South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-03

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was not "A phase or the life "over
there" that / did not touch. hence
what / shall say will not be a fanci-
ful dream. Now for the criticismms
Y. VI. G. \. Sold Goods.
First: The "Y" sold goods. Yes
goods were sold. II is foolish to
think that the goods contained in
the canteens could be given away
undiscriminately. Until came
away. no organization attempted Civ
ling away its supplies except under
certain conditions which 7 will men
tion later. Suppose we had adopt
ed the policy Of giving away our
supplies what then? We had two
million men in France alone. TO say
nothing OF our two millions over
here" II half Of the men in France
/ had made one visit 10 the "Y" can
teen each day, and carried away
lone cake of chocolate. one package
or cookies, one package of cigar
! cites II would have meant an ex-
penditure Of almost a half million
dollars a day. Add 70 this all the
expense OF shipping, equipment.
4 salary, writing paper. buildings
amusement: how long would the
money last? II would have demand
ed almost a weekly drive for funds
Furthermore, / never could feel that
/ our men are the kind that wanted
something for nothing. All they
asked, and they had a right to ask
Iit. was that supplies be sold at fair
prices. No organization behino the
lines gave away it's supplies with
/ the exception OF the Red Cross.
which Of course. was a work Of
mercy among the sick and wound
led. The Salvation Army sold every
thing. including pies and dough-
nuts in the division which I served.
/ The X. Of c. were not with the first
/ division until after the middle Of
! August, when I left During action
| thousands of dollars worth of sup
/ plies were carried to the front and
given 10 the men by. ''Y' secretaries
while occupying our first sector.
| known as the Toul sector. "Y" men
would sling sacks over their should
er, loaded with supplies and make
daily Journeys TO the trenches. Civ
| ing away their cakes. chocolates.
fruit and tobacco. This was finally
stopped by a military order. be-
cause men were congregating. When
we left this sector for Piccardy. ev-
| cry man Of the first division. the
only one oH the line then was given
again. thousands of dollars worth
of supplies as he stepped on board
train. During our long stay in the
( fields of Piccardy supplies were tak-
en- right up TO the front. and ''Y"
huts were established in dugouts
Here the men were allowed 10 buy
on an order from their unit COM
mander: and repeatedly supplies
were handed out to them. Here,
where we were engaged in real war
fare, the men acclaimed the "Y" a
God send. But IL was at Scissors.
during the terrible beginning OF the
allied offensive, that TO me the
GROWING work of the ~" was done.
| Our advance against the Germans
was so rapid that food supplies, etc.
were left far behind. Our men
fought for two, and in many cases
ALMOST three days without food. The
"Y" hurriedly established a ware
house ten miles behind and rushed
supplies up before even our army
units could get there. For six days
1.-THE "Y" three-ton trucks were kept
busy rushing supplies up. and not
one penny was asked. Thousands
/ OF dollars worth of cookies, choco-
late, tobacco. etc, was given away.
| I had a part in this labor of love.
If any man who was there. could
honestly criticize the organization
after what was done in those aw-
full days, then God pity such a per
SON
Two: 1T has been said that the
Y. NJ. 9. a. did nothing for the sick
and wounded. l can well answer
this. was taken away from the
first trench mortar battery 10 open
the "Y' work at field hospital No
/ Is. was allowed to follow my own
policy AS were other "Y" secretaries
in those hospitals. I did. Never a
man came in. and we had many.
whether il was night or day. but
what he was met with hot chocolate
and cookies and cigarettes Indeed.
we We're doing so much of this work
among our sick and wounded that
7 the Red Cross entered a protest. A
conference was called and it was
decided that the ''Y" keep out OF
hospitals. except by way OF enter
tainment, leaving il 10 the Red
Cross. We would have stuck TO the
serving of men in the hospitals if
possible, but the Red Cross felt We
we're taking their territory. How
ever, "Y' entertainers were sent 10
the hospitals and more entertain
ments were given there then any
other place.
About Prices.
Three: I'VE have heard that the
'Y"charged outra ceous prices.
must say this is wrong. Prior 10
June 10. 1918 il may have appear
eel so. but that was not the fault
of the organization. The men de-
handed certain things we were
forced 10 buy them from the French.
hence had 20 charge accordingly.
I But supplies that came from Ameri-
ca were always sold cheaper than
I they could be brought here. Those
stories OF a dollar for a package of
cigarettes are untrue. IL a man
were charged that much it was not
sl,.. e-..rs a. -. -, -