Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-11
Taylor Of Camden, Maine,
Tells Of Overseas Service

Once upon time" began a story
teller, "a woodchuck pursued by dogs
escaped by climbing tree"
But broke in a doubling Thorn
as. "woodchucks cannot climb trees"
Granted" observed the impertura-
BILE story teller" but this one had to-"
Il kept a canteen in France" said
John Taylor, secretary of the Y. NJ.
c. A. at Camden. Maine.
Are you a store keeper" asked
JEFF" Smith. State secretary.
NO." said John Taylor. Il had to
be-"
Taylor returned in February from
years duty overseas. He's a gen.
ial chap. doesn't take the criticism Of
the overseas ~" very seriously, and
brings an unending string Of good
stories.
The 29th division" he says, was
once in the front line trenches for a
21-day stretch. At times the Smelling
was so terrific that even the rolling
Kitchens could not be brought to the
trenches. The men were hungry and
sought the Y secretaries. OF course
the supplies soon gave out and they
were unable to get more. Say, those
fellows who didn't arrive in time
cussed the Y men to a standstili.
An acquaintance Of mine in this
Y work was laughing rather ruefuliy
one day after an experience in the
front line under fire.. He was able
by hard and dangerous work to get
$4,000 francs worth Of goods into his
hut and to notify the men. He was
continuously on duty for "a nouls
supplying the soldiers who were hun
CRY and tired. Finally the last Of his
consignment was gone. The next
soldier into the dug out was informed
all had been taken by the others.
We'll. what in - good is this
- Y. anyway he demanded"
Two months of Taylor's year were
passed at Dion, city Of 10000. and
the remainder of his time at Is-sur-
tile. originally town Of $500 but
later built into a large producing and
shipping center. Consider an Ameri-
can city as large as DIXON. Portland
for example. without a sewerage sys-
TEN, yet that was the condition of Di-
jon! The new 1S-sur-tille has a mil
lion dollar bakery, 40 miles Of ware
houses, railroad switching arrange
ment capable of switching out 40
trains at time. and 500 locomotives
are kept there. 1t is also the site of
a large casual camp.
Taylor averaged handling $1,000
worth of supplies from Friday night
to Monday morning. Sunday sales of
cocoa or coffee averaged from 5000 to
1000 cups. He was able to secure
supplies more readily than in some
criticism from the men.
Why" he says. 'in one month the
furnished the soldiers with 100000
worth of athletic equipment. That
alone meant the engaging Of 100000
soldiers in :.,orts and the entertain
ment Of twice that number Of specta-
tors. We had 800 athletic directors in
France. One months report showed
the transportation of 500 tons Of
cigaretts. 176 tons of chewing and 1877
tons Of smoking tobacco, "a tons of
cigars. nine tons of soap. six and one
half tons Of towels. two tons Of safety
razors. one and one half tons Of safe
ty razor blades. one and one half tons
Of talcum powder, 5000 tons of sugar.
1900 tons of -four, Il tons OF gum and
80 tons Of cough drops. And we took
over all the French chocolate factories
we could secure. In these we manu-
~ otn noN u. =
Of chocolate and 100000 cookies or
biscuits.
And" he concludes. they still cuss
US because we didn't have the stuff"
After the signing of the armistice
General Pershing requested that the
Y. NJ. c. A. put on intensive educa-
tional work. At Is-sur-tille Taylor
had building 100 feet long with 10
class rooms. Seven hundred men
subtitle. TT was the same in all
troop areas" he says.
In the camps the Y huts were used
for religious services Sundays. The
Catholics held their service at 8 A. NJ.
and the Protestants at 10 A. NJ. Eve
nings were devoted to song service
and prayer. Taylor had what he
called The Popular Bible Glass" of
1000 men. The Y secretary often adj
dressed these.
The Y. nj. c. A.. according to Tay-
lor, now has 100 concert companies in
France. Two million feet of new film
for moving pictures was sent across
each month for use by the Y huts.
One hut 20 miles from any city missed
but two nights in the exhibition Of
moving pictures in December. IF it
were not for these reliefs from drills
and mud and marching and fighting
and monotony." declares Taylor.
hundreds of these men would have
gone crazy"
The Y. NJ. c. A. is operating IA leave
areas in the prettiest locations in
France. and has been asked to open
four more. The Y regulates the
hotels and the army pays the mems
hotel bills. Complaints Of overcharge
are investigated and the offender
punished. Taylor tells. interesting
stories of this great work, Of 1000 beds
at AK les Balm and 1000 beds at Nice,
where. he says. there are IS modern
hotels. A man reports to the Y. NJ.
c. A. headquarters and is assigned to
u hotel. During his leave he has au-