Gunnison news-champion., 1918-11-08
CONE ACROSS FOR THE BOYS
WHO HAVE GONE ACROSS
Continued from E1r.r Page

axe
Christian Association, the National
Catholic War Council X of c. the
Jewish Welfare Board, the War Camp
Community Service, the American
Library Association, and the Saliva
tion Army. Each in its own way is
trying to supply the comforts and
pleasure that absence from home has
taken from your boy and your neigh
bors boy; all are working in closest
harmony for the attainment of the
end. Their purpose, then, is to fur
nish recreation which, while respond
ing 10 the inmate craving of human
nature for legitimate amusement, will
at the same time, relieve their minds
from the serious task to which they
are pledged, and as the case may be,
al times, from the very horror that
surrounds them.
Day and night these organizations
are toiling to keep our soldiers the
most efficient, the cleanest, the most
intelligent, the most human that ever
faced foe, and TO weld them into a
perfect fighting force. The people at
home know that each Of these organi-
cations have the common purpose of
helping TO make better soldiers OF our
men, but may not know what part CO.
lar features Of welfare work are pecu-
liar TO each. Hence this resume of
the salient points in the work Of zach
organization is given.
Beginning with the few "T" serre-
taries who awaited in France the
arrival Of General Pcrshlng'7 vln-
guard, the force has grown % 5,739
men and S52 women workers overseas.
and 1882 in home camps. The ~"
huts are the soldiers clubs, thcnt -es,
schools, reading rooms, and writing
rooms. \. secretaries march with the
troops and serve them with cigarettes
and chocolates. Y. physical directors
supervise the army's informal athl.-
tics which keep the soldiers sound.
physically and mentally.
Never before in warfare have wom-
en- played so active part in reinforc-
ing the fighting men and relieving
men from other work that they may
fight In the war zone the \. w. Z.
A. provides social workers, recration
leaders and cafeteria managers FOR
the thousands Of American women
nurses. signal corps workers and 9TH
cr English-sp speaking women employed
with Americas forces, and for French
women in munition factories, war Of
fees, stores, and shops. They provide
proper housing for women in industry,
and you know, Lloyd George once said:
"If the women of England shoIlG stop
the making of ammunition for only
twenty minutes the war would
be lost"
The National Catholic War Council
was formed to coordinate and put IN
operation all Catholic war activities,
and to put all Catholics in touch with
ways Of aiding the government to win
the war. Ii designated the Knights
Of Columbus as the body representing
the church in the recreational welfare
work of our soldiers in camp. Reading
rooms, Libraries, theatricals, movies
literature, stationery, games, athletic
material, and lectures were provided.
Overseas work increased with the
growth of the American forces there.
Buildings have been erected in Eng
land, France and Italy and 900 Sec
retaries have been accepted for over
seas duties. with 46S at work in the
camps and cantonments in this -oun-
try where there are 300 X c. lr-Iild-
ings. There are 100 secretaries as
signed to transport service. The h.
of c. workers and their chaplains ac
company the soldiers into the lighting
lines, distributing tobacco. chocolates,
soap, towels and other articles, using
motor trucks to carry their supplies.
The X. of c. chaplains are always on
the firing line to minister to the boys
who go West"
Surround the camps with hospita-
lity," is the purpose of the War Camps
Community Service. 1t ministers TO
the needs of the soldier, sailor, and
marine when he is outside his camp
or off ship. The War Camp Comrru-
nifty Service concentrates on putting
our fighters in touch with the best in
Civilian life, particularly the home.
When necessary, the w. c. C. 5. opens
clubs where enlisted men may rect.
bathe, pass the night, enjoy music,
play games, and dissipate the pargs
of homesickness bound to come to the
boys in the first few months in camp.
The Jewish Welfare Board is q
"Win the War" organization that is
helping to sustain the morale of the
Jewish men in the fighting forces. In
addition to doing this worl. among
these men, the ]. w. B. spec;aiizcs in
Americanizing the many young mon
of that faith who have not been in the
U. S. many years, putting them in
touch with American ideals and his
tory, perfecting their English and al
together, making the Jewish soldier
more valuable to America by welding
him firmly into the American lighting
strength.
It's the business of the American
Library Association to keep the mon
in the army supplied with books ard
magazines. Any book soldier asks
for is supplied as quickly as possible,
and if i is not in stock it is purchased.
The L brary Association works thru
the y NJ. C. A, the Y. n, the K.of c.,
tho Salvation Army, the ]. w. B., and
the Red Cross. All books that go tn
til organizations go thru the ALA.
Always, near to the lowly and the
fn-f:rr ,,,accoc the %.