Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1919-03-21
GEN. PERSHLIVC
CONlNENDS AID
RENDERED ARMY
Post Exchanges Overseas Are
Taken Over by the Mill
tary Authorities

Asserting that the valuable aid run
dered by the war service Of the Y. N
G. A. had been large factor m n,
nnal great accomplishments Of sh,
American army, General PershinR. 4,
communication 10 e. C. Carter, I,
charge Of association, operations Will
the American Expeditionary Forces
pays g splendid tribute to the worl
which this agency accomplished unde'
extreme difficulties and handicapa
The Y. M. c. A. served the army bet
ter than could have been expected,
says General Pershing.
At its own request the American =
M. c. A. has been relieved from main
tanning post exchanges with the Ell
peditionary forces overseas, the nee,
for such service having been relieved
with the signing OF the armistice. Cor
respondence exchanged between Gen
eral Pershing and e. C. Carter, Il
charge OF the Y. NJ. C. A. with tn,
army. resulted in this decision. Car
ter wrote to General Pershing Januar,
goth as follows:
Dear General Pershing:
A year and a half ago you 10.
quested the Y. NJ. C. A. to under
take operations for post exchanges
for the American Expeditionary
Forces in order that Officers and
enlisted men may not be taken
away for that purpose from their
paramount military functions of
training and fighting"
AS soon as hostilities ceased we
raised with you the question
whether time had not come for the
Y. M. c. A. to be relieved Of the
operation Of post exchanges in
view Of the fact that there was no
longer the same pressing demand
on man power Of the army for
training and fighting. When we
first raised the question with you
1t did not appear to you that It vas
feasible in the best interests of
maximum service TO the army that
a change be made. Now the situ-
alton is materially altered.
Recent general orders from main
headquarters and requests from
commanding offers have laid on
the Y. NJ. G. A. increased rosponsi-
bilitles in promoting educational,
athletic and erter,ainuclt sctivi-
ties in the American Expoditlonary
Force. This is placing n rapidly
increasing burden upon our per-
sonnel. The army is also now pre-
pairing for the delivery of all sup
plies for post exchanges which
heretofore have been imported,
manufactured and delivered by the
Y. VI. c. A.
In view OF the changed situation
Iwish to know whether You do not
think II would be possible for the
army at a very early date to as
sumo full responsibility for the
maintenance OF post exchanges
throughout the American Expedi.
tionary Force?
Very cordially yours,
(Signed) p. c. CARTER.
General Pershing Immediately acte
upon the suggestion made by Carte
and relieved the Y. NJ. C. A. OF its taf
of maintaining the post exchanges. +
se!d;
My Dear Mr.. Carter.
l have received your letter Of
January 29th asking whether, In
view OF present changed situation,
II would be possible for the army
to assume full responsibility for
maintenance OF post exchanges
throughout American Expedition.
airy Force.
IS ycu correctly state. the Y. M.
G. A. undertook the management
OF post exchanges at my request NJ
a time when II was OF greatest i'm.
portalce that no available soldier
should be taken away from vital
military functions OF training and
nghtlng. As reasons which i'm.
relled'me at TINT time to request
you to undertake this work no
longer exist, nm glad to approve
your suggestion In reaching this
concl lision. Consideration has been
given to new burdens In connec.
ton with entertainment. athletic
activities ana education that you
have assumed. | have accord.
insly riven dl.octions that army
units Themselves tnke over and
operate their own post exchanges.
In making this change permit me
to thank you Cor tho very valuable
services and ac-istanco which the
Y. NJ. G. A. has rendered TO tho
American Expeditionary Force in
handling these exchanges. Handl.
capped by shortage OF tonnage and
land transportation the Y. NJ. c. A.
has, by extra eYestlon. served tho
army better than could have been
expected, and you may be assured
that It's aid has beon a largo fac
tor In the final great accomplish
mont7 Of the American army.
Very cordially yours,