New Britain herald., 1917-09-25
HOW '. M. L. A. IS
 HELPING WIN WAR
Secretary Barnes Tells Directors
 Of Association Activities

How the New Britain Y. M. C. A. Is helping to win the war by prepar- ing the manhood of the country for life in the trenches and keeping the soldiers happy after they get there, was revealed at the meeting of the directors of the association last night by General Secretary Clarence H. Barnes, who made his report for three months
 The Y. M. c. A. is engaged in a wide field of labor and that it is do- ing it's share Is shown by Secretary Barnes report, which follows:
 Sept. "A, 1917. To the Board of Directors.
 Gentlemen:-
 The past three months have marked a period of readjustment on the part of the Y M c. A. to war conditions. Beginning with the mo- bilization of the Militia in the spring the Association began it's war program by serving the Militiamen through the social and physical departments. As men began to enlist in the army to all men in uniform without charge. A special gymnasium class was formed to condition men for army life. After the results of the draft were announced another special gym nasium class was started for men going into the new army.
 After successfully raising SIP, 5O0 as its. share in the Y. M. c. A. War Work the Association sent it's general secretary, physical director and assis- tant secretary to start Y. M. c. .A. work at the United States Marine Camp at Quantico. Va.
 In many respects this Post Y. M. c. A. was unusual. and until just re- gently, when the Militia and draft army camps were opened, was one of the most important in the coun- try. It was the first Y. M. c. A. to be atta ached to the Marine Corps, and consequently the officers watched it's work critically. But when we left the camp we had the assurance from these officers that the Y. M. c. A. had made good. In fact, officers and men went out of their way to speak good words for what the Y. M. c. A. had done for the camp and as it was known as the Y. M. c. A., erected by New Britain people and started by New Britain men the honor all comes back to our home city.
 It is the camp where the Marines receive their last training and depart for overseas service, and as such, of fered an extraordinary opportunity to serve men who were sobered in mind by the prospect of what lay be- fore them. And the same spirit of service, which has characterized this for many years. was car ried to the men there.
 Many means were developed to aid +l,o xoop "o 1ictrih11fad ma oaZfneS and games to the sick in the hos pitals and those confined in the guard tents, furnished over 100000 sheets of writing paper. provided moving pictures three times a week, which were attended by from 500 to 2,5OO men, besides conducting baseball games, basketball and volley ball, and boxing and wrestling matches. Then there were reading tables and book shelves provided in part with reading matter by our New Britain friends The photograph was busy about 12 hours a day, and all men were playing checkers inside the building and quoits outside. 500 men were enrolled in French classes where the rudiments of the language were taught Compulsory swimming be- came a rule after our arrival, and MT. Slater taught those who could not swim.
 The religious work was laid out on a broad basis in cooperation with the army chaplain, and included con- fession Saturday nights and Mass Sunday morning in the building, con- ducted by Catholic priest from a neighboring town, Protestant services Sunday forenoon, Bible study classes and an outdoor Sunday evening serv- l ice, to which men of all faiths were glad to attend. The New Testament and parts of the scripture were in great demand and were eagerly taken by the men until our supply was l exhausted.
 l But, after all it was in smalle, and more personal ways that our best service was given. There were the peronal talk we had with homesicl men and others who just wanted tc talk with someone who cared.
 There was the boy who had jus got a furlough and wanted to fino out the quickest train to Chicago o
 to some town in Texas and as h.
 could not get his information at thu
 little railroad station we secured i
 for him. And then there were mel
 who wanted to get a check cashet
 or wanted us to keep his money fo him, or maybe help him locate a rel
 ative in New York. These little serv
 ices were our daily program iron
 seven in the morning until ten a
 night, and from the reports that cam
 to us they seemed to count big In thi
 isolated camp in Virginia, filled wit boys largely from the South am
 West, all a long way from the hon
 folks and going through a new ex . perience amid strange surrounding Except for cavalry and aviation tn , camp offered almost all branches o service, as there was artillery, ma l chine guns, signalling, trench digging