, 1919-03-20
GEN. PERSHINC
COMMENDS AID
RENDERED ARMY
Post Exchanges Overseas Are
Taken Over by the Mill
tary Authorities

dered by the war service of the Y. NJ
A. had been a large factor in tn
final great accomplishments of tn
army. General Pershing, i
a communication to E. C. Carter. /
of association operations wit
the American Expeditionary Forces
a splendid tribute to the wor
which this agency accomplished unde
difficulties and handicaps
The Y. M. c. A. served the army be
ter than could have been expected,
says General Pershing.
AT its OWE request the American ]
M. c. A. has been relieved from MAR
tanning post exchanges with the E,
forces overseas, the nee
for such service having been relieve
with the signing of the armistice. Col
exchanged between Ger
eral Pershing and E. C. Carter, il
charge of the Y. NJ. c. A. with tn
army, resulted in this decision. Cal
ter wrote to General Pershing Januar
29th as follows:
Dear General Pershing:
A year and a half ago o re-
quested the Y. NJ. c. A. to under
take operations for post exchanges
for the American ExpedI1onary
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 o
it did not appear to you that 1t was
feasible in the best interests of
maximum service to the army that
a change be made. Now the stu
alton is materially altered.
Recent general orders from main
headquarters and requests from
commanding officers have laid on
the Y. NJ. C. A. increased RESPONSE
oilities in promoting educational,
athletic and entertainment activt-
ties in the American Expeditionary
Force. This is placing a rapidly
increasing burden upon our per-
sonnet. 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. NJ. G. A.
In view of the changed situation
I wish to know whether you do not
think 1t 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) E. C. CARTER.
General Pershing Immediately acte
upon the suggestion made by Carte
and relieved the Y. NJ. C. A. of its tas
OF maintaining the post exchanges. H
My Dear Mr.. Carter:
have received your letter Of
January 18th asking whether. in
view of present changed situation:
1t would be possible for the army
to full responsibility for
maintenance of post exchanges
throughout American Expedition
airy Force.
AS you correctly state. the Y. M.
c. A. undertook the management
Of post exchanges at my request at
a time when 1t was Of greatest Inn
portance that no available soldier
should be taken away from vital
fighting. AS reasons which i'm
PEELED me at that time to request
you to undertake this work ne
longer exist, I am glad to approve
your suggestion In reaching this
conclusion. Consid sration has been
given to new burdens in connec-
ton with entertainment, athletic
activities and education that you
have assumed. have accord
ingly given directions that army
units themselves take over and
operate their own post exchanges.
In making this change permit me
to thank you for the very valuable
services and assistance which the
Y. NJ. C. A. has rendered to the
American Exp~editionary Force in
handling these exchanges. Handi-
capped by shortage Of tonnage and
land transportation the Y. M. @. A.
has, by extra exertion. served the
army better than could have been
expected. and you may be assured
that its aid has been a large fac
tor in the final great accomplish
ments OF the American army.
Very cordially yours,
(Signed) JOHN ]. PERSHING.