Williams news., 1919-03-07
ANSWER TO CHARGE Y THAT Y.M.C.A.MEN
 AVOIDED DANGER
General Dickman, Hero of Chateau Thierry, Issues Order on Conduct
 Free Supplies.

Spread upon the records of the Third division, A. E. F., and just | brought to the attention of the Ma tional War Work Council of the Y. M. c. A., is a general order issued by command of Major General Dickman, which "Y'' officials have hailed as an ! emphatic answer to charges that Red Triangle workers had avoided the dan- ger zones in France and had wrung exorbitant prices from the soldiers for the comforts which the association had sent overseas. General Dickman directed that a copy of the order be sent to every one of the thirty-four men and six women who went with the division through the fighting at Chateau Thierry and along the Marne, to St. Mihiel, and later into action north of Verdun and along the Mouse.
 The Y. M. c. A. has made public General Dickman's order along with communication from Col. J. c. Rhea of another division which was in the St. Mihiel fighting. Colonel Rhea gave figures showing the large amount of supplies which were distributed in his division by ''Y" secretaries without charge. The order of General Dick man, who is now in command of the Army of Occupation in Germany, is as follows:
 ''The commanding general desires to make of record in the general orders of this division his appreciation of the part taken by the members of the Y. M. c. A. who have been attached to this division and actively carried on their work in all it's phases during the time that this division was in contact with the enemy from May 31 to July 30.
 During the days beginning July IA, when the enemy made their attack and for days and nights afterward, the r. M. c. A., through it's faithful members at their posts of duty, not only with chocolate and cakes and to- bacco cheered our soldiers, but were of efficient assistance to our medical staff in caring for wounded. Hot chocolate was served, in many cases free, both day and night to the wound ed and ambulance drivers.
 "While the men of the Y. M. c. A. were with the troops in the front line the young women of the Y. M. c. A. were detailed with the hospitals and
 
 testimony of their most efficient help during these two weeks of great strain.
 '"The conduct of these self-Sacrific- ing and brave men and women who have so unhesitatingly given their services to their country, establishes standard of prestige. exceptional courage, devotion and resources which the commanding general particularly commendS.'
 Colonel Rhea, chief of staff of the general staff of one of the divisions which helped to straighten out the St. Mihiel salient, wrote to the Y. M. c. A. overseas headquarters in Paris as fol- lows:
 ''The division commander directs me to thank you in the name of the off cers and men of this division for your great work in having distributed gra- tis to this division. between Septem- Der 10 and IS, a total of ,908 pack ages of cigarettes, 67 $40 bars of choc- olate, 29,9O0 packages of cakes, 3,32O pounds of hard candy, and hundreds of gallons of coffee, chocolate and bouillOn.
 ''It is impossible to express to you the appreciation of the officers and men of the pleasure and comfort you have brought to them when each one was struggling under the greatest country. You probably realize better than can be expressed the appreciation of your kindly work"