Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-07
YIN, c. A. MEN
ARE NO CUTTERS
Stirring Scenes at the Front in
France in Y. M. G. A. Euts
Under Fire.

Under Fire.
Mr. i. A. Crossett, the great shoe man
ufacturer of Boston, has just returned
from France. He travelled 5000 miles in
the war zone for the Association War
Council. Francis B. Sayre. son-in-law of
the President, and Fred b. Ship, Cen
eral Secretary of the Pittsburg Y NJ C.
A., were working in France at the same
time
In reply to request for some of his
experiences, Mr.. Crossett spoke with deep
admiration for the splendid efforts of the
British Association in Northern France.
Il found hut near the entrance of
the front trench, where shells were COM
ing down all around it, he said This
hut was in little dugout made of logs
and covered with sandbags At one end
was little Kitchen where there We're two
tanks of water boiling. Here fresh tea
was made, and set out fresh for the men
who came to the hut when relieved of
their terrific strain in the front line
trencheS Not infrequently cup of hot,
refreshing tea is given free of charge
to each of 800 or 400 men in those trenches
and am sure this is appreciated by those
brave Fellows. While talking with some
OF the men, one of them remarked If
1t had not been for the Y. M. G. A. there
would have been mutiny and revolution
here. That is where we get our comfort
ana cheer. The Association has been
providing amusement as well as warmth
for the fighting forces; it has provided
athletlcs, wherever possible and in other
ways has relieved the soldiers from the
strain whenever they have had a chance
TO obtain that wholesome life and play
winch takes man away from his trou-
bles
Many persons who do not understand
the work of Association men in army
camps seem to~think that the secretaries
remain far back from areas of danger,
and are sheltered from harm To correct
TINS wrong impression it may be said
that in one Of the districts / visited nine
per cent of the Association secretaries
had been either killed or wounded in three
weeks of heavy fighting. But these sacre-
taries know that their work is of great
value to the troops.
"One Of them remarked to me, These
would be the happiest days of my life if
only knew that eventually [ would re-
turn to my home. OF course he could
have no assurance as to this and he
knew, probably as well as any one of
the many Association workers who have
been killed while in performance of their
duties.
ut isno wonder that the soldiers say
The Young Mems Christian Association
seen the war secretaries stand under fire
and Shell as steadily as the soldiers them
selves, and go right along with the troops
as they make their charge, and set up
their dugouts quickly getting ready for
work. The minute wounded soldiers who
were able to walk, came back from the
trenches the Association men were on
hand, ready to serve them with tea and
cocoa, to give them words OF cheer to find
resting places and perhaps warmth from
a fire--the smoke of which was carefully
concealed from enemy observation you
may be sure. In one district our men
served ninety gallons of coffee in one
day-29,0 G0 cups Of coffee in a single
week-to men who were going back and
Il you could have stood with me be-
side grave 300 feet long, and could have
seen 300 men wrapped in blankets laid
there in a row-men who had gladly
given their lives for us of the United
States as well as for the people of every
other liberty-loving land-you would
realize the sacrifices that are being made
for us. You would be filed with a desire
to spend the rest of your life in doing
something to help and encourage such
men as these. AS far as l am concerned,
can only thank God that l have had
thirty years of training in Association
work and can throw my lot in to help and
encourage those brave fellows overseas
Money and business? These seem nothing
give men of those great armies who are
struggling and dying for the sake Of
humanity, And it must, be remembered
that the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton is the sole worker in this direction
at the front there, today"
Mr.. Crossett brings additional word
concerning the Splenulu impression made
by General Pershing upon the entire
French nation.
''Pershing is the idol of the men, and
all who come in contact with him. He
appreciates the service of the Y. NJ. c. A.,
and we can only say that he has given
us every opportunity we have asked. He
Inspected the Association headquarters in
Paris and expressed himself as pleased
with what we are doing He spoke of
knowing Association work at the Mexican
border as well as in the Philippines and
IF / may be permitted to use the ex-
pression-he has so 'rnilitarized' it, that
the Y. NJ c. A. is now q recognized and
respected part of the army.