Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-29

The national war work council
OF the Young Mems Christian asso-
citation has prepared a story rela-
tive to the work of Rev. J. L. Vance
of Rock Island, who was secretary
of the Y hut at Gievres, France. 1t
follows:
J. L. Vance of Rock Island, Ill,
appreciates as well as any one else
the tedium and interrupted hard
work of the men attached to the
service of supply.
For ten months he was stationed
at Gievres, which is geographically
the center of France and actually
the center of the American S. o. S.
Cservice of supply) At Gievres, is
located one of the largest ice plants
, under the direction OF the Amer
lean quartermaster corps. The men
at work in the plant shaved for
long hours with none of the thrill
of actual warfare. The only recrea
ton they received was the program
of the Y. NJ. c. A, which Mr..
Vance succeeded in keeping varied
and amusing.
When Mr.. Vance left Gievres, he
received an acknowledged
which more than repaid him TOR
every bit of time and energy ne
had devoted to the work for the
men of Ice Plant company No. 3O1.
Four hundred francs was subscrib-
ed for the purchase of memento
to Mr.. Vance and given to Capt.
John w. Laffity of the quartermas-
ter corps to present
This is the letter written by
Captain Laffity to Mr.. Vance:
ION behalf of the officers and
men of Ice Plant Co. No. 301, l am
transmitting to you herewith four
hundred francs subscribed for the
purchase of a suitable memento of
the days you have spent with US a.
Gievres. Endeavor has been made
to make purchase here of some
thing which might be suitable and
serve as an acknowledgment in
small measure of the valued ser
vices rendered by you to the per
sonnet, both officers and men, OF
this company, but owing to the linn
tied offerings of appropriate ar
ticIes in this vicinity as you know,
this could not be done. The sub
scription is, therefore, transmitted
to you with the request that it be
devoted in the direction outlined
according to your own judgment
and desires upon reaching the
United States.
I'm transmitting this subscrip-
ton, 1 would be irresponsible to my
personal inclination and the senti-
ments, am sure, of every indivld-
ual in this command did l not make
some reference to the distinctive
service rendered by you in this
camp, and more particularly as re-
fers to this organization consisting
of over 300 officers and men, who
were among the pioneers here and
have witnessed its development
from swamps and forests to its
present immense proportions.
You came just at the time when
the rush of development, combined
with the urgent calls for supplies
from the rapidly forming legions at
the front, made it necessary that
every ounce of man power be utiliz-
ed to its fullest advantage. You
came when the men needed atten-
ton. encouragement advice and rec
local hut, was not an easy task.
How we'll that task was performed
is best evidenced by the tenor of
the feelings of the men whose well
fare 1 know has been your constant
thought For only one reason are
the officers and men of Ice Plant
Co. No. 301 pleased to see you re-
turn to the United States at this
time, namely that the character OF
your service has entitled you to the
reward of immediate return 20
state and home.
Your talks have been helpful
and instructive; the entertainment
furnished under your supervision
has been clean, wholesome and
varied: the canteen operated under
your direction has been beyond
criticism, and the personal interest