Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-12

Augusta is in the great war-as in
tensely and as vita1y as any city in
the United States. Nearly 300 young
men from this city are already II &C
teal service, half of them overseas.
The next draft viii take hundreds more
and the neXt-and the next,
And because of this. the people of
Augusta must lock TO the National Y.
NJ. {. \. to fill for oar boys at train
ing camps. in France, behind the lines
and On the actual front the terrible
saps in their lives that neither war
department nor Red Cross may hope
to fill.
Briefly summed up. the work Of The
Y, NJ. G. A. in war time is 10 keep
l:C me ties from breaking to help our
Toys to I've straight and, if they must
Gle to die clean
Augusta boys have been dislocated
from their accustomed SURROUNDINGS
and habits, have been trained and dis
cipined. Some have been transported
across the ocean and will soon be
hurled into a Worldwide struggle be
tween the forces of good and evil. Ac-
forts of civilization will be denied
them: in their spare time all re-
straints will be cast of. They viii find
themselves amou@ men whose leave
time philosophy is. Il may be dead to-
morrCW-so here goes. War is neVas-
sarily Gebasin@-a throWback II rover
sion to the piimatiNe, Minds and NOR
ais SucCOmb under the strain of it
moral fiber is broken down. This is
enc of the terrible penalties We shall
have TO pay-another item 81 our
dreadful bill against the Boone
Only organized COMMUNICATIONS,
can protect our h0yS--club rooms and
anus emCnts, restrictions on booze and
ITeying women, organized religious ac-
NVities--and these the y. NJ. c. A. VIII
provide with the aid of $35,000,040 which
the people of the United States will
give them this week.
The whole big question has been
summed up thus: Shall the flower of
cur American manhood. who 60 out to
represent US. come back to Us Gas far
as their lives are spared with bodies
shot through with unnamabie diSea SeS
end with character weakened ana
blasted, or shall they return stronger
and better men
Because this question applies with
equal fierce to Augusta boys in war
camps and Al tie front. and because
it must be answered and answered
right, the local campaign to raise ST.
COO takes on a vital interest to every
citizen of the community. it is fortu-
rate that the nation has at this time
an organization like the Y. NJ. c. A.
ready and willing to take up this great
work.
The Y. NJ. G. a. War Fund move
mcnt has the official backing OF Pres
ident Wilson. Secretary of War FAX
er, Secretary of the Navy Daniels and
Major General John j. PershinS. The
organization has been officially recog-
nized and empowered by President
Wilson ito unity the civilian better
Inent activities Of the army and %
further the work OF the organization
that has demonstrated its ability 10
render u service desired by both ON
GERS and men,. The President has en-
Joined officers to render the fullest
practicable assistance aud co-opera-
ton in the maintenance and extension
of the association at permanent posts,
and in camp and field
Not only is this work to I've extended
to every branch of our own service
but also to the armies of France, Italy.
Belgium. Mesopotamia. Roumania and
if desirable, Russia; and to more than
Sax million prisoners Of war. More than
$4,000. 600 OF the $4,000 600 is to be
spent for our own armies.
The nature of the work done by
the Y NJ. c. 4. for the soldiers is
so varied and so extensive as TO pro-
hibit any attempt at complete emu
meration. 1t has physical. education
al, social and religious sides. Physical
directors and an adequate program OF
physical recreation are being furnish
ed. The Y NJ G. 4. Bureau of Edu
cation provides lectures, entertain
ments, libraries, classes and courses.
To the boy at the front. the social
side is OF special interest. The Y.
NJ. c. A. provides club room, place to
rest to read, to write home. When
relieved from tour in the trenches
the soldier is cold. wet, muddy and
hungry. When he reaches a rest bill
let he is not forced to lie down in
some cold barn like place. He makes
q bee line for the y. NJ. c. A. hut, gets
a sup of hot tea or. cocoa, with cakes
and them chats with his mates around
a roaring fire.
The religious work of the asSocia-
ton is non-sectarian and broad
enough to include all of any creed or of
no creed. This is by no means a
compulsory part of the service, and the
y, NJ C. A. in all its activities is omen