Smyrna times., 1919-12-03
NO HALT IN ~
WELFARE WORK
viii Remain With the Soldiers
Throughout DemobilizatiOn.
EFFORTS OFFICIALLY PRAISED.
Women's Labors for Doughboys
Receive Special Mention.

which is inscribed the accomplish
ments Of the welfare organizations of
the United States. And among these
several organizations, which labored
to ameliorate war conditions among
the fighting forces of America and
her allies, none played as important
and conspicuous a part and over such
a wide stretch of time and as broad
a territory as the Young Mems Chris
tian Association.
The "Y" was "on the job" from the
very beginning of hostilities in Europe,
and it ever amplifed its activities as
the need for it's assistance increased.
It was in the mobilization camps,
ready for service when the first Unit
ed States troops were called to the col
ors. 1t welcomed the first contingent
Of American troops to reach the shores
of Europe. 1t remained with the
doughboys until the last shot was fired,
it still is active wherever our soldiers
or sailors are to be found today, and
1t will continue as a welfare agent
among the nations men at arms un-
til the last of these is mustered out Of
service. 1t was in 1914, when war was
declared, that the ~" representatives
in Europe began their war service by
cooperating with the English authori-.
ties in mapping out a plan of welfare
work among the soldiers and in the
prison camps Of the allies and also in
Germany, And the work begun at
that time has been continued without
iintermission, increasing demands for
service usually being anticipated.
But the period for the complete de-
mobilization Of the American fighting
forces is approaching, and rapidly, and
! as the time nears when the war ac-
tivities Of the Young Mems Christian
Association will no longer be necessary
T. the praise for its work and it's accom-
plishments from those who occupied
places of authority and in exceptional
positions to observe actual conditions
continues to be made public.
Thomas w. Gregory, formerly Attor-
ney-General, who has Just returned
from France on mission for the gov-
ernment, in a statement concerning
SAN oNSAfAbANo Va luC Il
Recently I have had an opportunity
TO observe the work being done among
the American soldiers abroad to insure
their happiness and comfort. I have
seen many Of the men and women who
are devoting their time to the welfare
OF the soldiers and what steps they are
taxing to assure their happiness and
physical and moral welfare. have been
particularly impressed with the work
American women are doing. Now that
the incentive Of battle is over the
doughboy wants to come home. Our
women are doing their best to bring
America to him. They attend to his
creature comforts. They brighten him
up with entertainments, and they dance
with him In the " huts. They are with
him in the leave areas where he goes
for pleasure and rest They provide his
amusement.
Il left Paris on the morning of March
s1st. We not only covered the imme-
diate area Of fighting between the Ger
man and allied lines, but we went be-
hind both the German and the Ameri-
can lines at various points observing
conditions. We found the First Ameri-
can Army encamped as a general thing
behind the old French lines, south Of
the devastated area, and in most in
stances rather comfortably situated. We
found the " there. The Third Army
was along the Rhine In German territory.
and It was generally reported to me as
also being comfortably housed Here also
the Y was with them.
Il noted at many other points the
nuts OF the Y. M. c. A. So far as my
observation went, they furnished the
only real home atmosphere in this Sec
tion of the country. saw the bows
come into the huts about and 6 O'Clock.
weary and bedraggled. They stood in
long lines, and were handed hot coffee
and chocolate without charge, and some
times there also were sandwiches and
light refreshments. At all of the huts
found girls, distinctly American. who
were doing work of the finest kind It
was perfectly evident that they were
enduring hardships. I saw numbers of
them trudging through the mud and the
ruins OF these devasted villages and
towns. They were neatly and attrac-
lively garbed. They were without ex-
ception cheerful in their demeanor, they
seemed to be unusually popular with the
boys, and yet 1t was apparent that thew
were doing the work under very dis
tressing conditions. But these had not
lessened their morale, and in SO far as
could observe, the work in every in
stance was being we'll done. A few days
Rfter' returning to American it gave me
great pleasure to state to the officials
OF the War Department the splendid
work the Y. M. c. A. was doing.'
Raymond B. Fosdicx, chairman of the
Commission on Training Camp Activi-
ties, who has made a study Of the well
fare work done for our fighting men both |
here and abroad, in a report to the |
War Department made public recently. /
discussed the work Of the six orRanixa- |
ticns which served with our army on |
the other side. The report said the |
Young Mems Christian Association, han |
ding 5S per cent. of the war work bud |
get and with 5000 representatives In |
France was by far the largest
The work of $500 young women serv-
ing under the Y. M. c. A. with the |
troops in France ''is beyond praise" Mr.. |
Fosdick also stated, the girls being FAR |
better adapted to the task than the av-
erage man. Viewed broadly, he declared. |
the Y. M. c. A. deserves the apprecia-, |
tion Of the army and the continued SUP, |
port Of the public"
After eight months with the troopa /
In France" MFR. Fosdick said, IT am con- /
WINGED that the average woman worker |
attached to hut is worth four or Ave-
men workers. Certainly her effect on /
the morale and spirit Of the troops ia |
extraordinary. An Honest to God Aueri-l |
can Girl as the soldiers call her. can
do more to keep the men cheerful ana |
create an atmosphere Of home than any |