Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-14

less men, Journalists farmers--and who
whatever their shortcomings, we're eager
to serve, the men and officers became
loyal friends of the Y. NJ G. A. heard
no criticism whatever Of the canteer
prices during all my work as hut secre-
/ tary. as driver, aud at the front IN
dressing stations and hrst-aid stations
In few cases there occurred sharu
1 criticism BECAUSE at times the CanteeI
supplies We're limited or entirely ex-
hausted. But our soldiers were not un-
reasonable when Il was explained that
. this was due in the first place to the
! limited shipping room accorded the y.
in the second place TO the condition of
the French railroads, where often car
load cons slgnInents were sent astray and
at one time AN embargo on our goods
was imposed by the French. and in the
third place to our own scarcity Of trans -
portation-just four Ford Camionettes
with which to spread the supplies among
10000 men who were separated over
quite an area
Praised by Divisions chief
our actual standing with the division
was disclosed after We had entered the
big drive north OF Nerdun. The morning
our men were to go over the top for
the first time, our four Fords loaded
with supplies and with secretaries for
duty near the front, crept UP the she'll
torn roads just at the break of day.
We had started from the regional ware
house some thirty miles back. at
o'clock In the morning. And all along
the roads there were cheers for the
good old Y. VI. -. A and shouts of
That's the spirit. 60 to il, "l" men I"
And after those twentN-Oue days during
which our boys fought without relief
and our ~ men worked ncessant!y.
after We had settled down in rest
area about armstice time and counted
up, from our small - force, one hilled,
one wounded, several Gassed. ana others
worn out and unable TO continue work
Il 4 IL i -
nor do enough Tor the Y. NJ. g. A.. This
was especially true Of the doctors.
stretcher bearers and ambulance drivers
with whom the secretaries had been so
constantly associated in the work ior
the wounded. And our general showed
his rdange of heart by sending to our
divisional secretary cordial letter OF
gratitude and ComuenCatlon for the eHi-
cheney and courage and unseltshness OF
the y. NJ g. \ force attached to his
division.
81 know of many another such letter
from officers high in command. | sug-
Eest that IT might be an eye-opcAer for /
those who are ready to form snap Judg-
ments from such an unfair replesenta- f,
{ ion Of the Y. NJ. .. A. as Mr.. James's /.
article. if tho association should collect |
from it's divisional secretaries and pub /
lish a number of such letters from army /
officials, relative to the work of the " ,
both in the rear aUI AZ the front AS a |
Mr.. James's assertions from incomplete /
with the concentrations .
OF General Pershing and his staff. He .
has recently remarked that he would .
rather have a fighting force Of 5000 .
with the Y. NJ. &. A. service and in
fuence. than a force Of 10000 men
without the y
Blames Personal Grudgc
We know of points in which the .
American army has proved deficient
handling mail, reporting casualties, and /
In some matters of equipment 10 we,
therefore, seek to discredit the splendid .
spirit of our American forces? The Y.
VI. e.. A, calling TO it's service men from
all walks Of life. placing them in un-
'amiliar jobs--some OF them old men.
allied upon 70 stand severe physical
and still keep smiling and ef-
lcient-certainly ha" not been free from
But il IS a sorry situa-
ion when a correspondent, after chat
ing with a few soldiers of some special
init. who may have had a personal
5rudge of some sort, is allowed 70 poison
he minds of the people in America BY
uch an obvious attempt to dscredit by