New-York tribune., 1920-09-30
Navy Club Forced
To Bar Hundreds
OF Enlisted Men
Only $50 of 5000 seamen
ON Shore Leave Get
Sleeping Quarters There;
Organization Lacks Funds

The arrival here Of the Atlantic feet
has almost swamped the Manhattan
Navy Club, Is East Forty first Street,
an organization conducted by patriotic
women for the benefit Of enlisted men
Of the navy.
Every night since the arrival of the
feet in the North River the club has
been forced to turn away hundreds Of
sailors who were seeking sleeping ac-
commodatons. Because of lack OF
funds the club has been unable to carry
out its plans for enlarging its quar-
ters, although the demand upon it's ia
cllities has increased daily for the last
two years.
Officers Of the club said yesterday
that the organization was negotiating
to acquire the building next door,
which is now occupied by the National
League for Women's Service. This will
involve q large financial outlay, and
the club is engaged IN a campaign TO
raise sufficient funds to make the pur-
chase and to improve greatly the pres
ent clubhouse
Hope to Raise 100000
As I result of the financial drive the
club hopes to raise $500,000, part Of
which will be used in paying off sec
ond mortgage on its quarters. little
more than 100000 already has been
raised.
An officer Of the club said yesterday
that the organization was sorely in
need Of a swimming pool, gymnasium
and other conveniences for the men,
and that it would be possible to have
these if possession of the building
next door could be obtained
with the Atlantic fleet making it's
base at New York, it is absolutely nee
essary to have a place where the en-
listed men can gather while on shore
leave said this official. eve are COM
peting against the dance halls and
other resorts in the city, where the
nothing better is offered them
The Navy Club is a permanent
proposition, and should meet with the
hearty support of every New Yorker
who has spark of patriotism. 1t IS
one means Of keeping the navy clean
on shore. The government looks after
the men when they are on the ships,
but when they are on leave they are
permitted to shift for themselves,
and, with no place to go. they fire.
Quently fall victims to the various
forms of vice that exist in every great
city
The men have come to look upon
the Navy Club as their shore home. and
ately upon leaving their ships. 1t is a
great pity that we can accommodate
only small proportion of the more
than 5000 sailors who are now on leave
in this city,
On Tuesday night more than 250
men slept at the Forty-frst Street
clubhouse. although it has actual sleep
ing accommodations for only 145. All
the beds had been spoken for by 5
o'clock in the afternoon. and after
that the management of the club had
to offer the men lounges, steamer
chairs and settees on which to sleep.
Some Slept on Floor
Even these imprvised accommoda-
tions failed to meet the demand, and
many Of the sailors asked permission
to spend the night on the floor They
said they would rather do this than
to pay the exorbitant rates charged by
hotels. Many of the men had no
money, and declared they would be
compelled to sleep in the parks if the
Navy Club could not put them up.
The club makes a charge Of so cents
night for its beds, the price having
been raised from 35 cents at the re-
quest of the men, who volunteered 10
pay the additional amount in order to
assist the organization in meeting its
running expenses.
The men of the feet now meet
about 65 per cent of the clubs ex-
penses, but the organization faces a
deficit each month of approximately
$1,000