Evening star., 1917-10-28
TO MAKE BIG DRIVE
FOR SPECIAL FUND
War Camp Community Service
to Open Campaign in
Washington.
FOR Benefit OF SOLDIERS

Washington will give generously to
the fund to be raised as the National
Capitals quota of the war camp com
munity service fund in the campaign
which will be organized at a meeting
in the District building Thursday. ac-
corGing to the opinion expressed last
night by business and civic leaders.
These men who were present at the
first conference here at the home of
Henry White have been canvassing the
situation among the business and pro-
fessional men of the city and they find
that the people will gladly contribute
each a small amount in order that there
may be provided wholesome enter
ta:nment and recreation in the COM
munities about the various canton
ments and mobilization camps.
Special Services Sunday.
The District campaign will be organ
ized on Thursday and on next Sunday
special services will be held in the
churches here in cooperation with
similar services all over the country 10
awaken the people to a realization of
how much this effort means toward
providing wholesome conditions near
the army camps and in keeping the
men in good spirits and ft. The serv-
ices next Sunday will start the big
drive" for funds. and it is planned to
obtain about $4,000. 600 that week.
The Endorsement and support which
experienced military men like Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood. former chief of staff of
the Army; Maj. Gen. George Barnett,
commandant of the Marine Corps: Maj
Gen. Arthur Murray, commanding the
Western Division. and others are CIV
ing to the war camp community serv-
ice is accepted here as most striking
evidence of the need of the work.
the most encouraging aspects OF the
campaign for funds for the war camp
community recreation service
Unsolicited Testimonials.
Numerous kilograms and letters are
being received at the headquarters here
of the war camp community service
from officers In the Army or Navy CIV
ing unsolicited testimonials in behalf
of the movement.
Among the more widely known Off
GERS. in addition to those already
named. who are indorsing the work are
Maj. Gen. H. A. Green. Maj. Gen. Henry
T. Allen. Maj. Gen. E. F Glenn, Mai.
Gen. John W. Ruckman, Maj. Cen Ebin
Swift. Cen Grote Hutcheson and Col.
G. NJ Bomford.
In order to be good soldiers, men
physically. have respect for themselves
and for the uniform they wear and
nothing will contribute thereto as much
as good surroundings. wholesome en-
tertainment and recreation" wrote Maj.
Cen Wood. and his opinions were con-
CURED IN by practically all the other
experienced officers.
In my opinion" wrote Gen Wood,
this fwar camp community recreation
service) ranks equally with training to
create an efficient command Within
the camps and cantonments the Y NJ
c. A is doing splendid work. and your
commission. outside of camps and can
work"
Maj. Gen. Barnett is SO deeply inter
ested in the movement that he left his
busy office several hours last Tuesday
to attend the war camp community
recreation service national conference.
Before the meeting was concluded he
was persuaded to address the delegates.
and in no uncertain terms he made II
clear to them that the need for the
Is imperative and must be taken care
of Immediately
Work Of the kind that you are do
ing. writes MAJ. Gen. Murray. 'Js a
tentment and pleasure of the soldiers.
II gives them this feeling because they
know they are appreciated by the
folks at home They feel that they
their sacrifice and privations and who
desire to mitigate the hardships as
far as possible. The soldiers will per
form their duties more cheerfully, and
therefore more eniciently. in the
knowledge that they are not forgot
ten"
Maj. Gen. Allen. commandant at Camp
Travis. San Antonio, has this to say
about the movement: TT is not only
by aiding in the creation Of high moral
standards and clean recreation, but
indirectly II 10 influencing all oissses
OF :eeiety to help toward our desired
Striking commendation.
From Camp A. L Mills. Long Island,
came a splendid tribute from Maj.
military police at that camp THE
whole spirit Of the war camp com-
munity recreation service Is dne." he
writes. In place of . mere negative
and your co-workers have gone out
and aggressively combated these con-
dftions with counter attractions Of an
uplifting character. The work you
hoNS uoiC mas uHQOuDIeOiy maze the
work of the military police easier
have especially admired the fact that
You have gone ahead and done a fine
work without In any way Interfering
with the military authorities or their
work. and without any annoyance or
friction whatever between your people
and the military authorities"
Dispels Erroneous Opinion.
In this connection It is Interesting
10 note the telegram recently received
by the board OF trade Of Franklin, Pa
which skaters any possible rumors
that there was the slightest conflict
between the campaigns Of the Y. M.
c. A. and the war camp community
recreation service. The message was
from j. g Tichenor OF the 7. NJ. C. A
international headquarters, ana read
as follows:
Community recreation work Of vs.,
and Navy commissions does not duuii-
cate association work. Zach has dis