Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-16

allow CONTINUOUS work with the
same bodies OF men through longer
periods Of time. Other conditions
will favor temptations which will
reach out after our boys as never
before. The rehabilitation period is
bound TO be like unto that illogical
time when college teams break
training" after the season OF play
The incentive TO keep in condition
will be gone. Severe discipline of
fighting days is likely to be somewhat
relaxed while permisslons and
leaves are more easily obtained. Nor
can we blame the soldiers if after
months Of war they are supremacy
on pleasure bent. Our particular
task has been to put into the life of
the military camps everything that a
young man likes best so that he will
not wish Ito go to town" Soon
every American soldier will want ito
see France before l go nome" Big
thoughts induced by the dangers and
hazards of war will give place to
those less serious. Living will once
more be in terms of time rather than
Of possible eternity.
With these facts in mind let me re-
iterate that the y. NJ. G. A. is about
! 70 lace its greatest opportunity. Ii
IS adjusting itself to meet the new
| conditions. In cooperation with
military officials and eminent educa-
tors scheme is being outlined
whereby the young men of the army
luptcd school and college studies. An
athletic program has been launched
having in mind the special needs of
the six months or year following the
war. Religious, social and other
departments. are even now seeing to
1t that there is something doing
every night" in the hundreds of huts
and other Y. NJ. G. A. centers. An
association machine which has been
perfected in days of war is being
seared up to do it's most effective
work during more peaceful. times.
How will our friends back home
accept their part in this final oppor-
tun'ty OF the war? Will they con-
tlnue to stand Loyalty by? Liberty
loans gave TO the government an l,n-
qualified endorsement, put heart into
her soldiers-and terror. into the
mlnd of the Hun. The November
campaign can be our triumph and
inspiration
we would not argue the matter Of
right to continued confidence and
loyal support. We prefer to rest our
case upon the direct testimony, CON
tanned In the millions of home letters
"iit.eh under the red triangle
"itn Inc colors." Generals Haig
fershlng, and members of the United
states Commission to Russia. fbe-
lore she left the field did not hest
tate to say that the Y. NJ. C. A
would have much to do IN helninc
WIN the war. In that faith we have
urea TO do our bit. Morale is win
ming the war for us while the enemy
las publicly confessed that lack Of II
mas lost him the battle. And il IS
doubtful if the world. or those who
have .iabored shere, will ever ,,no,,,
.uH' now much our hut-church
,hea'ef library recreation centers
nave had to do with helping to Gre
az ana maintain that invincible
morale. Thousands of boys have
SAID 1t. I'd have gone to he'll had Il
not been for the Y. M. C. A."
But the end is not yet. We have
oeen absorbed in conserving quality
IN the soldiers going TO the front
we are now looking ahead to the
Dogs as they shall go back home
iheir night is not ended with beat
ing the Hun. The American soldier
mas vet to persevere amidst insidions
temptations of scamp life se,f-con-
aueror--keeperspf an unsullied man
llood and captain of his soul. He
VIII need help@ and saving friends
CHRISTIAN America, in and through
.he :. NJ. G. A.. met her bows az
they landed in France. She went
WIN them even into the trenches
"hat will she do further Will She
carry through until the last soldier
mas embarked for home and come
PACK clean? The November cam
paign will show.