Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-11
"ALL PATHS LEAD
TO RED TRIANGLE"
IN THE WAR ZONE
United War Work Campaign Does Much For Soldiers Says
Req. DR.. BdgneH Who SaD Battling Yankees at Work

"AlI paths lead to the Red Triangle
in the army camps. 1t is always the
most attractive place in the camp.
Thus, in a few words. DR.. Robert
Bagnell in an address to his congre-
CATION in the Grace Street Methodist
Church last evening. summed up the
achievements of the Y. NJ. C. A. in
the army camps and at she front
DR.. Bagnell has returned from re-
cent visit to the Western front
where he travelled as a representa-
tive of the Y. NJ. c. A. and made a
personal tour of inspection to gain
an insight on the work of the "Y.
"I went in a Y. NJ. C. a. uniform
and did my work under the direction
of it's officers" he said. And there
fore had an adequate opportunity to
study it at close range. but did not
have as good an opportunity to see
the work of the other agencies of
the National War Work. So I shall
speak of the work of the Red Tri-
angle, but l am sure that the same
general facts apply as we'll to all
the agencies involved in this great
movement"
Look After Sick
Continuing. DR.. Bagnell said in
part:
THE first thing that impresses
you at the Red Triangle is its great
ministry to the immediate needs of
the boys. Some places it is able to
do this more adequately than others
but the same honey feeling prevails
everywhere, and the homesick boys
whether in America or France find
good cheer and comfort. The strong
est tie between the soldier boy and
the folks is the Y. NJ. C. A; when he
is sick or wounded the strongest tie
is the Red Cross Many of the let
ters home would never be written
but for the gentle reminders of the
Red Triangle.
Ready For Advice
Hundreds of thousands of dollars
are sent home that doubtless would
be spent unwisely. One afternoon I
went out to a nearby. camp and after
the address. in talking with couple
of young fellows-brothers-I found
they had just received months pay.
1 persuaded them to go with me to
the Association headquarters and
send home several hundred francs to
their mother. Needless to say, the
association performs this service free
of charge.
1.-THE Ministry of the Red Triangle
is one to the various needs of the
men. The athletic equipment is
furnished by the association and it's
trained physical director, usually di-
rects athletic activities. The read
ing matter is almost all found at
the hut.
THE more serious side of things
is fully provided for by the associa-
tion through both the high grade
workers in the field and special lee
turers and speakers from America
The boys will not listen long to gilt
tering generalities but will gladly
listen for an hour and half or long
er to a serious discussion of funda-
mental things especially upon the
war and it's issues and will then
gather around the speaker for furth-
er discussion. Religious talks are
popular and we'll attended. if they
are straightforward and sane. but
they will not stand for what they
call sob stuff" or 1camouhage."
Help Morale
''It is not difficult to see that such
service as this has a very real and
vital relation to the morale of the
men themselves. We have heard a
great deal about morale in this war,
more than in any other, while the ma
chinery of war has developed beyond
precedent, it has not overshadowed,
at least on the Allied side. the initia-
tive and the morale of the individual.
Morale is an Elusive thing. 1t is the
product of many factors. The sharp
ontrast between the morale Of
the Germans and the Allies en-
phasizes this fact. The German
morale seems to rest almost wholly
on military considerations, while
with the Allies principles and ideals
are more vital Moreover the Ger
mans seem never to have appreciated
the legitimate and natural function
of play in restoring tired nerves and
lifting tired spirits.
"One of the striking things about
the Red Triangle is the way it car
ries on. When the soldier first en-
trains he finds a Y man and when he
reaches camp he finds it is ready to
welcome him. 1t is his best friend
throughout the period of his stay in
the camps in this country. When he
goes abroad he finds the Transport
Secretary" on the ship with him. when
he arrives in the port city in France
Triangle is there ahead of him to
welcome him.
Transformer of Men
"Wpr is always a great transformer
and revealer Many men have gone
into this war with great regulations
who win come out with little or none
and unknown men will be revealed
as great men. Some men who have
entered this war with regulations
for morality and even religion will
come out with revealed or developed
weaknesses of character. Many more
who entered the war untried and un-
developed have suddenly become men.
All the things that tend to make our
men good soldiers tend also to make
them good men. The army expert
ence. the discipline. the stress and
strain of it all, the travel. and the
multiplied ministries of the Red Tri-
angle and these other agencies have
not only made these men more valu-
able. in time of war but also in times
of peace. Probably SO per cent. of
them will return to America, the