The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-03-14
GEN. PERSHIVC
C0MlMENDS AID
RENDERED ARMY
Post Exchanges Overseas Az,
Taken Over by the Mill
tary Authorities

nnal great accomplishments Of Il
American army, General Pershing,
Q communication to e. c. Carter,
charge Of association operations wi,
the American Expeditionary Force
pays q splendid tribute to the wo,
which this agency accomplished und,
sxtreme difficulties and handicap
The Y. Il. c. A. served the army be
tor than could have been expected
says General Perahing.
At NJ sva request the American ,
=, 9. 4. ~ been relieved from mai,
tanning post exchanges with the e
psditisnsry forces oversees, the nee
NJ such service having been relieve
with tAs sisains sf the armistice. Co
ssspoadsnce exchanged between &c,
seal Pershing and z. c. Carter, l
charge Of the Y. M. G. A. with III
army, resulted in this decision. Ca,
NJ wrote to General Pershing Januar
18th - follows:
Dear General Pershing:
A year and = half ago you ~
qussts1 the Y. N. c. A. to under.
take operations for post exchanges
fer TIE American E1peditionary
Forces In order that Officers and
enlisted men may not be taken
away for that purpose from their
paramount military functions Of
training and fighting"
As soon - hestilities ceased We
raised with you the question
whether time had not come for the
Y. M. G. A. to 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 lighting. When We
arst raised the question with you
1t did not appear to you that it was
feasible in the best interests of
maximum service to the army that
Q change be made. Now the stu.
alton Is materially altered.
Recent general orders from main
headquarters and requests from
commanding officers have laid ON
the Y. M. c. A. Increased responsi-
bihties in promoting educational,
athletic and entertainment aotivi-
ties in the American Hxpsditionary
Force. This is placing q rapidly .
Increasing burden upon our per.
sonnet. The army ID also now pro-
pairing for the delivery Of all sun.
Plies for post exchanges which
heretofore have been imported,
manufactured and delivered by tho
Y. M. c. A.
In view Of the changed situation
wish to know whether you do not
think it would be possible for the
army at . very early date to as
sumo full responsibility for the
maintenance Of post exchanges
throughout the American Expedi.
tionary Force?
Very cordially yours,
(stgned) e. c. CARTER.
General Pershing Immediately acted
'on the suggestion made by Carter
ID relieved the Y. M. C. A. of its task
maintaining the post exchanges. He
i'd:
My Dear Mr.. Carter:
l have received your letter Of
January 18th asking whether, IN
view of present changed situation,
1t would be possible for the army
to assume full responsibility for.
maintenance Of post exchanges
throughout American Expedition
lry Force.
As you correctly state, the Y. n.
.. A. undertook the management
of post exchanges at my request at
} time when 1t was Of greatest i'm.
portance that no available soldier
should be taken away from vital
functions of training and
lighting. As reasons which i'm.
peIled me at that time to request
Tou to undertake this work no
onger exist, am glad to approve
Tour suggestion in reaching this
Consid Grafton has been
yiven TO new burdens in connec-
don with entertainment, athletic
activities and education that you
lave assumed. I have accord.
nsly given directions that army
lnits themselves take over and
'perate their own post exchanges.
IN making this change permit mo
. thank you for the very valuable '
ervicss and assistance which tho t
!. M. c. A. has rendered to the {
american Expsditionary Force n
Andlins these exchanges. Hand. =.
sDpsd BY shortage Of tonnage and !
md transportation ne Y. NJ. c.
~, BY extra exertion, served the t
Emy better than could have been t
xpscted, and you may be assured i
aat its aid has bsen . large FAC c
n IN the final great accomplish. b
tents Of the American army. h
Worry cordially yours D
1igned) JOHN J. PERsHINo. t
of Soldiers Halted. y
wv York.-There will be no further u u