New Britain herald., 1917-08-24
'. N. L. A. ARMY HUTS
 OPENED IN INDIA
Feature of Report Received Here
 From E. ]. SimondS

An interesting report of the actiV1- ties for the month of June at the Poona, India, Y.. M. c. A. has been received by the authorities of the local Y. M. c. A. from B. J. Simonds, secretary of the Indian organization. MT. Simonds is supported by the local Y. M. c. A. and the money is raised here for the work which he is carrying on in Poona. In his letter MT. Sinlonds states that he wishes that one of the directors was there to see the work that was being done as more money could be raised to pay for the buildings which are being erected. His report, in part, follows:
 The outstanding features of the month are the opening of the, two new Y. M. c. A. huts at KirRee and Pashan Camps.
 The Kirkee hut costing about eight thousand Rupees was a. gift through General Fouler from the Western India Turf club.
 The Pashan hut costing Rupees four thousand five hundred was the gift of the National Council of the Y. M. c. A, per MT. E.. c. Carter.
 The Kirkee Camp has more men at present than Pashan and as a result that hut has been more than crowded
 We wish every one interested in the soldiers could drop in at almost any hour of the day or evening when the men are off duty and see the crowds constantly using this hut.
 If a regular concert is not scheduled, the men gather around the piano and an impromptu concert and singing re- suits nearly every evening".
 Every week the Welshmen in this camp have two services in their own language. Special Welsh song book lets have been printed for these meetings.
 The Association huts have also been used each week for some of the church services.
 every Sunday evening after the regu- lar church services attracts g. goodly number of men. --...- .... .,
 The only source Of supply for home letters in our camps is that furnished by the Associations.
 At present we are spending about Ps: 300-for stationery every month for the soldiers. (45,000 sheets)
 The one outstanding need at present is for funds for easy chairs for a cosy corner for rest and reading, stools and ! benches are all right for writing and games, but not for a comfortable re taxation while reading the papers and magazines.
 The Pashan Camp has had many changes in the personnel of it's troops the past few weeks, men coming and going so rapidly that the work has not become so well organized. How ever, Ps: 1CO-per month for station cry, (15,O00 sheets) shows that the men appreciate writing home letters there. One captain said he had to censor twelve letters for one man and nine for another in one week. The Pashan tents and the secretary in-charge had a marrow escape last week, when petrol lamp exploded and burned one tent entirely, ruined 1 our piano and destroyed consdera ble ! furniture and all the personal be- l longings of the secretary. The prompt work of the bugler men 1 saved the remaining tents and hut.
 Within A hours new tents were up and everything going as usual. A number of the Pashan soldiers | walked five miles in order to spend a | couple of hours at an afternoon tea at the home of the general secretary. The Connaught Institute or Army | Branch has had a complete renova. i tion This work with many the gift
 of a large supply of cutlery and dishes l for the supper bar has been made i possible by the ladies' committee from | the Womens War and Relief Fund | committee of Poona.
 Many more Improvements are being planned by the ladies for the immedi- l ate future. Miss Tickell has organized l the supper bar in fine shape and has a l large staff of ladies helping every week. This is greatly appreciated by , them.
 Mr and Mrs. MarloW. who are in l charge of this branch. have organized ! a concert party and rendered one pro-
 gram. A small fee was charged and
 the proceeds went toward the decora-