American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1919-03-15
GEN. PERSHDNC
CONllMENDS AID
RENDERED ARMY
Post Exchanges Overseas Arc
Taken Over BY the Mill.
tary Authorities

asserting tnat the valuable aid n
oered by the war service Of the y.
=. A. had been Z large factor IN n
nnal great omplishmsnts OF l,
American army. General Pershins
: communication to q. G. Carter.
charge Of association operations VI
the American Expeditionary Fore,
pays . splendid tribute to the vo
which this agency accomplished und
extreme difficulties and handicar
The Y. M. G. A. served the army b,
ter than could have been expected
says General Pershing.
At Its own request the American
M. c. A. has been relieved from ma,
tanning post exchanges with the Z
peditionary forces overseas, the ne,
for such service having been relIey,
with the signing Of the armistice. CO
respondence exchanged between De
eral Pershing and e. c. Carter, +
charge Of the Y. M. @. A. with Z,
army, resulted in this decision. Ca
ter wrote to General Pershing Japua,
goth as follows:
Dear General Pershing:
A year and a half ago you re-
Quested the Y. M. c. A. to under.
take operations for post exchanges
Tor 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
treining 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 tho
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 1t was
feasible In the best interests OF
maximum service to the army that
o change be made. Now the stu
alton 10 materially altered.
Recent general orders from main
headquarters and requests from
commanding officers have laid on
the Z. N. G. A. increased respond
bilities In promoting educational,
athletic and entertainment actiyt
ties in the American Expsditionary
Force. This IL placing . rapidly
increasing burden upon our Dor.
sonncl. The army 10 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
wish to know whether you do not
think II would DO possible for the
army at . very carly date to a.
sumo full responsibility for the
maintenance Of post exchanges
throughout the American Expedi.
tionary Force?
Very cordially yours,
(Signed) Il. @. CARTER.
General Pershing hmm diately acte,
upon the suggestion made by Carte
and relieved the Y. M. C. A. of its tasl
'f maintaining the post exchanges. H
aid:
Ny Dear Mr.. Carter:
I have received your letter Of
January 29th asking whether, In
view Of present changed situation,
1t would be possible for the army
to assume full responsibility for
maintenance OF post exchanges
throughout American Expedition
airy Force.
As you correctly state. the Y. NJ.
G. A. undertook the management
OF post exchanges at my request at
time when II was OF greatest i'm
portance that no available soldier
should be taken away from vital
military functions OF training and
hghting. As reasons which i'm
PEELED me at that time to request
you to undertake this work no
longer exist. I am glad TO approve
your suggestion In reaching this
conclusion. Consid Grafton has been
given to new burdens in connec.
ton with entertainment, athletic
activities and education that you
have assumed. I have accord.
ingly given directions that army
units themselves take over ana
operate their own post exchanges.
In making this change permit me
to thank you for the very valuable
services and assistance which the
Y. M. c. A. has rendered to the
American Expeditionary Force In
handling these exchanges. Handi.
capped by shortage OF tonnage and
land transportation the Y. M. c. A.
has. by extra eyPrtion. served the
army better than could have been
expected, al you may be assured
that its aid has been q large fac
tor in the final yreat accomplish.
ments Of the American army.
Very cordially yours,
(Signed) JOHN J. PERSHIN0.