Putnam patriot., 1919-08-15
ONE WAR WORKER
To COMPANY
A. E. F. stock-taking finds Y. NJ.
{. A. alone averages secretary
TO every ITO men.

efecting the exit OF the kings, are
themselves beginning to depart. the
American program of war with
the A e r. carries on with in
creased resources and effectiveness.
The other day the A. +. F. took
stock of the agencies from the home
land that are serving the doughboy.
The stock taking was preliminary to
The newly instituted General Head.
quarters program for co-ordinating
the work of these agencies TO the
bess advantage of the men. And the
results are illuminating.
With approximately 100000 dough
boys still in France and occupied
Germany. there is now one Ameri-
can war worker over here for every
$50 men and one hut operated by an
American war work organization for
every 600 men.
The totals as given in the resume
for all the war agencies, exclusive o.
the American Red Cross, are 9.6lS
men and women workers and 1856
huts. Of the total number OF work
ers. $3.50 are representatives of the
Young Mems Christian Association,
leaving the overseas war work
strength of all other organizations at
1868. OF the total number of huts.
1907 are operated by the Y. NJ. c. A.
and the remainder, 140. by all other
war work agencies.
Incidentally the stock taking
showed that everyone OF the Ameri-
can agencies has increased its per.
sonnet in the five months since the
signing of the arInlstice-the Y. NJ
c. A, for instance, having added 726
workers to its strength. This In
crease is attributed to the recognition,
both by the military authorities and
by the executives of the various
agencies, of an increased need for
war work among the men, now that
the concentration upon the objective
of victory has been eliminated and
eagerness TO get back home is inten-
sifed, with weeks and even months OF
waiting ahead
With these resources at hand the
General staff of the A. &. +. has I'm
dertaken 70 supervise and regulate
the service given to soldiers by
the auxiliary organizations. Genera
welfare officers are to be appointed.
one to each combat division, each
similar unit of the Service of Sup
plies and each higher headquarters
Their duties will be to supervise ath'
letic and amusement programs de-
termine the proper disposition OF
huts. restaurants and entertainment
halls; recommend readjustments
where recreational facilities are in
adequate or where there is dupiica-
ton of effort, and to notify war worn
agencies of the locations of all units
They will decide whether there are
too many or two few war workers in
their territories and where neces
sary. will obtain details of non com
missioned officers and men to aid the
war workers.
The welfare officers will have turis'
dietion over free distribution of food
and supplies by the various war work
organizations. Indiscriminate giving
away will be discouraged, and free
distribution will only be countenanced
when ordinary comforts and facilities
for the men are not available, espe-
cially for sick and wounded and for
troops in transit or otherwise sepa
rated from the usual sources of sup
ply.
The Y. NJ. c. A, which is operating
500 huts in France, is said to have
expended half the amount which will
be available to it for use in France
II has operated the canteen service at
a loss. With the army taking over
the canteen service however, the ex
penses of the Y Nj. c. A. will be re
duced.
Some idea of the expenditure mad
for war work in the period which
passed with the institution of the pro
gram of coordination is shown in the
record of the Y. M. C. A. This or
ganization had invested S4,500,00o in
overseas huts and their equipment up
TO the first of the year, with an aver
age maintenance cost of more than
$4,000 a month. 1t gave away in
combat areas, from last May to the
end of November, goods valued al
more than 500, 900 ana its Christmas
gifts to the doughboys last year rep
resented a value of more than half a
million.
Its loss in the operation Of can
teens. done on borrowed capital, was
5000. 900. 1t has expended $l,750, 900
for sporting goods for free use Of the
soldiers. 1t has leased and operated
81 chocolate and biscuit factories and
seven sawmills In France to meet the
needs OF the work. II has distrib
uted more than 100000 worth of
books. literature and Bibles, free to
the soldiers.
The entertainment bill of the Y,
NJ. c. A. overseas for the last six
months had increased to 100000 a
month in February In three months
after the signing OF the armistice ii
cave 11,1S1 moving picture presenta-
ions. representing an aggregate OF
IS. os5, 900 feet of film.
incidentally, the Y. M. c. A. had
transmitted free of charge for the sol
diers up to Aprir of this year, 3D.,