The Press., 1918-02-28
CANTEENS SERVE HOT FOOD TO
 MEN EN ROUTE
RED CROSS PROVIDES RE- EASEMENTS TO SOLDIERS AT ALL HOURS OF
 DAY OR MIGHT.
Troop Trains Halt in Dismal Sta- tionS as Uniformed Women Distribute Fruit, Sand
 Mlches and Coffee.

The Atlantic Division of the Amarl- san Red Cross, which embraces New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Is covered with a network of canreens for the benefit of soldiers en route according to a statement made public by John 3. Ellsworth, division dirse' TOT of cAnteen service.
 Cantesn units gre established at all principal points through New York New Jersey Snd Connecticut where trains stop or are delayed. The chief point is naturally In New York city with It's terminals and ferries, where vast numbers of military men Rrs passing 10 their camps.
 The division Canteen headquarters is 6 clearing house for information re ERFdlng troop movements, camps, etc. Confidential advice is supplied by the government to aid the direction of eRntsen service throughout the three staEeS The railroad companies also cooperate, holding trains over if pos Hlble until refreshments can he served to all the men
 The division cantsen service director has two assistants snd ten aides. all of them women in uniform. They are either at headquarters or on call by telephone during the waking hours, which are from l.. m. to U p. m. These aides are ready to go to any of the nearby eanreen stations and assist the local women in serving the soldiers during these hours.
 In fact, the Canteen is twenty fOuF-hOur service. If the Red Cross is informed that refreshments are needed at any time during rhe day or nighr they are OH hand to meet the needs of the men. The hotels in New York city generously give coffee, cheese, etc, for the Red Cross csnteenS.
 soldIern Given "snokes."
 sandwiches, fruit, sweet buns, choc- olate and hot coffee comprise the usual fare. If the men are not actually hun gry they are given chocolate and "Emokes," If they are nor in need of food of any kind they are always given the emergency" service. The Red Gross supplies them with postal cards, attends to the censoring and posting of their mail. relieves any sickness and meets any need 1t can possibly ale vIRte.
 The emergency nature or the can teen service, the out-Of-the-way spots where 1t is often needed, the irregular hours when 1t is called for. the dark whaTves and crowded ferry houses where the trains are heId-aIl these features make the work a difficult one In spite of these difficulties, however, the eantesn is considered one Of the most efficient branches of rhe Red Cross.
 An example of this efficiency was in the service rendered the Three Hun hred and Eighth Infanrrv just before iks recent parade in New York city. FIfty minutes hefnre rhe men left the armOry the Red Cross received word that they needed g canTeen service be- fore starting the parade. The Red Cross responded immediaEely. In less khan sn hour from Jhe lime rheiy re- cSIved the request they had served 2,bOO men with sandwiches, sweet buns and coffee V,
 Soldiers Iaud canteeu Service
 One of rhe many expressions of s,ln- pTeciatiOn rhat came 70 the director was from The colonel of rhe Three Hundred and Eighth Infantry. who con cinded his letter of thanks with Il have never seen anything surpsssinE 1t or nearly as efficiently done"
 Another letter from first ueuten- anu says of the delicious coffee and ham sandwiches" served on board troop train to zoo men early one morn ing: "1'o say they were appreciated is enly half expressing the feelings or the men, who spent the rest OfSthe. day pFalsinG rhe Red Cross from top TO bottom"
 From the postaIs of the men them selves some less formal appreciatinBS have heen CuIied as follows: s
 "on our way south the Red Cross provided uS Wirh rhe ,Iandiest lunch just when we were as hungry sS wolves
 Started to write pop. but made him e nllsSus Tell bim tn Join rhe Red Gross or will diS0wn him"
 "The Red Crass gave me this card and also a swell dinner They are a bunch of angels"
 ''l am having swell teed now. The Red Cross is giving it ta all rhe boys. JRhnk God for ths work they are car rying on. and may t;od hIeSS them"
 'sThe American Red Cross. through itn women, is rhe most wonderful Of organizations"
 The Red Cross has thus found the way to a soldiers heart Friendly fAeas, good fOod-ahOve all. hot coffee send thousands of homssick hoyS to thelr csntonmentS with st0utsr cOur. sge