The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-15
100 Million Dollars Needed for
Work Here and Overseas.
Germans Have Captured Many
Army Y. M. Huts in France.
DR.. MOTT OUTLINES NEEDS
Great Responsibilities Shout
dered ON Y. M, Says DR.. Mott.
Association Is Backed BY Good
VIII of Thoughtful People.

Why the Y. NJ. c. A. must raise
moro than one hundred million dol
lars during the coming drive for funds
to maintain activities here and over
seas, has been outlined by DR.. John
R. Mott, general secretary, at the
annual meeting of the national war
work council. -.
To begin with. unexpected losses
have to be met. Within the last five
or six days the Germans have cap
tured one-fourth of the $50 foyers du
soldat-known to the American SOL
diers as "Y. NJ huts-which have
been maintained by the American 7.
NJ: G. A. for the French forces, Doc
tor Mott said. The association has ap-
propriated half a million dollars to
replace the eighty mine huts and dug
outs lost by the British Y. M. c. A.
in Flanders and Picardy during the
recent enemy drive.
Big Responsibilities.
Tremendous responsibilities have
been shouldered upon the Y. M. c. A"
said Doctor Mott. "It is marvel
ously comprehensive thing We have
been asked to do over there. We have
not only been sent over there simply
70 represent the ministry of the Y. M.
c. "a, as we understand 1t In this
country That is the smallest part of
our task. ..-s.
HIt would be a great thing to extend
the ministry of our association to the
mon of our own country land of those
of other lands who are now in France.
hut we have been asked to do more
than that-we are to represent to all
of those American sons and brothers
not only the Y. NJ. c. A. of America.
but we are to represent TO them ana
be to them for the time being the
American home, and this Is a ire
mendous responsibility.
I'VE are to represent to them the
American school and college. We are
to represent to them the best phases
of American club life and all that is
best of, the American stage. We are
to represent TO them the American
churches, and what a great RESPONSE
bility that isl 1t is a comprehensive
ministry.
at is not to be wondered at that 1t
has at it's back the goodwill OF every
thoughtful person in our native land,
regardless of his political or religious
affiliation.
American Nation Behind Work.
1.-THE American nation is behind US.
That should not only cheer US, how
ever, but should increase the sense OF
burden of responsibility, because those
who are behind us with their good
will will follow us with judgment un-
less we represent faithfully that with
which they have charged us.
Let me give you additional reasons
why we need so much money to con-
tinue our war work.
THE first reason is that we are the
only agency able to do this work on
Il 49, l. =, 10
over there to a large extent what
twelve or fourteen agencies are trying
TO do on this side of the Atlantic.
r Forces Are Scattered.
erhe second reason is that over
there the forces are scattered. Over
here we are familiar with the great
environments where 10000 or 10000 or
10000 men are massed in each. You
will find in France a division of less
than 10000 scattered in thirty to sixty
villages. 1 heard of two divisions that
had arrived in France and the associa-
ton had only one secretary to place
at their disposal. These soldiers are
billeted in small groups all over the
villages. One bitter cold day forty of
iour boys were assigned to a hay loft.
The floor of the stable that the cattle
had occupied was cleaned up and 100
more were put there.
THE chickenhouse held seven more
oho Iiio SllOp d QOZen more.
Eight hundred boys were parceled out
In that particular village. The father
or mother is not in this land who, If
he or she had been with me and seen
their boy, as I have seen him, would
not be willing to mortgage house or
land, II necessary, in order that the
Y. NJ. c. A. might be established in
that particular section. He or she
would be saying. You have got to get
down to the unit of 800, If my boy Is
there and not stop with serving large
units of 1900 or over
Troops Constantly Shifting.
Another reason why we need large
sums of money is the constant shifting
that is being done over there. In six
months one division of our army had
to shift four times-was put in five
different positions. That means great
1y increased expense. In this case Il
meant opening up huts in 80 different
villages successfully for five times or
q total of $50 villages.
Another reason is the broken
down means of communication. All the
French railroads are worn out. I saw
the splendid double line America has
stretched almost across France. and /
saw what America is trying to do with
some of the French roads. But IL we
had not established our own transport
system we would not be in sos places
our own automob bile service. But It is
expensive, when you think Of the