The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-15

Henry B. OsEood. general field sec
rotary OF the American expedlsionary
| forces In France, has just returned
TO the United States and has given
an account. from his own personal
| experiences, Of the criticisms OF the
i work Of the Y. n G. A Ar. Osgood
rays.
| Before we begin to crstscise let
US consider the magnitude Of the
work had general supervision OF
all the T. n C. A. activities in
France. both in the s. o. S. and in
the combat area I feel that bits OF
poor Judgment, as shown by some
T. n C. A. workers who were not
equal to their tasks, hare been
singled out and given publication,
whereas probably during the sanle
hou- that incompetent canteen work.
er was making his mistake there
were happening throughout France
ten thousand good and moraIe-build-
Ing acts on the part Of the Y. 81. G.
A., concerning which nothing Is said
Wy select the mistakes and hold
them up as indicative of q trenen-
dously constructive work?
Il think it Is not generally under
stood that the Y. NJ C. A. has Ger
tain large responsibilities to the
American exnediionary forces which
have been specified in formal army
orders issued on authority OF Gem
.ral Pershing These possibilities
are more definite and more far
reaching than the responsibilities OF
any other OF the so-caIled civilian
relief organizations serving with the
army With the exception OF the
Red Cross no Other O. these civilisn
relief organizations has any dsHriie
responsibilities so formally entrusted
TO Il
The responsibilities of tho 'Y' in
cs1de the operation OF the amy can
teen. the entertainment program. and
II may be remember that the Y |
IS The largest user OF moving picture
slnls In the world The entire ath-
.etie program is in charge OF the
Y. NJ. c. A., and the leave areas are
all planned. organized and served by
the r II C. A, TO say nothing OF !,
the educational enterprises for the |
advantage OF troops, and many other /
lines Of service not otherwise cared !
for.
-Canteen prices were Always sub |
jet to correction by the army; and, |
though the association could not /
make a practice of. selling all of its ,
supplies at Quartermaster,s prices, !!
On account of exorbisant transporta-
ion charges. pilfering a every stage
81 their progress, and many other |
nindrances. still the prices on the
,anteen counter In France we're less 1
Inan the doughboy would have had
10 pay in Chicago.
The r N. c. A. had q free distri.ii
button service. in regard to which
General Pershing issued the follow
ng rules at the outset OF our army's
kcipafion in the war:
This service must be restricted
subject to the discretionary authori-
y referred TO IN the next paragraph
o the dispensing or hot and cold
thinks to the troops: (a) In front
inc and support positions; Obj at
,oinIs which viii serve men going
n and out OF action or In and out
i trenches: fc) ~ oo:ut< along tie
inc OF march at the front; Id at
uch other points as may be specially
authorized by the regional secre-
aries. t,
We were unable to enlist enough I,
nel TO supply the needs In the war !
one We estimated the need OF one
undred secretaries for each combat
vision but we were never able to ,
roYide more than forty secretaries
or the work In many cases for |
1onths at time, we were attempt ,