The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-09
TROUBLE MAKING
CANTEEN TAKEN
OVER BY PERSH|NG
Grants Earnest Request Of Y. N. c. A.
Head-Did Better Than Expected,
Says General


request Of E. C. Carter, general over
seas secretary Of the Army Young
Mems Christian Association, General
Pershing has officially taken over the
army canteen, and In the future all ex-
chanSes, or "canteens," will be operat-
ed by the military instead Of the Y.
n. C. L., 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 7. NJ. G. A.
to undertake the canteen work no
longer exist, ne Is glad to approve Car
ter's suggestion. The general thanks
the I. NJ. C. A. for the manner IN
which It handled the canteen. declar-
Ing that Handicapped by shortage Of
tonnage and land transportation. the
T. N. c. A. has by extra e1ertion
served tho army better than could
have bean expected. and you may be
assured that its aid has been large
factor in the final great accomplish
mentS oz the American army.
According to Y. NJ. c. A. officials and
investigators Of recent criticism COM
ing from overseas, the canteen has
been the cause Of nineteen-twentieths
Of the organixadon's trouble. In his
letter to Mr.. Carter, General Pershing
declares that the Y. NJ C. A. under
took the management Of the post ex-
changes at my request at time when
II was Of the greatest importance that
no available soldier should be taken
away from the vital military functions
Of training and fighting" 7. NJ. c. A.
men everywhere are sure that with the
canteen In the hands Of the army. all
criticism Of the organizatioo's over
eeas work will cease because Of the TN
possibility Of q civilian organization.
handicapped as the 7. NJ. c. A. has
been. operating such mammoth mer-
camille enterprise as the post e1'
change business proved TO be-
General Pershing's letter to Nh Car
tee follows In full:
my Dear Mr.. Carter:
Il have received your letter Of Jan
uary % asking whether in view OF
the present changed situation 1t would
be possible for the army to assume
full responsibility for the maintenance
Ct post exchanges throughout the
American expedihooary' force. As
you correctly state. the 7. NJ c. A. I'M
dertook the management Of the posl
exchange at my request at q time
when Il was Of the greatest impor'
tance that no available soldier should
be taken away from the vital military
functions Of training and fighting. A
the reasons which impelled me at that
! time to request you to undertake this
work no longer exist. am glad to aD
prove your suggestion. In reaching
this decision consideration has beer
Riven to the new burdens In connection
with the entertainment and athletic &C
tivities and the education that yos
have assumed. I have accordingl!
given directions that army units them
selves take over and operate their owl
most exchanges In making thi'
change permit me to thank you fo
the very valuable services and assist
apce which the 7. II C. A. has rem
dered to the American expeditonar!
force Tn 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 e1
pected, and you may be assured tha
| its aid has been q large factor In tn
final great accomplishments OF th
| American army.
Cordially yours.
tSsznedO John PERSHING."