The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-02-19
RED CROSS TAKES
FRENCH GANTEEHS
French Government Pays
Tribute to American Ge-
MUS For Organization.

CspeciaI Dispatch to West VirSinian.)
CHICAGO, Feb. 19.-For the pur-
pose OF taking over the entire canteen
system of the French and American
armies at the request OF the military
officials, the Y. NJ. c. A. has organ
lied an operating company with a cap
;taI of $4,000, 900 and is preparing to
do a business of $500, 100000 a year IN
canteen supplies for the soldiers on
Fsrerch soil. In an announcement
made here tday it was stated that at
least 3. 500 men would be required 10
conduct the affairs of this business.
or this number several hundred have
already been secured and sent abroad.
A total of 934 secretaries had been
sent 10 France by the American 7. NJ.
c. A. on February l. Many OF these
will he concerned entirely with the
mana cement CT the Y. NJ. c. A. can
teen system in the 80 camps for the
American troops on French soil and for
the French troops. Each canteen. 1t
is stated. carries list of SO differ
emf articles for sale. These range
IRON needles and candy to wearing ap-
paTeI.
Forty auto truck drivers will be re-
CURED by the Y. NJ. C. A 10 transport
the supplies which are to be handled
for the soldier boys in camp close up
behind the trenches and back OF the
firing lines.
A constant stream of American
business and professional men IS be-
ing fed into the overseas work OF the
Y. NJ. c. A Because Of the e1traordi-
nary demand on the part OF the sol
dicrs for the facilities and advantages
offered them either free or at cost by
the y. Nj. c. A. an army OF trained men
is required TO render this service.
Three hundred and twenty-five secre-
tarics sailed for France during the
month Of December, sai0 an official
Of the Personnel Bureau of the Ma
tional War Work Council OF the y. NJ.
c. A. in Chicago. Between New
Years and February 10, one hundred
and fifty others left an Atlantic port.
4 few days later. $50 men, many OF
whom had given up their business OF
their positions in order TO 90 across
end serve without pay in the Y. NJ C.
a ranks, were sent abroad.
In a recent sailing of secretaries
were K. c.. Brown. of Brownsville. N
=. who put the first telephone in
france and was decorated by the
French government. He crossed the
= Gantic for the seventeenth time to
rye his services as Y. NJ. c. A. sec
:cuary.
L. c. Potter. a nephew OF the late
Eishop Potter. also was member OF
the party. Sir. Potter's son is at pres
cnt in the Frying Squadron OF France.
Other mcn from middle western
states who have gone across as secre-
f,rics OF the y. NJ. C. A. are: R. H.
Pan. University OF Chicago, pastor of
a.. Mgo~1cad. Miss, NJ. E. church: j.
Lewis. OF Chicago, L. OF c. student;
Earl Ballew, Lexington, ILL.,, field sec
rotary, of the Anti-Saloon League. grad
i.ate Of Hedding college, Abingdon,
Illinois.
L.E. Buell.. Of Detroit. who has been
state secretary OF the Michigan Y. NJ.
{. A. Tor many years. was a member
of the December party. From Mis-
souri, recently the Y. NJ. c. A. war WORK
secured A. W. Taylor, Of Columbus,
and George E. Burgess, of St Louis.
The name of Thomas c. Polk, of Valpa-
raise, Indiana, also is included in the
Ealing list.
About 25 college men from the Cai-
ted States are included in the Y NJ.
c. A. forces at AIesopotamia, and there
are noT five American secretaries in
Egypt. A similar number OF colored
American secretaries have been work
ing among the African carriers attach
ed to the Allied armies in East Africa.