St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1919-03-21
GEN. PERSHING
C0MMENDS Aid
RENDERED ARMY
Post Exchanges Overseas Are
Taken Over by the Mill
tary Authorities

tary AutnorltleS
Asserting that the valuable aid rem
dered by the war service OF the Y. NJ
g. A. had been q large factor I'm tn
final great accomplishment of tn
American army, General Pershing. II
a communication to f.. G. Carter. ii
charge OF association operations will
the American Expeditlonary Forces
pays a splendid tribute 70 the worl
which this agency accomplished undo
extreme difficulties and handicaps
The Y. NJ. G. A. served the army bet
ter than could have been expected,
says General Pershlng.
At its own request the American Y
M. G. A. has been relieved from main
talning post exchanges with the tx
peditlonary forces overseas, the nee,
for such service having been relieyet
with the signing OF the armistlcc Cor
respondence exchanged between Gen
eral PershIng and 4. G. Carter, II
charge Of the Y. VI. c. A. with th,
army. resulted In this decision Car
ter wrote to General Pershing Januar!
2sth as follows:
Dear General Pershing.
A year and half ago you re.
quested the Y NJ. C. A. to under.
take operations for post exchanges
for the American Expeditlonary
Forces Ia order that Officers and
enlisted men may not be taken
away for that purpose from their
paramount military functions OF
training and lighting"
As soon IA hostilities ceased we
raised with you the question
whether time had not come for the
Y. NJ G. A. 10 be relieved Of the
operation OF post exchanges in
view Of the fact that there was no
longer the same pressing demand
on man power of the army for
training and nghtinR. Whom we
FIRST raised tho question with YOU
u did not appear b you that II was
feasible In the best lntorcstG Of
maximum service 10 the army that
a change be made. Now the stu.
alton IN materially altered
Recent general orders from main
headquarters and requests from
commanding Officers have laid on
the Y. NJ. G. 4, increased responsl.
bllltics In promoting educational,
athletic and entertainment actiyl.
ties In the American Expedltionnry
Force. This IN placing rapidly
Increasing burden upon our per.
sonncl Tho army II also now pre-,
pairing for tho delivery ot All Hup.
plies for post exchanges which
heretofore have been imported.
manufactured and delivered by tho
Y. NJ. G. A.
In view of the changed situation
wish 90 know whether you do not
think Il would bo possible for the
army nj n very early date 10 as,
sumo full responsibility for the
maintenance OF post exchanges
throughout the American Expodi.
tionary Force9
Very cordially yours.
tsignedl T.. C. CARTER.
General Pershing Immediately acted
npon the suggestion made by Carter
and relieved the Y. NJ. c. \. of lts task
of maintaining the post exchanges. lie
said
My Dosr Mr.. Carter:
have received your letter Of
January 2eth asking whether. IN
view OF present changed situation.
Il would bo possible for the army
o. assume full responsibility for
maintenance of post exchanges
throughout American Expedition.
AIRY Force.
As YOU correctly state, the Y. NJ
c, A. undertook the management
OF post exchanges az my request at
y time when Il was OF greatest I'm
portance that no available soldier
should be taken away Il M vital
military functions OF training and
fghtlng As reasons which i'm
PEELED me az that time 20 request
you 10 undertake this work no
longer exist, | am glad To approve
your suggestion Ia reaching this
conclusion, Consideration has been
siyen 10 aew burdens IN sonnec-
tion with entertainment, athletic
activities And education that YOU
have assigned have accord,
ingly giyet directions that army
units themselves take over and
pperate thsir own post exchanges.
In making this change permit me
60 thank yoJ for the very valuable
services ana assistance which the
Y. NJ c, A. has rendered 10 the
American EApeditionary Force in
handling these exchanges Handl,
capped by shortage OF tonnage aud
land transportation the Y. NJ. c. A.
has. by extra eNertion. served the
army better thai could have heen
expected, and yoa may be assured
that It's aid has asen large fac.
tor In the final grsat accomplish.
ments OF the American army.
Very cordially yours.
(Signedl JOHN J. PERSHING.
start Life Anew.
II your life was not what it should
ave been last year, leave the old life
~ Al. n A.