South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-22

Some OF this criticism IS mel steC
due. I believe to Observation-Disclosures '
The bulk Of the complaint arose
from Young Mems Christian ~associa-
ton operation Of army ~canteens,
which Chairman Fosdick said was a
mistake although it was undertaken
as a service TO the army and released
a large combatant personnel. From
early daT the canteen had been an
army pevquisite and the soldiers
could not understand why il should
be handed over 10 a private society
which was at the same time raising
millions at home for support" the
report said and continued:
Met Great Difficulties.
Moreover, the personnel Of the Y.
NJ. c. A. was unframed for this kind
OF work and it sos found itself in
a maze Of business and technical diff
fculties with which it was unable at
first TO cope. In the minds of the SOL
diers. IL Immediately became a com
mercial organization and from this
stigma il has never succeeded in free
ing itself"
So far as the effect OF the trans
fer OF the Canteens went on the army
command. the report continued, ut
was a genuine relief 10 the general
staff hat during the fighting days OF
the army, il did not have TO handle
the ever troublesome canteen prob
lem.
The charge that the Y. VI. c. A.
made money out OF the canteen is
Of course erroneous" said Mr.. Fos-
dick. However high it's prices may
have been in individual localities,
considered as a business venture the
total results show large losses"
Some Not Qualified.
Another ground for criticism OF
the Y. VI. c. A. which Mr.. Fosdick
said was somewhat justified was In
the character OF its personnel. While
many OF its men were well qualified
for their work, he said, many others
were utterly unadapted to this pur-
pose and had no common ground in
mixing with our virile. red-bIooded
young soldiers" He found also, how
ever, the field OF choice was limited,
men OF proper qualifications being in
most cases in the army.
The work CT $500 young women
serving under the Y. NJ. c. A. with
the troops in France us beyond
praise" Mr.. Fosdick stated. the girls
being far better adapted 10 the task
than the average man. He said also
the charge OF badly adapted person
mel could not be confined TO the Y
NJ. c. A. alone.
Viewed broadly Mr.. Fosdick de-
clared. the Y. NJ c. A. deserves
the appreciation OF the army and
the continued support OF the pub.
lie"
knights Late Starting.
Similarly Mr.. Fosdick found that
the knights OF Columbus carried or
a helpful work on the same genera
lines. noting particularly that thi:
organization furnished amusement
TO many units so located as not be-
served by other societies. He also
commended the stimulation OF box.
ing and athletics due 20 the society
but said there was "a legitimat,
citicism" aginst il IN that its worI
in France was not as large as its al.
lotment OF the wal work fund would
suggest.
The knights were late in startinG
with the American exp~editionary
forces" he said. and never sue.
ceeded in overcoming that handicap
Moreover. I believe they are losin.
a real opportunity for scrvic,
through their failure 10 emplo,
women personnel.
After eight months with tn,
troops in France, I am convinced
that the average woman worker at
tached 70 a hut is worth four or nv,
men Certainly her effect OF
the morale and spirit OF the troop.
is extraordinary. An Honest 10 Coo
American girl as the soldiers cal
her. can DO more 20 keep the mel
cheerful and create an atmospher,
OF hcme shan n other factor. an,
the work Of our women In France
y. ~. q. A. girls. Salvation Arm,
girls. Rcd Cross girls and the repre-
serta-ives II other agencies-ha
been in TO small degree responsible.
for the u~nhagging devotion and in
exhaustible patience with which "a,