Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-04
ABLE DEFENSE OF ASSOCIATION
OVERSEAS HEARD BY SEARCH.
LIGHT CLUB,
HARRY c. EVANS TELLS
OF WORK AT THE FRONT:
Complaints Against Association Over
Balanced BY Tremendous Work EN-
eien,Iv Done by the ~" in France
and Italy-Mistskss Are Admitted
and Good Work is Pointed Out

The stronge est and most able defense
of the Y. VI. c. A. in its overseas WORK
with the armies that has been pre-
sented to a local audience was MADE
before the Searchlight Club Monday
night by Harry {. Evans, of pes
Moines, editor of the Yoeman Shield
The meeting was the first the club has
held in more than a year and II was
attended by $50 or more members.
Mr.. Evans. who was executive head
OF the Y. NJ. c. A. ministering TO the
American forces in Italy, and who
spent more than year on that front
and in France, spoke from first hana
knowledge. He admitted the mistakes
the association had made. but sim
mered down most Of the compliant
against the Y" overseas had to 90
with the price OF cisarets. But against
this complaint there were the huge
credits for the tremendous tasks the
association undertook and performed
as efficiently as could be expected
considering its unpreparedness and the
volume OF business it handled
Performed Signal Service.
History will record" said Mr.. Evans
that the last twelve months Of the
war the Y. NJ c. A. performed the
most signal social service n the ms
tory Of the world"
Replying to the charge that the as
ISOLATION sold ciSarets TOO high. the
speaker pointed to the fact that social
diseases among the soldiers were the
lowest in percentage ever known in an
army OF its size and the conduct OF
the army was of a high order.
Why talk Of the little things when
Il was the really big things that were
important" ne said.
The canteen. which was forced on
the Y. NJ c. A. by the army. was the
sole source Of the trouble. II was in
these Canteens that the cisarets were
sold. some OF them gift cigarets. This
latter mistake occurred in New YORK
warehouse where cigarets gathered for
the soldiers were mixed with ctgarets
-bou ght by the association. The error
was not discovered until some Of the
gift cigarets had been sold. The asso-
citation has already been exhonorated
for this error by those who gathered
the cigarets for the soldiers.
A Few Things the ~" Did.
Mr.. Evans said the association gave
away 900 worth Of supplies TO
soldiers IN the front line trenches and
lost $500, 900 worth more during trans
portation. Some Of the services rem
dered by the association Mr.. Evans
listed as included an average of 5000
free shows a month, including movies
and those given by ninety-three thea
trical companies. An average OF IA, =
900, 900 letters were written each month
by soldiers on free ~ stationary, in
free w huts the only heated buildings
in the battle areas. An average OF
81. 900. 900 a month Of the soldiers pay
was sent home free by the association.
IN France and Italy the association
maintained 1000 huts and gathering
places for the soldiers. OF the zoe
w workers John Mott said seriouC
complaint was made against thirty
Eve
There were some fools among US, -
Nh Evans admitted.
Describes Italian Drive.
Mr. Evans gave a very interesting
description Of the drive in northern
Italy that broke Austria. during which
his " trucks were Communicated by
an American regiment to bring up
supplies. The ~" men worked day and
night but got UP the supplies.
w r. Smith. president Of the club,
presided and introduced Mr.. Evans
after the club members stood andeang
patriotic and war songs. Officers are
70 be elected at the next meeting OF
the club.