The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1919-03-21
COMMENDS Y AID
PerShins Takes Back Post
Exchanges Overseas.

~ "a Aod DSOA idEBC IACLOT In Ln(
final great accomplishments of the
American army, General Pershing, il
a communication to E. C. Carter, il
charge of association operations will
the American Expeditionary Forces
pays q splendid tribute to the worl
which this agency accomplished undel
extreme difficulties and handicaps
The Y. M. c. A. served the army bet
ter than could have been expected,
says General Pershing.
At It's own request the American Y
M. c. A. has been relieved from main
tanning post exchanges with the Ex
peditionary forces overseas, the mes,
for such service having been relieve,
with the signing Of the armistioe. Cor
rsspondenee exchanged between Gen
eral Pershing and e. C. Carter, II
charge of the Y. M. c. A. with tn,
army, resulted in this decision. Car
ter wrote to General Pershing Januar,
2Sth ~ follows:
Dear General Pershing:
A year and half ago you re-
Quested the Y. M. C. 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 Aghting"
AS soon ~ hostilittes ceased we
raised with you the question
whether time had not come for the
7. n. c. A. 70 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 fghting. When we
nrst 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 responsi-
hilities in promoting educational,
athletic and entertainment activi-
ties in the American Expeditionary
Force. This is placing a rapidly
increasing burden upon our per-
sonnel. 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. NJ. c. A.
In view of the changed situation
wish to know whether you do not
think 1t would be possible for the
army at a very early date to as
sumo full responsibility for the
maintenance OF post exchanges
throughout the American Expedi-
tionary Force?
Very cordially yours,
(Signed) E. C. CARTER.
General Pershing Immediately acte,
upon the suggestion made by Carte
and relieved the Y. M. C. A. of its tasI
OF maintaining the post exchanges. H
said:
My Dear Mr.. Carter:
| have received your letter of
January 10th 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. NJ.
G. A. undertook the management
OF post exchanges at my request at
time when 1t was of greatest i'm
portance that no available soldier
should be taken away from vital
military functions of training and
nghting. 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. Consid GRAFTON has been
given to new burdens in connec-
tion with entertainment, athletic
activities and education that you
nave assumed. have accord
lngly 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
I. M. 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 exertien, served the
army better than could have been
expected. and you may be asn wed ,