New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1919-04-26
TROUBLE MAKING
CANTEEN TAKEN
over BY PERShING
arants Earnest Request Of Y. M. c. A.
Head-Dld Better Than Expected
Says General.


seas secretary Of the Army Young
Mems Christian Association, General
Pershing has oficially taken over the
army canteen, and In the future all ex-
changes. or "canteens," will be operat-
ed by the military instead Of the 7.
H. @. A., as was the ages-0ld custom
before the present war. In replying to
Mr.. Carriers request. General Pershing
says that as the reasons which Inn
PEELED him to request the 7. NJ. 9. A.
to undertake the canteen work no
longer exist. he Is glad to approve Car
ter's suggestion. The general thanks
the Y. M. G. A. for the manner in
which 1t handled the canteen. declar-
ing that, Handicapped by shortage OF
tonnage and land transportation, the
Z. NJ. G. A. has by extra exerton
served the army better than could
have been expected, and you may be
assured that its aid has been a large
factor In the final great accomplish
ments Of the American army.
According to Y. M. g. A. officials and
investigators Of recent criticism COM
ing from overseas, the canteen has
been the cause Of nineteen-twentieths
Of the organisations trouble. In his
letter to Mr.. Carter, General Pershing
declares that "the 7. NJ. G. A. under
took the management Of the post ex-
changes at my request at time. when
II was Of the greatest importance that
no available soldier should be taken
away from the vital military functions
of training and fighting" Y. N. @. A.
men everywhere are sure that with the
canteen In the hands Of the army, all
criticism Of the organizations over
seas work will cease, because Of the Inn
possibility of Z civilian organization.
handicapped as the 7. n. @. A. has
been. operating such z mammoth mer-
camille enterprise ~ the post ex-
change business proved to be.
General Pershing's letter to Mr.. Car.
ter follows In full:
my Dear Mr.. Carter:
II have received your letter Of Jan
nary 20 asking whether In view Of
the present changed situation 1t would
be possible for the army to assume
full responsibility for the maintenance
ct post exchanges throughout the
American expeditionary force. A
you correctly state, the Y. N. @. A. nm
dertook the management Of the post
exchange at my request ct . time
when II was Of the greatest impor-
tance that no available soldier should
be taken away from the vital military
functions Of training and fighting. As
the reasons which impelled me- at that
time 10 request you to undertake this
work no longer exist, am glad to ap-
prove your suggestion. In reaching
this decision consideration has been
given to the new burdens In connection
with the entertainment and athletic ac-
jt1vities and the sdueatton that you
have assumed. have accordingly
given directlons that army units them
selves take Over and operate their own
post exchangee. FIN making this
change permit me- u thank you for
the very valuable services and assist
ancs which the 7. - q 4. has rem
dered to The American expedi tionary
fnrce Id handling these exchanges.
Handicapped by shortage Of tonnage
and land transportatton the <. n. g.
a has BY extra exeFtion served the
Iarmy better than could have been ex-
4 A