The daily Alaska citizen., 1919-07-30

TO SOLDIERS STATIONED AT
 THAT POST
 "Thc ending of the war has not ended the connection of the Knights of Columbus with the soldiers" said Ehouas D Ferguson. general secre- tary of Alaska for the above orga- nization, who arrived here on the steamer Yukon Monday afternoon It is Mr Ferguson's mission to estab- fish three "recreation huts" in AL aska army posts.
 one has already been opened up at F't William H. Seward, at Haines. Alaska, one is about to be begun at Fort Gibbon and the third will be built d Nome. or Fort Davis Each of these buildings, complete, will cost $1O.O0O
 The experience of the organization in the war convinced it that there was need for it's services during peace times. While il k a Catholic or sanization, according to Mr. Forgu- son. its purpose in establishing these huts is not religious. It does no pvosoIytizing and th huts are 10 help entertain, train and educate the diers.
 The hut to be erected at Fort Gib- bon will be completed about Septem- Der 9. It will have a gymnasium and be equipped for all kinds of ath- Ietics. It will also have movie show. reading and writing rooms, li- brary player piano, grafanolas and other features to offer the soldiers and all of them are free of charge. The hut will be under the direction of Patrick Gildea, himself an old timer of Alaska, having formerly re sided at Ruby.
 Mr Ferguson will start the work on the Fort Gibbon station and then go down river to begin work on the Nome station From there he will go to Juneau which will be the head office of the Alaska service and his own headquarters.
 All of the huts being built in AL aSka are being equipped with a Dcl- GO lighting plant of the largest size, which will not only furnish lights for the entire building but will be used for operating the moving picture ma chine.
 The services performed by the Knights of Columbus during the war have been highly praised by all who saw their huts in operation. In speak ing to two of the head officials of the organization during a visit made by them to France, General Pershing commented on the organizations work as follows:
 "I wish to express thru you to the Knights of Columbus my appreciation and that of the officers and men un- der my command for the valuable ser vices rendered by your organization to the American EXpeditionary Force.
 "The active work of your organ izatiOn in France, begun early in 1918, was well under way by the spring of that year, anu has been increasing in scope ever since. Be fore the cessation of hostilities its workers were attached to many of the combat divisions and recreation huts had been opened in the prin Cipal American concentration Centers. Numerous commanding officers have commented the devotion to duty of your personnel, and have testified to their popularity and helpfulness among the troops whom they Served
 During the armistice, it has been particularly active in the promotion of athletics, a most valuable factor for health and cOntentment. It has also contributed to the success of the army entertainment program by gen erous appropriations for musical in struments and equipment of soldier shows; has increased its general recreational activities, helping materi- ally to maintain the morale of the army during the inevitable period of waiting to go home"