The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-06

Inc united states SON6IuIAeuI dsiS
| recognized the param cunt usefulness
! of the work the red triangle is doing,
| for 1t has given it every possible
assistance and encouragement.
What happened to those men on
the railway bridge in New Jersey is
! typical of the way the long arms OF
the Y NJ C. A. reach out to all men
in the services, wherever they may
be. In the environments of the ma
tional army, in naval bases, aviation
camps, ambulance camps, camps for
colored troops-whereyer men are
wearing Uncle Sans uniforms, the
Y. NJ. C. A. is giving friendly and
vital service. Not only in this ocun-
try but abroad; not only with out
own army, but with those of our
allies; and with the millions Of pris-
oners of war, whatever their nation
atty; the Y. NJ. c. A. is on the job.
As an Austrian soldier put it. Il guess
IL a shell shoots me hundred feet
into the blue. there'll be one of you
Y NJ blokes UP there handing me a
cup of coffee"
Typical of the army's attitude to-
ward the Y. NJ. C.. A work is this ex-
tract from a speech by Captain Dobie
dt -l<Sc, IL S,IA1d, SpCahi-AE, va
behalf Of the division headquarters
staff: This is not only a war OF ma
terial resources, it is war of spiri-
tual resources; any organization
which has contributed to those spiri-
tual RESOURCES is a mighty factor in
winning the war. When this war is
over / shall nominate as the Abou
Ben Adhem whose name led all the
council nf fha1
Y. NJ. c. A.
1t would be impossible in few
and it is probably I'm.
ways in which the association Is be-
writing to you on the note paper
stamped with the red triangle (Which
the soldier calls the "best trade mark
In the world" have probably given
you some inkling OF the vast scope OF
the work. In general. it falls into
four types; educational, physical, So
cial and religious.
The educational work aims to teach
the soldier what he will need most IN
this war; particularly English and
French. 1t must be remembered thai
in the national army there are thou
sands OF men who know hardly thres
words Of English. Also the educa-
tional secretaries In the camps tr9
in every way to make it possible for
the soldiers to carry on any particu-
lar studies in which they may be in
terested. / remember seeing ut Camp
Dix, in New Jersey. a drafted man so
absorbed in a history Of philosophy
that he was quite oblfvious OF the
many amusements and diversions go
ing on around him in one Of the Y.
NJ. G. A. buildings.
The physical work Is mainly ath-
letic. The association has distributed
athletic equipment in almost unbe-
lievable quantities to our soldiers.
The men with Pershing have found
baseball outfits of the greatest value.
In each of the big draft cantonments
there are over hundred athletic
fields equipped and run by the asso-
.ciation. These athletic sports are of
the highest possible military value,
as the officers are to a great extent
choosing the non-commissioned Off
GERS from those who show spirit and
leadership in athletics.
The social work is multifarious.
The Y. M. G. A. buildings and tents
which are erected wherever troops
are mustered, are home, club and liz
brary to the men. There, as soon as
the drills are over, they congregate
in hundreds to hear music, lectures,
dramatic entertainments, etc, see
movies, and put on shows of their own.
AS far as possible the aim Of the Y.
NJ. C. A. men is to draw out the ma
tive talent of the soldiers themselves
and to set them to organizing their
own entertainments. In addition to
this, some of the most noted artists
and entertainers in the world have
volunteered their services in this
work And not least in Importance is
the singing. Many well known lead
ers of community choruses are using
the Y. NJ c.. A. buildings to get the
men together for mass singing. There
is nothing that does so much to fos-
ter esprit de corps. Anyone who has
heard the men of the national army
sing, roaring out their favorite ditties,
will realize what a marvellous trans
formation few weeks have made in
their spirit and general view of life.
In the religious phase of it's work
the Y NJ C. A. has shown consum-
matt. tact In the first place, 1t makes
no distinctions of race or creed; it Of
fers its friendly service to all who
come and no questions asked. 1t
forces it's own attitude toward religi-
GUS problems down no mans throat.
But it's Bible classes, it's devotional
meetings, it's quiet talks, are held
regularly. by men whose age and sta
ton in life fit them to speak con-
yincingly. Hundreds of men come to
the religious directors of the various
Y. NJ. c. A. buildings with their own
private questions and doubts; and at
such time and place. when men are
brought face to face with the gravest
issues of life as never before, these
Y. NJ C. A. religious directors are
playing the finest possible role. Many
a man has been prevented from de-
sertion, suicide and other desperate
acts by heart-to-heart talk with one
of the Y NJ. G. A. men. The regular
army chaplains, and the Catholic