Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-11-08
SOLDIERS STEAL AUT0|ORGANIzING VIRGINIA
People of the State Asked to Con-
tribute 100000 for Relief Work
Among the Soldiers.

Among the SoIuleiS.
AS has been stated in the columns
of the Gazette, a committee has been
appointed in Alexandria to assist
in the raising of cash to carry on
relief work among the soldiers by
the Young Mems Christian !Assoca.
ton. The residents of every state N
the Union will be expected to do
their duty in this important matter
Alexandria boys are already in
/! France and more are soon to follow.
Shall they be neglected? They will
offer their lives, if need be- to up
! hold the honor Of their native state
and the flag of their country. Let no
one refuse to do all in their power
| TO make them as comfortable as pos
sible.
j. J. Virgo, now general secretary
at the London Young Mems Chris
tian Association, telling of his Co.
600 mile trip all a."ng the various
fighting lines. said it was his be-
lief that the two indispensable ad-
iun,ts of the fighting forces are the
~ NJ. c. A., and the Red Cross.
Emphasis was laid on this state
ment from Mr.. Virgo at the head
quarters of the Virginia war work
council of the Y. NJ c. A., where
State Chairman Darlington is round
ing out the work of organizing Vir-
einia for the campaign for funds
with which to extend the war camp
work. Virginia is expected to ra!Sc
s4OO 900 from Nov l. to 10 inclusive.
The total amount for the United
States is S35,000,000.
Mr.. Virgo said he had Gocgei
submarines and had seen ships blown
up by torpedoes, and felt that when
he set foot on English soil he was
done with these things for w:1iie.
But the very first night he was pot
ted from overhead by alrplanas.
"Conditions in London he said. "are
really very serious. The raids are
frequent, and when the enemy planes
are sighted a warning is sent to
everybody to take to cover.
Relating two instances OF enemy
atrocities he said it would make mis-
hearers realize that I'VE nave got
to get this thing finished up Quick
ly: that the sooner everyone realizes
that everything we do to ri those
marnifcent fellows for their JOB. the
more we will expedite the war"
The Y. NJ. c.. A.. Mr.. Virgo SAID,
helps keep the fighting men lit ana
keeps up the morale, so necessary
for effective fighting. Telling of The
coming of Australian and New Zca-
land troops to Cairo, Egypt, ne said
Il vicious quarter sprane up which
lured the boys, and snlpload oil
them had to be sent back nome as
unfit to fight. A bunch of the boys
latcr wrecked the place. he SAID. al !
then the y. NJ. c. y. came. alter
much effort the Y leased a garden
| ard opened it for the boys. This put
an end to the lure of the red llgntS.
The same temptations confronted
the men returning to England Tor
furlough he avcrrcd. and to!d now
| the y. M. c. A. is combating inc
| tcmptation by furnishing lodgings
to the men who remain in London
over night. He also told Of the wo:K
of women in saving the boys ID
khaki-how they start out with au-
tomobiles at midnight to round up
strapglers and invite them TO the
refugees.
! Mr.. Virge described with some ce
tail the work on the firing line OF tne
y. NJ. C. 4. men, even in the 1roh'
Itrenches, where, he said, the nut ma!
be only large enough for three mei
at a time, but where there are ilo'
coffee or chocolate and other thing:
the men need. The y. NJ. c. a. WORK
ors have the same risks as the sol
diers. Their huts are blown up, anf
thev are under shell fire for hours.