The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-26

ference between a regional and divi-
sional canteen is purely adminsstra-
tive. The one moves with a partic-
ular army division, the other is per-
maneRt in particular region as long
as there are soldiers for it to serve.
The manner in which thes Y es-
adjustments are patronized may be IL
Illustrated by an example: 'Archer's
Place." a restaurant in Coblentz, fed
in January $4,000 men. in February
41.000; March 1 to Is, 10000 men.
Between October 1 and February IA
the Y. NJ. c. A. in the Argonne sector
and later in the Third al my area,
turned over" between 100000 900 and
so, 900, 900 francs. Amusement places
are packed every night.
The Y now has in the Third army
area two hundred pieces of transpor-
tation. The great difficulty with which
they haveN been collected may easily
be guessed for they represent cars of
eight tionalities-Italian, Swiss.
English, French, Russian, Belgian,
German and American. But only one
who has "been there" can form any
conception of the immense difficulties
involved in keeping them running.
Athletic Programs.
have touched very sketchily one
or two branches of the Y. NJ. c. A.
work with the Army of Occupation. I
have said nothing of the great ath-
letic program it has put on in Ger
many, 1 have not mentioned its fine
educational work. 1 have said moth
ing of its religious actiyity-tho on a
single Sunday services were held at
which 10000 men attended.
But surely from these few details
people at home can at least gain some
slight conception of the great field the
Y covers, when it is remembered that
l,a A % fAv, ss b.
small portion of the territory which
the organization reaches, and that
work with the Army of Occupation
has encountered difficulties of COM
munication, etc, from which other
areas are free.
For every statement I have made
have the most absolute authority
and can prove to the satisfaction of
any Doubling Thomas who may be
gifted with human intelligence. The
mischievous reports spread in America
are nothing short of damned shame
Tore Up Letter of Criticism.
Criticisms by soldiers must be
taken a little cautiously. Let me illus
trate. A major whom I know was
scathing the " Not considering it
just, he called the writer into his Of
flee. Said the major, Did you write
this letter?'
"'Yes, sir
"'It seems to have been written on
Y. M. c. A. stationery
"'Yes. SIR"
Did you write it with Y. NJ. c. A
pen and ink?'
Yes, sir
You were sitting in the "Y" and
being warmed by the heat of it's fire
when you wrote it?'
Yes, sir
"'You were listening to a concert
furnished by its orchestra at the
timer
"'Yes. sir
1.-The major tore the letter up. You
had better go back and write that let
ter over again, said he.
mo one who knows the American
soldier will deny that with all his vir-
lures he is. in some cases, a little in
clined to be hard boiled and allow,
occasionally, q single grievance to out
weigh 20 genuine services.
The American public will never
know what trials the " men in the
field have encountered, what difficulties
they have surmounted in carrying on
their work. L know one, a millionaire
from Palm Beach, Fla, So years old
He went thru the mud of the Argonne
as striker on q truck and died in
Coblentz from pneumonia. But these
chaps who do the most, talk the least
or what they have done. So the arm
chair organizers in America chatter
Onp