Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-02-24
UPHELD MORALE OF ARMY.
Gave $4,000 In Free canteen Sup.
piles to American peuahboys.

n ing the three days battle Of
Gettysburg would have lasted
or the Western Front In the world war
just seven minutes. The supplies
used by Sherman on his three months
march to the sea would have been con-
sumed by the Allied Army In ten
hours"
This statement, made recently by an
American officer, a veteran Of the
Spanish war. who later rendered serv-
Ice in the Mexican campaign and with
our armies In France, should convey
some idea Of the gigantic contest which
terminated in a glorious victory for
allied forces over the Teutons. But
there were other mighty tasks con-
nected with the winning Of the titanic
struggle for the preservation of CIV
illzation, additional to furnishing the
necessary men. munitions and supplies.
One Of these, and far from the least
important, was the care of American
soldiers and sailors when not actually
engaged In their war time duties, that
the morale Of men In khaki and blue
should be maintained at the very high
est possible point
Back In those days when the war
clouds had spread over practically all
Europe and II was obvious that the
United States soon would be compelled
to take a great part In the struggle
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton began to make Its plans for the
care Of the Americans who would be
called to the colors. The tentative
program included the placing of recre-
alton centers In all home camps and at
many places abroad, furnishing muse
ment aplenty for the idle moments Of
the men of Dur forces and many other
things essential to a successful well
fare program. This was much. but
when the storm finally broke and the
President sent forth the call which
| plunged the United States into the
struggle, the Y. NJ. @. A., at the request
Of General Pershing, took owe the can
teen service for the American Expedl-
tionary Force. At that time 1t was
agreed that goods were to be sold at
the several "Y" centers at the purchase
cost price, plus cost Of transportation,
and II any profits should arise the "Y"
would use them exclusively for the
men In the army. There have been
criticisms to the effect that the Y. NJ.
g. A. operated these c~anteens at a
nraEt 1rhaca rtor0aa of ronaofnd orn
utterly untrue.
Free canteen Supplies.
Naturally, in consequence Of warm
lated transportation charges, supplies
in the canteens had to be sold at a rate
higher than charged In this country.
The following from u recent statement
by William Sloane, Chairman Of the
National War Work Council of the
Y. NJ. G. A., indicates tie true state of
affairs. He said Free distribution of
canteen supplies to American soldiers
by the Y. M. G. A. to a value OF ST.
10000 and a loss On operation of post
exchanges overseas, exclusive of the
Wldfefs- stcses m -Gfea- Britain,
amounting to $332,1S1, has been re-
ported by Il. G. Carter, Chief " Sec
ertary in Paris. This total of nearly
81, ,000, which does not include the
post exchange department for Novem-
Der and December, IL the most EN-
phatic answer the Y. NJ. @. A. can
make to the charges Of proAteering.
In neither Of these items. however,
does the magnitude Of the ~ free
service appear. There is no mention
of the free use of athletic supplies
valued at over $1,000,000; no mention
Of 100000 item for stationery fur
nished the soldiers who wrote homo
upon 1t more than 1900, 900 letters /;
no mention of the gigantic entertain
ment programs"
1t should be kept In mind that the
Y. NJ. G. A., at the request Of the army
authorities, was put up against a prac-
tically impossible proposition. 1t was
asked to take charge Of a great busi-
ness spending S1O0.O00.0O0 a year.
| Most of the trained secretaries neve
had had experience in any line at all
similar to canteen work. 1t was a task
akin to that of taking a group of men
out of the streets and assigning to them
| the problem Of operating a great rail-