The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-09


many more huts than there are camps,
Of course, for in the large cantonments
there will be as many as twelve or fif-
teen "Y" buildings in different parts
of the camp. And in spite of the fact
that the Y. NJ. C. A. is doing more
overseas, it has not stopped its con-
struction work In America. Fifty-six
more huts are in process of construc-
| ton and seventy-siX others have been
authorized, making a total of 795 Y.
NJ. c.. A. buildings erected in the
Unite&States solely for the purpose of
making life in camp more comfortable
for American soldiers and sailors. The
cost of the bare buildings in America
VII be $4,71O, $3.50. More than 1000
Y. NJ. c. A. secretaries are required
to man these buildings and conduct
the activities of the organization in
and about the American camps. These
activities cover an extremely wide
range of social, educational and re-
ligious work.
Out of the s25o,0oo. 900 fund the re-
Quirements of the ''Y" for its work on
this side and that overseas, which is
even more extensive, to say nothing of
being more expensive. are $780,
| 100000.
The war work of the Young Wom-
ans Christian association naturally
comes in contact with the individual
soldier and sailor at fewer points than
that of the Y. M. c. A. A very impor-
tant part of the work of the Y. w. c.
A. is the efforts this organization is
making to help the girl who is en-
gagged in the war work. taking the
place of man who has Joined the
colors.
OF the nearly ten million women in
the United States that work today, one
and a half million are engaged on war
orders, in the direct manufacture of
supplies, ammunition, etc. for our
forces in the field Another million
are engaged in industries directly af-
fected by the war. Many more women
will be called into war work as more
men are taken for the army. large
part of the Y. NJ. c. AS work is in
ton work and emergency housing for
these girls. together with war service
centers and room registries in cities
employing girls in war industries. In
it's relation with the army, the princi-
pal activity of the Y. w. c. A. is its
hostess houses in or near army and
navy camps, where relatives and
friends of soldiers and sailors may
meet and entertain their men friends
in the service. SiXty-one of these hos
tess houses have been built and
twenty-five more have been author
lied; thirteen of these are for colored
people. The Y. w. C. A. is also en-
gagged in overseas work, which will be
| described in detail in next weeks ar
ticle. Out of the united war work
the Y. w. c. A. for the maintenance
| and extension of its work for women,
directly growing out Of its war activi-
| ties.
The knights of Columbus.
The work of the Knights of Column
| bus is similar in many essential de-
tails to that of the Y. M. C. A, altho
l
| One hunderG and forty-nine huts and
other buildings have been erected in
the several camps and environments by
the K. of c., which is represented in
the united war work campaign by
| the national Catholic war council The
knights of Columbus have also built
five auditoriums and use thirty-three
| tents and portable structures in their
work on this side of the ocean. There
are AIS workers employed by the
knights of Columbus in these build
ings, which furnish gathering places
and reereational centers much like
those of the Y. NJ. C. A. and are open
to all soldiers and sailors, regardless
| of creed. The Knights of Columbus
also conduct Glasses in French and in
English and Catholic religious services
are conducted on Sunday, an altar be-
ing provided in the club buildings in
the rear of the stage and behind doors
1
In addition the Knights of Columbus
have built several visitors houses
which serve the same purpose as the
hostess houses of the Y. w. G. A. AS
about one-third o. the men in the
army and navy are Catholics, the
| work of the Knights of Columbus is
of particular importance and the ex-
tension of its operations on this side
and overseas has been planned on a
scale that calls for the expenditure in
the next year of s45.00O,00O. which is
the share this organization will receive
Of the s25O,oOo,0Oo fund.
The War Camp Community Service.
The only one of the organizations
in the United States War Work cam
paign that operates solely in the
United States is the War Camp Com
munity service. When the United
States launched her war program
against Germany. the war and navy
departments commissions on training
camp activities decided that the COM
munities adjacent to the training
camps and stations must be well or
ganized with social and recreatiopa1
facilities to meet the needs of men in
the military service.
These commissions called on the
Playground and Recreation Associa-
ton of America to carry on this work
under the official name of War CAM
Community Service. War Camp Com
munity Service was asked to co-ordi-
nate into a definite and ordered pro
gram the resources of the war camI
community, to supplement these re
sources with others from the foil
back home, and to temper the whole
into a wholesome nationwide move
ment for hospitality, keyed to har
| monte with the training camp pro
gram of the war and navy depart
ments. War Camp Community Serv
ice attacks the problem of serving
the soldier, sailor and the marine
from five angles.
1t gives to the aim divulged in IT.
title, namely community service. tn,
widest possible Interpretation. First
1t extends community service in tn,
strict sense of the word. Further, /
fosters community hospitality ant
community recreation. It's admins
trative tool is community organiza
ton, and its certain by-produet com