The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-21

French munition plants The Y, w. c,
A. maintains centres and restaurants
for these American women engaged
in work in support Of the government.
The National Catholic War Council
was formed to coordinate. unity. and
put In operation all Catholic war sc-
tivitles and to put Catholics in touch
with ways of aiding the government
to win the war 1t designated the
knights of Column bus as the body rep
resenting the church in the recrea-
tIonaI welfare Of our soldiers in
camps. The X. of G. centres were
opened in all cantonments, and the
atrieais. movies. literature. stationery,
games. lectures and athletic material
were provided Overseas work in
creased with the growth of the Amer
lean forces. and on September ! there
were 300 X. OF G.. workers in France,
$50 additional secretaries had been
passed for overseas service by the gov
eminent and zoo others had been ae-
cNpted. There were $50 workers in
home service and scventy-fve others
had been assigned to the transport
branch.
The knights Of Column bus work
go right into the thick af this Aahting
in order that the soldiers may not
want fer food. At St. Mihtel the
Catholic organization adopted the
novel scheme of dropping chocolate
and cookies from airplanes flying low
over the battle. There are seventy
Eve huts in France and three in Lon
don. and recently the work has heen
extended to Italy, where 100 workers
and ten buildings are being main
tanned AS auxiliary. the women 5
committee on war activities maintain
visitors houses in and near the home
camps
Surround the camps with hospital
ity." is the purpose Of the War Camp
Community Service, II ministers 10
the needs Of the soldier. sailor or ma
rine when he Is outside of his camp
or on ship, Recognizing that an In
different community Is a menace to
our fighting men and hence. to our
aghting strength the organization con-
~ ts$4atss on s4slt44ap Il, oar fsst In faucli
with the best elements of civilian life.
This unit conducts at railways stations
and other points frequepted by enlist
ed men. information booths where they
can be directed IN wholesome enter
tainment. recreation or athletics. Mu-
inequalities are induced to provide
hand concerts or to furnish club
houses When necessary. the War
Camp Community Service opens clubs
where men may rest. battle, enjoy
music. buy soft drinks or obtain lodg
ing,
A feature ~ the work of this or
ganization is to check inconsistencies
This is done through inviting the men
to visit homes where they have home
cooked meals Visitors TO camps,
especially in the early stages of the
training. have found this to be one OF
tho most important phases of civilian
activity with regard to soldiers
The morale Of the more than 100000
Jewish boys fighting for America is
taken care OF by the Jewish Welfare
Board In addition to recreational and
athletic work along the lines Of the
K OF G and the Y NJ c. a, the hoard
speciaIizes on Americanizing the many
young Jewish men who have not beer
in this country very lonc--though long
enough to Join the colors, Putting
them in touch with American ideals
and history. perfecttna their English.
teaching many to read and write the
language. these are only a few of the
ways in which the board makes the
Jewish soldier more valuable to Amer
lea md Yields him firmly into the
American hghtine machine,
The organization also bridges di
vergences between the Jewish ana
Gentle soldiers, safeguarding the re-
Egious rights of the former while
bringing Them into halter AFat3a and
ing with their Christian feliows-in In
arms There are now more than fifty
huts in operation, and 100 additional
units are planned, The workers in
home camps nun Der 200 while 100
men and the same mum Der Of women
are being sent overseas.