The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-19
MOTT SAYS 5000
T MEN ARB ON JOB
Y. N. G. A. Chief Returns
From France Highly En-
Unused Over Organization.
MAY NEED MORE MONEY
Noordam Reaches Port With
Michigan and Wisconsin
Soldiers.

Or. John r. Mott, executive head OF
the Y. N. c. A.. got homo yesterday
from, a two months visit to nearly all
points in Europe whore the ''Y'' workers
arc doing things for the doughboys and
men OF the allied armies He said he
had been Impressed with the magnitude
OF the work. and the exodus Of American
troops had resulted In increasing the
~" forces threefold since his former
visit to Europe a year ago. when the
nghting was going on.
He said: We arc intensely active
Ia AFRO places. including huts, clubs
hotels and cafes. We have on the other
s.do nearly 5000 secretaries. OF which
1900 are women. engaged mostly in
the huts in entertainment work.
"Our dry canteens. where are sold ar
ticles such as are found In q post ex-
change, have been taken over by the
army but the wet canteens, where
chocolate. coffee and other drinks are
dispensed. are still carried on by women.
Up TO last month there were 5,000,000
participants in the athletic sports pro-
noted under the auspices of the secre-
tsres alone. and our soldiers were en-
tertained by $500 shows. in which the
soldiers themselves materially assisted
us.
Our educational workers have been
taken over in their entirety by the army
in connection with its programme.
Among these are from 400 to 500 men
who came to US from colleges in many
parts OF the United States.
Many Soldiers Isolated.
There are still hundreds Of small de-
taohments Of soldiers that we cannot
reach and for whom nothing IL being
done 1t is necessary that all organiza-
tons take up larger responsibility. and
instead of beginning a policy OF con-
tracing their expenditures abroad they
should expand them. for the conditions
require such action. 1t IL possible that
the money given to US in the great drive
last fall may not be enough and we may
have to appeal to the people again. I
believe the American people want this
work abroad even II we have to ask for
more money"
DR.. Mott said he had had talk with
Gen. Pershins about the time that Sec
retary Baker was dedicating a "Y'' hut
in the great leave area at Andernach, a
motor ride of several hours down the
Rhine from Coblenz, where 1000 men Of
the American Army of Occupation go
every day, and the General said he had
been much impressed with the courage
and initiative OF the Y. NJ. c. A. in UNI
dertaking and accomplishing great
things.
The most wonderful thing of the
war; the Commander In Chief in the
boys will 60 home and point to their
children and grandchildren with pride
that they belonged to an army that kept
itself clean. Never In the history of the
world has there been anything like IL
The result to the present and coming
generations will be incalculable. All
this Is due to the stand taken by the
War Department and the help Of all the
welfare societies. which stood together
IN splendid unity
DR.. Mott said that Secretary Baker
had written q letter. which will be made
public later. in which he says that every
wartime reason that inspired the peo-
pie TO give to the fund OF the welfare
organizations still applied and that
there were additional reasons showing
that the need was even greater now.
Complaints Unimportant.
About the investigation of complaints
against the Y. NJ. c. A. DR.. Mott said
It had been thorough and that the cause
for complaint was very small compared
with the vast volume Of constructive,
patriotic service rendered.
TIE Noordam brought 1859 military
passengers. mostly OF the 125th Infan-
try, Thirty-second Division, made up OF
National Guard regiments from Michi-
gan and Wisconsin. The 125th consisted
originally of the Thirty first and Thirty
third Michigan regiments. Brig.-Gen.
Avery D. Andrews. formerly vice-presi-
dent Of the Barber Asphalt Co.. in Phil
sdelphia. and once Police Commissioner
in New York city. returned by the Moor
dam with the Distinguished Service
Medal He went out as a Colonel In the
Transport Service and became deputy
director OF transportation in France.
He was transferred to the General Stan
later.
Every State in the Union and many
that may never get there were repre-
sented in the complete force of the
327th Infantry. Twenty-eight officers
and 2,465 men under Col. ]. F. Preston
came in yesterday by the transport
Walter \. Luckenbach. One Eskimo
and several Chinese were in the cosmo-
politan collection, which has fought
under many other organizations than
that 10 which Il Is now attached. most
OF the men being requirements. The
original regiment suffered heavily. chief
II in the Argonne. The Chinese of the
outfit taught the doughboys fantan and
caused trouble for the ships tailor and
steward, from whom they borrowed but
tons and bowls to carry on the game.
With the S27th came a musical COM
edy, "Oo-la-la," OF something like that,
which. according to tho producers, has
been played all over France. The COM
edy Is commanded by Lieut.. J. c. York
OF the Lambs Club and will be shown
here.
Great Wave Hits Soldier.
The Luckenbach had tussles with tall
sea crests in midocean and one OF the
lottiest leaped aboard on May IL and
picking UP Private Isaac f Webb of st.
Louis slammed him against q stanchion,
breaking his leg and right arm. He was
taKen TO the Greenhut Hospital from
the ship.
The Spanish liner Antonio Lopez,
from Bordeaux with 1.174 military
passengers, chiefly OF the 326th Infan-
wy lost three enlisted men on the trip
thrcugh Influenza, which developed soon
aiter the transport left port. The as
shtant purser and two seamen also died
OF the maiady and were buried at sea.
Ohe Of the army embalmerB. who travel
On all American transports embalmed