The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-05-02
TROUBLE MAKING
 CANTEEN TAKEN
 OVER BY PERSHING
Grants Earnest Request of Y. N. c. A.. Head-Did Better Than Expected,
 Says General.

ISHduihOHI \opcCldlJ.-A tne earnest request of E. c. Carter, general over seas secretary of the Army Young Mems Christian Association, General Fershing has officially taken over the army canteen, and in the future all ex- changes, or "canteens," will be operat- E ed by the military instead of the Y. NJ. c. A., as was the ages-old custom before the present war. In replying to Mir. Carter's request, General Pershing says that as the reasons swhich i'm pelled him to request the Y. NJ. c. A. to undertake the canteen work no longer exist, he is glad to approve Car ter's suggestion. The general thanks the Y. M. CA. for the manner in which 1t handled the canteen, declar- ing that, Handicapped by shortage of tonnage and land transportation, the Y. NJ. 0. A. has by extra exertion served the army better than could have been expected, and you may be assured that it's aid has been a large factor in the final great accomplish ments of the American army.
 According to '. NJ. c. A. officials and investigators of recent criticism com ing from overseas, the canteen has been the cause of nineteen-twentieths ! Of the organization trouble. In shis letter to MT. Carter, General Pershing ! declares that "the Y. NJ. c. A. under took the management of the post ex- changes at my request at a time when it was of the greatest importance that | no available soldier should be taken away from the vital military functions of training and fighting." Y. NJ. c. 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 i'm | possibility of a civilian organization, | handicapped as the Y. NJ. c. A. has l been, operating such a mammoth mer- | camille enterprise as the post ex- change business proved 10 be.
 General Pershing's letter to Mr. Car ter follows in full:
 My Dear Mir. Carter:
 q have received your letter of Jan uary % asking whether in view of the present changed situation it would | be possible for the army to assume | full responsibility for the maintenance of post exchanges throughout the IAmerican expeditionary force. As you correctly state, the Y. M. c. A. un- 1 dertOok the management of the post exchange at my request at time when it was of the greatest impor- l tance that no available soldier should Dc 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, I am glad to ap- prove your suggestion. In reaching this decision consideration has been l given to the new burdens in connection
 with the entertainment and athletic ac- | tlvities and the education that you have assumed. I 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
 ance which the Y. M. c. A. has rem
 dered to the American expeditionary l force in handling these exchanges.
 Handicapped by shortage of tonnage
 and land transportation, the Y. M. c. A. has by extra exertion served the
 army better than could have been eX-
 pected, and you may be assured that
 it's aid has been a large factor in the
 final great accomplishments of the
 American army.
 Cordially yours,
 |. (Sianed) "JOHN PERSHTNG