The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-05-05
MAKING
CANTEEN TAKEN
over BY PERSHING
Grants Earnest Request Of Y. M. c. A.
Head--Dld Better Than Expected,
Says General.

Chaumont (SpeciaD AT the earnest
request Of Il. G. Carter, general over
seas secretary Of the Army Young
Mems Christian Association, General
lIershing has officially taken over the
army canteen, and in the future all ex'
changes, or "canteens," will be operat-
cd by the military instead Of the Y,
NJ. c. A., as was the ages-old custom
before the present war. In replying to
rMr Carriers request, General Pershing
says that as the reasons which Inn
PEELED him to request the Y. M. 9. A.
10 undertake the canteen work no
longer exist, he is glad to approve Car
ters suggestion. The general thanks
the Y. NJ. 9. A. for the manner in
Which 1t handled the canteen, declar-
ing that, Handicapped by shortage of
tonnage and land transportation, the
-. NJ c. A. has by extra exertlon
served the army better than could
have been expected, and you may be
assured that its aid has been large
factor in the final great accomplish
ncnts Of the American army.
According to Y. NJ. G. A. officials and
nycsJlgators Of recent criticism com
ing from overseas, the canteen has
been the cause Of nineteen-twentieths
OF the organizations trouble. In his
letter to Mr.. Carter, General Pershing
declares that "the Y. NJ. G. A. under
took the management Of the post ex-
changes at my request at a time when
il was Of the greatest importance that
no available soldier should be taken
away from the vital military functions
iof training and fighting" Y. NJ. G. A.
men everywhere are sure that with the
canteen in the hands of the army, all
criticism of the organizations over
sens work will cease, because of the inn
possibility OF a civilian organization.
handicapped as the Y. M. G. A. has
been, operating such a mammoth mer-
camille enterprise as the post ex-
change business proved to be.
General Pershing's letter to Mr.. Car
Ter follows in full:
my Dear Mr.. Carter:
81 have received your letter Of Jan
uary 20 asking whether in view of
the present changed situation 1t would
be possible for the army to assume
fun responsibility for the maintenance
Ct post exchanges throughout the
American expeditlonary force. AS
YOU correctly astate,a the Y. "a. A. nns,J
dertook the management Of the post
exchange at my request Mt a time
when it was Of the greatest impor- |
tnnce that no available soldier should |
he taken away from the vital military |
functions of training and fighting. AS
the reasons which impelled me at that
time TO 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-
uvities and the education that you
have assumed. l have accordingly
given directions that army units them
selves take over and operate their own
post exchanges. In making this
change permit me to thank you for
the very valuable services and assist
ence which the Y. NJ. @. A. has rem
dered to the American expeditlonary
force in handling these exchanges.
by shortage of tonnage
and land transportation, the Y. NJ. G.
a. has by extra exertion served the
army better than could have been ex-
pected, and you may be assured that
its aid has been a large factor in the
final great accomplishments of the
American army. /
Cordially yours,
(Signed) JOHN PERSHING."