Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-10-20
HOWARD TAYLOR ABLY \
DESCRIBES '1Y|e WORK
Stirring and Convincing Address
Delivered BY Berea Man Who
Did A Mans Part In War

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the Christian church Monday night
was one Of the most stirring address
that has been heard in Richmond
from an overseas man, and made a
fine impression upon the large audi
ence gathered to hear him.
He had story to tell and it was
well told. In simple, forceful speech
he related his experiences during the
l8 months he served as a "Y" man
in overseas work, depicting graphical
ly both the humorous and the path
etic side of his experience in way
that provoked both tears and laugh
ter.
His portrayal of the burial at sea
of the 18-year-old soldier lad, who
died soon after leaving New York
was very impressive, but the SAD
thoughts Induced by this recital were
quickly dissipated as he humorously
related his experiences in sea-sick-
ness and his discovery that parsnir
was the only vegetable that "tasted
the same both coming and going"
The tremendous task undertaken
and accomplished by the Y. M. c. A
overseas was presented by Mr.. Tay-
lor in most Illuminating and convin-
cling way. His explanation of the way
in which most of the criticisms of the
work of this great organization origi-
mated was most satisfactory and con.
vincing. Nearly all Of this criticism
the speaker said, grew out of the
canteen which was forced upon the
"Y" by the government. Gen. Perish.
ing ordered the "Y" to take over the
canteen or abandon the field. 1t was
gigantic task for which they were
unprepared and involved an i'm.
mediate and tremendous expansion Of
their work. Eighteen hundred trucks
were at once purchased, large force
cf additional men hastily gathered
from every available source, ano
emergency men and materials of var
ious kinds hastily collected for this
new duty.
Some irresponsible men We're pick
ed up in this sudden collection, and
were discharged as soon as discover.
ed.
The "Y" maintained 1880 huts and
did business for the government
and the "Sammies', (sending money
home for them) aggregating two
hundred and thirty five millions Of
dollars.
The difficulties of handing the can
teen the speaker said were enormous
and but little appreciated by the peo-
pie at home. There were times wheI
supplies for the canteen ordered from
America were delayed for lack Of
shipping facilities, as the vessels
engaged for this purpose, were com
mandeered by the government as
transports for conveying troops.
To meet the emergency the "Y'
leased factories that had been shut
down by the French and began the
manufacture of these goods ir
France. Thousands of tons of sweet
biscuit, waters and chocolate were
manufactured by the "Y" for the
"Sammies".
Referring to the criticism that the
Y charged for goods that should have
been given to the soldiers, the speak.
er explained that the field of service
in France was divided into two zones
one the combat zone, the other the
zone in which there was no fighting
In this latter zone all goods were
charged for by order of the govern
ment. They were not allowed to give
goods away in this zone. In the com,
bat zone where this order was moi
in force the Y gave away three anG
a half million dollars worth of goods
to the soldiers.
Referring to the reports Of over.
charges by the speaker cited an in
stance in which a soldier complained
to him that he had been charged for
ty-five cents at one of the canteens
by a Y man for a comb. He went
with the soldier to the canteen and
found the Y man who had made the
sale, and found that the combs were
marked "45c" which meant
not forty-five cents but forty-five
centimes (French money!. This in
U. S. money is just nine cents and
this was what the soldier had paid
for the comb.
The speaker admitted that mis-
takes had been made by the Y, some
very grave ones-But so had the
government-and it was to be ex-
pected. But the mistakes of the Y
seemed small in comparison with It'll
splendid achievement in its vast
ministry of service.