El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-01


ter while he is overseas"
Moved Freely In France.
In addition TO this credential from
DR.. Mott, ] received. after reaching
. France. a special pass from the com
handkerchief. which permitted me
TO move freely throughout the entire
American lines without the delays
ard difficulties incident 10 ordinary
travel in the military area This
pass which gave specific permission
to visit a large number OF points
was accompanied by a letter which
read, in part, as follows:
Travel Permit No ll5l is issued
under special Instructions from the
commanderinchief. American Expedi-
tionary forces. and Mr.. McNary is
hereby granted permission to pro-
coed TO such places as ne may deem
necessary, even though they do not
appear on the face OF Travel Permit
No. 1851"
with these and other credentials. I
was able 70 move freely over the en-
tire area occupied by the American
army and also the armies Of the al
lies. Among the Points in France
and Belgium which I visited and OBJ
served the work OF the Y " c. A.
were the following;
Paris. Bordeaux. St Nazairre.
Havre. Brest. Tours. Chaumont.
Troyss, Dion. Longres, Issur Tile,
? plNals BelloEI Nldl4OuS- sur alsfIit.
Clairemont St Msnehould. Nerdun,
Epernay. Chateau Thierrey. Amiens.
A bbevTile. P1perlng. Casseu. pres.
and scores OF smaller villages where
our troops we're bilieted-
Found Many Friends.
Because Of an extensive acquaint-
ance among the American officers
whom I had had the opportunity Of
meeting at Fl Paso and Fort Bliss, I
found myself each day Of my travels
among friends, who facilitated my
work and gave me their impressions
OF the work the + N. c. A was car
rying on
I can say without reservation
that among all the army Officers
and men whom ] met In France
and with whom talked. did
not hear one crisfcism OF n seri-
Ous or fundamental nature I'm re-
gard TO the work, the methods.
the management or the efficiency
OF the \. n. c. A. or its represent
tativeS; and Euch minor criti-
cfsms a. I heard were easily
answered or explained These
minor criticisms were 50 far
overshadOwed by the great
weight Of approval that they did
not seem 10 me 10 he worthy Of
seri5us consideration. In most
instances they were proven TO be
without foundations for instance.
in discussing the work Of the
eF7 with me- general in com
maad Of n division then engaged
In the combat area. said that he
felt the sN7 men had efallen
down. in not getting supplies up
10 his troops in the front lines.
This criticism was Immediately
answered BY his own chief Of
staff. Nho was a party TO the
conversation and who accepted
the entire responsibility FOR the
failure Of the sNn men to bring
forward their supplies promptly,
because he himself had been al
soluteIy unable TO furnish the
necessary transportation which
the director of the lsT5 work had
repeatedly and urgently asked
for.
4 Memorial Service.
The first and most outstanding i'm
preston which received Of the
work OF the Red Triangle in France
was its universal nature The ""
man and his activities were abso-
lutely ubiquitous. Wherever the
American soldiers were found. the
Red Triangle was in evidence It
seemed extraordinary to me that the
activities Of the Institution could
have been so extended and the ground
so fully occupied in such q short time.
When I walked down the gang plank
from the ship which carried me over.
I saw the ''Y" sign and a splendidly
equipped canteen before I had taken
20 steps and from then until l LETT
France 7 was scarcely for one hour
out Of sight OF the Red Triangle.
might add that I spent several days
in England and the same statement
could be made with equal truth Of the
work there I Travelled over 1000
miles in France and not only did I
find the ssT" hut and the ~ GUY"
a. he p al
where in evidence and doing his ut
most TO contribute 10 the comfort and
happiness Of the boys, but everywhere
I went 7 saw the boys accepting and
apparently enjoying the hospitality
and entertainment offered. taking Il
as a matter OF course. TO be sure, and
in most instances taxing the accom-
uodations OF the ~" 70 the very
limit
Evidence Of High Approval.
Part OF my mission was 10 gather
letters regarding the work and eff
fecrveness Of the Red Triangle. The
originals Of all Of these letters now
have IN my possession Most Of them
have never been published and I sub
NIT them herewith as evidence from
the highest source as 70 the charac-
ter OF the work which the Y. n. c a.
was doing I wish to call attention
to the fact that these we're written
during the latter part Of August.
1918. or q little over two months be-
fore the signing OF the armistice. so
that they cover the work OF the 7. NJ.
C. A. not in Its earlier STAGES, but
after our troons had actually been
engaged IN combat for over three
months.
Before submitting the letter Of
Gen. PerShing. / wish to state
that this letter was written
few days before had the
pleasure Of calling on Gen.
PerShinE. At that time. IN ex-
tended conversation. ne ex-
pressed himself 20 me in words
OF the highest praise and auprc-
citation OF the work which the Y.
n. e. 4. was doing among his
troops.
ne voiced no word OF criticism.
whatever. though he referred to the
dfssa tisfaction among the soldiers
which had arisen at an earlier date
REGARDING the prices charged by the
'-T'' in their canteens. which DIFF
ficulty. he stated. had been entirely
cleared up. Gen Pershing's message
reads as follows
"A sense OF obligation for the
varied and useful service rendered
70 the army in France by TIE Young
Mems Christian association prompts
me TO Join in the appeal for its
financial support. I have opportu-
nifty 70 observe It's operations. meas
ure the quality OF its personnel and
mark its beneficial influence upon
our troops. and I wish unreservedly
TO commend its work Tor the army
"Pershiug"