The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-11-01
WELD SEVEN War
WORK AGENCIES
INTO RELIEF ARMY
Great Organizations Which Are
Helping to Keep Up the Morale
Of Fighting Millions Unite in
Campaign for .$l7o,5OO, 1000.

With millions of American men on
war fronts, in training campssand on
the seas and with thousands Of Ameri-
can women on foreign soil, all engaged
In the stupendous task Of making the
world safe for democracy, great duty
deyolves upon those who remain In
the United States. the duty OF send
ing Home to those who have put Home
behind them for the period Of the war
The agencies through which this can
be accomplished are Joined In the
United War Work Campaign.
From being given the cigarette or
chocolate bar, with which he stays his
hunger in the fury of battle, to the
theatrical entertainment or the attn
letlc games, which relax him into nor
NAL comfort after weeks Of terrific
combat, the American fighter is de-
pendent upon the continued efforts of
the Y. NJ. G. A, the Z. w. G. A, the
National Catholic War Council and X.
OF c., the War Camp Community Sery-
ice, the Jewish Welfare Board, the
American Library Association and the
Salvation Army. To carry on this
work the combined welfare organlza-
tions are seeking a fund Of S17O,5OO,-
coo.
The Y. NJ. G. A. provides 53S huts In
American training camps, and more
than 500 IN the war zone as centres
which the fighters can use as clubs,
schools, theatres, stores, churches, IL
brarles and writing rooms. More than
1000 men and women had been sent
overseas or approved for overseas
work by early autumn and 1892 were
serving In American camps at heme.
Y. NJ. G. A. huts are the canteens OF
the American Expeditionary Force and
are the theatres where the American
entertainers, sent over by the ~ APP
pear. Noted American public men and
clergymen speak in the huts. Glasses
are conducted there. Millions of letttfs
are written there on paper provided
free by the "Y" Physical directors Of
The "Y' teach and spread mass ath-
letIcs, using material furnished free
by the organization.
The Y. w. G. A. does similar work
for the thousands of American women
in war work aoyersegss-sigpal corps
telephone operators, nurses and
French munition workers, 1t provides
cafeterias, rest and recreation centres,
entertainment and reading for these
women and girls.
The Y. w. g. AIS outstanding con
tribution to soldier welfare work In
training camps was the establishment
OF Hostess Houses. where the soldier
or sailor may receive his mother, wife,
sister or sweetheart In the surround
ings and atmosphere Of the best
homes.
The National Catholic War Council
co.ordlnates all Catholic welfare work
In support of the government and
through the X. of G. provides club.
houses for our fighters In all Ameri-
can training camps, as well as having
seventy-nve centres In France and
three In England. In their huts the
X. OF c. provides acknowledgement
movies, boxing bouts, educational
work, religious services, free station
cry, reading matter and writing rooms
In France their rolling canteen ac'
companies the American army, their
secretaries march with the troops, Civ
Ing away cigarettes. cookies. choco
latcs, soap and towels.
The X. of G. had 500 workers II
France at the beginning OF autumn
with 450 more passed by the govern
ment and 200 others signed up. A
the same date they had 46S secretaries
in American training camps, $50 build
ings, fifty-six more in the course o
erection and contracts let for fift.
more.
War Camp Community Service
functions exclusively In America, IL
special mission being TO surround th'
camps with hospitality" In place %
leaving the soldier or sailor to thI
promiscuous companions and diver
slons formerly his lot, the organiza
tlon obtains for him the best to be hat
IN communities adjoining camps OF
through which he passes.
w. C. c. S. obtains for him invita-
lions TO dine. battle or spend the da!
In the best homes. II introduces hin
10 the best women and girls at socla
gatherings, church entertainments
theatre parties. 1t arouses communl
ties to provide concerts. athletic con
tests and other wholesome diversion
for the soldier aud TO drive out o
discourage the vicious elements whlcl
have been historic camp followers.
The Jewish Welfare Board is CORE
latlng the strength and purposes o
100000 Jewish soldiers, sailors AM
marines with that OF the Gentle sol
dlers, The board teaches the Englls
language, American clvlcs and ideal
TO thousands OF young Jewish me-
who were Indicted into service nfte
only few years residence IN tlli
country Willie safeguarding his IT
llgious rites, Tho board assists IN IN
process of welding the Jewish soldle
into the solid American unit and 4
bridging over the differences betwee
him aud The others.
i Tho A,ppricnn library Association