The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-09
ASKS VIRGINIA FOR zoo
Y. N. c. A. WORKERS
Appalling Need OF Christian Workers
Among Troops Abroad Revealed
To Prominent Citizens.
UNDER WAR WORK COUNCIL.
Secretary Of War Personnel Beard
Says 5000 Men and Women Now
in Uniform. But Double That Num-
her Needed.

The appalling need of Y NJ. e. A.
workers with the American troops
abroad was revealed to Virginia yes
tcrday when a recruiting committee
from New York. sent into the South
by the National War Work council.
met with conference of representa-
tive business and professional men of
the state al the jefferson hotel.
L. G. knebel, executive secretary
of the war personnel hoard. read the
following cable message from Am
bassador Sharp in Paris. forwarded
from New York after the recruiters
left for this city:
Appalling need of workers with
American troops Minimum require
ments today arc 500 men for snproxf-
nateiy 200 important unoccupied
points Many of these are on the
firing line Secretaries serving alone
At the front are breaking under ter
rife strain. We must have Immediate
and adequate relief 10 avert catas-
trophe,'
In addition TO the 900 men needed
when the cable was sent. the budget
of the Y. NJ. {. a. calls for the re-
cruitins of 500 men and women this
month forslservice overseas TO keep
pace with military expansion
Two Hundcd Men Attend Meeting.
More than 200 men attended the
luncheon and conference beginning a
O'Clock Governor Davis spoke
briefly before the problems of the y,
NJ. c. \. were presented. He urged
every man present who is able to do
SO, TO make great sacrifice on the
altar of freedom and go ia the aid Of
those boys who arc fighting for de-
mocracy in this war"
The governor called attention to the
fact that all may serve in this conflict,
those who go into the trenches and
the others none the less patriotic,
who back up the man behind the gun.
"One of the great agencies at
work" the governor added. lis this
great organization, the y NJ. c. A..
and il is today asking the men of Viz
ginia and of the state 10 go to the
foreign lands in order that they may
give their best abilities to the pro-
blems. the solutions of which the gov
eminent holds the Y. NJ. G. A respon-
shle.''
Virginia Asked for 600.
Mr.. knebel urged the conference to
be douhiy active in obtaining recruits
before July because OF the diff
Guilty OF obtaining enlistments during
the summer. He asked Virginia to
raise goo men in the next seven weeks,
and recruiting committees were form
cd to do the work Edward S. VIII
kinson. of New York. who came to
Richmond with the recruiters, will re-
main here for Il few days to direct
the organization of city, state and
county committees to draft men of
the highest type into the service of
the red triangle.
the y. NJ. c. A was asked by the
United States government to recruit
| 500 workers for the American
camps. AT the present time We lrave
more than 5000 men and women in
uniform here and overseas, and this
total must be doubled very soon un-
less the Y. NJ. G. A. is to faiter in los
task. The French and Italian au-
thorities have seen the results OBJ
tanned by our system OF providing re-
creation and keeping UP the mora lie
OF the lighting forces and we face the
burden of manning 400 French huts
and of sending dozens of men into
Italy.
president Poincare and Premier
Ciemenceau emphasize in strongest
terms the need OF co-opera ton. md
many of our American generals insist
that our work must keep pace with
the nations military expansion"
Among those present at the con-
ference from out of the city were
William X Allen. Amherst B. f.
Moomaw, Cloverdale J. +. West,
waverly; NJ. J. Sauires, Emporia; j.
h. NJ Morton Alexandria: =. e,
Ragby, West Point: John Is. Primer.
Suffolk: Lucius Gregory. T. E. Rob
erts, G. NJ. Boswell, Chase City; Henry
T.. Lee, Crewe; j. A. Gray, Wythe-
yille Rev. II. w. Robertson. Madison;
r. A. Mcintyre, warrenton: William
~.