Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-11-05
TELLS
OF GRIM SCENES
ON BATTLE FRONT
Lewis A. Crosse t t,
Speaking in Behalf of
Y. M. G. A. Fund,
Lauds War Work of
Association

| With the purpose of bringing vividly
! to the attention of Augusta citizens
the important function which the Y.
| NJ. c. \. organization is serving in
| the carrying on of the war, and to
! emphasize the worthiness of the ma
tional campaign for a fund of 5o,000,-
| 600. Lewis A. Crossett, the we'll known
! Boston shoe manufacturer, related
! Sunday afternoon in the Hall of Rep
! resentatives at the State House his
! recent experiences in the war zone,
and gave til most graphic first-hand
| account of the horrors of war that has
! been brought to the people of this city.
! He was introduced by Governor Milli-
/ ken, who remarked that if there is
! any redeeming feature at all of the
| experience through which we are pass
ing it is the magnificent response
| which is being shown. particularly by
what are called our big business
men, who are giving freely of their
time and abilities for the welfare of
! the nation
Mr.. Crossett commended the readi-
ness with which the first call for funds
was answered. when the people were
asked TO give s3,000,000 for the Y. NJ.
! {. y. War purposes. Instead of $3,000.-
900, s5,250,000 was quickly contributed
| he said. At that time it was believed
! that the amount would be ample, but
it was then thought that no American
| troops would go to Europe before jan
| uarY. At that time. moreover, the
| cost of materials was far below what
1T now is. The three chief factors that
enter into the work are, Mr.. Crossett
/ said men lumber and transportation.
The speaker told his audience that
It would surprise them to know how
much the work has done in Russia to
keep the men in the fight. While it is
| generally believed that Russia is do
ing little fighting. military men realize,
| he said, the great value in holding the
big armies opposite them, even though
not single blow is struck. Mr. Cros-
sett told of a case where French SOL
| ulefs on leave Of absence, having
suffered great privations, We're about
10 start revolution, but We're extend
eu hospitality by Y. NJ. e. A. camp.
ana lett with their hunger appeased
ana giving three cheers for France
| lie also related conversation with
! 4 Tommy who informed him that
but for the !. NJ. G. A. there would
have been Il revolution last wear in the
| British army.
/ AIR. crussctt was at Rheims and saw
at close range the havoc which Ger
/ man shells had wrought on the cathe-
/ dral and neigaboring buildings. He
I hIinself saw shell wreck small
\ building which stood near the cathe-
dral lie told of being invited to dine
/ with French general there. and be-
ing entertained by the officer in the
I protection Of cellar The general told
! MN that the boys needed the cheer
! ana help which the y. NJ c. a. BRINGS
4 At Nerdun a famous general, an idol
! OF the French people. questioned him
! regarding the work of the association
SAVING tlat he had been told how much
IL lad done. General Petain told him
\ mat ne wished the work might be done
! ~ me FRENCH armies in a large way.
4 ana done IN the name Of the ~ NJ. c.
a. Tor that, the general said, lis
I a nl@ factor in the armies" The
speaker told in detail Of Sunday
/ program at one of the Y. NJ. C. A.
nuts included religious services for
/ men Of the various faiths represented,
I lie told of large gift to the y. NJ.
! q. "A. from a prominent Mohammedan
who said: Il hate your religion but
i ] admire your services"
! Mr. Crossett told of Lloyd Georges ac
acknowledgement of the Importance of Y. NJ.
/ c. A. work as a factor in the war and
quoted Lord Northclffe as saying: II
frankly believe that this war cannot be
Won without the y NJ. c. A" He took
/ win ,,,1,o
diplomat expressed to him the high es-
TEEN m which lie held the activities of
\ the association.
# When OR troops land in France thev
are not allowed to erect tents or barra cks
( Of any kind, for fear that they will reveal
their whereabouts to the enemy" said
Mr. Crossett, but are sheltered in anv
vacant buildings that are available When
the association learns of the arrival Of an
American contingent of any sort secre-
| tary is sent to Its encampment" Mr.
Crossett paid a warm tribute to the COM
mander Of America s overseas forces as a
man.
Let me say of General Pershng that
there is man who has won my heart
Trust him. He loves his men, He wants
L hold them clean and true. he said
General Pershing told Mr.. Crossett that
he had hoped to keep the boys away from
the large cities with their temptations,
but had found it impossible. ITS up to
YOU to look after them" the general told
him.
"The temptations Of Paris are beyond
descriotion," said Mr. Crossett. For the
man who wants to be true it's hard
work.
On a visit to q British hospital Mr..
Crossett saw 1900 wounded men brought
! in Two thousand OF these had been
blinded by gas and were suffering in
many ways from its effects Their cloth
/ Ing was torn, they were covered with
trench dirt and their bandages were soak.
ed with blood. The men were taken 10
the X-ray room where an examination
was made to reveal the presence Of snra D.
mel and bullets, then to the opera ting
room, and were afterward given clean
clothing and nursed back to health. Some