The Coconino sun., 1918-11-08

ito establish exchanges for the Amer ican troops in France" these exchan- ges not to be limited to areas distant from active operations, but to be pushed as far to the front az military operation permit in order that such comforts and conveniences as they af- ford may reach the soldiers in the more advanced positions where they are most needed"
 There Was Some Confusion.
 At first, very naturally, there was some confusion, some misunderstood ing and doubtless some ground for grumbling. 1t took a little time, for instance, to establish uniformity in the matter of prices. Also, because things were distributed to men busily engaged in fighting right in the front trenches, the impression was gather ed by many men that the Y. M. c. A. was to charge nothing for any of its supplies to any canteen, an assump- tion that was, of course, wholly un- warranted.
 While it is eminently proper to sue cor in every possible way men who are in the midst of battle, it is not the desire of General Pershing or any other military authority that goods be given away indiscriminately to the soldiers.
 Good Sold at Cost Minus Freight.
 Incidentally, the Y. M. c. A. now sells it tobacco to the men at just what it pays for it wholesale. In oth- CT words, since August 1, 1918, the "Y" has met army quartermaster prices. This entails loss of several million dollars year, but it gives the boys Bull Durham at AZ cents, Fatimas at 9ls cents and other brands at lower prices than are paid in Osh- kosh, San Francisco or New York.
 The size of the orders placed by the Y. M. c. A. take away 0ne's breath.
 Some Recent Supply Orders.
 One recent order was for 300,000,- 900 sheets of letter paper, equal to three sheets for every man, woman and child in the United States. The triangle daily mail has a greater cir culation, so to speak, than any daily newspaper on earth--and no publica- tion has readers one-tenth as eager and in terested as those who receive the million or monre. letters a day from our overseas boys.
 The Y. M. c. A. might be called the line of communication between every city and hamlet in America and the European battle front. A line of communication that reaches and touches the heart of almost every human being throughout this country A line of communication every bit as necessary for maintaining the effici- ency of our troops as any military line of communication ever. estab- lished.s
 Just a Few Cookies.
 Another recent order was for 750 carloads of cookies, enough to give every adult and child in America eight cookies with some 10000, ,000 to spare. Another order was for 93,- 750,0O0 sticks of chewing gum, or fif- ty pieces for every American soldier in France.
 At one clip, 112,5OO,OO0 bars of chocolate were contracted for, some thing over 50 bars for every dough- boy.
 Think also, of single order for 7,500, 900 jars of jam and marmalade!
 JuSt SOmetning tO SmOkc.
 AS for tobacco the requirements az gregate something like 4,5O0,000 cig- ars and 200,000,0 900 cigarettes every month. Not long ago a contract was placed for no fewer than 1850, ,000,- 900 cigarettes, a ration of between GOO and TOO for every fighter. Chew ing tobacco is bought by the half dozen carloads.
 The Y. M. c. A., moreover, has bldAsomed out as large-scale manu- facturer. It has taken over five fac tories in France for making chocolate and three for making biscuits, cook ies, crackers and various delicacies in the pastry line. These factories, how ever, can produce only modest per centage of the million tons of biscuits consumed monthly.
 Athletics Not Overlooked.
 In addition to providing for the in ner man, the "Y" caters to the ath- letic needs of our stalwarts overseas. Spalding never placed or received or ders comparable with those given by the Y. M. c. A. Just imagine fur nishing 132,000 baseballs, 2500 catch ers' mitts, 15.000 fielders' mitts, 21,- 900 indoor baseballs, 5000 Rugby footballs, 5000 soccer footballs, 21,- 900 ping-pong balls and 700 sets of boxing gloves.
 Colleges on Firing Lines.
 Of the vast and incalculably valu- able work which the Y. M. C. A. has done, is doing and will do more for the spiritual and educational upbuild- ing of our sons and brotheres fighting the barbarian Germans, no space is left here to write at length. It must suffice to say that khaki colleges are being organized in Y. M. c. A. huts wherever physically possible, and ev- cry subject of vocational interest to ambitious young Americans will be taught. This is far-sighted move, since year or two must elapse after the war ends until all our troops can be brought home.
 What Triangle Stands For. The three sides of the red triangle stand for mans spirit, mind and body. | FW