The weekly messenger., 1919-05-24
IR0ubLE MAKING
CANTEEN TAKEN
OVER BY PERSn|NC
Grants Earnest Request Of Y. N. G. a.
Head-Did Better Than Expected.
Says General.

CndumOUt NSpcCiuijs Al SnS Gu" A"~~
request Of E. G. Carter. general over
seas secretary of the Army Young
Mems Christian Association. General
Persbing has oficially taken over the
army canteen, and in the future all ex-
changes, or "canteens," will be operat-
ed by the military instead of the I.
M. C. A., as was the ages-old custom
before the present war. In replying to
Mr.. Carter's request, General Pershing
says that as the reasons which I'm
PEELED him to request the Y. NJ. @. A.
10 undertake the canteen work no
longer exist, he is glad to approve Car
ter's suggestion. The general thanks
the Y. NJ. G. A. for the manner In
which IL handled the canteen. declar-
ing that, Handicapped by shortage OF
tonnage and land transportation, the
Y. NJ. G. 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
factor in the final great accomplish
ments Of the American army.
According to 7. NJ. O. A. officials and
investigators Of recent criticism COM
ing from overseas, the canteen has
been the cause Of nineteen-twentieths
Of the ORGANIZATIONS trouble. In his
letter to Mr.. Carter, General Pershing
declares that "the Y. NJ. G. A. under
took the management Of the post eI-
changes at my request at a time when
IL was Of the greatest Importance that
no available soldier should be taken
away from the vital military functions
of training and fighting" Y. NJ. G. A..
men everywhere are sure that with the
canteen in the hands Of the army, all
criticism Of the organizations over
seas work will cease. because Of the i'm
possibility Of q civilian organization.
handicapped as the Y. M. c. A. has
been, operating such a mammoth mer-
camille enterprise as the post ex.
change business proved to be.
General Pershing's letter to Mr.. Car
ter follows in full:
MY bear Mr.. Carter:
81 have received your letter Of JAN
uary % asking whether In view OF
the present changed situation it would
be possible for the army to assume
full responsibility for the maintenance
Of post exchanges throughout the
American expeditionary force. As
you correctly state, the Y. NJ. c. A. un'
dertook the management Of the post
exchange at my request at a time
when 1t was Of the greatest impOr'
tance that no available soldier should
be taken away from the vital military
functions Of training and fighting. As
the reasons which impelled me at that
time to request you to undertake this
work no longer exist. am glad to ap
prove your suggestion. In reaching
this decision consideration has beer
given to the new burdens in connection
with the entertainment and athletic &C
tIvities and the education that 20,
have assumed. have accOrdingl!
given directions that army units them
selves take over and operate their Owl
post exchanges. In making thi'
change permit me to thank you To-
the very valuable services and assist
ance which the Y. n. G. A. has rem
; dered to the American expeditionar!
force in handling these exchanges
Handicapped by shortage Of tOnnag
and land transportation. the Y. N. c
A. has by extra exertion served tn
army better than could have been ex
pected, and you may be assured tina
Its aid has been a large factor In tn
final great accomplishments Of tn
American army.
Cordially yours,
(Signedl John PERSHIN0."