The Bossier banner., 1919-03-13
ANSWER To CHARGE
THAT Y.M.C.A.MEN
AVOIDED DANGER
General Dickman, Hero Of Chateau
Thierry, Issues Order on Conduct
Free Supplies.

Spread upon the records Of the
Third division, A. Z. t., and just
brought to the attention of the Ma
tional War Work Council of the Y. NJ.
c. A., is general order issued by
command of Major General Dickman,
which "Y" officials have hailed as an
emphatic answer to charges that Red
Triangle workers had avoided the dam
ger zones in France and had wrung
exorbitant prices from the soldiers for
the comforts which the association
had sent overseas. General Dickman
directed that a copy of the order be
sent to every one of the thirty-fOur
men and six women who went with
the division through the fighting at
Chateau Thierry and along the Marne
to st. NIihiel, and later into action
north of Verlun and along the Meuse.
The Y. NJ. c. A. has made public
General Dickman's order along with
a communication from Col. J. &. Rhea
of another division which was in the
st. Mihiel fighting. Colonel Rhea gave
figures showing the large amount OF
supplies which were distributed in his
division by "Y" secretaries without
charge. The order of General Dick
man, who is now in command of the
| Army of Occupation in Germany, is
as follows:
'"The commanding general desires to
make of record in the general orders
| III n
the part taken by the members Of the
Y. NJ. c.. A. who have been attached
to this division and actively casried on
their work in all its phases during the
time that this division was in contact
with the enemy from May 81 to July
80.
During the days beginning July IA,
when the enemy made their attack and
for days and nights afterward, the
Y. Nj. C. A., through its faithful
members at their posts of duty, not
only with chocolate and cakes and to-
bacco cheered our soldiers, but were
of efficient assistance to our medical
staff in caring for wounded. Hot
chocolate was served, in many cases
free, both day and night to the wound
ed and ambulance drivers.
"While the men of the Y. NJ. c. A
were with the troops in the front line
the young women of the Y. NJ. c. A
were detailed with the hospitals ant
the medical staff of this division beal
testimony of their most efficient hell
during these two weeks of great strain
''The conduct of these self-sacrific
ing and brave men and women Wht
have so unhesita,ingly given thei1
services to their country, establishe!
standard of prestige. exceptiona
4 courage, devotion and resources whicl
. the commanding general particular,
: commends."
Colonel Rhea, chief Of staff of tn
general staff of one of the division
which helped to straighten out the 81
Mihiel salient, wrote to the Y. NJ. &. A
overseas headquarters in Paris as fol
lows:
'"The division commander directs M
J. to thank you in the name of the off
> GERS and men of this division for you
$ great work in having distributed gr:
e tis to this division, between Septen
q ber 10 and IS, total Of 47,9OS pacl
e ages of cigarettes, G7,54O bars of chet
e olate. 299OO packages of cakes, 3,32
pounds of hard candy, and hundred
of gallons of coffee, chocolate an
bOuillOn.
3" at is impossible to express to 70
the appreciation of the officers an
. men of the pleasure and comfort 70
- have brought to them when each on
- was struggling under the CREATE:
hardships, to do his duty toward h
-. country. You probably realize bette
" than can be expressed the appreciate
- - Of your kindly work."