Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-10-31

THE ARMY Y. M. C. A. IN
SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Offered Services Shortly After
Dewey's Famous Order.
AT cHicAMAueA PARK.

shortly after FEBRUARY 10. 1893, when
ADMIRAL Dewey in Manila Bay, drinking
his morning coffee, gave his famous order,
You may fire when you are ready,
Grdley," the Y. M G. A. offered its
services Ito President Mckinley. On the
recommendation of the Secretary of War,
a number of camps were manned with
large circus tents. Several hundred Sec
retaries volunteered their services. The
most important camp was Chickamauga
Park 1t was named after General George
I'll. Thomas, the Rock of Chickamauga.
Fifty three thousand soldiers were To-
Gated here in large woods a part of
which was wampy. There was no water
near the camp, and never during the war
was any brought in in mains The water
and the drinking water was brought by
the Y. M. G. A. at so cents a barrel and
the ice at SIS cents hundred There were
no mess halls. We all lined up for mess.
got our little portions and sat around
on the ground or StumpS of trees to eat
it, RevIile was at 500 a. M, and there
We're no electric lights either morning
or evening.
Twenty-Five thousand horses and mules
were employed in the camp and automo-
biles were scarce. Health conditions
We're bad and typhoid rever was rife.
The big Letter Hospital was continually
filled with typhoid fever patients The
soldiers came from all sections, The
evils of the camp were similar to those
pertaining to all camps since war began.
There was profanity. gambling, and
drinking. all to excess. Intemperance was
stimulated by a large number of canteenS
selling liquor as well as needed commodi
ties.
In this situation the Young Mems
Christian Association was welcomed by
many commanders as means of dis
clpllne--a means of preventing the SOL
der boys from going into excuses which
would make it necessary to punish them.
There were thirty-five tents, and the ac-
tiyities were for the most part those with
which we are now quite familiar The
millions of letterheads and envelopes used
gladdened the hearts of relatives and
friends, 1t is said that one Association
envelope with the American Flag reached
junction point in Sweden after the last
train for the week had departed The
railroad management thinking the flag
indicated an important government COM
munication, made up a special train and
delivered it to the party to whom it was
addressed
Games inside and outside of the build
ings were introduced. Classes were or
ganzed in the Spanish language and
proved valuable to those who went to
Cuba and the Philippines. Music was
popular, and leaders of singing were en-
ployed to lead in the popular songs and
also in the religious meetings A large
body Of religious workers was headed
by Mr.. p. l.. Moody, and included Gen
eral Q. Howard, DR.. Toy, Fred B. Smith,
Augustus Nash, aud others. Catholic
services were held in our tents. An inn
boy insisted on being baptized by i'm
merson. The hospitals were visited by
the workers, and comfort given to thou
sands. A small library was provided
Testaments were distributed in large
numbers. 1t is said that the only means
Of Identification found upon the person
of one of the soldiers killed at Santiago,
was his name written in a Testament
presented by the Y. M. G. "A.
There were several big days in camp
One. when General Grant reviewed the
First Kentucky Infantry. One, just fol-
lowing Hobsons feat in sinking the Mer-
VIII civ
were fired and there was 'tMafilling'' all
afternoon and evening Again. on July
the 18th. at the fall of Santiago, when the
camp went wild
This was the first experiment of the
fare work for soldiers on a large scale
The experience of New York and Penn
sylvania in National Guard Camps for
few years previous helped considerably in
Systen1atizing the work on a large scale.
The wisdom Of the secretaries in handling
difficult situations, the popularity of the
Association among the enlisted men, and
the recognition by the officers of the inn
portant service rendered, has led the mill
itary authorities ever since to consider
the Young Mems Christian Association
as almost indispensable in camp life
Since then, the Army Y M. G. A. has
followed the flag to Cuba and the Phil
ippines; has rendered unique service in
the Russo Japanese war; has played a
large part in the armies of Europe; in
training camps at the front, and in pris-
oner of war camps. 1t is understood now
that where the army goes, there goes the
Y. NJ. c. A.
GEORGE b. Lands.