Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-29
DESCRIBES WAR WORK
OF NATIONAL Y. ". c. 4.
Miss Katharine II. Halves Tells OF
Efforts Made for Women
and Girls.
HOSTESS HOUSES ar CAMPS
War Council Is Providing Places
Where Relatives May Meet Their
Soldier Sons and Brothers Under
Proper Auspices.

Speakers before the Boosters Club
OF the Young Womcus Christian AS
sociation last night. Miss Katharine
II. Halves emphasized tho fact that
the past OF the Y. w. e. a. in the
present crisis is primarily to look az
ter the women and girls of the country
and in this indirect way to give the
soldier in training camp on battle
Held the assurance that his loved ones
ut home are being lovingly cared for
The necessity for work among girls In
the vicinity of large camps of SOL
dicrs was frs; brought to the attcn-
ton of the association leaders last
year when a prominent New York bust
ness man asked his dinner partner, a
y. w. L. y. board member: What Is
your association going To do for the
girls on the Texas border" The asso-
citation answered the challenge by dis
patching two secretaries to the bor-
der post haste. and their wonderful
constructive work, which was tho
means of Keeping thousands OF girls
clcar-hcadcd and clcan-soulcd in the
Texas camp towns. is now a matter OF
history. When the present war with
Germany was declared the associate
again recognized its responsibility and
organized last June Il War Work Coun-
Gil OF 100 women from all sections OF
the country TO have charge OF the
be done in camp towns.
Girls are fockinE to the cities and
large towns" said Miss Halves. drawn
there in many instances by vague de-
sire to respond to the urge of pa
triotism within thcm-to do their part
in the great conflict. They arc lonely
often. unframed often. and utterly at
sea as to what course to pursue. 1t
is the part Of the Y w. c. y. to
crystalline this purpose. to offer the
stranger girl proper friends. whole
some recreation, comfortable. living
quarters"
OUTLINES WORK or rIE
y. w. e. A. WAR COUNCIL.
The work of the war council is di-
ridcd into two general heads. :, en-
dcavorS TO meet. in some measure. the
call of the sisters across the seas arid
to that end has already sent two sec
retarieS to Russia to aid the women
nf that country to meet their n.w re-
sponsibilities, and is planning to Sod
seven more. In France. the American
nurses arc being looked after. and
England is calling for help in facing
It's industrial problem.
Using Camp Lee and Petersburg as
a home demonstration station" Mis-.
lk,wcs sketched the need of women and
girls in that community, and comparcd
i, to similar situations in the thirty
cantonmcnts of the South Atlantic
states. She told Of the hostess
house" which the war council will
build just inside. the camp limits 1T
Camp Lee. Some woman wants to see
every man there" she said, and the
hostess house is 10 provide a comfort
able meeting place for the soldier and
his wife or mother, sweetheart or sis
ter" The house will be in charge OF
a woman who understands and cares
for girls and Will he Il haven OF refuge
TO all women who visit the camp.
About Seventy-tivc girls were pres
ent at the meeting, and reports OF the
seasons plans IN the several depart.
men;S were given.