The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-28
J. D. BROCK TELLS |. OF "" WORK ON
 FIELDS OF BATTLE
He Says Former Gambling House is Now Y. M. c. A.
 Hut.

What the Y. M. c. A. is doing for the American soldier in France. and particularly what aid Is being given by local man, is graphically de- scribed in letter from the French front to W. S. Lacy, general secretary of the Y. M. c. A. from John D. Brock, physical director of the local 'Y' who Is on leave of absence.
 The letter follows:
 On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force.
 Sept. 6, 1918. Dear MT. Lacy:-
 As I told you in my other letter 1t .s hard to be away from the family So l long, but I would not have missed for anything my experience over hero with our boys. My work has carried me to a good many places in Fran 9 and l have had a varied experience in the different types of work we are l doing. The more I see of the Y. M. c A. and its work the more am con vinced of the essential part 1t is play ing in the big game. Our boys need 1t and appreciate the part the asso- citation Is taking to make them com | fortable and give them some of the home atmosphere.
 am going to tell about some of the places I have been in and the place the Y. M. c. A. takes in the various types of work. First, I was l with a combat division for a few | months, the First Division. Our huts were dotted along the roads and among the barracks of the different groups. A division is spread around for a good many miles, so it means 8 "Y" hut for nearly every little town in the district. It was my job to gC about and provide the sport for the men. This we tried to do largely through the hut secretaries as at that time there were not enough athletic men. The second kind of work tho "Y'' is doing is in the aviation camps Here the huts mean a great deal ti these men who are risking their lives daily in the air service. A sing around the piano, the comforts of the can teen, or an athletic game give tht much needed change from the straiI of flight. Again my work carried me to one of the corps schools fol . training officers. Here I saw the Y M. c. A. physical directors assistin; the instructors to carry on an ath letic program that was fitting tht students for work with their men. think the most interesting place
 have been in was at Aix-les-Bai where the Y. M. c. A. has taken ove
 the old casino which was used as ; gambling house. Here thousands o American soldiers are sent on leave They enjoy all kinds of fine privi , leges in sport, at the theatre, and art entertained at the best hotels at thi famous place. I went there for m.
 leave and enjoyed some fine tennis . 1 oo1F orA ----i------I-~- rrL-~ s fetes of various kinds going on and
 introduces one to the French mode o
 enjoyment which one would get in n
 other way. The town reminds on
 of an American up to date city. SeV eral other similar places are being ar
 ranged for by the association, to talk care of the vast army that is here One type of work that [ have not seer is the port work and hope to get t sec it on the rounds of my work.
 The association Is covering tn ) ground in every way possible unde } the conditions that have arisen wit Z the rapid growth of the army. W z need men and material to cover tn [ entire field.
 S With kind regards, remain Sincerely,
 3 (signed) JOHN D. BROCK