The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-05-22

Hibbard in France backed up by the
combined efforts Of $50 OF the best
secretaries engaged IN association
work has brought about conditions so
changed that they are incompatible
to those which existed when the work
began, and today the sign OF the Red
Triangle, emblem of the association,
vies with the scarlet emblem OF the
Red Cross In It's significance In
humanitarian effort among the soldier
boys, a work which has called forth
the highest ecomiuns from the officers
Of every army in the field.
Referring to conditions surrounding
the men who were recently sent to the
Mexican border Mr.. Dale quoted the
late Gen. Fred Funston who shortly
before his death paid this tribute to
the work of the Y. M. G. A.:
4 am glad to say that all of US ap-
preciate the wonderful work being
done on the border by the Young
Mems Christian association 1t is q
great institution. OF course, ali Of us
know what 1t did in the Spanish AM
er1can war; but / believe on this oc-
casion it has done even better. On a
recent inspection OF the border, saw
these Z. M. G. A.. buildings In every
camp, and they were filed with soldi-
ers in every instance. The officers told
me that especially in the lonely towns
and camps on the lower Rio Grande,
the <. M. G. AS were Godsends to the
men. 1t takes big institution to care
for the needs of the 100000 men on the
border, the biggest command since the
Civil war;"
Dri A. Davis. international secretary
for France and Italy, writing of condi-
tons in the prison camps says: 1T
is the lonesomeness of the business
which strikes me. That kind of lone
someness that comes from being lost
in a. crowd Think of it! Never one
minute to be really alone! Then there
| is the monotony of it all. Day after
day the same kind of food to be eaten
at the same hours from the same old
gamelle. The same bayonets behind,
the same enclosures awaiting them on
their return. The same dreary time
to kill, till the same hour comes to go
to the same old bunk with the same
man stretched out in the same way
close at hand. Work under these
circumstances is a Godsend. Where
there is none, I wonder that large
! number have not gone mad.
What is the association doing? In
a word, we are trying to break that
| monotony. Instead of two or three
hours to kill at night after such day
of routine, these prisoners come into
a warm and lighted room. There are
interesting books. We are busy here
| in Italy now distributing is, 900 of them
written in a dozen different languages,
| books sent by our secretaries in Aus
tria for the prisoners in Italy. We
have sent books to Austria for the
Italian prisoners there. Then, too,
there are circulating Libraries which
detachments in isolated country dis
tricts and to halls built in many
camps"
A Tremendous Task.
Speaking of the task which the as
Sociation has assumed Mr.. Dale said
that the army and navy under present
plans will total one and half million
men. Buildings and equipment for
the care of these men are to be provid-
ed and the required funds must be-
raised. 1t has been abundantly proved
that the Y. NJ. c. A. can provide the
most effective and efficient organiza-
ton for the work; its men are already
trained in the duties required of them
and the council which will have charge
of the enlarged work is composed of
men of the largest calibre, men who
are devoted to the cause and who are
determined that no thing shall be left
undone for the care of American boys
in this great crisis
Giving comparative figures of
contributions heretofore made by the
people of the United States for the
work among the SOlulerS OF Europe
it was shown that the per capita
contribution from our people has been
80 cents, while Toronto, spurred by
the direct interest of having its own
men engaged in war has contributed
the splendid sum of $14.35 per capita.
The call has come, said Mr.. Dale for
the people of the United States to do
markedly spiritual and Christian
duty in aiding in this work. 1t is
necessary first for the care of our
own men; it is also necessary in order
that when the war is over 1t may be-
remembered by the people OF every
nation as the act of Christian ma
ton, thus aiding in overcoming the
bitterness and hatreds engendered by
the war.
The cause Of the present war is a
lack Of the spirit Of Christ. In the
spirit of the man Of Nazareth we are
now called upon to do our duty in a
way in which even our enemies can
understand as an act Of Christian
service.
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