New-York tribune., 1919-01-14
Y. vi. G.. A. Shows
ST, 100000 Spent i'm
Gifts TO Soldiers
All Supplies Charged for
Sold at a Loss, Official
Declares; Free Athletic
Supplies and Stationery
By BRIGGS

William Sloane. chairman of the Ma
tlonal War Work Council of the Young
Mems Christian Association. made pub
Tic yesterday q cablegram received
from <. c. Carter. chief "Y" secretary
II Paris, giving his report on the free
distribution of supplies to the Amer-
can soldiers and the operation of the
post exchanges overseas. The state
ment refutcs many of the allegations
made in regard to the Y. NJ. c. A. in
the last few weeks.
In his report, Mr.. Garter places the
value of goods distributed without cost
to the soldiers at s1,400,0O0 The loss
sustained by the association on its
operation of post exchanges in Great
britain alone, Secretary Carter gave
as S332,1s1. Mr. Sloanc's statement
fellows:
"1his total Of nearly $1.750,oQo which
does not include the post exchange de-
felt for November ard December. is
tie most emphatic answer the Y. N. c.
A. can make TO charges Of proAtinc
winch have been made py solder. liz
neither CT the items which make up
the total: however, does the magnitude
OF the " free service appear.
Aids to Soldiers Indicated
"For instance, there is no mention Of
tn free use OF athletic supplies, valued
at $3.50, 9,499.44, no mention of the en-
tertalnments provided or of the sta
tonery on which millions Of letters
are written home Some time ago the
war Work Council appropriated $780,
900 for this item CT stationery. csti-
mating that the supply would last six
months. he soldiers in the home
camps wrote 14,0S9,3O5 letters on Red
Triangle stationery in November alcnc.
"'rhe loss OF $3a2.1S1 on canteen ser
wee up % October 81 does not take
INTO account the vast cost OF operating
post exchanges. Every business man
knows how has expenses are increased
hv the items of rental and clerk hire.
These items have been contributed BY
the Y 10 the operation OF l, 800 post
exchanges as u part of its programme
OF war service. In other words. en-
tirely aside from the cost of operation.
the y. M. c. A. conducted its canteer
service at an actual loss, in spite OF
the fact that our arrangement with the
army provided that this service should
always has made it plain 20 us that it
Preferred to have canteen service run
on cost basis, as it did not wish to
have the soldier feel that he was being
pauperized.
Referring again to the free distri
button OF canteen supplies by the ~
Mr.. Carter states that his figures are
'undoubtediy substantially below actual
dlstrloutlon.' His totals include only
the giving away of sweets and smokes
and hot drinks TO the men in the
trenches, to prisone.5 Of war return
ing from Germany, and to soldiers who
mad rot been paid for some time and
were without money.
Free Supplies Summarized
by actual figures ne shows the tota.
value Of supplies distributed free nm
to October 81 by the 'Y' was S532.11n
his November estimate is $lS3 ,496. no
this combined total Will be added the
very large expense entailed by the
elaborate Y. M. Z. A. Christmas pro
2ramme. The War Work Council an
thorlzed the distribution to every
ighting man overseas of gilt that
included two packages Of cigarettes =
can of tobacco, a package OF gom. ti-e
Ghr'stmas cards and bag o. csaS,
Consultation Of our latest price l;.f
from overseas shows these gifts could
not have been assembled at cost lnss
than thirty cents man, or 5000 .ooO
transportation difficulties in spots d.
layed but did not prevent, we believe
the achievement o. This programme
The grand total is obtained By osti-
mating the December free distribution
~ 100000. exclusive of The cost o.
Christmas gifts.
l.,
plete and conservative. There remains
Just this to be said: There are yerv
few branches of the great Y. NJ. c. 4
war service programme which are NOT
Tree to the soldiers and sailors: In
every one of those few branches whore
some charge Is made the Y. NJ. c. A
Is operating at loss"