Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-20
Mistakes in Every Great Effort.

fort that mistakes are made, and no
one, no matter how exalted his per-
son or how unimpeachable his 1nteg-
| rity, can escape. Other important or
Similar experience So with the Y. NJ.
c. A. There is no phase Of its work
| that has been left untouched by crit
les. Much Of the adverse comment IS
due to misconception or to partial
knowledge"
DR.. Mott explained that the Y. M. c.
A. had not concerned itself specifically
with the wounded and i'll because IL
had been agreed this work should pc
done by the Red Cross. He denied the
which. has been that the association
has been profting by the operation
of it's canteens overseas. He explained
that it had been agreed with Gen.
Pershing that if any profit were de-
rived from the canteens it should be
used exclusively for the benefit OF the
men of the Army.
Not only has the organization made
no profit, he declared, but it has lost
thousands of dollars. Arrangements
will enable it to obtain supplies from
sources that will reduce overhead
charges and keep prices down..
Another Report Denied.
DR.. Mott also asserted that it was
not true that the Y. NJ c. A. furnishes
free to the men overseas nothing but
writing paper, although he said it was
the policy of the organization to give
free service and not primarily free
supplies. He added. however, that
tributed gratis in September Of this
year, in addition to $4,000 excess
of cost over selling price on supplies
sold" Besides giving away vast
quantities Of supplies in front-line
piled the Army overseas between July
and November with $4,000 worth Of
athletic supplies, not to mention hum
dreds of thousands of dollars worth OF
magazines and educational supplies
Dr. Mott admitted that in cases gift
tobacco was sold at Y. M. c. A. can
teens, but said it was due to the fact
that shipments were not properly mark
ed and were sold to the Y. M. c. A. by
the quartermaster In every case Where
C. A. gave the purchaser its equivalent
from it's own supplies
Denial was made by DR.. Mott that a
''holier than thou attitude was typical
if overseas secretaries were brusque in
their dealings with soldiers it undoubt-
edly was due to the fact that many OF
them were on duty for eighteen hours at
stretch, sometimes without meals.
Makes an Explanation.
DR.. Mott did not deny the charge that
the Y. M. c. A. has taken scores of men
from gainful occupation and, after prom
| Using overseas service, turned them back
| without occupation. He said, however.
| that the government Of the United
States and other civilian organizations
had done the same thing. He explained
that this was due largely to the fact
that the War Department had indicated
strong preference that wherever possible
Y. NJ c. A. workers should be taken
from the Army overseas. The depart
ment recently has announced, he said,
.. that it will release officers and enlisted
men who are especially qualified to as
sist in the educational program and
other activities Of the Y. NJ. c. A. This
will result in a large saving Of trans
portation, but will embarrass those men
who were ready for overseas service.
No Sinking Of Danger.
In answer to the charge that Y. M.
c. A. workers persistently lodged dan
ger, Dr. Mott said that nine workers
have been killed by shell fire while on
duty and Twenty-Five seriously gassed
or wounded. Thirty-one others have
died in service, chiefly as q result Of
exposure and overwurk. Ten have been
cited for bravery or decorated.