Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1919-03-21
GEN. PERSHING
COMMENDS AID
RENDERED ARMY
Post Exchanges Overseas Are
Taken Over by the Mill
tary Authorities

Asserting that the valuable aid rem
dered by the war service of the Y. M.
c. A. had been large factor in the
final great accomplishments of the
American army, General Pershing, in
a communication to E. G. Carter, In
charge of association operations with
the American Expediuonary Forces,
pays splendid. tribute to the work
which this agency accomplished under
extreme difficulties and handicaps
The Y. M. G. A. served the army bet
ter than could have been expected
says General Pershing.
At its own request the American z
NJ. G. A. has been relieved from main
tanning post exchanges with the Elk
peditionary forces overseas, the need
for such service having been relieved
with the signing of the armistice. Cor
exchanged between Gen
eral Pershing and e. c. Carter, in
charge Of the Y. M. c. A. with the
army, resulted in this decision. Car
ter wrote to General Pershing January
goth as follows:
Dear General Pershing;
A year and half ago you re.
quested the Y M. G. 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 1t was.
feasible In the best interests OF
maximum service to the army that
q 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. M. c. A. increased RESPONSE
bilities In promoting educational,
athletic and entertainment activi.
ties in the American Expeditionary
Force. This Is placing 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. M. @. A.
In view of the changed situation
/ wish to know whether you do not
think it would be possible for the.
army at very early date to as
sumo full responsibility for the
maintenance of post exchanges
throughout the American Expedi-
tionary Force?
Very cordially yours,
NSA6AOuJ e. ~. SAIt EN-.
General Pershing immediately acte,
upon the suggestion made by Carte
and relieved the Y. M. c. A. of its tasl
of maintaining the post exchanges. H
said:
My Dear Mr.. Carter:
l have received your letter Of
January goth 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. M.
c. A undertook the management
of post exchanges at my request at
a time when 1t was OF greatest I'm
portance that no available soldier
should be taken away from vital
military functions of training and
fghting, AS reasons which i'm
PEELED me at that time to request
you to undertake this work no
longer exist, ! am glad to approve
your suggestion In reaching this
conclusion. Consideration has been
given to new burdens In connae-
ton with entertainment, athletic
activities and education that you
have assumed. l 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. G. 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 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 ]. PERSHIN0.