The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-18

The American army in France Is
reading army. according to Alfred
M. Brace, supervisor Of Journalism
at the state university Of South Da-
kota, in an article on Libraries Tor
Americans in France"
Rudyard Kipling is the most
popular writer among the expedi-
tionary forces. Robert w. Service is
second. H @. Wells is third, with
Robert Louis Stevenson a close
fourth. A tally OF the call for spec
ial books has been kept by workers
in the Y M. g. A. libraries and this
statement is based on their figures.
Though the great call is for fiction,
"highbrow" books are also in great
demand. Workers on French history
and life and technical books are
specially sought after. Mr.. Brace
says:
THE book stores of France and
England are being ransacked to sup
ply the American soldiers in France
with reading material for the win
ter. Twenty thousand books Of fic-
tion and general interest have re-
Gently been purchased in England
by the American Y, NJ. G. A. to help
meet the persistent demand from the
soldiers at the American bases and
are to be distributed by the library
department of the Y. NJ. G. A.
through the Red Triangle huts.
wv. B. Briggs, assistant librarian
Of Harvard university and represen-
tative in France Of the American
Library association, is in charge OF
the problem of distribution.
Owing to the fact that the sup
ply of English books in France is |
small, arrangements are being made |
by the Y M. c. A. to meet the grow |
ing needs by securing the supplies |
from England-when emergency or |
ders are required, and from America |
for a steady stream Of books through |
the American Library association.
THE varied demands from the |
American base camps for reading /
material show a great range in taste |
and education, and a very prom
nunced desire on the part Of the
soldiers to improve their minds
while in France. A section OF Amer
lean ambulance men serving the
French army have requested Greek
and Latin grammars and Caesars
They propose TO
form n class to study the Roman
in Gaul, where the larger
of the present war are
being fought.
Books on the different branches
Of the military service are being
asked for by enlisted men who de-
sire to study in preparation for eX-
for advancement in the
army. There has been 8 large call
as well, for elementary high school
textbooks, algebras, English gram
mars arithmetics geometries, die
tionaries and, histories.
The large number Of requests for
books has been for those dealing
with French history and things
French. From every available source
French grammars, easy lessons in
French, and French English die
.ionaries have been sought out to
provide the soldiers with means to
study the French language, and the
supply does not keep pace with the
demand. French history and biog-
Apply and descriptive books on mod
arn France are in large demand.
The library department OF the Y,
VI. G.. A, has plwaced an order for ten
thousand copies of a handy edition J
# books Of maps Of the western
ront and for ten thousand pocket
of Europe. "A large
lumber Of outline maps have been
ordered and win be used in modern
var geography classes IN the huts
his winter.
Books on the war, on European
history on aviation and submarine
warfare. technical books, history
.stronomg and Psychology are be-
ng called for In large numbers. Fie-
ion, especially short stories, and /
humorous books are in demand"