Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-16
THE CHALLENGE OF
DECENTRALIZATION DAYS

MticOlIu Lama. II. 49, lOIlneT
pastor Of the Congregational church
in Hallowcll and now a Y. VI. c. a
secretary somewhere in France
sends the following message 10 the
home folks, wherever they may be
The words are timely and will inter-
est you. Read them:
These words are for the many
failing generosity has made possible
one OF the most significant move
ments OF history, and one in which
for more than year I have been
privileged to have a part. | believe
in and love the work to such an ex-
tent that ! shall be forgiven for
showing some anxiety over possible
effects OF current peace discussions
upon the November campaign for
funds. | wish to set forth clearly
the tremendous opportunity and
challenge OF the immediate future
together with the corresponding obi
cation to carry through to a finish a
work just now coming to its hour OF
gravest responsibility
Our fellowship in France has been
made huoyantly happy by the rear
prospects OF peace. 1T has been hard
to steel ourselves to thoughts of
another winter of war. And now
the line of least resistance would be
to consider the war about ended and
10 In Snhar
veals tragic consequences which
would inevitably follow any large
yielding to such rash impulse The
paramount duty is to carry on as
never before.
As = matter of fact. at the moment
of writing. the conflict is not over.
The home government is not abating
III the least it's every effort to carry
the war through to one only ultimate
conclusion. CG3 we afford to do
less? The stream Of Khaki lads is
still pouring in upon us and win con-
tinue to do 50. The situation is
somewhat critical. We have never
vet been able to meet all Of the ever
increasing opportunities for service
Were peace made tomorrow, and
numberlcss secretaries hurried to
our assistance, it would even then be
long time before we could catch up
with actual needs. What then will
happen if secretaries now in France
desert their posts and others about
to cross the Atlantic fail TO come to
our help? 1t will be n vertible
calamity if peace hopes or peace talk
shall Of 70 40
when we should do more. The need
was never greater for more money
and men.
The work of the Y. NJ. c. A. will
not be finished with the signing of
peace. Its most important services
will be rendered throughout days Of
rehabilitation. The safety of our
soldiers will then pass largely from
field strategy and military discipline
70 the saving power OF such efforts.
Peace terms cannot be settled in a
moment. During days of lengthy
deliberations our battle lines may
even be preserved intact When the
war ends it will be impossible to
transport the troops home in a few
weeks or even months. And were it
possible, it would doubtless be an
economic blunder to turn back mil
lions Of men en- masse upon a coun-
try passing from a period of war in
dustries to those Of peace. For a
considerable time to come an i'm
patient American manhood is des-
tined to be kept in the military
camps of France.
Here is the challenge of coming
days. The need will be great and
fraught with grace responsibility.
Conditions VII, be favorable to the
Y. II. c. a. enterprise. Troops will
be held more stationary. This will