New-York tribune., 1919-05-29
Investigation Ordered by
Baker Develops Troops
Expected Too Much of
Red Triangle Canteens
Personnel Not to Blame
Officers Say A. E. F. Looked
for Service That Other
Bodies Did Not Provide

Praise Of the Young Mems Christian
Association, rather than condemnation,
is contained in the first official report
Of army authorities directed by Sec
retary Baker to investigate the record
Of welfare organizations in France, es-
pecially the Y. M. C. A.
This report, received yesterday at
the national war work headquarters Of
the Y. M. c. A., deals with the organi-
zatons' activities in the area around
Gondrecourt, where was stationed the
8eth Division, comprising troops from
Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Min
nesota and South Dakota.
The report, submitted by Major L..
B. Row, division inspector; Captain
John Prie, assistant division inspec-
tor; Sergeant Oliver B. Hanvill Divi-
sion Headquarters Detachment, and
several inspectors appointed from all
units, is based on hundreds of sworn
statements 1t deals with canteen
charges and management, personnel,
adequacy of supplies for free distribu-
ton and of workers and canteen sup
plies at the front, educational and rec
reational facilities furnished, trans
mission of funds for soldiers and the
attitude and performance of the duties
Of individual welfare workers.
Soldiers Expected Too Much
"The greatest source of criticism
was the taking over of general canteen
4 -.
~ assumed responsibility of gigantic
proportions. Every organization of the
a. f. f. then expected of the 'Y' a ser
vice which would be difficult to main
tain in the most eXcelently function
ing department of the army.
Transportation was inadequate,
military necessity did not permit trans
portation of necessary supplies and
the fighting man in the front lines did
not receive the supplies which had been
advertised and, in a manner, promised
and which he expected would be de-
livered. No such service was expected
of other welfare organizations, such
as the Knights of Columbus, Salvation
Army, Jewish Welfare Board and Red
Cross, and these organizations have
avoided this general source of harsh
criticism.
"By assuming this canteen work, the
possibility of general free distribution
was eliminated, as it would have re-
quired possibly ten times the amount
of funds collected in the United States
to have supported such project.
Personnel Not Responsible
"Since the Knights of Columbus. Sal
walton Army. Jewish Welfare Board
and Red Cross have not assumed in
any way responsibility for the canteen
work, these organizations could operate
when and where they pleased and
maintain at all times their reputation
for work we'll done With this and
the fact that these organizations gave
much for free distribution which the
'Y' from necessity could not do, an
unfair comparison was made.
There can be no doubt that the 'Y'
has done a great work in the A. f. F.,
and that time will eliminate much of
the fault-finding which at one time
was prevalent. The great majority of
the ~ personnel have been generous.
sympathetic, hardworking and self
sacrificing. 1t is evident that much
fearless untiring work was done among
the front line troops. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that this splendid service has
been overshadowed in part by criticism
ior which the personnel in general are
IN no way responsible'