The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1919-04-10
TROUBLE MAKING
CANTEEN TAKEN
, OVER BY PERSHING
Grants Earnest Request Of Y. M. c. A.
Head-Did Better Than Expected.
Says General.

Chaumont (SpeciaD.-At the earnest
request of f. 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-
ed by the military instead of the Y.
NJ c. A., as was the ages-old custom
before the present war. In replying to
Mr.. Carriers request, General Pershing
says that as the reasons which i'm
PEELED him to request the Y. NJ. c. A.
TO undertake the canteen work no
longer exist, he is glad to approve Car
ters suggestion. The general thanks
the Y. NJ. c. A. for the manner In
which 1t handled the canteen, declar-
Ing that, Handicapped by shortage OF
tonnage and land transportation, the
Y. NJ G. A. has by extra exertiOn
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
According to Y. NJ. c. A. officials and
investigators 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. c. A. under
took the management of the post ex-
changes at my request at time when
1t 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. M. c. A. has
been, operating such 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 90 asking whether In view Of
the present changed situation it would
be possible for the army to assume
full responsibility for the maintenance
CT post exchanges throughout the
American eXpeditionary force. AS
you correctly state, the Y. NJ. G. A. I'M
dertook the management OF the post
exchange at my request at time
when 1t was Of the greatest impor-
lance 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 to request you to undertake this
work no longer exist, l am glad to APP
prove your suggestion. In reaching
this decision consideration has been
given to the new burdens in connection
with the entertainment and athletic ac-
tIvities 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. G. A. has rem
dered to the American expeditionary
force in handling these exchanges.
Handicapped 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."