Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-03
Jska Cil.sa u, Bsck
FROM H. Dsttis Ftsats,
Praises Wevk Of Tie "Y"

John Gilmore. Utz. director OF en-
cheering OF the standard Parts Com
pany; OF Cleveland. Ohio, former
Marshalltown boy Who az middle
aged man. has made good In the auto
mobile industry, spent Sunday with
his aunt, Miss Ella Gilmore, 200 South
Third avenue. Mr.. Utz recently re-
turned from "A four months service In
France as a civilian expert in the
transport service, He was one Of a
very few civilians 10 be employed In
the overseas service without enIist-
ment or commission in the army. Ills
particular duty was to follow the
front lines closely and arrange for the
location Of transport repair stations
in three relays for quick repairs close
to the front, intermediate stations far
Their back and base repair stations
back of them. His work kept him
motoring from one scene OF action 10
another and, as luck would have It,,
| he entered Chaueau Thierry eighteen
hours behind the marines who broke
! the nose of the German drive.
Mr.. Utz believes that the criticism
of the Y NJ, e, A. overseas by the
soldiers is thoroughly unjustified. He
I thinks That he saw as much of the
battle area as any one man, excepting
possibly courers ana officers in high
command, and the fact that the "Y"
'huts were everywhere was a marvel
TO him. He always planned to eat at
"Y" hut or hotel IL he could be
cause ne got more for his money than
anywhere else.
He SAYS that the "Y" wac making
good everywhere until the X. c. and
Salvation Army got over there and
began giving things away. That spoil
ed the boys, in his estimation, and
caused them to expect the ~" to
give away its merchandise. The "Y'.
with 1000 huts 10 about zoo of all
other societies combined. was hand
ling too much business to be. able to
give away its goods and the army
command would not have permitted it
after the canteen or army store ser
vice was wished on to the "Y". II the
w. mad not taken on the army can
teen and had stuck to its own mis-
sion Of building huts for recreation
and providing entertainment, Mr.. Ctz
thinks that it would never have got
ten in bad with the soldiers" He says
that the enlisted men were prone to
grumble and complain great deal
until they actually came under fire at
the front which sobered them nightly
and made everything else look agree
able by COMPARISON.
Mr. Ctz, after being graduated from
Cornell University at IthSca, y. Y, be-
came chief craftsman for the Olds
Motor Works and later assistant en-
gineer. In 1907 he went to the Auto
car Company. of Philadelphia, where
he designed the present Autocar truck.
Later he designed the Chalmers "thir-
ty." among the first OF tie light weight
high class motor cars. He was one OF
the organizers OF the original Abbott
Company. OF Detroit, then became n
general engineering counsel. AS
chairman Of ne standards COMMITTEES
Of the Society or Automotive Engineers
he came in contact with government
work at the beginning OF the war
which caused him to I've selected as
supervisor OF inspections and later
supervisor of engineering for the gov
eminent. His company at Cleveland
! manufactures standard parts for auto
mobiles and trucks. He Is the only
! son of T. \. Utz, formerly OF Mar
| shalltowD. and was born here.