oppor-
tunity for the Y. VI. g.. 4. to show It's
worth. The opportunity was g~rasped
Immediately. Within ten days $50 huts
or centres were established In England
and France. That number has now
grown to 1000 and Is increasing daily.
Wherever there Is a British uniform
win he found a Y. NJ. {. A. centre. The
red triangle, the insignia Of the associa-
ton. has become as familiar a symbol
to the British Tommy as his khaki. From
generals TO privates IL has become be-
loved for what 1t means and what has
been accomplished under II.
Organization Highly Praised.
The. organization has been recognized
as one OF the most efficient and saiutary
influences by every big man In the Brit
ish army. Only recently Lord Methue:I.
the Governor of Malta. approaching how
excellent an auxiliary was the Y. NJ.
G. A. in the care and welfare Of the
soldier, assigned q suite I'm his palace
for the administrative headquarters o.
the organization In Malta.
The mos, remarkable part OF the story
OF this organizations success Is that AT
first nobody wanted II. and its hrst
efforts were made practically under pro-
test. Everybody In authority. generals
and officials. adopted the Missouri atti-
tude and had TO be shown before the
would admit there was any balm In the
Y. ". &. A.
Il WIS generally regarded as a psalm
singing Institution whose ninistratlons
woul more likely prove Troublesome
than beneficial
This opinion was but the reflection o!
the Iopular mind developed during those
days when the organization in lis In
fancy was housed IN the now torn down
Exeter Halt. That Il was not all preju-
! dice was admitted to THE sun CORE
spondent during the time a few years
ago when the scheme Wa put in opera
ton OF trying TO raise a million pound
In record time by the American who or
| ganized the money raising erfoT.
The returns for London. he said. wee
disappointing In comparison with the
| sums raised IN small American cities,
and ne frankly admitted that the reason
to his mind was on account OF the mar
| rowne<s with which Fi,e organization n
England Up q that tine had been con-
+ Quoted.
Young men" he said. ';!midly en-
tering Exeter Hall for the Nrst time "a
I find out something atUut the organ!za-
ton were pounced upon b% too cnthus!-
asst, z.alo;s who wanted them 10 com,
to Cor Immediately. tn young mar
was naturally scared away and didn';
rcturu To overcome that widespread
belief IN the ~narroNncss o' the Y. NJ
e \. - to my mind one OF the most
I difficult tasks that the heads of the OF
! gar lation have To accomplish.
Desp!t. the new building on Totten
ham court. road. with its gymnasium. ~
restaurant. social rooms. sc. there 4
o doubt that much OF the old tim'