GIFT OF Nat. War Council DATE DUE *^^**"^ • ^''-''^M Unppwi ^^u^^^ ^ |K 9 T^W? — -^H«-" M "^ H ^ ^ H H ' 7' 111 orjnlMi_r!^iit-r-i i L^T^^^^ni H H - ■ ^^.^^9 ^ ^^^^^^a m ^^^^^fl S Hi a 3 H GAYLORD PRINTED INU. 5. A. ^^| lW/ k Cornell University Library The original of this bool< is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924027893126 SUMMARY OF WORLD WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN Y M C A With the Soldiers and Sailors of America at home, on the sea, and overseas With the men of the Allied Armies and with the Prisoners of War in all parts of the world SBS3& FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION D Y7A3 « — ■) 676 Oty HU_. Copyright, 1920, by The International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations - /■••■ ■ ./I CONTENTS WORD Part I The World War 1 The Y M C A^ — Its Resources and Preparation for Service. . 2 Mobilization of the Forces of the American Y 5 America Gathers Her Army — the Y in the Service 8 With the American Navy 11 With the Men behind the Armies — War Industries 14 With the American Army at Embarkation — and at Sea 15 With the American Army in the United Kingdom 18 With the American Army in France 24 With the American Army in Germany 41 Coming Home with the American' Army 47 With the Armies of Our Allies S3 1. With the French Army 54 2. With the Chinese Labor Corps in France 59 3. With the Armies of Portugal in France 61 4. With the Italian Army 63 5. With the Armies in Russia 66 6. With the American Troops at the Arctic Sea 69 7. With the Armies in Siberia 71 8. With the Armies in the Far East 74 9. With the Armies in Greece 76 10. With the Armies in Egypt, Palestine, and the Dardanelles.. . . 79 11. With the Victorious Army at the Capture of Jerusalem 85 12. With the Armies in Mesopotamia 86 13. With the Indian Army 89 14. With the Armies in Es^st Africa •. . 91 15. With the Armies in Turkey and Asia Minor 91 16. With the Armies in the Balkans 93 17. With the Government in Czecho-Slovakia 94 18. With the Armies in Poland 96 With the Prisoners of War 100 Part II Administration — the Organization of All War Work in America and Abroad 109 Personnel — ^Recruiting an Army of Workers under the Red Triangle 112 Huts — the Armies' "Home" and the Soldiers' "Club" 119 iii IV. Entertainment — Keeping Up the Spirits of the Troops. . . . 125 V. Athletics — Building Up the Fighting Forces 132 Y M C A Casualty List 148 Citations and Decorations 149 VI. Education — Giving the Soldier His Opportunity ISO VII. Post Exchanges — ^Carrying the Canteen Burden for the Army 161 VIII. Leave Areas — ^the Soldiers' Holidays behind the Firing Lines 169 IX. Remittances — Sending the Soldiers' Money Back Home. . .' . 177 X. Religion and Citizenship — the Crusade for God and Country 179 XL Transportation and Supplies — Getting Provisions and Men to the Front 185 XII. Relationships — Cooperating with the Relief and Welfare Organizations 196 XIII. Resources — ^How the American People Gave Over $161,000,000 205 XIV. Finances — What Was Accomplished with the People's Money .266 Honor Roll 229 Wounded and Gassed , . . . . 237 ERRATA ON RUSSIAN MATERIAL IN FIRST EDITION "Summary of World War Work of the American Y. M. C. A." p. 66, sec. S, 2.1 — Omit "while America was still neutral." 3.3— Omit "Moscow." p. 67, 1.1— In place of first sentence read — "Among its demands on America for support in a great crisis this government as- sured Dr. Mott of its hearty approval of American volun- teers going to Russia as Y secretaries." 1.9— Omit "even." 3.4 — Omit "combined." S.3 — Add "A service corresponding to this was also carried on with the Irkutsk Garrison." p. 68, 1 — For "true magnitude" read "extent." Add "but gives little comprehension of the difficulties overcome." 3.1 — Read "Y men served neutrally through," etc. 3.2 — Read "cities extending first aid and other forms of relief," omitting "and directed first aid." p. 69, U — Insert after "organization" — "with the cordial' cooperation of the existing Russian Government, the Russian Co-opera- tive Societies and Russian and American Red Cross, the Iiiternational Harvester Company." sec. 6, 3.1 — For "only" read "most." p. 70, 1.4 — Add "including the American Naval Forces." p. 71, sec. 7, 2.1— Read "twelve" for "eleven." 2.3— following "Polish" add "Chinese." 2.9 — For "adequately" read "as far as possible." 3.1— After "work" add "during 1918." p. 72, 1.1 — For "Two months" read "some time." p. 73, 4.11 — For "each" read "most," for "group" read "groups." p. 74, 3.4 — Read "One regiment proposed that the Y canteen cars which made the trip across Siberia with them be erected in J Prague as a public memorial to American constancy and service." p. 75, 1 — Following the word "workers" omit the remainder of lines 1, 2, 3 and 4, commencing "a canteen car furnished." Fol- lowing paragraph 1 add — "mention should also be made of the splendid service rendered from Vladivostok to the American, British, French, Chinese and Russian sailors, all of whom received attention and service through the Inter- national Hut." 3.1— read for "of 76" "totalling 1726." ERRATA p. 24, sec. 9, 1.4 —for 12,955 read 10,481. I 28, par. 3, 1.1 —for Dr. read Mr. 29, par. 5, 1.13— for 1,000 read 500. p. 39, par. 3, 1.3 —for "rue" read "Avenue." D. 40, par. 1, 1.7 —for "the foyer" read "her billet." \50, par. 3, 1.5 — add More than one hundred secretaries were in V constant service on the troop trains from the debarkation stations on this side back to the demobilization camps. t». 115, 1.15 — omit "attorneys and." ^ 119, par. 2, should read 319 secretaries were decorated or cited. 128 were wounded or gassed. Besides these 11 were killed in the battle zone, 81 others died overseas, and 58 in the home camps. 130, 1.3— for 1919 read 1918. par. 2, 1.5 — for January 1919 read December 1918. 49, Citations and decorations, entry 14 — Croce di Guerra entry 18 — Medalha de Agradeci- miento tS7, 1. 5, 7, for Reese read Rees. A, par. 3, 1.14— for 1918 read 1919. "8, last line — for 60,000,000 frs. read 80,000,000 frs. 175, par. S, l.S — for "Y supervision" read "under contract originally suggested by the Y under whose supervision they at first were." y7, sec. 9, par. 3, 1.1 —for 351,460 read 351,468. 1.2 —for 21,558,214.41 read 21,558,339.97. 1.13 — insert "who when out of blanks, gave a receipt." 1.16 — should read, "letters were entrusted to the ordinary mails until arrangements were made in September 1918 with the Navy." 78, l.S — add The average time, from acceptance to delivery, how- ever, was 62 days. m, par. 2, 1.6— for "In" read "During." rar. 4, 1.1 — should read "With the exception of cable transfers, for which the cable charge was made, the remittances were transmitted." ar. 4, 1.3 — omit. ar. 5, 1.3— for 263 read 92. 1.4 — for "one thirteenth" read "one forty-eighth." " sec. 12, 1.7— read "the American Library Association and all ^ other organizations." par. 3, 1.6— read "but little overlapping, thanks to the Liaison Committee of the Red Cross and the Y." ween entries 7 and 8 insert Nicholson, John W. Moorestown, N. J. Died, Moorestown, N. J., April 10th, 1918, of pneu- monia. Recreation Secretary, Hut No. 8, Camp Dix. ry 10, should read "Pierce, Raymond G. Greenfield, Mass. Clerk, died Camp Devens, September 27th, 1918, of influenza. Recreation Secretary, Camp Devens, Mass." : entry, for Wanamaker, read Wannamaker. veen 2nd and 3rd entries— Warren, Maud Radford, Ithaca, ' ew York. FOREWORD The purpose of this book is to report official facts to the vast army of patriotic Americans "at home" who contributed the funds required to conduct the World War Work of the Y M C A. It is esti- mated that the $161,000,000 intrusted to the Y M C A in the various drives came from more thjin 15,000,000 contributors. Over 200,000 men and women volimteered for service with the Y in the Armies at home and abroad. From this army of volunteers, 25,926 were selected. Workers and dollars came from every part of the country, every pro- fession and occupation, every religious denomination. The Y M C A was an officially designated channel through which this vast stream of material and human power was poured by the American people for the benefit of its soldiers. This book also undertakes to interpret in terms of service the value )f the work of volunteers and- the 25,926 loyal men and women who -.erved with the American Red Triangle in the World War — to ecord how these workers in the armies of twenty-eight nations endered a free service to the soldiers requiring cash expenditures of $129,000,000; how in addition to this free service they conducted the Post Exchanges for the American Expeditionary Forces under Government Orders to the extent of $50,000,000; and how great ex- penditures still continue for welfare work throughout the world. Approximately seven-eighths of the service was rendered directly to American soldiers. The remaining one-eighth was rendered directly to Allied soldiers, in response to urgent representations of Allied Gov- ernments and Commanders that such service would make their troops better fighters. Its indirect benefit to America may be judged by General Pershing's statement, June 25, 1917: "The greatest service which America can render to the cause of the Allies at the present moment, is to e*tend the work of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation to the entire French Army." A specific military function was assigned to the Y M C A. Its duty was to assist in maintaining and promoting morale. It had been proved in the Spanish War and on the Mexican Border that Y M C A service made better fighters. That was the justification for allotting it space and privileges in the congested camps and lines of communica- tion, all the way to the battle line. War is a grim business and until the War had been won military efficiency was the sole consideration. As a mere purveyor of comforts and luxuries, no organization could have been granted a share of the inadequate transportation for its supplies and workers. Because YMCA welfare work and other activties grappled- effectively with intangible foes that reduce the fighting efficiency of soldiers, and that cannot be reached by military regulations and penalties, its service was welcomed by the American and Allied Governments and com- manders as contributing directly to victory. These pages record in summary the ways in which the Y M C A , performed its assigned duty. The following letter by Lieutenant Colonel Wheeler, with indorsement by General Pershing, expressed the official Army view of its function and performance : "There is no one factor contributing more to the morale of the Army in France than the Y M C A. The value of the organization cannot be overestimated. Give me 900 men who have a Y M C A raither than 1000 men who have none, and I will have better fighters every time." To which General Pershing added : "The conclusions and opinions of Lieutenant Colonel Wheeler are concurred in by these Headquarters." A complete history of the Red Triangle in the War would include detailed accounts of the work of the British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and Indian Associations, together with all the special service rendered by other national movemenits over the whole world. In this survey it has been possible only to glance here and there at this allied work where and when American workers touched hands with those of other nations. This preliminary summary is intended to present a rapid glance at essential facts. Part I includes a survey of the world-wide service v of the American Y M C A during the War. Part II is a brief report, mainly statistical, of tHe various departments and activities. The limitations imposed upon this abstract make it impossible to pay any adequate tribute to the work of other organizations. The Relief organizations, with the American Tied Cross at their head, have done a work whose extent and quality will be remembered as long as human history exists. These institutions worked in an entirely dif- ferent field from the Y, and rendered an essential service different in character. As a result of these activities during the War, the word "relief" has received a new meaning. The Y work in the War was in the field of social'welfare. In the same group belong the war organizations of the Y W C A, the Knights of Columbus, the Jewish Welfare Board, the Salvation Army, the War Camp Community Service, and the American Library Asso- ciation, each of which played its part and earned and received the approbation which is its due measure. In this group, the Y faced problems immeasurably greater than any other institution, and in volume of work was compelled to attack, according to trustworthy estimates, more than ninety per cent of the total task overseas. Owing to the summary nature of this account only the names of those who headed large geographical areas are included. This has meant the exclusion of the names of many of those who held major positions and did a service worthy of record, and of the thousands of field workers who deserve the highest commendation. It was obviously impossible to attempt any personal appreciation within the scope of this volume. An official history of the American Y M C A in the World War is in the course of preparation. Records are being compiled by the War Historical Bureau of the National War Work Council. It must be borne in mind that such figures as are given in this book are the best available as of record topdate. They are tentative and subject to correction as further information is received. All who were participants in the work and who may read this preliminary summary are earnestly requested to make suggestions or to send information which may be of value in the final preparation of the official history. It is exceedingly important that errors in facts or figures which may occur in so comprehensive an undertaking should be corrected. This invitation is extended especially to such valuable sources as the 25,926 Y M C A workers in the War, to Government, Army and Navy officials, members of all other welfare and relief organizations, members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and all other veterans' organizations. The Records Department of the Y M C A contains thousands of original documents, official ^orders, minutes of meetings, detailed reports of every department of service, records of receipts and expenditures covering every phase and relationship. It would value all additional material from outside sources, such as private diaries, personal experiences, or private information which may assist in making a complete and authentic record of the service ren- dered by the Y M C A in America's contribution to the history of wel- fare virork in the World War. PART I I— THE WORLD WAR The World War (July 23, 1914-Noveraber 11, 1918), fought in defense of civilization and democracy, involved 28 warring nations with populations of 1,575,135,000, or 90 per cent of the peoples of the earth. It covered a period of four years, three months, fifteen days, or a total of 1,567 days. The armies in this gigantic test of civiliza- tion reached a total of 59,176,800 soldiers. The battle deaths alone were 7,781,800; wounded 18,681,200; prisoners and missing 7,080,500; total casualties 33,543,500, practically all in the prime of life, the young men of the world. The direct rnoney cost is estimated as high as $249,000,000,000, including war loans, while economists esti- mate the indirect cost to commerce and trade at 151 billions more. These approximate figures, compiled from' recent Government rec- ords, subject to readjustment, indicate the magnitude of the struggle to maintain the ideals of human freedom. America in the World War America's service in the War was to create in nineteen months, out of a nation trained to peace, a man-power reserve force of 26,000,000 young men (18 to 45 years of age), the vigor and man- hood of the nation, 48 per cent, of the entire male population. There were placed under arms 4,800,000, while 2,000,000 were transported over 3000 miles across the seas and landed in France, in the darkest days of the World crisis, in itself one of the most notable achieve- ments in history. It is agreed by the Allies that this demonstration of military and moral force marked the turning point of the War. More than six-sevenths of a total American fighting force of 1,400,000 fought with their Allies in the 47 days' offensive which proved to be the decisive action. America spent $22,000,000,000, loaned her Allies in excess of $10,000,000,000 more, and placed her powerful industrial system at the entire disposal of the Allied cause. Her casualties w:ere small in the aggregate, approximating 300,000 men; practically half of these occurring at the peak of her war effort, the seven weeks' battle of the Meuse-Argpnne. Auxiliaries of Modern Democracy — Social Service Organizations The World War developed many great forces in modern civiliza- tion ; it was the builder of a new epoch. Commerce, science, politics, intellectual life, as well as industry and finance, every element of 1 2 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA civilized life in the belligerent nations was put at the service of the War. Behind the military effort, complementary if not indispensable, to it, stands the 'mobilized mass effort of civilian social service, the huge war auxiliary of a modern democracy. The agencies of this effort were the organized social welfare bodies throughout the world. These organizations prepared the way for cooperation and were active instruments of aid long before the Declaration of War by Con- gress on April 6, 1917. During the War the utilization of these organizations in direct service in every arm of the American forces abroad, at home, and throughout the Allied Nations, was a unique experiment on a scale as much beyond any previous parallel as were the military factors themselves. They built up an army within the Artny. They furnished the mediums by which the subprdination of every element of American life to the service was carried out in terms of an immense and orderly system. They attacked on a huge scale the greatest problem of the War to civilian armies, the crucial problem of morale. They developed the fine achievements of the Allies in this field into what became incomparably the most exten- sive service for sustaining the spirit of the soldier that the world has ever seen, "a contribution to victory as solid as that of any successful campaign in the field." It is a pleasure to record in this handbook this well-earned recognition to every social welfare and relief organization that entered into the World War. II— THE Y M C A— ITS RESOURCES AND PREPARATION FOR SERVICE The Y Is a World-Wide Brotherhood The limitations of this brief record (a preliminary abstract report of the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association) restrict its pages to that social organization; to the re- sponsibilities accepted and the duties performed. The YMCA is the oldest in the social welfare service. It is a world-wide organiza- tion of more than 1,200,000 young men in all nations, a universal club for preserving the highest standards of civilization. Its emblem, the triangle bearing the words BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, symbolizes its true purpose, to assist and encourage the young manhood of the world to develop itself into a strong race — physically, mentally, spiritually. This organization, representing the principles of Chris- tian civilization, is a system of thoroughly democratic, self-govern- ing, independent Associations in twenty-eight countries. As a per- manent organization with a chain of Association buildings ready for immediate service in all parts of the world, it was the first to enter the War in 1914. The active force and service of the whole organi- RESOURCES AND PREPARATION 3 zation were placed behind the governments and armies throughout the World War. . The Y M C A in North America At the time of America's entrance into the War the fully organ- ized Associations of the Y in North America numbered 2087 (United States 1986) with 5188 employed officers, and a reported membership of 720,478. The total value of the property and funds paid in was $110,600,634. The Associations and memberships were divided as follows: City Associations 699, membership 516,336; County Asso- ciations 195, membership 18,587; Railroad Associations 235, member- ship 107,870; Student Associations (exclusive of Colored and Indian schools) 680, membership 57,515; Army and Navy Associations 27; Colored Men's Associations 140, membership 14,829; other Asso- ciations (Community, Indian, etc.) Ill, all of these in the United States and Canada alone. Military Experience of the Y in Seven Wars — Seventy Years The "mother" of modern welfare work in war is Florence Night- ingale. History has gratefully recorded her magnificent work in the Crimean War (1854-56). The first recorded war observations of the Y M C A were at the battle of Solferino in Italy, when Franco-Italian troops defeated the Austrians in 1859. British Y M C A observers then reported the need of Christian welfare work in warfare. The first war work of the American YMCA was in the Civil War (1861- 1865) when it called the convention which resulted in the United States Christian Commission, "one of the most beneficent agencies ever devised to end the miseries of war." This Commission sent 4859 delegates to the battle field, distributing $3,000,000 worth of stores and over $2,500,000 in cash. In the Spanish-American War (1898) 528 Y secretaries served with the American troops in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. This resulted in a request from the War and Navy Departments to establish the Y work as a per- manent service. This request was immediately met and the Y has since been a service organization in the principal posts and ports of the United States and its insular possessions. In the Russo-Japanese War (1903-04) the value of such welfare work as a factor in maintain- ing the spirit of the army was recognized by the Japanese Government. A chain of Y huts was established. American secretaries were loaned by the International Committee to the Japanese National Council, and were partly financed by gifts from the United States. The Japanese Y secretaries, to whom much credit is due for their not- able service, cordially accepted the cooperation of the Americans. This work was especially commended by the Mikado. In the Boer War 4 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA (1899-1901) the Canadian Y cooperated with the South African and inaugurated camp and field welfare service that opsned up the first vista of opportunity which the British brought to fine achievement during the World War. First Social Welfare Organization in World War At the outbreak of the World War the British and Canadian, the Australian, New Zealand, South African and Indian Y M C A's joined the colors — the first welfare organizations as distinguished from the great relief groups. Within two weeks 250 centers were opened in Great Britain. Before America entered the War there were over 1500 centers in full swing. It was this experience that established the hut type of service on an extensive scale, with the general features that have proved so valuable under so many vary- ing conditions. This work reached outside the British Isles and Canada to Egypt, the Dardanelles, Malta, the Mediterranean ports, India, Mesopotamia, East and South Africa, and Australia. Through- out the British Empire more than 150 American secretaries worked with the British Y. It was in India that an American secretary, Edward Clark Carter, National Secretary for India (who later became Chief Secretary of the A E F-Y M C A in France) began his war work. The Indian YMCA accompanied the troops from India to a dozen fronts on three continents and opened a chain of huts in India itself. American Y Extends Its Service to Europe Dr. John R. Mott, in 1914 (nearly three years before America entered the struggle), embarked for war-stricken Europe, as General Secretary of the International Committee of North America, General Secretary of the World's Student Christian Federation, and Ameri- can member of the World's Committee. His purpose was to stimu- late welfare work for the soldiers in all countries. The assurances which he gave of American support in both men and money resulted in immediate extension of activities. Work was begun with the French and Russian soldiers, in the Austrian and Hungarian Armies and among the Bulgarians, and later, with the Italian Army. The Ameri- can Y supplied men and money for work with the Roumanian Army under patronage of the Queen of Roumania. Dr. Mott's observations in Germany (Autumn of 1914) resulted in the inauguration of the Prisoners of War work (described on page 100), a great humane achievement in the prison camps of all the warring countries. Durinp- the three years before America entered the War this work by Ameri- cans in the various armies, and among the prisoners of war, was con- stantly enlarged and vast sums of money were provided for it in America. Dr. Mott made extended trips of inspection each year. MOBILIZATION OF THE AMERICAN Y 5 The Y along the Mexican Border The crisis on the Mexican border (1916) forced the American Government to mobilize 150,000 troops along the Rio Grande. This was the largest number of American soldiers on the field under one command in half a century. The American Y entered immediately into this service; during nine months it assigned 374 secretaries to duties in the Army along the border, providing 42 buildings and 6 big tents with an extensive traveling equipment. This crisis' proved to be the training stage whereby America produced a modern army. First to Offer Services to American Government When America entered the World War (April 6, 1917), the Amer- ican Y M C A offered its services to the Government of the United States — again the first of the civil or social welfare organizations. Within a few hours after rupture of diplomatic relations. Dr. John R. Mott sent a telegram to President Wilson, and a few days later had an extended interview with him and came to an agreement as to Y M C A cooperation. With John S. Tichenor, the Senior Secretary of the Army and Navy Department, he then called on the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, pledging the loyal coopera- tion of all Y M C A agencies. Secretary Baker and Secretary Daniels accepted the offer with hearty appreciation and extended every courtesy and facility in their power. The acceptance of this service, it must be remembered, was based on achieved results not only with the men of the Army and Navy -in the United States but with the soldiers and sailors of a dozen nations under a great variety of con- ditions. The limitations of the views of the Y leaders were identical with those of the military leaders themselves. No one ever before had faced the multiplicity of problems inherent in modern warfare. There were no data on the handling of huge masses of men gathered over night as nation after nation plunged into the conflict. But the Y entered this service, not only with the nucleus of a general organi- zation, with an administrative force, and with world-wide connec- tions; but also with tried methods which were at that very moment proving their effectiveness in the armies of our Allies. Behind the American Government and its Army and Navy the Y M C A placed its resources. Ill— MOBILIZATION OF THE FORCES OF THE AMERICAN Y Organization of National War Work Council Men of clear vision saw the magnitude of the task before the country. Industry, finance, and labor realized the unprecedented 6 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA problems before them. The YMCA recognized that its own share would compel it to assume tremendous responsibilities with a great and widely extended organization. Its desire was to perform every duty within its power — and it was willing to carry as heavy a part of the burden as its resources would allow. An immediate con- ference was called of representative Association leaders from all its groups throughout the country, so that unity of action might be assured. This conference convened — four days after the Declara- tion of War — ^at Garden City, Long Island, April 10, 1917. It in- cluded representatives of local, state, and international organizations. From these deliberations came the recommendation to the Inter- national Committee, through its Army a!nd Navy Department, to appoint a National War Work Council of Young Men's Christian Associations, with authority to organize and carry on a war work program which would meet to the fullest degree possible the needs of the nation's defenders. The International Committee met at once and adopted the recommendation. Personnel of the Executive Staff At the first meeting of the National War Work Council, held in New York, April 28, 1917, there was read an order, signed by Presi- dent Wilson, giving official recognition to the organization as a valuable adjunct and asset to the Service and enjoining officers to render the fullest practicable assistance and cooperation. The Chair- man of the Army and Navy Department, William Sloane, and the General Secretary of the International Committee, John R. Mott, became Chairman and General Secretary, respectively, of the Na- tional War Work Council. Work was immediately begun in the various Reserve Officers' Training Camps. Four Associate General Secretaries constituted the executive staff. Fletcher S. Brockman, who had been YMCA General Secretary for China, acted as general assistant to Dr. Mott. In charge of work for soldiers and sailors in the United States was J. S. Tichenor, formerly Senior Secretary of the Army and Navy Department. C. V. Hibbard, who had had charge of the work for Allied Prisoners of War, super- vised all overseas work. Charles R. Towson, the Senior Secretary of the Industrial Department, took charge of all the work in war in- dustries. The Secretarial field administration was subject to changing per- sonnel but the following men held major positions over a considerable period : E. C. Carter, Secretary in Chief A E F-Y M C A ; R. L. Ewing, associate to Mr. Carter in charge of A E F-Y MCA, Great Britain' D. A. Davis, Senior American Secretary in France in the work of the Foyer du Soldat ; J. S. Nollen, Senior Secretary in charge of work with MOBILIZATION OF THE AMERICAN Y 7 the Italian Army ; E. T. Colton, Senior Secretary for work in Russia ; A. C. Harte in general charge of all work among Prisoners of War; William Jessop in charge of the Army work in Egypt. The Association Lined-Up for Service Behind the National War Work Council stood the united Asso- ciation movement in the United States. The local Associations were the foundations for the support of the whole work. They played a leading part in securing the supplies of money, and of men and women, necessary for the huge undertaking. Through the whole country, City, County, Railroad, Student, Industrial, and Colored Association leaders organized their communities for effective sup- port. The State Committees backed the program from start to finish. Constant appeals, were made from Headquarters to all these bodies through the whole period of the War and the final reckoning shows that not once did they fail in this critical situation. It is impossible to estimate the full value of the local Associa- tions ; not only did they uphold the National War Work Council, but they rendered untold "Bervice, largely at their own expense, to sol- diers and sailors in their own communities throughout the entire country, thus setting up nearly 2000 centers for action. City Asso- ciations threw their doors wide open and multiplied their regular facilities on an expanding scale. They freely provided such fea- tures as these: Entertainment with music, moving pictures, and theatrical talent, at Association buildings; dinner parties and social functions, at private homes opened to enlisted men by the appeal of the Association; inspirational features, such as religious meet- ings, interviews with Christian nien for counsel, and public ad- dresses to inform enlisted men regarding the issues of the war; creature comforts, such as refreshments, shower baths, swimming pools, and gymnasia [the latter were in numberless cases transformed at night to serve as dormitories filled with cots for enlisted men] countless acts of personal service, not recorded but of very real help to enlisted men urgently needing aid, from the sending of a telegram to the securing of a clergyman to administer baptism. The service of the YMCA thus began with the. soldier at his home, and then followed him, as we shall see later in these pages, to the- furthermost parts of the world. City, Railroad, and Industrial Associations, wherever possible, offered their full membership priv- ileges without charge to men in the service and during the demobili- zation period, with practical unanimity, they gave all discharged service men a complimentary membership for three months. _The rehabilitation of great numbers of rapidly discharged soldiers, sail- ors, and marines was greatly aided by the prompt service of city 8 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Associations in securing employment for thousands of men, entirely without charge. In many cities the Association Employment De- partment was recognized as one of the most capable allies of the United States Employment Service. Serving Millions of American Soldiers at Home The extent of this work, even before the soldier had left his own home town, is suggested by these statistics: City Associations reported totals of 2,912,300 and 4,347,100 services to men in uniform for the years ending April 30, 1918, and April 30, 1919, respectively. All figures giving totals throughout this book refer necessarily to ser- vices rendered in the aggregate ; that is : whenever the same soldier or sailor wras s^ved on several occasions, each service is recorded in the total. The labor of home service was increased by the absence of approxi- miately 700 city secretaries engaged in war work. There is no magic by which unselfish service becomes thereby' costless; every service creates its additional expense. These local Associations, by reason of their war duties, have borne tremendous additional expenses when their normal income was markedly de- creased. The majority of the city Associations financed their war activities without aid from the National War Work Council. But in cities where the service undertaken was altogether beyond the local resources, the Associations availed themselves of grants by the War Work Council for specific work on behalf of soldiers and sailors, according to a budget approved in advance by representa- tives of the Council. This made possible the addition to certain local staffs of an adequate number of special war work secretaries. The National War Work Council granted to these city Associa- tions for work among soldiers, the sum of $2,397,404 between April 26, 1917, and December 31, 1919. IV— AMERICA GATHERS HER ARMY— THE Y IN THE SERVICE Leaving Home with the Boys The Government of the United States called millions of .young men — the youth of the nation — from their homes and ordinary occu- pations to concentrate them in the great training camps. This vast citizen army was hastily mobilized under emergency supervision. Departing from mobilization centers, where hundreds of home friends bade them farewell, they started on the first lap of one of the longest and most adventurous journeys in the world's history — to "save the THE Y IN THE SERVICE 9 world for democracy." At this critical moment the Y M C A foresaw its first great duty — to extend immediate cooperation to the Govern- ment. It sent out Y representatives to establish relations with the soldier; to advise him as to the conditions in the camp to which he was going, and the surroundings under which he would be trained; and to lay the foundation for constructive work throughout the war. Then came the long, hard train trips. Trains were crowded; food was often hard to get. The Y's whole effort was directed to increase comfort and offer its friendly service wherever desired. More than 5000 troop trains en route to camps in the United States had representatives of the Y on board during the critical period of July 1, 1917, to October 30, 1918. Wherever possible there were two or three secretaries. These trains carried a total of 2,640,- 000 men. With the Soldiers in the Training Camps The American Army was gathered into sixteen National Guard camps, sixteen National Army camps, and a large number of centers for the training of officers, ambulance men, aviators, etc. It is un- necessary to recount the speed with which these camps were estab- lished and filled with soldiers — it was characteristic of American energy and genius in achieving results. The Y kept pace with the camp construction and in a large majority of cases was ready at the opening with its service. The swift erection, equipment, and manning of approximately 1200 units of Y service was accomplished in the face of all the diffi- culties incident to that strenuous period; 952 buildings were erected and equipped at a total cosit of $8,338,317. These, during the period of the War, were all practically perma- nent posts, and it was possible to establish work on a permanent basis with a regular hut staff which varied from three to six men. There were also camp and district executives and a general executive staff in each of the six military departments. These supervisory, staffs included specialists for such work as physical, educational, recreational, and religious activities. The buildings were designed to serve so far as possible as a substitute for many features of club, home, school, theater, and church. The peculiar value of this service is surely established by the fact that they were thronged day after day and that every facility was made use of to the fullest extent. Necessarily, figures of attendance are only estimates, but the com- pilation of such estimates indicates : The aggregate attendance at Y huts in the United States was over 400,000,000. When the new soldier entered the camp he found the Y ready to 10 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA help him in countless little ways, such as sending his civilian clothing back home, providing writing paper and postage stamps, advising on matters of the daily routine, and giving information on all sorts of subjects. Regular programs were conducted in each building. Of necessity these were largely the same throughout the whole coun- try. A typical program which appeared to satisfy the men included the following: two evenings each week for motion pictures, one eve- ning for a special entertainment, one for an educational lecture, one for athletic stunts, and two for religious meetings. Outside the huts there was always an extensive educational .and recreational program, in barracks, in company streets, and on the athletic field. Through the cooperation of the American Library Association there was a library in each hut. From April 26, 1917, to October 31, 1919, over $4,800,000 was spent on the operation and miaintenance of YMCA service buildings in American Training Camps; over $1,400,000 in educational literature, lectiures, French instruction, and library service ; upward of $1,400,000 for entertainment exclusive of the motion picture exhibitions on which alone was spent over $3,000,000; while athletics cost nearly $1,800,000. The Y forces also handled 280,000,000 pieces of mail for the soldiers and sailors. Over $39,000,000 was spent in the work in the United States and the Insular Possessions up to December 31, 1919. About 12,000 sec- retaries served in the home camps. This is exclusive of the large number of volunteer workers who gave time and effort freely in every section of the country, making a grand total of many thousands more. Watching the Mexican Border during the war In the face of the impressive conflict in Europe and Asia it was forgotten by many that the situation on the Mexican Border con- tinued throughout the War. The previously established service was • maintained in 25 buildings and 70 outposts stretched out over a line 3500 miles long. The traveling motion picture equipment especially was of great service to small detachments in lonely situations. With the Student Army in American Colleges In 1918, the Government of the United States inaugurated a radi- cal departure in military training by taking over practically all the institutions of higher education and establishing therein the Students' Army Training Corps. These men represented the youngest mem- bers of the draft army. The colleges of the United States, like the colleges of other' countries, from the very beginning contributed WITH THE AMERICAN NAVY 11 volunteers to the Army out of all proportion to their numbers. It is also noteworthy that they have a splendid record in gifts to the war welfare agencies. When the colleges became thus militarized, an organization was immediately set up by the Y and service was introduced into each of these great student camps. The coming of the Armistice ended the Students' Army Training Corps after it had existed only a few months, but during that period the Y had spent over $560,000 in the various institutions. The Y in the Insular Possessions When the United States entered the War the Philippine Senate offered President Wilson 25,000 Filipino troops. About 10,000 men were enrolled for t|-aining in the Tomas Claudio Camp. In October, 1918, the Y M C A opened buildings operated by seven secretaries. A successful work along standard lines was promoted until the camp was closed in February, 1919. The buildings were always crowded by soldiers. In Porto Rico the day after the opening of the first training camp (August, 1917) the General Secretary of the Y in Porto Rico was at work with his organization. As the training camps expanded the Y force was increased until 30 secretaries served the soldiers in three camps. The work was promoted on parallel lines with that performed in American Continental camps. About 15 per cent of the men, the large part being illiterate, joined writing and reading courses. In the Canal Zone work similar to that in the Home Camps was carried on in nine posts, and two large service clubs or Army and Navy Y M C A's were operated in Balboa and Cristobal. An effective service was rendered the many small scattered posts of Marines in the West Indies, for whom recreational material was provided and motion picture films were furnished. V— WITH THE AMERICAN NAVY The Navy in the World War performed a significant service that historians will estimate as a powerful factor in the achievement of the American nation. More than 425,000 men and 1400 ships were in the service. General Pershing in his report to Congress pays this tribute: "To our sister service we owe the safe arrival of our armies and their supplies. It is most gratifying to record that there has never been such a perfect understanding between these two branches of the service." The Navy Y M C A proved a valuable adjunct in this accomplish- ment. It had been called into existence during the Spanish-American 12 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA War. Large Association buildings had been erected at American naval stations — Boston, Newport, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Norfolk, San Francisco, and Honolulu — to serve as their "home ashore" for men of the Navy and Marine Corps, providing lodging, refreshment and entertainment, reading and writing rooms, educational classes, Bible classes, and religious meetings. Thus a solid basis was formed for the organization which the Y built up when the United States entered the World War. On Home Service with the Navy After war was declared new naval bases and training stations sprang up along the coasts and the Great Lakes. The work in the United States and its Insular Possessions was under the direction of John S. Tichenor, who was represented in each of the departments or areas by a department executive. Shortly after the signing of the Armistice 482 secretaries were serving the Navy and Marine Corps at 49 centers in 131 Units. At home such huts as that at Newport News and the Hudson Hut in Hoboken welcomed the men of the Navy. The Y also shipped recreational supplies and films to 31 small Navy units in the West Indies, and men were served in Y M C A buildings in the Canal Zone, Guam, Olongapo, Cavite, Shanghai, and Hankow. To give a general idea of the extent of the work promoted by the Navy Y at home a few figures will be illuminating : It was estimated that the various units attracted an attendance of 3,250,000 per month in the laitter half of 1918 alone. Free stationery was furnished to the extent of over 2,000,000 letter heads per month. The educational class attendance ran into over 2000 per month, the average at each session being 16-17. Motion picture shows were presented twice a week at each unit with an average attendance of over 400. Religious meetings were held at practically all units. The educational courses and classes in the Navy were highly developed activities. The standard of the Naval men was un- usually high. There were more calls for trigonometry and algebra than for arithmetic; other chief subjects were geometry, geography, U. S. history, French, shorthand, navigation, and physics. After the signing of the Armistice younger boys enlisted for a period of four years; their educational equipment was more elementary and the chief subjects during 1919 were penmanship, shorthand, type- writing, arithmetic, English, Spanish, electricity, and gas engines. Athletic activities up to the Armistice consisted chiefly of mass per- formances. The influenza epidemic which swept the country in the Autumn WITH THE AMERICAN NAVY 13 of 1918 was an opportunity for the Y to do the best that it could in assisting the relief organizations in a great crisis. Practically every Y unit was turned into a hospital, the secretaries working continu- ously as hospital orderlies and spending their time with the sick and dying. Almost 75 per cent of the secretaries fell ill of the malady and several of them died. Note should be made of the work done for wounded men at the hospitals. Special equipment was made avail- able and trained physical directors were assigned to help in over- coming defects by means of graded exercises. With the Overseas Service Throughout the entire war period a combined Army and Navy work was carried on for soldiers, sailors, and marines at the ports of entry, such as Liverpool, Southampton, Bordeaux, St. Nazaire, Brest, and the cities of London and Paris. In the strictly naval fields, such as the mine laying bases in Scotland, the naval aviation camps on the coasts of Ireland and France and the bases at Corfu and Gibraltar, the Y carried out a specialized naval work. In order that the Association might be in constant touch with the Naval Force Commander's office, the headquarters of the Navy Department were established in London at the Central Office of the American Y M G A for the United Kingdom. A secondary office for the administration of the naval field in France was established in Paris. The Y in its effort on behalf of the enlisted men at all times received the fullest cooperation from the Navy officers and higher officials. Edgar McNaughton, for most of the period the Chief Navy Secretary, was repeatedly called into conference with the Naval Force Commander to consider plans for the comfort of the men at different ports and bases. The object was to render service to all stations no matter how isolated, and to stimulate and sustain the morale of the men. At the signing of the Armistice the Y was promoting work from Archangel, northern Russia, to Corfu, Greece, including all the avia- tion camps in Ireland, France, and Italy. During the days of the Armistice new stations at Kirkwall and Spalato were opened. At Constantinople the Y for soldiers and sailors is still in active oper- ation. The Y in the Navy overseas was operating in 78 stations and cities, with 135 different centers. The personnel included 354 secre- taries and 107 women workers besides the staffs at Central Head- quarters in London, Paris, Rome, and at the Regional and District offices such as Bordeaux and Liverpool. A total of about 2500 local 14 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA volunteer workers helped to maintain the high efficiency of the Navy Division. The duties in the Navy were such that no record could be kept of the hundreds of entertainers, lecturers, and speakers who were at various times serving the Navy branch of the overseas work. The Navy secretaries did not operate any canteens outside of the combined fields and thus could devote their entire time to the pro- mption of all-round programs of activities. Motion pictures played a large part in these programs. Besides continuous shipments to most of the centers a regular film service was maintained for the battleship squadron. Minstrel shows were promoted wi1^ great success in France. The comic opera "Somewhere in Scotland" produced at the base of Inverness and late/ staged in London was considered by Admiral Sims the best naval production he had ever witnessed. Athletics and recreation, were among the conspicuous activities, and London afforded an excellent city for championship contests. Many notable games of baseball and football were witnessed in Hyde Park by a great many of the British people, including the King and Queen. Among other appreciated lines of service to the Navy was the entertainment of the men through sight-seeing trips, social parties, and hospitality in homes in the port cities. This work in Great Britain was mainly promoted through the International Hospitality League, as recorded on page 23. The Navy Associations rendered an invaluable service during the War and the readjustment period to sailors of the British Navy as well as their fellow-countrymen. In letters from individuals and crews, officers and men were unanimous in expressing their grati- tude. As expressed by Col. L. McCarty Little, Aide to Admiral William S. Sims, "Words and figures can never represent the work done by your organization. The only real return is the deep, deep gratitude which we feel but can never adequately express." VI— WITH THE MEN BEHIND THE ARMIES- WAR INDUSTRIES The modern fighting army is absolutely dependent upon the great' civilian force which provides necessary supplies for carrying on war. An important section of this civilian force is represented by the workers in industries under Government x;ontr61. These include enlisted men in industries, civilian employes in navy yards and arsenals, and workers in shipya^s and munition plants under Gov- ernment control. Previous to the War the Y M C A had carried on an extensive work in industrial plants over the whole country, and WITH THE MEN BEHIND THE ARMIES 15 attention was early given to the many war needs of this group of men. Industrial Y work was organized in five navy yards,, five arsenals, thirty-four shipyards, fourteen Government owned or controlled shell-loading chemical powder plants. In the Pacific Northwest spruce belt there were about 120,000 woodsmen and 30,000 soldiers gathered in about 300 camps. These were served through work established at six different points. One hundred and six special Industrial secre- taries were placed on the staffs of 60 state and local Associations for the purpose of promoting activities in hundreds of munition plants. These secretaries were assisted by a large force including both volun- teer and employed service. Thirty-four buildings were erected for Association purposes, costing $1,250,000; twenty-seven were erected at Government ex- pense, representing an investment of more than $1,000,000. The re- maining seven were erected by the National War Work Council at a cost of approximately $250,000. Over 300 Y secretaries were engaged in work in the war industries. Slightly over half of this number were financed entirely at Gov- ernment expense. The Y service yielded such beneficial results that at 48 different points the special work has been made permanent. The National War Work Council expenditure for vtrelfare work among American Industries during the War was practically $750,000. The conditions under which men lived and worked during the rush days created very definite wants which the Association program was designed to satisfy. Banking, postal, and hospital facilities were necessarily lacking, or limited, and places for church services and Sunday schools were few and far between. The activities of the Y were directed to fill these needs. Men of many nationalities and re- ligious faiths participated. Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant services were held in the buildings at appointed times. A census taken at a Y religious meeting revealed that there were present representa- tives of eighteen different nationalities. The recreation features in the Government logging camps were so much appreciated by the workers that urgent requests were received to extend the service into the privately operated camps. VII— WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY AT EMBARKATION— AND AT SEA The American Army was gathered in the United States but its purpose was to apply its fighting energy on the continent of Europe. Thus to the problem of mobilization and concentration was added a most stupendous task in transportation. Over 2,000,000 men were 16 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA brought to the Atlantic seaboard — thousands having been carried across the continent — and then taken on ocean transports to the fight- ing front more than 3000 miles away over a sea endangered by enemy submarines. To maintain the highest efficiency in body, mind, and spirit, under circumstances such as these, was a task no less difficult than necessary. When men left the training camps for the ports of embarkation their time of departure was kept strictly secret. They were con- fined to cars under close supervision, with only the smallest amount of liberty accorded at previously arranged points. Routing of the trains was secret. All this was accomplished at a time when the re- sources of the American railroads were strained to the limit and all trains were crowded. Owing to the fact that it was considered inadvisable to make any written reports, definite figures regarding the Y service on these trains are lacking. As distinct from the service on troop trains going to camps already mentioned, it is conservatively estimated that the Y served a total of 1,500,000 men on 3000 troop trains from camps to ports, carrying an average of 500 men each. At the Kailroad Transfers and Terminals On long hauls from coast to coast, or from the Southwest to Atlantic seaports, stop-overs were made at important transfer centers, such as Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Pittsburgh, St. Louis. At most points the permanent equipment of the YMCA was adequate to meet the needs. City Associations cooperated generously in helping the men. The great number of railroads centering at St. Louis created an emergency. It was met by the erection of two huts on the property of the Terminal Railroad Association and through their courtesy. During stop-over periods the soldiers were supplied with food and recreation, trips about the city, and such other small services as were possible. Through the doors of the two huts at St. Louis the number of soldiers who passed and repassed to receive service aggregated 1,500,000. Before embarkation the men were quartered in the great concen- tration centers. The principal embarkation camps were Merritt, Mills, Devens, Lee, Jackson, Upton, Meade, and four at Newport News, Virginia. In each of these camps the permanent organiza- tion of the Y was ready with its standard equipment and program and a large organization of secretaries. The Y Huts at Embarkation Ports The two great embarkation ports were Hoboken and Newport News. At these points were established the two largest huts in WITH THE ARMY AT SEA 17 the country. Hudson Hut in Hoboken, situated in Hudson Park through the courtesy of the city, the Stevens heirs, and the United States Government, was erected at a total cost of approximately $100,000. It served during a single month 276,100 men with . an average of 4500 served daily in the two cafeterias, and an attendance of 52,000 service men at 183 social, educational, and religious gather- ings. At Newport News the hut, costing approximately $50,000, was situated on the beautiful Casino Grounds of the Old Dominion Land Company. During the six months of its establishment it served over 500,000 different men. At the ports of Boston, Charleston, and Philadelphia special facilities were established for the serving of sol- diers en route for Europe. These huts at the embarkation points were designed also to meet the needs of the men of the Navy, who frequented them both in large numbers. Troops in transport to and from Siberia were served by secretaries on the long train journey, at San Francisco, and on the Pacific Ocean. At Sea on the Army Transports The ocean transportation plans of the Government were designed to meet the sternest of necessities. The urgent demand for men overseas meant that the ships were crowded, a condition always productive of more than ordinary discomfort and seasickness ; fast ships were necessarily slowed up in order that the convoy might be kept together; each man was confined to a certain part of the ship — and underneath all was the constant danger of submarines. The ocean voyage was a hazardous adventure. Here the Y secretary with moving pictures, boxing entertainment, victrolas, writing paper, lemons and sour pickles for seasickness, a handshake and a smile, found it possible to assist the Government in helping these soldier "crusaders for democracy" to forget the great danger through which they were passing. On 1102 different sailings 1512 YMCA secretaries served an aggregate of 3,173,200 men with an equipment which cost $1,057,- 157.97. The Association was compelled to meet this first emergency with its plans and facilities still in the early stages of development. Among the items distributed without charge to service men on shipboard were 20,085,442 cigarets, 1,009,097 bars of chocolate, and 25,333,880 pieces of stationery. The Y was the only welfare organization which served men by assigning secretaries to ocean transports prior to the Armistice. 18 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA With the Crews of Ocean Transports Two groups of men who rendered a very important service were the crews of transport and supply ships and the men of the Axmy Supply depots. Here were men who enlisted under the glamor of war, expecting to see definite action; they drew assignments to transport or supply ships or supply stations of the Army where the routine was so hard they oftentimes wondered whether it was all worth while. The Y was able to serve these men and help them to realize that they were having a real part in winning the War. At Port Newark, the largest Army supply base in the country, a hut was erected for service to the thousands of men stationed at this place. Aboard 1090 supply ships, equipment consisting of athletic ma- terial, writing material, libraries, motion pictures, and comforts for free distribution was placed by the Y. On some of these ships the recreational material was provided jointly by the YMCA paying 74.9 per cent, the National Catholic War Council 22.4 per cent, and the Jewish Welfare Board 2.7 per cent. VIII— WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM It has been figuratively expressed that America, with her Allies, constructed a bridge of ships across the Atlantic over which the American Army poured into the battlefields of France. Out of the 2,086,000 American soldiers sent to Europe, over 1,025,000, accord- ing to government reports, passed through the United Kingdom. Over 50 per cent of the American soldiers whom the United States transported over 3000 miles of sea were carried in British ships. This necessitated setting up in the various cities of the British Isles an American Y organization primarily to serve this immense army in transit and also to care for the 20,000 men of the American Air Service stationed in Great Britain, and for 40,000 men in the large cities and on the lines of communication. Work was also car- ried on for 50,000 men of the United States Navy stationed in ports of the British Isles, from Queenstown and Falmouth to the North Scottish ports and the Orkney Islands, as well as in the outlying naval bases at the Azores, Gibraltar, along the Adriatic Sea, and elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Preparing for American Army in Great Britain The British YMCA not only handled from the start the im- mense welfare work of its own armies in France and at home, but WITH THE ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 19 provided a devoted complement of Y vi^orkers on service wherever the British Army was carrying on its campaigns; in Egypt and Gallipoli, in Palestine and Mesopotamia, in Africa and along the Indian frontier; from Tsingtao to Archangel and from §alonika to Vladivostok — the British Y raised its huts and directed its mani- fold initiative, a service which, early in the War, placed the contribu- tion of militarized civilians to troops in the field on a basis un- precedented in history. Many Americans volunteered with British and Indian Y contingents, both in France and in the Eastern cam- paigns, and were in active service long before America entered the War. On the British National Council, as before noted, was an Ameri- can — Mr. Edward Clark Carter — who, because of his two years' ex- perience in organizing the Indian work in France and the countries east of Suez had been called to London in the Autumn of 1916. It was he, who, upon America's Declaration of War, first laid the founda- tion in England and later became the chief administrator of the American Y M C A in France. Mr. Carter communicated at once with the American Ambassador, the late Walter Hines Page, offering the services of the Association on behalf of the American Expeditionary Forces. These American youths — away frorri their country for the first time, going on to foreign battlefields in a country whose language they did not even know, tens of thousands going to their deaths — needed an American greeting when they landed on the foreign shore. The first practical effort in England was made in July, 1917, when word was received of the expected landing of several thousand en- gineers to be encamped for a few days at Bordon in Hampshire, while en route to France. Immediately, tents, supplies, and several secretaries were sent there. Everything was in readiness for the reception of the Americans. Service in this camp was continued until the early Autumn when it was removed to Winchester for permanent location. Further activities began soon after the open- ing of Bordon with the arrival of the sawmill units, complete in detail and equipment, sent by several New England lumber com- panies. Camp was opened for them near the scene of operations along the Dornock river in northern Scotland. Arrival of First American Troops The Americans began to arrive in Great Britain in throngs — every transport crowded with the youth of the nation, who had safely passed through the first great adventure over submarine infested geas — bound for France. The need of an extended hand from home — a hearty greeting, a hail and a farewell ! — was beyond all human calcu- 20 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA lation. From the first ship to the end of operations, the Y organiza- tion in England labored energetically to meet the emergency. Clubs, hotels, and recreation huts for officers and enlisted men, were con- ducted in the large cities of the United Kingdom; sightseeing tours were conducted through the country to all historical points. A staflF of 200 served the 78 Aviation Camps where American fliers and aviation mechanics were in training. The International Hospitality League in cooperation with the American YMCA, working in close harmony with the British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Association^, rendered a work of the utmost importance to the well-being of the American soldiers and sailors thronging the streets of London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Queenstown, Southampton, Folkestone, and other cities. The great bulk of American soldiers who passed through Eng- land in 1917, as well as during the great transit of 1918, were merely carried across England en route to France via the Channel ports, and rarely remained within the country more than 48 hours. Under these circumstances the Y service succeeded in reaching 504,665 men ; it was chiefly concerned with the permanent and training forces, such as the aviation, forestry, and line of communication troops, with men on leave, and troops who stopped longer than the usual 48 hours en route. Organization of American Y Work in England It was early seen that some base of operations was essential. With the growing work, temporary headquarters were established in Bed- ford Square, London, in a building occupied by the British Associa- tion. Early in the Summer of 1917, Mr. Carter negotiated the pur- chase of a large hut in course of construction by the British Y in the Strand at the foot of Kingsway. This became famous through- out Great Britain as the "Eagle Hut." Headquarters were opened in October, 1917», at 47 Russell Square, London, W. C. 1. Mr. R. L. Ewing was intrusted with the general supervision of the work in Great Britain, succeeding Mr. L. W. Dunn, who had directed for two months. The American Y in England was divided in groups to meet every condition in the American- Army — Ports of Embarkation, Rest Camps, Hospitals, Aviation Camps, Cities and Towns, Leave Centers and Lumber Camps, according to the classifications in which the fighting forces were placed. Duties of each secretarial group depended upon the need. At the port of debarkation, Y men boarded ships prior to sailing, exchanging money and receiving messages for cabling, at- WITH THE ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 21 tending to luggage, distributing post cards and stationery, and other- wise serving as required. Canteen service was provided on the Liver- pool docks, later turned over by agreement to the American Red Cross. A publication called the "Home News," presenting a resume of the day's telegraphic advices received by Navy Headquarters, was distributed in troop trains and camps. In the rest camps, especially those at Knotty Ash, near Liverpool, at Southampton, Romsey, and Flowerdown, the work was at first hampered by the small personnel, but in time the same service was extended to these camps as to the great American Camp at Winchester. The initial efforts to cover the Aviation Camps were made by traveling secretaries on circuit until the camps became large enough to warrant permanent secretaries. One man was stationed at each camp of 200 or more men. Combined with the social features of the hut, entertainment, library service, and athletics were prominent. Inasmuch as many of the camps were in reality British, the Americans comprising a portion of the camp only, the Y was able to arrange for service quickly in most instances through courtesy of the British Association. Approximately 6300 American secretaries, or more than half of all sent overseas, landed in ports of the United Kingdom. Most of these were sent forward to France or other countries. The maximum of arrivals in any one month was 1177, during December, 1918. It is es- timated by the Bureau of Records that 950 were assigned to posts of service in the United Kingdom. On October 9, 1918, 704 were re- ported at work, but this number was found to include some British civilian workers. The maximum in any month was 635. All details involved in housing and handling papers for secretaries passing through England en route and for circulation of workers in the United Kingdom were cared for by a staff of nine workers, includ- ing stenographers and file clerk. The average detention to secure papers and transportation was four days. The city and town service was divided in two parts: one con- sisted of huts and centers conducted in the usual way; the other comprised activities arranged to include young women, all care- fully chosen, so as to provide a wholesome social atmosphere. There were three types of huts : those specially constructed ; residences, shops, or restaurants taken over and renovated for Y canteen use; and hotels similarly taken over. Only three larger huts were con- structed in the cities; the far-famed Eagle Hut in London, repre- senting a cost of $110,000, the Washington Inn for officers in London, and St. Andrew's Hut in Edinburgh. In all 155 "huts" were operated in the United Kingdom ; 43 of these were especially constructed wooden buildings ; 37 were tents ; 33 rented 22 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA quarters ; and 37 buildings furnished free by the British Government or British YMCA. Eagle Hut a Great American. Soldiers' Club Eagle Hut became a landmark; it was not only "America in London," but was one of the most cosmopolitan gathering places in Europe — a great clubhouse for soldiers. More than 3000 men were served there daily. In one month alone (February, 1919) 134,- 566 meals were served; 3193 sodas; 14,540 ices; 19,335 cakes; 6985 kits packed; 1564 valuables cared for; 1871 baths provided; 11,438 men entertained all night; entertainments attracting 17,250 in at- tendance; 84 "sing-songs" attended by 1680; there were 2886 who played at billiards ; 11 lectures attended by 2775 ; 12 religious meetings were attended by 6700; literature to the number of 11,710 pieces dis- tributed ; 13,394 served at information bureau ; 675 articles of clothing mended. This gives an idea of the continuous activities at the most noted soldiers' rendezvous in the United Kingdom. St. Andrewis Hut in Edinburgh was opened March 15, 1919, after a large work had been performed in extensive rented quarters. Washington Inn the American Officers' Club Washington Inn, in St. James Square, London, was a well ap- pointed officers' club ; it consisted of a series of eight huts radiating from a central court like the spokes of a wheel. One was a general room, with lounge and club accommodations, another a library and reading room, where lectures, entertainments, and dances were held, and a third the dining room, while the others were divided into bed- rooms. Other officers' clubs in dwellings remodeled to suit re- quirements were located at Edinburgh, Plymouth, Knotty Ash Camp, Liverpool, London, and Cardiff. Many private hotels also were taken over for soldiers, and provided a comfortable, home-like en- vironment. A plan of leave centers, similar to the one in France, was about to be organized when the Armistice removed the necessity. One was under way at Leamington, near Stratford-on-Avon, but never opened, due to the rapid evacuation of the American Forces from England and the decreasing numbers crossing from France following the Armistice. A large amount of leave work, though not technically classified as such according to the great project in France, was done independently of the Leamington project by the arrangement of sightseeing tours, theater parties, entertainment of soldiers by pri- vate families in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, at country houses, WITH THE ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 23 I and other places. This was accomplished largely through coopera- tion with the International Hospitality League. Lumber Camp Service in Scotland The Lumber Camp service was rendered mostly in northern Scot- land where wood choppers were busy razing the timber of the great Scotch forests. The Y erected a chain of small huts to supply these men with reading and writing materials, libraries, and amusements. A larger hut was built at one end of these camps for lectures, can- teen, and club facilities. A secretary and his wife were stationed in charge of each camp the greater part of the time. At these centers an athletic field was laid out for baseball and basketball. Various social entertainments and religious services were given, until the close of these camps late in the Summer of 1918. The head secretary made periodical rounds of all activities under his supervision. London Street Patrol of Hospitality League The problems and even the dangers of huge armies of young men in a -foreign land can hardly be overestimated ; only those who went through the War understand the avarice of certain elements of a people among whom foreign troops are quartered, and the con- spiracies, plots, schemes that are deeply laid by criminal classes in every country to rob the soldier of his money and his honor. So great did this danger become that the British, Canadians, Aus- tralians, New Zealanders, and Americans found it necessary to join forces to protect their soldiers — this organization became known as the International Hospitality League. Its purpose was actually to send out into the streets wise and friendly young women in pairs to meet the soldiers and sailors, and to rid the public thoroughfares of vicious characters and designing women who were preying on soldiers in a strange land. Enlisted in this service were many noble women of the British and allied nations who saw a great opportunity to save the youth of a friendly and allied people. Only those who witnessed their cour- ageous efforts can fully appreciate the self-sacrifice and strong char- acter displayed. These "sisters of the soldiers" cleared the streets of many of its evils ; they conducted American boys to good hotels, succeeded in putting them in touch with good English families who invited them into their homes for brief visits, escorted them to public teas, and arranged sightseeing tours for them into the country. Prob- ably no other feature of the Y activities proved of greater value than the work of these splendid women who patrolled the streets — it never can be estimated in dollars and cents. Men patrols were also 24 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA placed on the streets, helping to deal an eifective blow at the social evils so prevalent in war time. Women's Personnel Bureau Over 5000 women and men served the Association in the United Kingdom. The volunteer workers at Eagle Hut alone numbered over 1000 which included members of the Rotary Club, (one of the most ardent supporters) and the girl members of the Green Cross who were all recruited from the ranks of women employed during the day. At Southampton over 200 women worked day after day and month after month in canteens and at the social center; this is true of Liverpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Winchester, Lincoln, Bristol, Wey- mouth, and wherever the American YMCA established huts. At Romsey a force of 60 volunteer helpers was maintained during occupation; at Officers' Inn, Cavendish Square, 130 volunteer work- ers; at Washington Inn, St. James Square, 213; at both officers' inns many of the volunteers were titled ladies. Cooperative Work in Great Britain While figures do not adequately express the real value of service performed by American, British, Canadian, Australian and New Zea- land Y M C A's cooperating in the International Hospitality League, it is perhaps indicative to note : The YMCA served in all capacities in Great Britain 1,998,687 guests; the number given hospitality in English homes totale.d 25,- 248 soldiers; 297,757 were greeted, advised, or entertained by street patrols; 40,963 taken to lodgings by car; 63,566 met at railway sta- tions; 202,273 entertained in social rooms; and 267,937 served at free teas. IX— WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE It is with the American Expeditionary Forces in France — ^2,000,- 000 strong — that the principal welfare work of the American YMCA centers. In France the great decisive battles of the World War were fought. There 12,955 selected American men and women served under the Red Triangle, and more than $50,000,000 were ex- pended in its social welfare work alone, independent of the canteen. It was here that the serious problems >of modern times were met ; that American spirit, courage, energy, and indomitable will, the strength and character of American manhood, were tested to the utmost and withstood the test. Only the future can fully value the results. WITH THE ARMY IN FRANCE 25 General Pershing arrived in France on June 13, 1917; the 1st Division was landed in French ports from June 27 to July 2. Thus, but ten weeks had elapsed after America's declaration of war before there arrived in France the first installment of America's positive military effort in the War. The Y in France — Waiting for the Army Before the arrival of General Pershing, American Y M C A headquarters had been established in Paris. The development of an organization with which to serve the American Expeditionary Forces was well under way. Y M C A secretaries had been serving in France for many months, both in work for the prisoners of war and with the French Army. Seven days after President Wilson's declaration of war, on April 13, 1917, a group of these secretaries had convened under the leadership of Mr. D. A. Davis, and organized in Paris a committee of American business men to establish a club- house for American volunteers attached to the various ambulance corps and similar organizations of the Allied Armies. Mr. Davis had been sent to France in 1915 to cooperate in the development of the Foyer du Soldat (described on pages 54-59) as a direct result of Dr. Mott's investigation in 1914. A cable from America to Lon- don directed Mr. E. C. Carter to go to France immediately. Simul- taneously with these activities Mr. F. B. Shipp, General Secretary of the Pittsburgh Y M C A, had been sent on a mission to Paris as special representative of the National War Work Council. Organization of American Work in France With these three experienced American administrators in France plans were laid to provide for the emergency to arise upon the arrival of the American armies. The earlier effort, which had been limited to a local service for American volunteers, was merged into the larger enterprise of serving the entire American Expeditionary Forces. This reorganization finally resulted in a definite administra- tive system. The French Government, reinforced by General Persh- ing, urgently requested the expansion of the Foyer du Sbldat; Mr. Davis resumed exclusive responsibility for the work with the French troops; Mr. Carter assumed general charge, with the title of Chief Secretary, of all the work for the American Expeditionary Forces in France and Great Britain. Mr. Shipp having fulfilled his mission on behalf of the War Work Council remained in Paris as Associate Chief Secretary until he was compelled to return to the United States. He was then succeeded by Mr. H. F. Sheets, an American business 26 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA man of extensive experknce in large business affairs on the Conti- nent. From the work thus modestly begun with a few secretaries before General Pershing arrived in France, developed the extensive propor- tions of the Y organization which served the A E F throughout the War. The value of this service, cited by competent authorities at more than 90 per cent of all the social welfare work done in France may be estimated from the official commendations of Government, Army, and Navy authorities in the addenda of this handbook. The Y Commission from General Pershing On August 28, 1917, the Y received its commission under General Orders no. 26-11-1, "to provide for the amusement and recreation of the troops by means of its usual program of social, physical, educa- tional and religious activities." On September 6, 1917, it was granted authority under General Orders No. 33, "to establish exchanges for the American troops in France" . . . "operated along the lines of post exchanges whose places they were intended to fill." The responsibilities were assumed by the Y M C A as a patriotic duty to serve our country in every way within its po-wer, regardless of the obstacles and difficulties to be overcome. This responsibility was not forced upon the Y by the Army ; the Y saw the tremendous problems which the Army must meet ; it knew that the Army needed every soldier in the ranks; it realized that the canteen was one of its great problems — and it willingly agreed to take up this burden regardless of the consequences. The Y thus became charged with a definite responsibility to extend not only its four-fold program of welfare activities but its canteen service throughout the Army, in- cluding the front line positions. During the War over 12,000 militar- ized men and women were employed in this service, the number en- gaged at the time of the Armistice, November 11, 1918, having been 4510, of whom 1138 were women, and the number in service on April 1, 1919, having been 6357. Even a larger number of civilians were employed at various times and considerable service was rendered, under the supervision of Y secretaries, by details of enlisted men. There were erected 491 wooden huts and 1045 tents at a total cost of $5,586,833.20 ; furniture and equipment of all kinds costing upward of $6,000,000 was furnished to these units ; 255 structures were rented at a yearly rental of approximately $750,000; and thousands of army billets were requisitioned under military authority in the devastated region in France and the occupied section of Germany. In and about these structures, and with this personnel, it became the duty of the Y M C A in the canteen operation alone to transact] WITH THE ARMY IN FRANCE 27 a business for the Army aggregating upward of $50,000,000. It created one of the largest chains of retail grocery stores the world has seen. To supply these stores it not only conducted extensive purchasing operations from its New York, Paris, and London headquarters, with ramifications extending into every allied and neutral country, and with all the machinery of an exporting and importing business including enormous warehouses and an intricate shipping and ac- counting system, but also operated 48 factories for the manufacture of chocolate, biscuits, and canteen supplies. It conducted a chain of banking operations for the men almost coextensive with its post exchange system; set up the machinery necessary for handling and accounting for millions of dollars in cash ; managed a series of up- ward of 100 hotels, dormitories, and cafes ; organized and equipped a system of some 50 garages and machine shops for necessary repairs ; and developed under enormous difficulties an extensive motor trans- port service for handling both merchandise and passengers. The Program of Welfare Activities Simultaneously the Y instituted for the A E F its free program of welfare activities. It supplemented the work of the chaplains by contributing the use of its huts as meeting places for religious serv- ices, by furnishing musical instruments, song leaders, and soloists, and by providing additional speakers, including many of the foremost religious leaders of our time.' For entertaining the soldiers, it re- cruited a personnel of 1470 professional and semi-professional enter- tainers, conducted one of the biggest theatrical booking agencies in the world, one of the largest chains of cinema establishments, and operated incomparably the greatest number of casinos and pleasure resorts ever conducted under one management. Through the activi- ties of its women personnel the Y also gave in hundreds of towns and villages in France an almost continuous series of social entertain- ments. It cooperated with the Army in initiating a comprehensive educational system, ranging from classes in English for illiterates to a completely organized university, recruited a personnel of 631 edu- cators, and as of April 15, 1919, turned over to the Army the entire system as a well-organized, going concern. In the matter of athletics, the Y provided nearly $2,000,000 worth of baseballs, bats, boxing gloves, footballs, and other athletic equipment. It arranged for and equipped numerous athletic fields and gymnasia, promoted voluntary plays, games, and mass drills, in which there were more than 37,- 000,000 soldier participants, and originated, planned and supervised the A E F Championship Games and the Inter-Allied Games. In this series of military tournaments, the greatest ever staged, represen- tatives of 18 nations participated to the number of 1500 entrants. 28 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA The plans for both of these series of games originated with the Athletic Director of the Y. The Pershing Stadium was the gift of the Y to the American Army, by which it was in turn presented to the French people. The site was donated by the French Govern- ment; and the labor was contributed for the most part by the Army engineers. The actual operation of the Allied Games was under the control of a Board consisting of Army officers and representatives of the Y acting jointly. The Athletic Director of the Y was the Direc- tor General of the Games. The Soldier's Leaves and the Service of the YMCA The operation of the Leave Areas for the American Army was one of the most important services in the entire War. The YMCA under- took this complicated duty. How it was organized by Mr. Karl Gate and developed under Dr, F. S. Edmonds, and the demands made upon this field of operatiohs are recorded in Part II (pages 169-177). It is sufficient here to state that Army orders allow the soldier a week's leave, every four months, exclusive of the time spent in traveling, upon the ground that this period of change and relaxation is essential to health and morale. The French forces could, of, course, enjoy their periods of leave at their own homes. The British and men from the dominions, when the congestion in the Channel permitted, were allowed leave in Eng- land, the latter troops thus receiving an opportunity to visit their mother country. To the officers and men of the A E F no such privilege was possible, and the problem of providing an acceptable method of granting leaves early engaged the attention of American General Headquarters. The Y proposed to the Commander-in-Chief that the great casinos and other facilities of the world-famed pleasure resorts such as Aix- les-Bains, Chamonix and Chambery in the Savoy Alps, Nice, Cannes, and Menton in the Riviera, St. Malo in Brittany, Biarritz and Cauterets in the Pyrenees, be taken over as leave areas for the American Forces. The Y was charged with full responsibility for carrying this proposal into effect. Aix-les-Bains was first opened as a leave area February 16, 1918, the celebrated Grand Cercle having been converted into a gigantic club house for the American dough- boy. A continuous round of recreational activities was maintained. Nightly performances were given at the Casino Theater, ranging from vaudeville to grand opera. Moving picture shows were nearly a continuous operation. Daily dances were given in the ball room. Amateur theatricals, stunt nights, masque balls, and other social entertainments were of regular occurrence. The athletic program included baseball, volley ball, soccer, tennis, and bicycle rides. Sight- WITH THE ARMY IN FRANCE 29 seeing trips, hikes in the mountains, and boat excursions on Lake Bourget were organized. Luxurious hotels and thermal baths were thrown open. Indeed, nothing was overlooked for the comfort and enjoyment of the American soldier. The Y M C A assisted in negotiations with the hotel proprietors to entertain American soldiers on favorable terms, leased casinos, theaters and athletic fields, and conducted its entire four-fold pro- gram of welfare activities without charge. Such arrangements were perfected in 39 towns scattered over the whole of France, having a total hotel capacity of 43,142 beds. Leaves of seven days were granted — with special week-end "one day leaves" at places like Nancy, and later at Coblenz and Andernach. More than 500,000 seven-day leaves were granted. In the total seven-day and one-day leaves, the Y entertained over 1,944,300 American officers and men, virtually four-fifths of the entire A E F, at an approximate cost of $1,143,800. A total personnel of 885, including 408 men and 477 women, were engaged in this form of service. It was on the initiative and. suggestion of the Y that the original provision for soldiers' leaves. General Order No. 6, was revised by a supplemental order. General Order No. 38, by which the Army recognized its obligation to pay the board and lodging of soldiers sent on leave on a duty status. It is estimated that by convincing General Headquarters of the propriety of this step the Y saved soldiers on leave a total of approximately 60,000,000 francs. Recreation Centers for the Soldiers in France An outstanding feature of the Leave Areas was the chain of recre- ation centers where soldiers and sailors stationed in base ports and training camps during summer months could have homelike places to spend the week-end. Two were small Atlantic seaside resorts, Trez-Hir and Ste. Marguerite, while the others were in the interior. Chief among these were Valencay and Nancy, the former noted for its great beauty and historic associations and the latter because of its famous baths, probably the most popular feature in the entire A E F. The Nancy Thermal, just completed in 1914 at the outbreak of the war, was practically new as it had stood idle for lack of patronage in all that time. It was equipped with all the latest devices for modern bath houses in the v/ay of showers and a gigantic pool with a ca- pacity for nearly 1000 swimmers supplied with naturally heated waters from warm mineral springs running at a rate of 2,800 liters a minute. The Army assisted in making the Nancy Thermal famous by estab- lishing a Quartermaster's department in the building where every soldier visiting the baths was provided a complete new outfit of clothing — underwear, shirt, uniform, and leggings — so that he went 30 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA . in in one set of clothes and came out fresh and clean in another. As Nancy was a big military point right in the heart of a strenuously contended salient this proved a godsend to the men defending it. Five Phases of American Military Operations The story of the A E F-Y MCA falls into five stages correspond- ing to the development of the military situation. The first of these stages was the period of approximately one year from the entrance of America into the War April 7, 1917, to the beginning of the German Offensive, March 21, 1918, during which only about 300,000 men had been brought to France. During the earlier part of this period it was expected that the number of troops overseas would be very gradually developed and that the American Army would not reach its maximum strength until the Spring of 1919. The second phase covered the emergency from the beginning of the great German Offensive of March 21, 1918, in Picardy, until that offensive had been definitely halted and thrown back by the Allied Armies at the beginning of August. Then came the third phase, the general Allied Offensive in which for the first time the American Army participated under the direct control of General Pershing, continuing until the Armistice, Novem- ber 11, 1918. The fourth phase is marked by the story of the occupation of Germany by the Third Army. The fifth is characterized by the withdrawal of the American Forces from France, the interest centering chiefly in the great for- warding camps in the vicinity of Le Mans, the embarkation camps at the base ports, and the repatriation of the armed forces. As a pendant to the. story of the War, special interest attaches to the permanent American Forces which still continue to fly the Americaji colors at the occupied bridgehead in Germany. The Organization of the Services of Supply On the entrance of America into the War it was proposed by the Government that American Forces should be completely organ- ized, trained, and equipped in their home camps and should be dispatched overseas fully fitted out, only when their training should have been thoroughly matured. It was then expected that the full weight of the American Forces could not be thrown into a general offensive earlier than the Spring of 1919. The plans devel- oped by the General Staff for the organization of the Services of Supply in France, including the improvement of the facilities at WITH THE ARMY IN FRANCE 31 the base ports, the development of the lines of communication and the construction of military depots, supply bases, and technical plants, were also laid out according to this schedule, and it is a significant fact that a number of the principal projects of the original plans did not, in fact, commence to function until about the time of the Armis- tice. The critical situation at the front, and the missions of Joffre and Balfour, precipitated operations which required immediate move- ment of troops across the seas. The primary task, therefore, that con- fronted Mr. Carter and his associates at Paris in the Summer and Fall of 1917 was the organization of the Y M C A service for the Services of Sup- 'ply in France and laying the foundations for the combat work which was to follow. By the close of this period, March 21, 1918, the Y had almost overtaken its task in the Services of Supply through the nearly complete organization of its program of activities in 65 stations in and about the great base ports at Havre, Brest, St. Nazaire, and Bordeaux ; at 82 stations along the lines of communication, at such centers as the Headquarters of the Services of Supply at Tours, the supply depot at Gievres, the casual camps at Blois and St. Aignan, etc., at 23 stations at the artillery camps, such as Valdahon, Mailly, Coetquidan, etc. ; at 10 stations in the newly organized aviation centers at Issoudun and elsewhere ; and also, by arrangement with the Red Cross, at 10 ambu- lance headquarters and military hospitals. There were in addition 14 stations serving detached units of engineers and foresters, 151 in the six training areas then open, and 48 in two combat areas, mak- ing a total of 414 stations served by a personnel of 1094 men and 329 women. The Y work in each locality was organized in charge of an ad- ministrative officer, known as the Divisional Secretary, with whom was closely associated the Divisional Business Secretary, these with a staff of experts for each of the principal branches of activity, located at a headquarters office with attendant warehouse and garage facili- ties, at the principal centers of military population. Thence it branched out into the adjacent camps. Each of these divisional executives during this period reported directly to, and was served directly by Paris Headquarters, as regards his requirements of personnel, equip- ment, and supplies. Organization of Training Areas During this period only five divisions of combat troops had ar- rived in France; namely, the 1st, 2d, 26th, 42d, and 32d, together with the 41st replacement division. As these troops arrived the divisions were split up, the artillery, aviation, and other technical units being assigned to camps in th« Services of Supply to complete 32 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA their technical training, while the infantry were dispatched to the billeting area in the region northeast of the American Headquarters at Chaumont. The YMCA throughout this period anticipated in many instances the arrival of the troops, entering the billeting area in advance and organizing its service in preparation for their coming. In this region reliance was had for the most part upon existing French structures, such as cafes, hotels, townhalls, or even stores, ware- houses, or oiifice buildings, though in some instances Adrian Barracks and other temporary Army buildings were made available or erected. In a few cases chateaux and other private mansions, abandoned tem- porarily by the occupants, were taken over by the Y as clubhouses for the doughboys. It was supposed at the beginning that a permanent YMCA ser- vice could be developed in each of the training areas comparable to that established at the ports and other centers in the Services of Sup- ply, in the belief that one division going out at the close of its period of training would be immediately succeeded by another, but experience soon demonstrated that such stability could not be expected. As early as November, 1917, the 1st Division entered a new sector of the line east of Nancy, and from that time on the divisions in process of training were shifted at frequent intervals and it became apparent that a Y M C A organization must be built up for each combat division and accompany it in all of its movements. This policy involved the necessity of opening an average of twenty-five or thirty Y stations, stocking them with canteen supplies and with the equipment of benches, tables, stationery, library books, and other facilities re- quired for the welfare program, wherever possible in advance of the arrival of the division in new billets, and of closing an equal number of stations evacuated, with the attendant problems of transporting movable goods and providing for the custody of vacated structures. A typical outline map of a billeting area occupied by an Army Divi- sion would show a collection of perhaps 50 towns and villages within an average radius of ten or twelve miles from divisional Headquar- ters, occupied by Army units varying in size from a company (250 men) to a battalion (1000 men). In such a billeting area the Y would normally establish an average of twenty-five or thirty can- teens, one for every unit of 500 men or more. The smaller units would be served by rolling canteens or by the delivery of supplies to be distributed by some member of the detachment, often a chap- lain or other officer, or an enlisted man who might either volunteer or be detailed for this service. To meet this situation a liaison secretary was attached to the staff of the Commanding General of the advanced section of the Services of Supply, with a corps of assistants whose duty it was to organize With the ArMy in FRANCE ii new areas in anticipation of the arrival of troops and to close up the areas vacated. Several hundreds of stations were thus opened and closed in the training areas during the Fall and Winter of 1917-1918, and many thousands during the stay of the A E F overseas. Critical Situation at the Great German Offensive On the eve of the German Offensive of March 21, 1918, in Picardy, the Y organization was face to face with unprecedented problems. It was "scorching the wires with appeals for personnel." The on- rush of troops demanded thousands of workers and every medium was being utilized to impress this need upon the minds of Americans back home. The initial difficulties of the housing problem had been measurably solved, adequate organizations were being built up throughout the Services of Supply, but the contingents attached to the combat divisions were not sufficiently large and well-trained to meet acceptably the demands. The German Offensive struck at this time a blow which staggered the Allied Armies and for the moment threatened irremediable dis- aster. The line was broken on a gap of sixteen miles and only the extraordinary skill, determination, and resourcefulness of the French General Staff succeeded, by throwing not less than twenty French divisions into the gap, in arresting the German onslaught. Within a few days the entire battlefield of the Somme had been overrun by the Germans and 800 square miles of territory had been recaptured. A session of the Supreme War Council was hastily summoned and an entire revision of the original plans of the American General Staff was urged. General Foch was made Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies and upon his initiative General Pershing recommended to the Secretary of War that the entire American Army be trans- ■ ported to France as speedily as possible without further training and without equipment other than rifles and absolute essentials. All available tonnage was immediately diverted to the transport of in- fantry and such vital auxiliaries as machine gunners. As a result great numbers of troops commenced to arrive in France, reaching by August the rate of over 250,000 a month, enormously increasing the demand upon the Y M C A organization for canteen supplies as well as for welfare service. At the same time the tonnage available to the Y for the importation of personnel, commodities, motor transport equipment, and other supplies had been rigidly curtailed. This situ- ation produced a crisis in the administration of the Y, the effects of which were immediately felt both by the Y personnel and the rank and file of the Army, whereas the reasons were then unknown, being neces- sarily concealed behind the mask of military secrecy. The well- organized Y divisional staffs that had been developed throughout 34 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA the Services of Supply were rapidly depleted, the strongest elements being drafted to Paris and reassigned to build organizations to serve the incoming combat divisions. Even the staffs previously developed for the combat divisions which were now being sent into the fighting line with the French and British Armies were greatly reduced in number by the drafting of experienced men to head up the newly formed organization. There was much discussion at this time of methods for deciding what workers should be transferred from the rear to the front. Many made personal application for such transfers, and followed them up by attempting to avail themselves of influence to promote their de- sires. Others faithfully did their duty where placed, hoping that good work would be rewarded by transfer to the front. Because of the uni- versal desire for front line service, a rule was proposed that no one should be assigned to the front until he had served four months in the rear, and that as workers became eligible. Divisional Secretaries should recommend those best fitted and most deserving, for transfer. But the Divisional Secretaries, working hard with insufficient helpers at difficult tasks, found it difficult to recommend that their best workers should be taken from them, especially as they could not be sure that they would be replaced by others. The fact that some of the best workers were physically unfitted for front-line conditions, as shown by the grading of the Medical Department upon physical exam- inations, made this rule seem invidious in its application. The problem was a puzzling one, and probably no one was satisfied with the practical solution except those whose desires for front line service were gratified. As the troops poured into France and as the burden of supervision Vapidly increased, the early system by which each Y Divisional Secre- tary reported directly to Paris evolved into the dividing of France into eight regions, each headed by a Regional Director and Regional Business Secretary who with their staff were responsible for coordi- nating the Y activities within the territory. From the American viewpoint the outstanding incidents of the period from the beginning of the German Offensive, March 21, until about August 1, 1918, when the German Army was definitely thrown back of the line of the Aisne, were the engagements at Cantigny and Chateau-Thierry. Here for the first time the Y had opportunity to serve troops in the conditions of active open warfare. First American Divisions in Line with French and British Service to combat troops in the British and French zones was seri- ously hampered by the regulations governing the movement of mili- tarized civilians in the forward areas. Permission for a worker to WITH THE ARMY IN FRANCE 35 go to such troops had to be secured from both the American and the Allied Army authorities, and the process of securing such permission took from six to twenty days. An attempt was made to improve this by a provision that workers might go to American divisions any- where upon written request of the Divisional General for a stipulated number of workers. This did away with the need of getting any but American approval. The Divisional commanders, however, varied very much in the numbers of workers they would request or authorize, and some made no requests at all. On this account there were never as many workers at the front as the Y M C A desired and was pre- pared to furnish, and those workers who were fortunate enough to make their way to the front worked to the limit of their strength in the effort to make up for the deficiency of numbers. For the provision of creature comforts advance warehouses were pushed up toward the line to the nearest available railhead and de- pots "of supplies were established at convenient points along th^ rear of the line from which to serve the advancing troops. From these depots by every available method chocolate, cigarets, biscuits, etc., were distributed to the units engaged. In some localities Ford cam- ionettes carried their loads to wooded positions occupied by the American artillery, whence the supplies Were taken into the lines either by the secretaries or by runners detailed from the military units for that purpose. Elsewhere motorcycles, • handcarts, peasants' wagons drawn by horses, goats, or any available animals were utilized. The number of secretaries attached to the eight Divisions during the Chateau-Thierry engagement was 381 and all the members of this personnel were under shell fire and exposed to bombing operations practically throughout the engagement. Every secretary who could drive a car or truck was pressed into service to bring up goods to the advanced depots. The men assigned to the fighting units lived and slept in the open with the troops and advanced to serve them as far as the local Commanding Officers would permit. During the month of July, 1918, when the 3d, 28th, and 42d Divisions were brought up to support the French on the Marne, and when the American troops were heavily engaged at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood, the Y distributed to these three divisions, with- out charge, 61,593.58 francs worth of supplies, and received from the men for remittance to their families a total of 1,669,627.56 francs. First Drives of the AU-American Offensives As soon as the line of the Aisne had become definitely stabilized. General Pershing withdrew the American divisions that had been brigaded with the French and British Armies and began the organi- zation of the First American Army and the preparation for the first 36 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA All-American Offensive at St. Mihiel. In preparation for this emerg- ency the YMCA commenced to stock its warehouse at Nancy and to strengthen the personnel of the organizations attached to the com- bat divisions in this sector. The service of the Y during the, St. Mihiel offensive was a repetition on a larger scale of that given at Chateau-Thierry. Immediately following the first drive the Y sec- retaries penetrated through the reserve lines and established their outposts in the vicinity of the advanced dressing stations, in the region where the shell fire from both the German and the American artillery was passing over their heads. The difficulty of bringing up supplies under these conditions was such that comparatively small quantities of goods could be distributed. The service consisted chiefly in the provision of hot chocolate and in cooperation on the part of the Y workers, of whom several were women, in rendering first aid to the wounded. All YMCA motor transport employed in bringing up supplies was utilized on return trips to capacity in carrying wounded men to the rear. The service thus rendered re- ceived the warmest commendations from Commanding Officers by whom it was observed, a number of the personnel being cited for military honors. Though this service was in the aggregate extensive, it was only a very small part of the performance which the Y had planned but in the carrying out of which it was prevented through necessary ac- tion on the part of General Headquarters and the War Department which had greatly to cut down the toimage, supplies, and transpor- tation which could be made available to the YMCA. General Head- quarters had greatly to restrict the number of Y workers, which could be sanctioned for work with the combat divisions, owing to the General Staff policy of keeping at a minimum the number of non- combatants attached to the fighting divisions. The similar service which was rendered during the movements attending the Meuse- Argoime Offensive was for the same reason regarded by the. YMCA as wholly inadequate, because the official military policy adopted in good faith in the interests of yyinning the War prevented the YMCA from making available in this offensive the canteen supplies, welfare equipment and large personnel which the YMCA had available and in reserve. Just at this period the change in the submarine situation enabled General Headquarters at last to sanction in large measure the earlier Y program for personnel, supplies and equipment. If this ac- tion had been taken three months earlier or if the War had gone on three months more, the service of the Y to combat troops even under war movement conditions, would have been more than doubled. The number of personnel assigned to the nine combat divisions engaged in the St. Mihiel drive was 362 men and 34 women; in the WITH THE ARMY IN FRANCE 37 21 divisions in the Meuse-Argonne 653 men and 36 women. These are the minimum figures, subject to a maximum revision. Twenty divisions were engaged in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne opera- tions, the American Oflfensive having been practically continuous from the middle of September until the middle of November. During the three months' period covered by the AU-American Offensive — Sep- tember, October and November — the Y distributed without charge to the Divisions engaged a total of 1,957,186.87 francs' worth of sup- plies, and collected from the men for remittance to their families at total of 17,339,257.96 francs. Advancing with the Army into Germany On the day of the Armistice there were in France and on the high seas slightly in excess of 2,000,000 American soldiers. The Y personnel consisted of 3372 men and 1138 women, of whom approxi- mately two-fifths were assigned to the combat divisions and the static points in the zone of the Armies; two-fifths were in the Services of Supply, including the Leave Areas, and one-fifth at Headquarters and in Paris, awaiting military organization. To the Americans was assigned the task, created by the terms of the Armistice, of occupy- ing the bridgehead at Coblenz, Germany. A Third American Army was constituted for this purpose and the Divisions selected were ordered by the Commander-in-Chief to begin the long hike of upward of 150 miles from the stations they had been occupying in the line to their German billetSi. The Y M C A organizations attached to the sev- eral divisions for the most part hiked with the troops, several Amer- ican women having marched step by step with the doughboys for a period of some 25 days, enduring without murmur all the hardships of the trip. The Second American Army was brought up in support of the Third Army with headquarters at Toul, and the First Army was mobilized in the training areas northwest of Chaumont. The training camps in the Services of Supply having now served their purpose were evacuated, and the troops in this region were concentrated at com- paratively few points to maintain the service at the base ports and along the lines of communication. The effect of these changes, from the Y viewpoint, was to necessitate the abandonment of several hundreds of stations in southern and central France with the con- sequent necessity for salvage operations and the immediate instal- lation of several hundreds of new stations in the regions occupied 1 by the Third and Second Armies. An unusual problem arose in the I territory of the Second Army owing to unsettled conditions and a conflict of orders. The Y first received news of disbandment with in- structions to unload all supplies, which they did. Then a new 38 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA order for organization forced them to replenish stocks, the interim being one of considerable embarrassment and confusion. Effects of the Armistice The psychological effect of the Armistice created new problems. Few realized that many months must elapse before the last Amer- ican soldier could leave French soil.' The sudden relief from war tension was followed by immediate relaxation. Hard physical work, strenuous training, and above all, the sense of obligation upon every man to keep fit and do his part in winning victory had maintained discipline and morale on a hig'h plane. With the Armistice the raison d'etre of most of the usual soldier occupations was gone, and the Army faced the dangers of idleness in which accustomed motives no longer were effective. These changes caused a radical shifting of emphasis in welfare work. Education now for the first time came into its own. Heretofore it had been necessarily subordinate to military considerations, and limited to such casual and irregular opportunities as presented them- selves in the soldiers' busy days. Now it became a prime objective, for which men were relieved, by general orders, from military duties. The YMCA Army Educational Commission, in anticipation of this situation, had laid out a program as wide as the Army itself. A careful census of rank and file had discovered more than 40,000 offi- cers and men with previous experience as teachers. From these a teaching staff was selected, to work under the guidance and super- vision of the Educational Commission and its 457 expert educators. An undertaking on such a scale required no less an organization to administer it than the Army itself. Moreover, the instinctive Amer- ican preference for public administration of education was felt by soldiers and YMCA alike. With post and division schools, voca- tional and farm schools, and the A E F University at Beaune under full head.way, on April 15, 1919, at the request of the Chief Secretary, the Army undertook responsibility for education, and took over the educational staff and organization of the Y M C A, converting it into the Army Educational Corps. The YMCA was also relieved of the canteens. The Army now had men to operate canteens and it was desirable that they should be thus occupied. On the other hand, there was greatly increased need of the all-round program of Y M C A activities to occupy, divert and permanently benefit the troops. The Chief Secretary therefore proposed to the Commander-in-Chief that the Army should take over the post exchanges, and with his consent and approval the transfer was effected April 1, 1919. Thus set free to return to its normal and distinctive work, the WITH THE ARMY IN FRANCE 39 Y immediately pushed the development of the "wet" canteens, in which social features were emphasized. The great athletic program leading up to the Inter-Allied Games was set on foot. The Enter- tainment Department redoubled its activities, with special emphasis on "soldier shows" which furnished amusing occupation to thou- sands of participants as well as spectators. The details of this re- sponse of the whole organization to the new conditions will be found in the following pages. Women's Work in the A E F — Y MCA Two powerful motives operated to bring women into the unac- customed scenes of war. One was the resolve of women themselves to bear their full share in the nation's great task. The other was the desire of the Y M C A to have the best of American women at the heart of the A E F. Women's work began as early as July 15, 1917, when Mrs. Theo- dore Roosevelt, Jr., opened a canteen in the courtyard of a house in rue Montaigne, Paris, the first Headquarters of the Y M C A in France. It spread to Brest, St. Nazaire, Bourmont and Mailly that Fall, and to Gondrecourt where the 1st Division was in training. It accompanied the 1st Division to Toul and through their campaigns, and at the same time spread through the less adventurous but no less fatiguing Services of Supply. When "Big Bertha" was shelling Paris, and in those days of the great Spring drive of 1918 when schedules were prepared for the possible evacuation of Paris, women worked steadily at their office tasks at Headquarters and vied for the honor of being the last to leave. They made a brilliant record in the Leave Areas and established an indelible memory of quiet heroism at the front. A woman was with the first contingent of the Army of Occupation to cross the Rhine, and, unless all signs fail, so long as a handful of that Army is left in Germany, there will be American women ministering to their needs. At first ten women were asked for. From this small number the force expanded until 3400 women were engaged in the work. The women who went with the combat divisions found a more thrilling experience than came to any of the rest. They ran their canteens under fire until ordered to close by commanders. Before their troops went into battle they sat sometimes for hours making out receipts for money to be sent home as the men emptied their pockets. While their units were in action, they worked in dressing stations and field hospitals, giving hot drinks to the wounded and helping in whatever way was needed. And as the troops were moved from point to point they would be on hand with their chocolate boilers and sandwiches, serving entraining or detraining men the 40 WAR WORK OF -THE AMERICAN YMCA whole night through. These women were a small minority. .There were just over 50 Y women under fire with the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 7th, 24th, 26th, 28th, 29th, 32d, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 42d, 77th, 78th, 81st, 82d, 89th and 90th Divisions, and with the Foyers du Soldat. Thir- teen Y women received the Croix de Guerre, two the Fourragere, and many were cited for bravery. Marion Crandall, a Y woman, was killed when a shell struck the foyer at Ste. Menehould in the Spring of 1918. The great majority, in the training camps and Services of Supply, if sometimes envious of the more romantic lot of their sisters at the front, yielded nothing in pride of their equally useful service. Often when a Y woman left Paris she knew no more of her assignment than its French name. It might prove to be a village, a camp or a city. It might have a hut with a stove and a well organized program of activities, or it might have only forlorn hordes of men and much mud. Whatever her assignment, her work was usually the vital one of being a final personal link, a point of service contact between thef soldier and the great organization of the Y. Their duties were never simple. Canteen menus, by the exercise of feminine ingenuity, grew into veritable restaurant service. Their cooking was always popular, as the patient length of a thousand waiting lines amply testified. The older women found a real mis- sion in "Mother's Corner," where the endless mending and sewing on of buttons and insignia went on, to the accompaniment of a quiet chat that brought to the surface elements of personality almost sub- merged in the khaki uniformity of the A E F. Librarians filled the interims of handing out books with general social activity. The girls who danced were always busy. Outnumbered as the women were in that "man's army" they gained a symbolic character as reminders of all the women folk at home. Their every grain of character and tactful adaptability was called into play. Ability to talk or listen, to change a desparing mood, to play any and every game, to make a picnic or a party "go," always without a sign of being affected by hardship — these were as important as the thousands of doughnuts fried or the myriads of cups of chocolate served. When the Leave Areas were opened in February, 1918, a great many women were selected for the specific purpose of giving the tired men as much relaxation and wholesome fun as could be crowded into the three or seven day leaves. Dancing was more featured there than in the camps, and the success with which the women made the men feel like old friends in a single day was attested by the tributes written in every Leave Area guest book. Nothing could keep the business women in Paris and Regional Headquarters from their share in direct service. As in the Armv, WITH THE ARMY IN GERMANY 41 "paper work" was never ending, yet after a full business day at desk or typewriter or among the files, and on Sundays, a visit to some hospital or the creation of a bit of social pleasure for a group of soldiers would be preferred to sightseeing or personal recreation. There came to be less sex distinction in the work as time went on. There were rnany women in every field of Y service, in executive positions, in educational work, in the business offices of the Y, in charge of huts or of the women of an entire region. They won grateful recognition for their street patrol work, in keeping the men out of trouble in strange cities ; they went out on camions with their canteen equipment and brought hot chocolate, lemon.ade, and good company to the men in isolated camps. They were strongly repre- sented in the entertainment service, in the Leave Areas, the Foyer du Soldat, the Navy and Merchant Marine, and until that work was definitely given up to the Red Cross, in the hospitals. And they en- joyed it all, long hours, casual accommodations, kitchen drudgery, and constant demands on their resources. Like the men workers, the women came from all parts of the United States. It was Mrs. F. L. Slade, with the aid of Miss Juliana Cutting and Mrs. Robert Mead, who arranged recruiting committees all over the country, handled the details at New York Headquarters, and fought the "Sister rule" which held back so many women eager to get into the work of which their brothers were a part. The Junior League provided workers of first-rate stuflf. The colleges sent units to the Y and paid their expenses. The Federation of Women's Clubs sent two women from each state. By a week of gymnasium drill, of canteen work, and of lectures at Barnard, the Y gave them before they sailed a little preparation for the task before them. Recruiters and recruited worked together with a will. Praise of them has come through many channels, but the greatest satisfaction that any Y woman feels is that she played the game with the Army and was on hand to be "sis" or "mother" when her services were required. X— WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN GERMANY The Third Army for the occupation of the American Sector in Germany was organized in three Army corps, namely, the 3d, 4th, and 7th. Of these the 3d Corps, consisting of the 1st, 2d, and 32d Divisions, were assigned to occupy the bridgehead on the right bank of the Rhine, with headquarters at Neuwied; the 4th, consisting of the 3d, 4th, and 42d Divisions, was stationed on the left bank of the Rhine with headquarters at Cochem ; and the 7th, consisting of the 42 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA 8th, 9th, and 33d Divisions, along the Moselle and the adjacent plateaus, with headquarters at Wittlich. Advance General Head- quarters were established at Treves (Trier), and Headquarters for the Third Army were established at Coblenz. In all the Third Army consisted of some 300,000 men, occupying a territory of approxi- mately 3000 square miles. The Army of Occupation The striking contrast between the war-torn zone of devastation in Northern France and the orderly, comfortable, cheerful life of the German cities and villages of the Rhineland, coupled with the marked disposition of the civil population to fraternize with the American forces, and the relaxation of the military rigors of the preceding offensive, created a situation which demanded the fullest possible development of the Y social program. The Third Army commenced its march to the Rhine at 5 :30 in the morning of Novem- ber 17, 1918. The vanguard of. the Association forces came into the territory of occupation on December 11, 1918. By April i, 1919, four months later, the Y had in operation in Germany 425 full time centers, while 83 other points were being served at frequent intervals by portable motion picture equipment and rolling canteens. The Welfare Program Entertainment seemed the form of service most immediately de- manded, and the first unit of professional entertainers arrived on December 17. Within six months 68 professional units with a total of 273 artists, had given in this area a total of 2719 performances. In addition, a very extensive soldier talent scheme was set up under the direction of professional coaches recruited by the Y and a total of 146 soldier talent shows was developed by July 1, 1919, the 138 ofiScers and 2966 enlisted men, trained in this way, having given a total of 4935 performances. The Y suppHed the members of this soldier talent with a total of 3915 costumes, of which about 2000 were purchased from the owners of German theaters, and the re- mainder made up in a Y shop at Coblenz. In addition, the Y fur- nished a total of 4029 musical instruments of thirty-seven varieties. It produced and had printed 44 complete orchestrations to a total of 4400 copies. It also published and distributed for use at the pianos which the Y had furnished to the huts throughout the area at a cost of 212,000 marks, 545,000 copies of sheet music. Fifty-five of the larger centers in the occupied territory were equipped with standard Power's motion picture machines and 63 similar machines were mounted on 1J4 ton trucks fully equipped WITH THE ARMY IN GERMANY ' 43 with electric plants and storage batteries. These portable equip- ments visited regularly the detached units and gave an average of approximately 100 shows each night. In Coblenz, one motion pic- ture house alone, the famous "Lese Verein," operating all day and all night, showed to a total of 1,566,000 men from January 1 to July 1, the total attendance for the Third Army during this period having been more than 5,000,000. After the Armistice, the minds of the men began to turn toward the problem of future adjustment to civil life, and a widespread and insistent demand sprang up for educational opportunities, particu- larly along vocational lines. In the Third Army, a comprehensive educational scheme, including lectures on a wide variety of subjects, together with a system • of regular classes, was quickly developed. By April 15, when the educational work was taken over by the Army, 23,000 enlisted men had already been registered under a staff of 1010 teachers detailed by the Army for this purpose, supervised by a Y educational director with a staff of 28 assistants and 30 special lecturers. In addition, the Y supervised the distribution of a very liberal supply of books provided by the American public through the American Library Association; fiynished 40,000 new American magazines monthly, and served to all the military units, no matter how widely scattered in out-of-the-way places on the Rhine, during the main .period of occupation, 70,000 copies daily of the Paris editions of the "New York Herald," "Chicago Tribune," and the "London Daily Mail," without charge. A series of regular religious services were conducted throughout the period of occupation in the 35 largest Army centers. On every Sunday in the famous "Fest Halle," at Coblenz, a service was con- ducted that was the outstanding weekly event of that city. The auditorium was packed to its seating capacity of 2500 for every serv- ice, and the men participated whole-heartedly. Two full time re- ligious work directors were attached to each division and an average of 20 itinerant speakers with an equal number of singers were regu- larly employed. During the first six months alone, more than a million pieces of literature and 250,000 song books were distributed. An athletic program was developed which reached practically every man in the Army of Occupation. In addition to mass games, basketball, baseball, football, and track events were promoted, cul- minating in the Army of Occupation and A E F championships, the 89th Division football team, representing the Army of Occupation, winning the championship of the A E F. An extensive athletic field with a quarter-mile track and a 220-yard straightaway was built on Carnival Island on the Rhine River near Coblenz which would do justice to any American university, and "Liberty Hut," built ex- 44 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA pressly for athletic purposes on the grounds of the ex-Kaiser's palace, provided gymnasium facilities for championship contests and accom- modated 4000 spectators for boxing events. Athletic equipment to the total value of $369,466.45 was distributed prior to June 30. The Leave Areas in Germany A special feature of the Leave Areas service included the leave areas provided for the Army of Occupation in Germany at Coblenz, Neuwied, Andernach, Treves, and Neuenahr, with sight-seeing trips to Ehrenbreitstein, the strongest fortification in Germany, and other points of local interest, and excursions on the picturesque and historic Rhine. The Army requisitioned seven German Rhine excursion steamers, with a total carrying capacity of 3500. The Y supplied for each boat a lecturer, fully a,cquainted with the history, geography and legends of the Rhine, and a group of Y M C A women. The outgoing party was in the hands of the lecturer for instruction, while the return journey was given over entirely to merrymaking, presided over by "real American women." On each trip the YMCA pre- pared meals from rations furnished by the Army, and in addition provided refreshments consisting of ice cream, doughnuts, pies, cookies, sandwiches and coffee. To make this leave program possible the YMCA operated in these German Leave Centers a total of nineteen hotels and restaurants. The cafeteria operated in Victory Hiit in Coblenz holds a record of 7000 meals per day. The several hotels and restaurants conducted by the Y served an average of 18,000 meals daily during the main period of occupation. One of the most appreciated features at each of the Leave Centers in both France and Germany were the booklets on points of local interest, prepared and printed by the YMCA for free distribution to all men on leave. For the reduced Army of Occupation Coblenz is being used as the exclusive Leave Center in Germany and the same general pro- gram developed for the original Army of Occupation is being con- tinued. Problems in the Canteen Service Canteen service with the Army of Occupation was hindered prior to January 20, 1919, by a general freight embargo, but from this date to April 1, when the Army took over the canteen, the Y handled a total of 618 carloads of canteen supplies valued at $5,484,725.51. The physical eiifort involved in this undertaking was in addition to WITH THE ARMY IN GERMANY 45 the handling of 600 carloads of magazines, books, athletic equip- ment, hut equipment, huts, tables, benches, and other supplies. Upon the taking over of the work of the dry canteens by the Army, the Y established an extensive wet canteen service, serving at very low cost, hot and cold drinks, ice cream, cakes, pies, dough- nuts, etc. This necessitated operating a large number of bakeries and ice cream plants. To supply the ice cream, evaporated milk and sugar had to be imported from America and 17 ice cream plants established with a daily output of 7800 liters. The Y dispensed, free of charge during the first six months, canteen supplies valued at 10,465,500 marks, this form of service having been extended to the most out-of-the-way places by means of rolling canteens. A review of the Y work in Germany would not be complete without special reference to the "Fest Halle," the great town hall at Coblenz, requisitioned by the military authorities at the suggestion of the Y M C A Soldiers' Leave Department, in December, 1918, and turned over to the Y for its main center of activities. This building contained a great lobby with comfortable lounging furni- ture of every description, capable of seating 1500 people, a restaurant of 500 capacity, a library stocked with American books, a great audi- torium with a seating capacity of 2500, pool tables, bowling alleys, game rooms, and additional lounging rooms, in fact, all the privileges of the most modern American club. It was packed to capacity throughout the period of occupation. The following are some of the main items of expenditure cover- ing the first six months, January to June, inclusive, of the period of occupation. After that date the Army of Occupation was quickly reduced to its present total of approximately 15,000 men. '" ~ Marks ' Huts 4,556,250.00 Tables 122,500.00 Benches 475,000.00 Chairs 56,250.00 Pianos 212,000.00 Victrolas 30,000.00 Records 200,000.00 Athletic Supplies 925,000.00 Newspapers 937,500.00 Stationery 700,000.00 • Prizes and Trophies/ 290,000.00 Free Welfare 10,465,500.00 'i Supplies sold at net cost 31,485,121.00 Ice Cream Plants 75,000.00 46 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA With the Remaining Forces in Germany On the withdrawal of the famous divisions constituting the old Third Army, there came into Germany the new American force of 15,000 men, and the Y M C A set up a new permanent organization in charge of Mr. James A. Sprenger, who had been formerly asso- ciated with the management of the Leave Areas in France, to con- tinue its welfare service. The Army requisitioned for the use of the Y for educational purposes the large Kaiserin Augusta School building in Coblenz, and in November, 1919, this school alone showed a total enrollment of 350 men organized into classes in English, French, German, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, typewriting, short- hand, and geography. A school for children of American officers and enlisted men was also opened in Coblenz under YMCA auspices. Religious services are being provided even for the smallest detach- ments, notable speakers continuing to give their messages nightly throughout the occupied zone. A complete athletic program is in operation, an 18 team football league having been conducted during the Fall of 1919, with basketball and boxing contests throughout the Fall and Winter. A standard swimming pool is open daily in Coblenz for officers and enlisted men of the American forces under the supervision of an expert swimming instructor. Tennis equip- ment has been provided and a series of tennis courts laid out in Coblenz and other centers. Two professional entertainment units are constantly occupied, soldier talent companies are be- ing developed and trained, and musical supplies and costumes furnished. A total of 56 musicians employed in orchestras are play- ing nightly for American Army functions of every description. In October, 1919, 616 cinema shows were given at 47 different centers. Never before, perhaps, has any similar group of men been so well and extensively entertained as the 15,000 soldiers at present consti- tuting the American Forces in Germany. The Y with American Forces in Belgium On military announcement that the Third Army would receive supplies, additional troops, and be evacuated through Antwerp and Rotterdam, the YMCA established a Regional organization at Ant- werp, with divisional organizations also in Rotterdam and Brussels. Work began in March, 1919,. and continued until July 1. The Army plan was changed, but about 2300 Americans were stationed in the ports at the docks and in police work, and large numbers visited the region on leave. A full program of activities was carried on, special attention being given to _sight-seeing trips to Ostend, Zee- brugge, Louvain, and similar points of great interest. At Brussels COMING HOME WITH THE ARMY 47 no separate work was attempted, but an unusually cordial coopera- tion was effected with the Anglo-Belgian Y M C A which had been operating since November, 1918. Cooperation between the Y M C A, the Knights of Columbus and the Jewish Welfare Board was note- worthy in this region, and the willing and efficient assistance of Bel- gian civilians was gratefully acknowleged. XI— COMING HOME WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY After the Armistice, the American Commander-in-Chief was con- fronted with the problem of repatriating an army of more than; 2,000,000. More than two years had been occupied in bringing the A E F to France, although 1,500,000 men had been transported dur- ing the nine months immediately preceding the Armistice, the highest record for a single month having been somewhat in ex- cess of 300,000. In addition, the British Army, for the repatriation of its own troops, withdrew about half of the transport that it had furnished to bring the American Army to France, thus by so much increasing the burden of the American transport service. It was therefore apparent that a period of approximately seven months at best would be required for the repatriation of the American Forces. To facilitate this process, the General Stafif established two chief centers, one for casuals at St. Aignan, the other for combat divisions at Le Mans. In addition, embarkation camps were established in the vicinity of the principal base ports. In the Forwarding Camp at Le Mans The Y had already completely organized its service at St. Aignan and the ports and it was only necessary to strengthen its organiza- tion at these points to deal with the new problems arising during this period. At Le Mans, however, a situation developed which taxed to the utmost the resources of the Association. All the divisions in France, over thirty in number, were scheduled to pass through this area in order that the men might be given a medical examination and have their papers examined and rated according to a uniform system, to facilitate their final demobilization in the United States. Here the troops were also to be passed through a delousing plant and completely re-outfitted. In all, over 400,000 men were handled in the Le Mans area within a period of three months. Le Mans was selected for this purpose because it occupies a strategic position on the lines of communication along which the armies were distributed, from which outbound troops could be readily forwarded to any of the ports where transport was available. 48 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Le Mans had been previously occupied by one or two divisions only, as a replacement depot, so that it was necessary for both the Army and the Y to set up, over night as it were, housing accommodations sufficient to accommodate approximately a quarter of a million sol- diers, furnish necessary supplies and make provision to occupy the time of the soldiers. A further emergency from the standpoint of morale was created by the fact that men of a division which was ordered to Le Mans, confidently expected to be immediately sent home. This, in the case of many divisions, the supply of available transport did not permit, nor was any information obtainable as to how soon sailing orders would be received. The resulting state of suspense was exceedingly trying to both officers and men and tended to make all ranks of service ex- ceedingly critical of the general living conditions which were, indeed, in many respects, far from satisfactory. How the Y Met Emergency at Le Mans To meet this emergency, the YMCA constituted this area a separate region, and set up a complete regional organization with headquarters at Le Mans, to coordinate the activities of the divisional staffs that came into the area with the incoming divisions, initiated an intensive construction program which resulted in the building of twenty-seven wooden structures and developed on the largest possible scale its complete program of welfare activities. By the first of May, 1919, there were in active occupation in this region over 400 YMCA centers grouped under 13 separate divisional organizations, with a total personnel of 580, of which 268 were women. In addition, a daily average of about 350 detailed soldiers were engaged in welfare activities under Y supervision and a large number of civil- ians were being employed. These stations included 27 wooden huts and 71 tents, besides a large number of theaters, clubs, hotels and other places of various kinds, ranging all the way from single rooms to regular army hangars, requiring from 800 to 1000 benches and a carload of lumber for flooring. The majority of these stations were fully equipped as wet canteens with a supply of stoves, boilers, urns, cups, etc. The club rooms for officers and men had been furnished with suitable chairs, benches, tables, pianos, books and magazines. Thea- ters and entertainment halls had been equipped with stages, benches, tables, scenery, and other properties. Here, as in the occupied region in Germany, the emphasis was shifted from the canteen to the four-fold Association program. Nine separate schools were organized, occupying eleven buildings, and 98 subjects were being taught by a corps of 54 teachers, using text- books numbering 913 titles. In addition, an intensive program of COMING HOME WITH WE ARMY 49 le'ctures and practical talks on various topics was being conducted. From two to four truckloads of the latest American and British magazines were distributed through the area each week, libraries were established in the various centers with the cooperation of the American Library Association and from six to ten thousand copies of the daily newspapers printed in Paris in English were distributed daily within two hours after their arrival from Paris. At the middle of January, the entertainment office at Le Mans was booking an averiage of ten shows, averaging four Y units of from three to six persons, and six shows recruited from the Army with an average personnel of thirty to fifty doughboys. During the month of March, 1919, a program of 3078 entertain- ments was put over with a total attendance of 3,500,000. Several dramatic companies were formed in this area and completely equipped with musical instruments, costumes and make-up. Especial emphasis was laid upon the religious work program, at least two religious services being given each week at practically every hut, one on Sunday and another on some night during the week. American preachers released by their churches for the purpose, toured the area. On Easter Sunday, April 20, more than 200 services were given which were attended by over 27,000 men. A uniform com- munion service was supplied from headquarters and communion was partaken of by 4124 persons. During the months of April and May, 1919, 2484 religious serv- ices were held with a total attendance of 473,818; 304 Bible classes were organized with a total attendance of 15,971 ; 67 special speakers were employed; and a total of 433,528 pieces of religious literature were distributed. The divisions entering this area were accompanied by an athletic personnel of two to four men and were either partially or completely equipped with athletic goods on their arrival. The average personnel of the athletic department of the region consisted of from twenty-five to thirty directors. To fill up shortages and replace worn-out goods, 31,464 pieces of athletic equipment were issued, without charge, of which some 80 per cent was baseball material. During the month of March 524,626 men participated in athletic games under Y super- vision. Fifteen athletic meets were conducted and the attendance at athletic games was estimated at 1,140,610. By May 1, twenty-nine baseball leagues' were in operation. The Y personnel attached to each division accompanied it from Le Mans to the base port and assisted the Y organization at the em- barkation camps in serving the men during the period of embarka- tion. In many cases the entire personnel, by request of the Com- 50 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA manding Officer, accompanied the division on the transports which took them home. The Return Voyage of the American Doughboys It was inevitable that our men should have further 'trials of patience in facing the return voyage. In view of the fact that trans- porting men overseas had ceased, and in view of the further fact that food supplies were so short in Europe, many of the ships which transported men overseas were immediately turned over as supply vessels with a corresponding reduction in space for carrying men home. This aggravated the conditions. The men were given a good send-off at British and French ports by the American YMCA, and until welfare workers were removed from transports in June, 1919, by Government orders, the men were served by Y secretaries on shipboard in a manner somewhat similar to that which prevailed en route overseas, with such changes as the return voyage necessitated. Home Again On arrival at ports in the United States, the men were served by YMCA secretaries. In 1920, over 20,000 American citizens who enlisted in the Polish Army returned from overseas to be demobilized in America, and they were met at the piers and served there and en route to camp by Y secretaries. When the 27th Division and the 77th Division paraded in New York, the 28th Division in Philadelphia, and the 1st Division in New York City and Washington, the men of these Divisions were served by Y secretaries en route to and from the parades. Demobilization — Back to Citizen Life On arrival from overseas the men were sent to debarkation camps and distributed from there to demobilization camps. Again the YMCA served the men en route. From debarkation to demobiliza- tion camps Y men were on 4339 troop trains carrying 2,094,936 men : articles distributed were 2,177,294 bars of chocolate, 2,164,339 pack- ages of gum, 1,507,570 packages of cigarets, 2,500,000 post cards, 3,500,000 pieces of literature such as newspapers, magazines, etc. From April, 1917, to complete demobilization over 10,000 troop trains with approximately 6,000,000 men were served by V M C A Secre- taries. Men were also served from demobilization camps to home cities when they traveled in large enough numbers to warrant the assign- ment of a secretary to the train. COMING HOME WITH THE ARMY 51 Demobilization and Repatriation of Y M C A Workers As the- Army began to leave France, the proportion of Y M C A workers increased. It was General Pershing's plan that welfare organizations should demobilize at the same proportionate rate as the Army, but scarcity of transport and prior claims of Army per- sonnel upon accommodations made this impossible. On April 1, 1919, the Y personnel reached its maximum, and for the first time in a year attained the minimum quota estimated as necessary. Then, with the cessation of new arrivals and the departure of workers whose units had embarked, the Y force began to shrink almost as rapidly as the Army. During the last three months there were workers enough to demonstrate what an adequate force might have meant to the Army in the more strenuous periods of the War. As division after division arrived at LeMans, its Y workers were added to the force in that great embarkation center, and its program of activities gave the soldiers a new conception of the real purpose and efficiency of the Y. Y men and women, like the soldiers, were eager to get home. Families were waiting for them, and neglected business was calling. But they stayed cheerfully until the troops, to which they were as- signed, had gone. Ordered to Paris for release, and from Paris to one of the embarkation "pools" near Brest, St. Nazaire or Bordeaux, to wait their turn to embark, they felt the universal tension and found the days irksome until the shores of America should come into view. All westbound shipping was controlled by the Government; dur- ing April and May, 1919, limited accommodations were released for the personnel of welfare organizations. In June, at the urgent recom- mendation of General Pershing, the War Department assumed full responsibility for the repatriation of welfare workers; thereafter a proportion of space on every transport was allotted to each organi- zation. During June and July, over 4200 Y workers were brought home, and by September, 1919, only 150 were left, occupied with salvage of Y equipment or permanently assigned to the Army of Occupation. Upon arrival in New York, accounts were speedily ad- justed, final releases made, and the workers returned to their homes, east and west, north and south. There the well-worn uniforms' gave place to strange feeling "civies," and the Y army took up the tasks of normal life. After Demobilization The active fighting over, there remained the problem of readjust- ing the men to the services of civil life. This was a problem of the 52 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA whole nation; the Y endeavored to bear its part. It is not possible to rehearse all the various enterprises directed to this end, but two general aspects of the service should be noted. City Associations almost without ex.ception offered a three months' free membership to service men. This carried with it not only the social and recreational advantages of the institution during the uncertain period when men were "getting located," but also placed at their disposal the well-organized employment service that is a' part of every large local organization. These facilities were made available and a very large number of men were placed in adequate positions. Education and Adjustment The YMCA has always given large place to education. Naturally the purpose has been not to compete with regular educational systems but to specialize upon education for those who, for one reason or another, have not enjoyed the benefits of a thorough training in the regular course of their lives. Before the War, the Y schools stretched from coast to coast ; during the War educational features were slipped in wherever there was opportunity; now that the men are home again, a special program has been made to help such as feel the urgent need or a renewed desire for either general or technical education. For the present year, 1920, the sum of $4,000,000 has been appro- priated for the benefit of ex-service men. The plan ofifers scholarships which are available for tuition and other expenses in Y M C A schools and other schools and colleges, and any correspondence courses conducted by the Extension Division of the United States YMCA schools. Regional, state and local commit- tees have been organized to award these scholarships which are al- lotted on the general basis of population. There has also been created a Division of Occupational Guidance designed to assist men properly to choose courses and locate themselves. The range of courses is so large that it is no exaggeration to say that any man who is awarded a scholarship may pursue any line of study for which he has the apti- tude .and inclination. The Future During the War the nation was united behind the national enter- prise; war work was the first item on every program. But the regular enterprise of the Y continued in the home communities and certain aspects of the work were strengthened at a cost of much WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 53 overtime eflfort on the part of depleted forces assisted by the self- denying labor of thousands of volunteer workers. The International Convention of Young Men's Christian Asso- ciations assembled in Detroit in November, 1919, pledged the organi- zation at large to a vigorous extension of service and an intensifying of the whole program of activities. The advance has been started and will continue. The future will find this organization, in hearty cooperation with all other groups, busy in its special field of service. XII— WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES Around the World with the Y The modern crusade under the Red Triangle extended its lines until it reached all the armies of the world, grasping hands with the soldiers of all nations and races. The funds expended by the American Y M C A in the Armies of our Allies, independent of both the Prisoners of War Work (see pp. 100-108) and the enormous work with the A E F in France (see pp. 24-41) reached nearly $20,000,000. The American Y served in the French Army as the Foyer du Soldat. It assisted the British and Canadian Y's with the Chinese Labor Corps in France, with the Belgians and Portuguese, the Moroccans, and the score of races marshalled in the lighting forces. It served in the Italian Army as the Casa del Soldato. It served with the Rou- manians, the Czecho-Slovaks, and in Poland; in the prison camps of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria ; with the Russians in the Southern and Central Armies ; with the Allied forces in North Russia to the frozen front at Archangel and across Siberia to the Pacific Ocean. With its international associates it carried the Red Triangle into Greece, Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia. With the British and Indian Y's it entered Jerusalem, the citadel of the ancient cru- saders, after seven centuries of Moslem domination; it cooperated with the Indian Y in Mesopotamia ; it set up its precepts of humanity in the Turkish Empire, in Constantinople and Asia Minor. It placed its resources at the disposal of the Y's in Africa, in India, at the ports of China, in the Philippines, in Japan. It is proposed to glance rapidly at a few of these points ; space limitations will allow only the briefest mention of outstanding facts. Here again we must call attention to the important and ever-present fact of the coordinate work that was at all times being conducted by the British, Canadian, Australian and Indian Y M C A's throughout the world — simultaneously with the operations of the American Y. 54 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA 1 — With the French Army Le Foyer du Soldat — The Soldier's "Fireside" The military history of France will give due recognition to the Foyer du Soldat, the "Fireside" of the French Army. Its originator was Emmanuel Sautter, who afterwards became Secretary of the World's Committee of the YMCA. It was financed in part by private sub- scriptions from French civilians but chiefly by the International Com- mittee of the American Association, and also with funds raised by the War Work Council of the Y M C A. It marked a new epoch in the French Army, as will be seen by the final results. So important did it become in Army morale that it was soon organized under a committee of prominent French citizens, distinct from the French National YMCA. General De Lacroix, sometime Vice-President of the Su- preme War Council, was President. Ambassador Sharp had a seat on this committee. This, the beginning of social welfare work on a large scale in the French Army, was extended through American assistance nearly two and a half years before America entered the War. It resulted in an expenditure of over $7,600,000 in the French Army by the American YMCA, which was, of course, independent of the work being con- ducted with the American Army. In January, 1915, the first "foyer" or "fireside" hut was opened at Baccarat, in the Vosges. The military authorities in that sector saw its influence in strengthening the fighting spirit, the "will to victory" among the soldiers. They asked for an extension of the service, and in December, 1915, there were twenty foyers, of which fourteen were at the front. Throughout 1916 the demand increased. Foyers were opened in the Verdun Sector where General Petain commanded the French Army. Approximately 70 huts were opened prior to September, 1917. The Union Franco-Americaine and General Petain General Petain grasped the full purpose of this work by observing its effect among his command in the Verdun Sector. In July, 1917, he discussed its military value with General Pershing, expressing his judg- ment that the rapid extension of the foyers would prove one of the best things that Americans could do for the morale of the French Army. The Y at once offered to increase the foyers to two hundred. General Petain arranged a conference with American YMCA offi- cials at Field Headquarters, where a program was agreed upon, and on August 27, 1917, arrangements were made for the opening of' at least 100 additional huts for the French troops. Upon recommendation of General Petain it was decided that Mr. Sautter, the French General Secretary, should remain in charge, but that he should have associated WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 55 with him D. A. Davis and W. S. Coffin as representatives of the National War Work Council of the United States. It was further agreed that American secretaries, wearing the uniform of the American Army, should serve with French directors in the foyers. The organization was sanc- tioned under the name of Foyer du Soldat, Union Franco-Americaine. Paul Painleve, Prime Minister and Secretary for War, wrote to Mr. Sautter on October 19, 1917, stating that at the request of the Commander in Chief of the French Army, he had decided on the con- struction of approximately 1300 huts, and asked: "How many will it be possible for the Y M C A to undertake?" Mr. Sautter replied in true Y spirit that he would be willing to undertake "all those which other organizations could not care for." One welfare organization agreed to open about 15 huts; a few others were assigned to small organizations; the remainder, practically the entire 1300 huts, were left to the Foyer du Soldat. Cooperation of the French Army The French Government on February 23, 1918, issued regulations covering the operations of the foyers on a practical basis of cooperation. The French Department of War agreed to furnish buildings, tables and benches, and light and heat; a committee appointed by the Minister for War was to pass on a list of books, from which a selection of 200 should be sent to each hut, this 200 to include 100 volumes of general literature, 60 of industrial education and 40 of information concerning the Allies and the causes and purposes of the War. The Quartermaster Corps was instructed to furnish supplies, and Army cooperation in the trans- portation of material. All political and sectarian propaganda was abso- lutely forbidden, also the serving of any alcoholic beverages; free distri- bution of coffee, chocolate, etc., was permitted only in exceptional cases, such as times of offensive or in the front line. Rapid Development of the Foyer du Soldat — 1452 Huts The number of foyers grew rapidly. To mark the Franco-American victory of September, 1918, Foyer No. 1000 was assigned to St. Mihiel, September 19. When the French occupied Metz, the former capital of Lorraine, the old Kaiser Wilhelm Haus became Foyer No. 1200, — a center of recreation for the French instead of the Germans. The record on February 28, 1919, showrs that 1452 foyers had actually been opened; of these approximately 130 wrere captured or destroyed by shell fire, during the German advance over the Chemin des Dames, 50 had been transferred to American work, and 434 had been closed on account of the movement of the French Army into 56 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Germany. The maximum number of huts actually operated at any one time was about 850. The long line of foyers for French troops reached, in 1919, through France, including Alsace and Lorraine, Belgium, the occupied parts of Germany, Luxemburg, Greece, Roumania, Caucasus, Smyrna, Konia, Morocco, Tunis, Algeria and Siberia. The personnel serving these foyers on February 28, 1919 : French secretaries, men (released from Army 404, civilian 146) 550 ; women, 245; American secretaries, men 273; women 55; total 1123. To render adequate service to the foreign' and colonial elements in the French Army, books and reading matter were supplied in 36 dif- ferent languages. Among these were Italian, Russian, Polish, Portu- guese, Chinese, Senegalese, and Arabic. Writing materials were sup- plied free in all huts. During the Winter of 1918-1919 it is estimated that from five to ten million letters were written from the foyers monthly. Canteens — Entertainment — Athletics At first canteen work was done on a small scale because of the military cooperative canteens in the French Army; but after the offen- sives developed the cooperatives no longer functioned adequately and the foyers were called upon to increase their supplies to meet the emergency. Entertainment was confined chiefly to cinema produc- tions supplied largely by the French Army. American educational and stereopticon slides were introduced in the later months. Musical and vaudeville acts were developed from local talent. Checkers and dominoes were played constantly. Athletics were so successful that in July, 1918, General Cottez, Director of French Infantry and Physical Training, urged the introduction of baseball in all centers of physical instruction, officers' training schools, and other camps of instruction for younger men. At the suggestion of M. Clemenceau and as a direct result of official observations and reports on the effects of the "foyers," a special bureau for physical and moral education was instituted in the War Department. American Y and the New France Eight principal training schools were instituted in different parts of France for the training of athletic directors for the French Army or for the public schools for boys. To each of these training schools an American physical director was assigned by the Y. As a result of the work of American physical directors among the French and the pres- ence of the American Army playing American games, there has been a tremendous awakening of interest in athletics throughout France. WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 57 The effects of this will be felt by the entire French population, civilian as well as military. At Marseilles there was an immense athletic field. During demobili- zation, American football and baseball, volley ball and other sports were played by Arabs, Madagascans, Senegalese, Tunisians and Ana- mites waiting for their transports. Athletic programs were planned for the Chinese Labor Corps who worked in munition plants, road building and other construction. Throughout France were many camps filled with repatriated French and Russians, prisoners of war awaiting their discharge. They were stiff and apathetic as a result of inactivity or the excessive labor demanded in prison camps of Austria and Germany. The play instinct aroused, restored their physical vigor and relieved their mental depression; they became rejuvenated men. Even the wounded and convalescent were taught how to play the less violent games as an aid to physical rehabilita- tion. In many camps the American Athletic Director was appointed by the Commandant as the Official Director of Athletics; athletics were made obligatory certain hours of the day, at which time the entire unit, officers and men, was placed at the disposal of the American Director. During hostilities the Y physical directors devoted considerable time to the boys and girls in the villages. This service was of particular value to the French youth. The Inter-Allied Games offered another opportunity for the athletic directors. When the invitation went out, the French Army turned to the American athletic directors in the Foyer du Soldat for assistance in training its teams. Mr. Slater, Physical Director at the Y M C A College at Springfield, Mass., instituted a class for this purpose. 'Over 80 per cent of the contestants he sent to Paris returned point winners. Recognition by French Army The recognition and praise which the Foyer du Soldat won from the French high officials is a very signal proof of the value of the Y M C A as a national asset in war and peace. In its beginning the Foyer was looked upon with disapproval and suspicion. Athletics in particular were considered as unnecessary and even foolish. It was believed that the bearded French soldier — the poilu^did not want to play; he had exercise enough and athletics would only tire him. The conception of athletics as an instrument in the development of sports- manship, goodwill, and as a general outlet for depressed spirits was new to the French. French officers, masters of strategy, know that the intangible thing called "morale" wins or loses many battles. They quickly grasped the incalculable value of the Y "fireside" and athletic 58 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA field as a factor in ultimate victory. A large part of the Y athletic program has been permanently incorporated in the French military organization. Tribute of Premier Clemenceau Premier Clemenceau, who was in position to know the achievements of the Association during the War, paid it this tribute : "I am happy to bring to the work of the Foyer du Soldat, Union- Franco-Americaine, the sincere testimony of the gratitude of the French Army. Your foyers, established in an ever increasing number in the front line cantonments and in the formations of the interior, render to the soldiers services which are highly appreciated. Thanks to your organization our sons find everywhere a center of relaxation and recreation. "Just as far as possible, and with a touching delicacy and an un- tiring devotion, the Foyer du Soldat replaced the 'foyer' of the family. With all my heart I thank the YMCA for the precious aid which it has brought to the work which is being carried on by the armies of the Allies against the common enemy. "In contributing thus to sustain the morale of our armies, it pro- cures our victory and associates itself gloriously in the common task." Marshal Foch's Commendation of Work of YMCA Two days before the Armistice, Marshal Foch, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies, paid this tribute to the contribution of the Y to the morale of his soldiers : "Among all the organizations generously aided by the International Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association of North Amer- ica, the Foyer du Soldat particularly merits our gratitude. By the whole- some relaxation and well-being which the foyers furnish to the com- batants, the YMCA has largely contributed to the magnificent morale of the Allied Armies." General Petain Wrote on August 2, 1918: "It is impossible to exaggerate the eminent service rendered by the Foyer du Soldat. They have not only procured for the combatants a little well-being, but they have also been a very valuable moral encour- agement." General Malterre, Commanding the District of Paris : He summed up in one sentence the central idea of the Foyer: "The Foyer is the connecting link between the front line trenches and the homes of the soldiers in the rear." WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 59 Present and Future Status of the Foyer France is going forward, not backward. Recognizing the value of a general non-sectarian Association work for the young men of France, an organization has been established, based on the experiences, resources, personnel and prestige of the Foyer du Soldat, Union Franco-Ameri- caine. This new French society, linking the name of the Y M C A Foyer and the Y M C A Triangle, is acting as an independent organization to perpetuate the Y activities. The official transfer from a war basis was made in September, 1919. The number of foyers has been reduced to 300. A few civilian foyers are in operation in the devastated areas. In this after-war work American secretaries are continuing to operate al- though the new organization is under French direction. 2 — ^With the Chinese Labor Corps in France The bringing of 'the Orient into contact with Western civilization was one of the most remarkable phases of the world struggle. Early in 1915 the British began to recruit in China the organization which later came to be known throughout the war zone as the Chinese Labor Corps. Almost 200,000 Chinese coolies were brought to France in this service. They were housed in camps behind the lines, and engaged in road making and construction work in the fields, factories, and other war manu- facturing establishments in the large cities. The military purpose of bringing the Chinese to France was a crucial one to the Allies. It was to capitalize to the greatest degree the man power made available to the Allied cause by the control of the sea and by. the wide sympathy among all civilized peoples for the fight which the Allied nations were making. The labor corps provided by the Chinese Republic consisted, strictly speaking, of common laborers enlisted for pay on a contract job as in any other mechanical undertaking; but with it went a spirit of cordial approval on the part of the Chinese Government. The constructive work of the Young Men's Christian Association in China was a fundamental factor in this whole enterprise. It was discovered very early in the War that the Y was the only organization that could undertake to surround the life of China's coolie soldiers with the humanizing and socializing influences necessary to maintain their morale under conditions so strange and abnormal, and in a country and a cause so far from home. The British Y enlarged this work as soon as the Chinese Labor Camps began to spring up rapidly behind combat zones. The Y's Cordial Entente vnth the Chinese The Y M C A has for years conducted exhaustive investigations into Chinese psychology and ethics. It has long been on the friendliest terms 60 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA with the Chinese. The temperament of the Chinese, even the lowest class, responds to mental amusement before it takes to games. So the Y established classes in France in the Chinese language with trained sec- retaries brought from China. An intensive course was given in the meaning of the War, the geography and social conditions of Europe, and especially in the significance of the environment which actually surrounded them. This led to classes for the better educated in Eng- lish, French, geography, history, mathematics, and a course of study which put within their reach something like that of the common schools in America. A Chinese weekly newspaper was published in Paris, edited by a Chinese Yale graduate. This education in national consciousness and citizenship proved a basis among all these Chinese volunteers for understanding our Western world. The transplanting of this army of Chinese citizen workers into the heart of European civilization opened a new era for creative welfare work. Every Chinese camp had not only its social and educational centers, but a sports program which kept the men fit and active and taught many of them for the first time the European mode of enjoying outdoors. Soccer football, volley ball, basketball, running, and even baseball were enthusiastically indulged in by the young and active Chinese. The Army organization had a compulsory physical program of its own, and men were given callisthenic drills, but the Y secretaries made the most of Chinese games and Chinese forms of physical exer- cise from the start. The result was that kite flying, throwing the stone lock, lifting the double stone wheels, and the extremely dexterous battledore and shuttlecock game which in some parts of China is a national sport, brought out the native sport instinct spontaneously and without military insistence. 140 Huts— 109 Secretaries— for the Chinese There wrere 140 well equipped huts devoted exclusively to the Chinese Labor Corps, staffed by 109 secretaries, in addition to volun- teers serving as interpreters and technical assistants. The National War Work Council alone recruited and sent to France 90 secretaries, in connection with this work. Of these 62 were recruited in America] 27 of whom were Chinese. Most of the Chinese were volunteer stu- dents from American colleges who went out for this service to their countrymen. The other 28 of the 90 recruits were enrolled in China where most of them had been trained in the Y M C A or other mis- sion schools and colleges. Almost all the secretaries spoke Mandarin or classical Chinese, with the result that innumerable misunderstandings which arose in the camps through lack of understanding on the part of the officers of the Chinese temperament were settled through the medium of the Y. In manv WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 61 cases, for instance, the food was insufficient and not suited to the Chinese; no boiled water or tea was" provided, whereas the Chinese drink only hot water or tea; Army doctors who did not understand Chinese, made mistakes in treatment and could not enforce their medical advice; and finally, there were continual misunderstandings as to wages, amount of time, work, and the enforcement of orders. All these things created disorder which even broke out in some camps in strikes and riots. China Contributes $1,400,000 — President's Endorsement One of the strongest elements in the whole work was the thorough a^nd cordial cooperation of the Chinese Government. A committee of 52 Chinese political and commercial leaders, associated with the Y, was able to organize a fund, starting with the modest aim of $100,000, which ultimately produced for the United War Work Campaign over $1,400,000. It is not too much to say that the fact that the Y was actively associated with this work immensely stimulated the interest of the Chinese. The President of China headed this fund with a contribution of $5000, and gave this characteristically sound Chinese testimonial to the work: "If an old man like me goes wrong, it doesn't matter much. If a middle-aged man goes wrong, that is a most serious loss, but if a young man goes wrong, he goes on destroying character all the rest of his life, and for that reason I believe we ought to sustain such a work as that being done by the Young Men's Christian Association." The work among the Chinese did not conclude with the service in France. As the transports bearing the returning coolies arrived at Chinese ports they were met by Christian workers, most of them belong- ing to the Y M C A. Tliey were served in exactly the same way as American soldiers were served on returning from the battle front. Thus the quality of the service they had rendered to civilization was im- pressed upon them, and the constructive character of their enterprise was recognized as an asset to Chinese civilization and to the world under- standing which comes from such a mingling of nations in a common cause. The simplicity of the service, the constant attendance of the Y secretaries, and their appearance at the end of the journey as well as the beginning made an effect upon the loyal-minded Chinese which, it is said, they will never forget. 3 — With the Armies of Portugal in France Faithful to a treaty made with England several hundred years ago, Portugal did not declare neutrality in 1914. Casting her lot with the Allied Cause, she entered the War early in 1916. First seizing Ger- 62 tFAR WORK OF THF AMERICAN YMCA man ships in home and colonial ports, next with 40,000 troops helping the Belgians and British to drive the Germans from Aifrica, she finally sent 60,000 troops to the British front in France, sufifered a hard pound- ing in the 1918 offensive, and sustained serious losses in the campaign in East Africa where the Portuguese fought for two and one-half years. The Chairman of the Portuguese National Y M C A, Don Alfredo da Silva, noting the work with the British troops, in the Fall of 1917, asked Dr. Mott for American cooperation. The Portuguese were welcomed in the British Y huts, but language difiSculties led the British Y to desire that Portuguese-speaking secretaries enter the field. This emergency was met in 1918 by an American Y man from Brazil, Mr. Myron A. Clark, who had begun Y work at the National University of CoimbrA. It was inaugurated under a system of cooperation among the Inter- national Committee of America, the British and the Portuguese. About six huts and nine tents were furnished by the British; the canteens were supplied by them, but no great financial support could be given. Portu- guese financial aid could not be expected on account of the adverse religious sentiment widely diffused in Portugal. The Americans came to the resci^e, appropriated funds, secured the personnel, and plunged into the work with the Portuguese Army. This work was conducted at Brest, at the front in Flanders and in the rest zone near the Channel ports. There was also a Paris Bureau to care for Portuguese officers and men when passing through the city. During the six months preceding the Armistice, some 50,000 francs were ex- pended on the Portuguese. The personnel of twenty-three secretaries with the Portuguese Army was about half Americans, one or two British, some Portuguese and some Brazilians. All but one or two spoke Portuguese. Several of these Y workers were cited by the Portuguese Command, and two were made officers of the Order of Christ (Ordem de Cristo). In the great German drive on the Lys River front, April 9, 1918, the Portuguese were overwhelmed by superior numbers, losing 11,000 men; but it was the preponderance of opinion that they were brave fighters. They were largely of two classes, either country boys with no culture, or from the large cities, Lisbon and Oporto. Most of them were illiterate. They looked to the Y in all difficulties. The Y men had to write the letters home for them. A very popular indoor game was human checkers. Large squares were marked on the floor of a hut, and the pieces were soldiers who moved according to the commands of two soldiers acting as captains. The Portuguese were delighted with this game. Soccer and baseball were attempted, and encouragement was given to other sports with a view to improving the morale of the men. When it is realized that these troops were in a strange land, surrounded by people speaking English and French, neither of which they under- WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 63 stood, it will be realized how grateful they were for this welfare service by Portuguese-speaking American Y workers. After the Armistice and the commencement of demobilization, service was again rendered at Brest, and for a time in Portugal itself. Of all of the overseas work of the Y this small Portuguese effort of the Association displays the most ex- tensive cooperation, for America, Britain, Brazil and Portugal united in harmonious and successful achievement. 4— ^With the Italian Army Military strategists will find in Italy the most scientific evidence on which to weigh the value of morale in warfare. It was here that the first great victories of the World War were won by the heroic spirit of the Italians, in the Alps, driving the Austrians in panic through the mountain passes to the point of surrender, only to become themselves the victims of a complete collapse in morale which for a time threatened the invasion and defeat of Italy, but again to recover in a last courageous stand. These reversals were largely the result of alternately rising and receding spirit, — of confidence and discouragement. Through these crises the Red Triangle marshaled its forces to help the Allies in the emerg- ency, the American Y M C A expending more than $3,395,000 with the Italian armies. It is a romantic story that can be but briefly outlined here. A captain in the Italian Army, having seen in Paris in 1917 some motion pictures of Y work with the British troops, believed that this was the influence . needed to support the zealous spirit of the Italians in the Great Cause. On behalf of his country he appealed to the British Association. This organization, feeling that it could not spare men or money from the service of its own troops, referred the request to the American International Committee. As a result of negotiations a com- mission, which included two British secretaries and several Americans, proceeded from Paris to Italy. This was in September, 1917'. American Secretaries Arrive in Italy The Italian Army and Government entered into conference and a plan for the fullest cooperation was agreed upon. Six secretaries sailed from America November 17, 1917, by way of France, reaching Italy on January 15, 1918. Don Giovanni Minozzi, a chaplain in the Italian Army, was consulted and the city of Bologna was chosen as Y head- quarters. The recent catastrophe of Caporetto had made re-birth of the fine Italian morale imperative. There had be?n a pre-war Y located at Rome, but for obvious reasons it was unable to meet the exigency of the situation. The broad-minded, resourceful priest, Don Giovanni, 64 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA had started a soldiers* hut movement (Casa del Soldato; plural Case del Soldato) at the beginning of hostilities. He had rented buildings, or rooms such as he could get as gathering places. At first these Case del Soldato were financed mostly by the Italian Government. In seven months the worthy priest had expended 180,000 lire in about 140 buildings ; later the American International Committee of the Y granted him 500,000 lire and other substantial assistance. No religious work was introduced, and the huts were conducted by soldier details. There was also a little welfare work done by the Waldensians (a smalj and ancient Protestant sect) which was later supplemented by the Americans. Italian Government and Army Form "Brotherhood" vnth Y It was during the crisis in Italy that, after negotiations, a formal agreeriient was signed (February 8, 1918) by Lieut. General Vittorio Zaccone, Chief of Staff, representing the High Command, and Dr. John S. Nollen, General Secretary in Italy, representing the Inter- national Committee. The Y in Italy operated among the 3,000,000 soldiers under the title : "Works of Universal Brotherhood, American YMCA Sol- diers' Huts," with the triangle emblem. (Opera di Fratellanza Uni- versale Americana YMCA Case del Soldato.) From King Victor Emmanuel, Government officials, generals, and private soldiers came the most cordial cooperation and gratitude for the work accomplished. By the terms of the agreement there was to be no religious teach- ing, whether Protestant or Catholic. It was mutually understood that the initial "C" in Y M C-A stood for "Christian" in the very broadest sense, i. e. the spirit of brotherhood. There were to be no sales can- teens, but free distribution of sweets, smokes, etc., was allowed. The fullest cooperation by Army and Government was promised and accorded by the Italians. The Y was granted the privilege of buying supplies at Government rates from the Quartermaster; 300 tons of goods could be imported from America each month at Government expense for freight; gasoline, oil and grease were furnished; buildings were requisi- tioned at a nominal rental; transportation by rail for supplies and men was free; even the privilege of franking letters, telegrams and cables was granted to the Y. 200 American Huts in Italy — 270 Secretaries April 5, 1918, saw the first American casa or hut at the front, in full operation at Meolp. There were a few "knock-down" huts in the mountains later, but practically all case were requisitioned buildings. During hostilities in Italy there were about 150 huts, one-third WITH THE Armies of oVk ALLIES 63 of which were at the front. After the Armistice there were about 200 American huts, of which approximately 75 were in the front areas. To meet Italian taste the huts were artistically decorated, homelike and comfortable. There was also city service at hospitals and con- valescent homes; trucks and launches with supplies and entertainment materials served scattered units. During the Summer of 1918 the American secretaries in Italy niunbered less than a hundred. Later there were about 270, each hut secretary being assisted by a soldier detail of a non-commissioned officer and two privates. These details totaled over 500 soldiers at the height of the work. Service was rendered by the Americans to French, British and Czecho-Slovak troops in Italy. Activities included indoor games ; Italian and American out-door games, contests and mass play; lectures on sex hygiene, travel, etc. ; cinema and theatrical shows and concerts ; books and periodicals; educational courses; and free writing materials and welfare distribution in hut and hospital. How the Y men served at the front, largely in the cold mountain regions, without coal for fires, is one of the hero tales of the war. The most complete single victory of the World War resulted from the Italian offensive of October 24-Novefnber 3, 1918; 750,000 prisoners were taken, 6,000 cannon, many thousands of machine guns, much other booty and — Italia irredenta. The Y in Italy was in the campaign from start to finish. One secretary received the ribbon of the Italian Legion of Honor, and 23 for conspicuous bravery under constant shell fire received the Italian War Cross. A total of $3,395,168.41 was expended by the American Y in this Italian work from early in 1918 until October 31, 1919. Serving the American Troops in Italy We have seen how the Italian Government urgently requested and obtained Y M C A service for its soldiers. It also soon began to plead for military cooperation. About 4000 American troops finally came and did valuable combat work. Foreseeing the needs of these troops, the Y preceded them and was ready to serve upon their arrival. Dr. Wilson S. Naylor, an experienced secretary from the French front, reached Bologna with a party of ten on July 10, 1918, and was gladly welcomed as the advance agent of the American troops, the 332d U. S. Infantry, composed of Ohio boys, also a sanitary unit and some avi- ators. 66 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA The American infantry was at Vallegio and the aviators at Foggia before seeing service in the great October offensive. The Y also pro- vided for the American naval forces at Naples and Genoa. The organi- zation had friendly relations with the Italian Army Y, but unlike the latter was under control of the Paris Headquarters. Until they sailed for home the Y workers were constantly with the American soldiers at the front, and later with some of them in Dalmatia and Montenegro. At one time in the great battle around Mount Grappa, American Army trucks were too heavy for the pontoon bridges, and the Y lent five light trucks to bring food for the hungry American soldiers. Then they went back for their own chocolates and smokes for the boys. The 332d Regiment and other American forces in Italy were loud in praise! of the unremitting service they received from the YMCA. 5— With the Armies in Russia When America was entering the War in the first exuberance of her strength, Russia, spent and disintegrated through nearly three years of{ fearful national suffering and sacrifice, was approaching the end of hei] powers of resistance. Russia had put into the field the greatest fight-j ing force the world had ever seen. Her moral reserve strength wa^ ebbing rapidly in the early months of 1917. Out of the huge army of over 12,000,000 her losses in the end reached the colossal total of over 9,100,000, including 1,700,000 killed, 4,950,000 wounded, and more than 2,500,000 prisoners. Her remaining army was infected with disease, dismayed by its terrible defeats, and inoculated with the germs of revolution. The American YMCA, while America was still a neutral, under- took to throw its forces into this appalling situation at the first sign of the break. The Y during the War expended more than $5,878,378 in Russia. The "Miyak," the earliest Russian Y organization, which had been founded in 1900 by American Y leaders and grown to larg-e proportions in Petrograd and Moscow, was working heroically to support the rapidly declining morale of the country. The American Y men were working with the Prisoners of War— the million or more Austrian and German prisoners who had been captured in the early years of the War. Dr. Mott with the American Mission to Russia ' Parallel with these initial steps came America's first diplomatie overtures to the new Russian government which had overthrown the With the armies of our allies 61 Czar on March 15, 1917. President Wilson appointed John R. Mott, General Secretary of the International Committee, as a member of the American Mission headed by the Hon. Elihu Root, the former Secretary of State. This mission at once took hold constructively of jthe vast need in the Russian situation. It was officially introduced to the new Russian government in Petrograd on June 15, just three months after the revolution. Among its demands on America for support in a great crisis this |government made one request in particular: It asked for 500 Amer- ican volunteers to go as Y secretaries. Immediately on Dr. Mott's return to America he sent out a call for men of "indefatigable reso- ^lution." The qualifications in leadership and technical training 'for the work were made high and amid the myriad other claims on American initiative, a group of 125 secretaries was gathered and sent as quickly as possible to Russia. From this time until all Russia crumbled in November, 1917, and even through the initial stages of the Bolshevik regime which followed, this group of Americans, in the midst of disorder ^and disintegration, took hold of the immediate services closest to hand. ' During this darkest period in modern history the Y M C A in its "Russian work placed in the field, counting operations in Siberia and North Russia, more than 300 secretaries. Until the period of military intervention, the Y unit though small, ,Was larger than the combined American diplomatic and consular corps, .the military mission, the Committee of Public Information and Red Cross groups combined. It received from Kerensky a series of generous con- cessions which gave Russo- American cooperation its first practical demon- stration in the field. Authority was given to the Y to take over portable huts to the value of 1,500,000 rubles, far more than the Provisional '■Government was in a position to deliver, while a similar cooperation gave ■Y goods priority and free transportation on the railroads as well as cus- toms exemption at ports, exempted soldiers' letters written at the hut from postage fees, and provided requisitioned buildings in the large towns. General Kuropatkin Receives Y in Russian Army Early in January, 1917, General Kuropatkin became interested in the work being done for the prisoners, and granted the Y M C A permis- sion to start welfare work with one of his regiments. Kerensky coming to power six months later, gave his cordial ap- proval to this initiative and soon from the Russian posts on the Baltic, through Petrograd, Pskov, Minsk, Kiev, Jassy, Rostov, Odessa, and to ;Tiflis and far-away Tashkend, a line of Y huts sprang up from one end of the great Russian line to the other. A glance at the thousands of 68 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA miles' sweep covered by this line will reveal its true magnitude. Seven- teen secretaries transferred from the Prisoners of War Work laid the foundation for this circuit. The orders of the Y men for equipment, hundreds of tons of biscuits and sugar, cocoa and soap tablets, as well as cinema and athletic equip- ment, were still undelivered and the great proportion of new volunteers were still en route when the final smash came with the Lenine-Trotsky coup d'etat {lio\. 9, 1917). Y men served through the street fighting in Moscow and the large cities and directed first aid. They made early approach to the Soviet government authorities, and secured from them an extension of prac- tically all the privileges granted by Kerensky. Armed with this authority, they established huts wherever the line was still holding. Right up to the conclusion of the Brest-Litovsk treaty they were putting up huts on the Northern Front, and at the extreme southern end of the line in the Caucasus, where the Russian-Armenian Army against the Turks was the last to yield to demoralization. Others joined the forces holding the Don Cossack region, Avhile still others were sent to help amid the growing confusion in Kiev, Odessa, and the cities of South Russia. On August 3, 1918, President Wilson issued his proclamation, associating America in the anti-German campaigns of the Allies in Russia which involved the recalling of the Y from Bolshevik territory in common with all other Americans. The Y in the Caucasus Wherever the American Y representative went, he was taken by the soldiers and by the people as a symbol of the generous friendship of the American people. Two Y men kept in operation the Caucasus relief measures that saved thousands of lives, using the plants and credit of the Armenian Relief Commission, whose workers had been compelled to withdraw. In Samara, a strong community service was organized which aided enormously in preserving normal city life during the succession of govern- ments. M'ore than 100,000 meals were served at a civil canteen station in the heart of the city, 1,100 refugees and 390 sick persons were directly aided and nearly 100 assistants and volunteer helpers were incorporated into the local organization. Moreover, over 40,000 children played on the Y playground, 1,200 Boy $couts were trained and 120,000 soldiers passed through the military huts in this city alone. WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 69 Down the Volga with the Red Triangle Welfare work is necessary to Russian civil life. The funda- mental need in Russia is aid to the peasant; and as soon as it estab- lished itself, the Red Triangle organization set up a floating exhibit of American agricultural methods to be sent down the Volga through the heart of Russia. It covered several hundred miles along both banks of this great river, reaching tens of thousands of people. Thirty-one Russian helpers aided the Y rural experts to demonstrate the films, models-, charts, and personal talks on modern methods of farm organization and home keeping in rural America. The exchange of prisoners, following the Brest-Litovsk peace, brought thousands of liberated Russians, who for three years had lived on the border-line of starvation. Many of them died en route and the doctors pronounced 25 per cent of the remainder tubercular. The Y was called upon to attack the problem, and, according to the civil authorities, the service in Moscow, Petrograd, and the cities near the border, saved thousands of these soldiers who would have died soon after reaching home. The indispensable supplementary ration, which was the substantial welcome of the Y, consisted of milk, eggs, palatable bread, and other necessities, which were the height of luxury to these returned prisoners. On many days the food supplied by the Y was all these men got to eat. 6 — ^With American Troops at the Arctic Sea We have followed the Triangle through the dark days in southern and central Russia; now let us follow it to the Arctic Sea. Here, too, the armies of the Allies were fighting their way in the World War. This campaign had as its main military object the bi;eak-up of possible German submarine bases on the Arctic Sea and the protection of sup- plies delivered to the Kerensky government at Archangel and Mur- mansk. In the rigorous task in North Russia, 65 American Y secretaries, with some 30 British Y secretaries and a number of auxiliaries of Russian and other nationalities, were given the main responsibility for welfare service among the troops under the exceptional conditions of an Arctic winter in a miscellaneous force comprising twelve nationalities. Here the Y M C A was the only substantial force conducting welfare work throughout this difficult operation. 70 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Fighting against the Elements at Archangel The number of the Allied troops reached 30,000 men at the maximum. About half were regular allied detachments, while the rest were Russian volunteer units. The American troops amounted to about 5000 men in the Archangel district, and 2500 along the Murmansk Railway. The larger Y work was based on Archangel, where the Allies main- tained their headquarters for fighting fronts on a narrowing circle 50 miles further south. After the first establishment of headquarters, which had again (as in France, England, and Italy) preceded the arrival of the American troops, secretaries were sent to the combat regions in the south, and by Christmas, 1918, every important base in the region had its Y hut and characteristic activities. When the town of Shenkursk was captured by the Bolsheviks in the middle of the Winter the Y'hut, which had been a center in the midst of the fighting area, was burned with many other buildings. In other sections Y secretaries without permanent quarters went about with the troops on duty and distributed comforts to troops on the front line. Four American secretaries on this service were captured, one was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, three were given the Russian Cross of St. George, and others were men- tioned in American Army Orders for bravery under fire on the front line. With Reindeer Sled in the Far North An American Y hut in Russia had the honor of being placed at the apex of the narrow salient, pushed into the Bolshevik lines at Oust Podenga on the Vaga River, the farthest point reached by the Allies. This hut, directly across the river from enemy troops and closely camouflaged in consequence, was one of the finest field huts maintained in North Russia. Qn the Vologda Railroad a string of specially equipped box cars and canteens, with Y men in charge, served the outposts; while horse and reindeer sled service was given to other outlying points in the five or six campaigns in which the small American Army was bearing the heaviest attacks, braving the terrible arctic conditions and the exposed guerilla nature of the warfare. American casualties of over 400 were due largely to exposure to the fearful cold. Testimony of Commanding Officer in North Russia At the time when this service was at its height Colonel Stewart, Commanding Officer of the American Forces in Northern Russia reported after a visit to the front: "On behalf of the officers and fnlisted men of my command I desire to express the appreciation we WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 71 all feel of the excellent work done by your representatives in the ameliora- tion of the hardships of service of my troops. In my recent visit to various units of my command, aggregating twenty-eight days, during which, besides rail transportation, I covered 650 miles by sleigh, the work of your organization was constantly brought to my attention." 7— With the Armies in Siberia The Allied Expeditionary Army in Siberia assumed the proportions of a powerful force in August, 1918. It varied during the succeeding months from 60,000 to 80,000 along a front of almost 6000 miles. Presi- dent Wilson officially placed America in cooperation with this force (Aug. 3, 1918) and a few weeks later the 27th U. S. Infantry and other units arrived from Manila. Major General Graves took command of the American forces. The objectives were: the protection of the Vladivostok stores, the support of the Czechs, and the restoration of the Siberian Railroad. Eleven armies were on the Siberian front; the largest was the Japanese; here, also, were the British, French, Italian, Roumanian, Polish, and Russian troops, and last of all the splendid regiments of the Czecho-Slovak Army, which had found and fought their way across Russia. The campaign lasted more than one year amid the most unstable political and military conditions, and all the national forces except a strong group of Japanese have now been removed from Siberia. But the opportunity for service in this expedition was incalculable and the American Y adapted itself adequately to the abnormal and fluctuating conditions. At Vladivostok — Over 100 Y Men in 11 Armies The number of secretaries in Siberian work considerably passed the 100 mark; they were assisted by 200 Czech, Russian, Japanese, and others from various nationalities. The cost of the work was over $2,000,000. The Y service was carried to every section of this enor- mous front and showed results in every one of the 11 national armies. Seventeen were allotted to the American Expeditionary Forces, 15 served with the Czech Army, 20 in special Russian civil work, 10 admin- istered the manifold activities of the International Hut and other activities for the Allied units in Vladivostok, 12 were occupied in the lecture and cinema bureau and the rest were assigned to miscellaneous activities. The Association had 10 separate huts among the American forces and 14 iso- lated posts as an extension service from the hut centers. There were also canteen cars which traveled with the troops when they were entrained. 72 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Waiting for American Troops in the Far East Two months before the American troops arrived in Vladivostok, YMCA agencies in Tokio, Shanghai and Manila had searched the Far Eastern cities for welfare equipment and canteen supplies. From China and Japan, Americans were recruited for six months' terms as Y workers. When the American troops arrived, not only did they find the Y ready to serve them, but they found an organization which, small as it was, formed the largest group of Americans in Siberia at that time. The hiits were all running full blast in and around Vladivostok and along the line of fighting east to west, by the following February. During this time a system had been built which supplied entertainment four times a week and which had put on tour a Russian orchestra and a Russian grand opera company. Special concert troupes were organized from the American units themselves, especially from American war- ships in Far Eastern waters. A circulating library was installed in each hut; sports, programs, canteens and a moving picture circuit were under way throughout the American forces. Twelve Nationalities Crowd Y Huts in the Asiatic Expedition Over 300,000 soldiers and sailors attended the entertainments given in the main hut in Vladivostok alone, during the first six months of 1919. The attendance at the hut for the month of June (1919) was 60,000; over 30 different nationalities were represented; 30,000 letters were mailed; 45,000 soldiers were served with light meals at the buffet. There were 50 moving picture shows during the month; 600 men were given sleeping accommodations. Such is a small section of the work organized at the International Hut. This is but an indication of a similar work carried on at Harbin on the Chinese Eastern Railroad, and at Khabarovsk which was the base of operations along the Ussuri and Amur rivers. Other Headquarters along the Siberian Railroad were main- tained in a chain of cities from Harbin all the way to the Russian Head- quarters at Omsk, in which something like a regular community service program with fourfold activities in the educational, physical, recreational and spiritual fields was conducted for the vast fluctuating expeditions of the Allied forces. Transport Difficulties on Japan Sea The difficulties which had to be overcome may be assumed from the generally unsystematic character of the Siberian Expedition as a whole. At one time— in March, 1919— the YMCA had over $500,000 tied up in equipment supplies, cinema films and machines, athletic goods, canteen supplies, etc., which had been on their way to Siberia since the Autumn of, 1918. Two shipments from America, one via Panama and WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 73 the other via the Cape, were held up in Japan through the transport jam across the Japan Sea. Other shipments ran aground on reefs oS Japan. The Association had to buy cargo space whenever it could be obtained from the merchant marine and to purchase widely through- out the Far East ; even then, supplies were short until well in the Spring of 1919. They were sold throughout the canteens at cost, far below prevailing Siberian prices. Barracks along the Trans-Siberian Railway The huts were mostly old Russian barracks, heated by huge cylindri- cal Russian stoves. In each a stage was constructed and electric lighting installed. The club cars, maintained for the soldiers along the Eastern Section of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, were rebuilt box-cars, equipped with movies, canteen, literature, writing tables and the like, and went with the troops, bearing the Red Triangle wherever they were ordered. As elsewhere in the War, the Association saved Amer- ican soldiers in Siberia many thousands of dollars, by conducting a money exchange which standardized the wildly fluctuating currencies of the region, and remitted funds to America without charge. The sums involved in exchange operations alone included some fifteen dif- ferent currencies and amounted to upward of $10,000 a month. Homeric Epic of the Czechs Crossing Siberia The most dramatic event in the Far Eastern campaign is that of the Czecho-Slovak Army Corps. These Czechs, most of them ex-prison- ers of war from the Austrian Army, had fought in Kerensky's last offensive, the only unit on the Russian side displaying the ardor which wins victory. During the Winter of 1917-1918, they held their organi- zation together and brought it up to a total strength of 40,000 (whieh later was recruited to 60,000 or more) superbly trained men. They started in May, 1918, to travel by train across Russia and Siberia fdr transport across the Pacific and Atlantic and for service on the West Front. They filled 60 trains and attached to each regimental group there was at least one Y car. The Y men with the expedition included a number returning to America from the Russian service, but several had been with the Czecho-Slovaks from the beginning. They wete called "uncles" in honor of their practical demonstration of the sympathy which signified to the Czechs the ties of a blood relative. They bought and manufactured supplies for the canteen cars wherever they could, and throughout the expedition maintained a resourceful service for the soldiers and conducted local welfare work whenever the train stopped long enough at any one point along the route. This expedition was attacked by Bolsheviki in June and part of it 74 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA cut off from Siberia; 15,000 men got through but the remaining 25,000 started on a long campaign which lasted the greater part of the next year. This campaign was the chief reason for American intervention. One detachment after another of the Czech Army fought its way through to junction with other Czech-Allied units, all served by Y secretaries. Fifteen or more Y secretaries were attached to the Czech Army fighting as an Allied force along the Trans-Siberian Railroad. This army covered an enormous area, stretching west as far as Ufa and Samara in European Russia. The fifteen clubs maintained for this army by the Y were scattered along 1800 miles of railroad, while to serve the vast intervening stretches, eighteen canteen cars, like the club cars in the Far East, were attached from time to time to the 60 trains controlled by the Czech staff. Several Y secretaries went with the Czechs on the last stage of their around-the-world trip to Prague, where they received a fitting share in the welcome given to this Homeric expedition on its home-coming. One of the Y canteen cars, which made the trip across Siberia, was brought back to Bohemia with the army. It has been proposed that it be erected in Prague as a public memorial to American constancy and service. 8— With the Armies in the Far East The armies of many lands operated from the Vladivostok base where the Red Triangle was the sign of comradery. It served with the Polish Legion which at one time enrolled 12,000 soldiers, mostly ex-prisoners of war. An experienced Polish-speaking secretary was attached to the Legion and served with it until it was finally withdrawn via Vladi- vostok. For the Roumanians, near Irkutsk, a special hut was opened under the supervision of an American secretary which was continued until the regiment evacuated the pity. Serbian units at Cheliabinsk, which numbered 7000 men, appealed for an American secretary to take charge of their welfare work and intermittent service was ren- dered. Italian troops, located in Vladivostok, also had a special hut in their barracks, maintained by the Americans. A canteen car was maintained for the Italian companies in the field, and a similar car was equipped, stocked and furnished to the French troops in the field, where it was administered by French secretaries. At Vladivostok a weekly movie or musicale was furnished to the French Aviation Battalion in their barracks. China also had troops in the Siberian Expeditionary Forces and a Y club and a canteen car were established and maintained for them with one American secretary and three Chinese secretaries from the Chinese National YMCA in charge. The Japanese Y was the chief welfare agency among the 50,000 troof)s of that nation stationed along the Manchurian and Amur frontiers. WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 75 There was cordial cooperation at all times with the Japanese workers, but the principal American service to the Japanese was in the International Hut at Vladivostok. This was a rendezvous for Japanese soldiers and sailors at all times and as many as 500 visited the hut in one afternoon. A canteen car furnished to the British troops operating near Ekaterinen- berg in the Urals was presided over by the Regimental Chaplain. Y secre- taries made frequent visits to this car and established a hearty cooperation with the British unit. Serving the Returned Prisoners from Germany Probably the service which carried with it the most humane and merciful assistance to Russians was the relief accorded to prisoners of war returning from Austria and Germany, which is outlined in a following chapter. These men were mostly in need of food and clothing. Neither the Russian authorities nor the Red Cross were in a position to take up the work at once ; therefore the Y M C A filled the breach and began to serve tea, sugar, and crackers to the men as they came through the city then being administered, Cheliabinsk. Boots, stockings, caps, shirts, and clothes were purchased in quantities and given to the most needy. The British Quartermaster Department turned over large supplies of clothing and blankets and these were added to the supplies distributed. Over 61,000 destitute Russian sol- diers met as their first friend in their homeland a Y secretary. Later on the American Red Cross took over the work, but because of its own shortage of personnel, requested that Y M C A secretaries should continue to serve as its agents at the points already organized. Invaluable Aid of Army and Navy in the Far East Complete cooperation was given at all times by the Commanders of the American forces in the Far East. Major General Graves, in command of the American military forces, attacked the problem of transportation, from which the Y was particularly suffering in the spring of 1919. By authorizing shipments of 76 cubic tons of Y material from America by army transports to Siberia, which were permitted entry, and transportation to Vladivostok and beyond by the Russian gpiyernment, he finally broke up the transportation block from which the Y had stiffered and put the work on a new basis. Rear Admiral Knight, Commanding Naval Forces in the Far East As Senior American Officer, as well as the Senior Official of the Allies until October, 1918, Rear Admiral Knight was the medium of communica- tion with the outside world. His testimony at the conclusion of his ad- ministration is as follows : 76 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA "I shall always think of the work of the Y M C A as I saw it in Siberia, as one of the great and beneficent achievements in the face of many difficulties — work carried forward with an admirable spirit of enthusiastic service by a group of loyal, self-sacrificing and efficient men." 9 — With the Armies in Greece The vast operations outlined in the foregoing pages were taking place simultaneously with the momentous events on the battlegrounds not only of Western Europe but along the countries of the Mediter- ranean and the Near East. Entering the War in 1916, Greece had immediately mobilized her troops. These gallant Greeks became the pivot of the Balkan offensive which overwhelmed Bulgaria in 1918 and marked the beginning of Germany's end. But the Greek Army (which lost during the war 100,000 men) was staggering under the strain. Greece was im- poverished; it was war-weary. Some of its soldiers had been mobilized seven years. Their pay was five cents a day. Their barracks were unheated, unlighted, insect-infested, evil-smelling, with earthen floors on which the men often slept without blankets. The only places of recreation and rest were the coffee shops where they were unscrupu- lously exploited. American Y Men Meet Greek Statesmen On August 6, 1918, Harvey A. Henderson, an American business man who had spent a year in Greece as a student, and knew the lan- guage, arrived in Athens with a commission from the American YMCA to establish service for the Greek Army. He was accompanied by Richard Boardman. Reporting to the American Minister, Mr. Garrett Droppers, these two American Y men were at once introduced to Eleu- therios Venizelos, President of the Greek Council. He welcomed them cordially and agreed to act as Honorary President of a Committee to cooperate in establishing Y work throughout the country. By his influ- ence a strong committee representing the highest military, ecclesiastical, and business leadership of Greece was formed. Cooperative relations were established with an organization of women known as "The Sol- diers' Sisters," and with the Alumni Association of Robert College. Premier Venizelos Aids Y Work The aid of Venizelos, the great Greek statesman who was holding the Government intact, made prompt activity possible. Armed with let- ters of introduction from him to the commanding officers, the two Amer- ican secretaries proceeded to Saloniki where the greatest number of WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 77 troops were centered. Governor General Adossides responded liberally, immediately placing at their disposal, rent free, a large hall owned by the Government, where a canteen was established. A theater adjoining this hall was hired later and motion pictures given. By September 1, 1918, three huts were in operation, one in the Toumba Camp, three miles outside the city, and another at the Struma Front, which, how- ever, was shortly after abandoned. Until the middle of November, 1918, the Greek work was done in association with the Foyer du Soldat, under direct supervision of the Count de Chavannes, Director of the French work. After Novem- ber 12, it was under the direct supervision of Mr. Henderson as repre- sentative of the American Y M C A. The work in Greece developed rapidly; nine Y huts were iji opera- tion in January, 1919, of which two were in Athens. Inevitably at first, attention was concentrated on the canteen. The Greek soldiers needed desperately a place to buy cheaply the little comforts, to sit and rest, or read. A cup of coffee at the cost of a cent, a chance to write letters on freely given stationery, a few cigarets, and an occasional cinema show made an appeal which could not be resisted. Owing to the exploitation of which they were the victims, these soldiers were at first suspicious. But as they discovered that the "Christian Brotherhood of Young Men," as the Association was called in Greek, was engaged in unselfish, brotherly service, their response was enthusiastic. Brotherhood Appeals to Greek Ideals A wonderful opportunity for the Y and for the American people opened in Greece. The Y M C A appeals to the philosophy of Greek antecedents. It is a country of ideals — a seat of the early Christian Church. The knowledge of such men as President \''enizelos of the Y's work with the American and Allied Armies, and the observation of its civilian work in America by leaders of the Greek Church, including the Archimandrite and the Metropolitan Bishop of Athens, led them to expect great results from the influence of the Association upon the life of Greece. Fifteen Foremost Greeks Petition the Y A petition was sent in April, 1919, by fifteen of the foremost leaders of Greece, asking for extension of the work, fron: which the following is quoted: "The traditions of the Y M C A, combined with the humanitarianism of the American people, will greatly contribute to the establishment of solid traditions in our country, which has absolute need — now when 78 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA our national restoration is about to be achieved — to begin its internal reorganization. And to the YMCA we attribute the greatest influence in effecting the development of all classes upon which the happiness of any state depends. We therefore beg you to give us your moral assistance and be patient, because you must not forget that Greece still bears the marks of having lived for many centuries under the most ignoble and servile of yokes. But the Greek people are intelligent and easily moulded, and all that they need is a training inspired by the tra- ditions of the Y M C A." Venizelos Erects Y Hut at His Own Expense The support given by President Venizelos was more than official. Learning of the great difficulty of securing suitable quarters at the Toumba Camp (Saloniki had been almost entirely burned three years before) he ordered a brick building, costing 40,000 drachmas (about $7000) erected at his own expense. As the work has developed, expand- ing beyond the canteen to athletic, entertainment and educational activi- ties, official countenance has been extraordinary. In February, 1920, A. E. Marriott, sent out as Athletic Director, reported that he had been appointed coach of the Olympic Team. An appropriation of 300,000 drachmas ($54,000) has been made for the building of a new athletic school, the Stadium to be used pending its erection. The Ministry of Education has arranged for the gymnastic instructors of schools, col- leges and universities to be instructed by the Y Athletic Director, and a well developed Boy Scout movement has sought his assistance. King Alexander Issues Royal Decree On March 24, King Alexander, after giving audience to the YMCA representative, issued a royal decree creating a National Military Depart- ment of Athletics with 50 officers, and "named Mr. Marriott Director of Athletics for the Greek Army. The educational opportunity is great. Strange as it may seem, the rate of illiteracy in Greece is not far from 60 per cent. Illiterate sol- diers are being required to attend educational classes arranged especially for them. Many young men now returning to civilian life have had nine years of continuous army service, with its severing of home ties and cutting off of all educational advantages. Archbishop of Athens Seeks Spirit of America The Archbishop of Athens, in a published interview, recently said: "It is therefore our duty, in the first place, to dispel the erroneous opinions of foreigners regarding us, and in the second place to improve our religious life, teaching the people the essence of the orthodox WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 79 faith, cleansing our Church's life of the rust engendered by the slavery and ignorance of the past, and ridding it of its load of dead forms, in order that our Church's life-giving spirit may shine forth anew. I cherish the belief that we already stand on the threshold of this new religious life." In every possible way the assistance and cooperation of the Y M C A in this religious need of Greece has been invited and sought, and its contribution already made has been gratefully recognized. The Amer- ican people have a profound interest hi the Near East. Not only did the late war have its beginning in a Balkan State, but the peace of Europe for years to come will be menaced by those peoples set free to struggle slowly upward toward self-realization. By its happy introduc- tion into Greece the Y is already in a strategic position to exercise a powerful influence upon all the neighboring states, apd to be the chan- nel by which the helpful, steadying, uplifting spirit of America may reach these peoples with guidance, courage and faith. 10 — ^With the Armies in Egypt, Palestine, and the Dardanelles Although the World War was fought chiefly in Western Europe, yet a vital aspect of the whole struggle took place in the Eastern Mediter- ranean. In her dream of world domination, part of Germany's task was to hold the Allies in the West while Turkey gained control of Egypt, the Suez Canal, the Bagdad Railway and, at last, India. The German scheme had been 'well laid and was not without prorfaise of fulfilment. There were in Egypt in 1914 only 6000 British troops against an aggregate population of 13,000,000, of which 12,000,000 were Mohammedans, among whom reactionary, anti-Christian, and anti-British sentiments were rife. German and Turkish propaganda had been at work; only a spark was needed to start the conflagration. Germany had placed her hopes on a holy war, when 250,000,000 of the Faithful would go forth, kill Christians everywhere and thus save their own souls. The Senussi, a fanatical tribe of Dervishes who live in the Western Desert and Tripoli, did indeed rise, 60,000 strong. The Turks pressed on the approaches of the Suez Canal, but the population of Egypt remained indifferent, and India raised over 2,000,000 men to fight for the Empire. The holy war was declared, and it was only the providential and far-seeing wisdom of the British Colonial policy that prevented the conflagration. Red Triangle at Birthplace of Civilization Such was the situation in Egypt at the outbreak of the War, when the Red Triangle carried its mission to the oldest civilization on the earth 80 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA and on to the birthplace of Christian civiUzation. At the outbreak of the War the YMCA was organized in Egypt in a small way, absolutely international and cosmopolitan in character. It had a little hostel in Cairo for the British and Africans and fairly extensive quarters in the city for general purposes. The Chief Secretary, Mr. W. Jessop, was in the employ of the International Committee. Otherwise the work was more or less self-supporting. An advisory committee represented the various communities: Armenians, Syrians, Egyptians, French, Italians, and British. The important work in Egypt and the Dardanelles was conducted by the English, Australian, and New Zealand Associations, with the Americans extending their cooperation. A vast influx of troops flooded the country. Several units of the Army of Occupation were transferred to the front and troops from Inflia took their places. In the latter part of September, 1914, 20,000 territorials reached Egypt and most of them were stationed in Cairo. Xl)e barracks accommodated all but about 5000 who were encamped in the desert near Heliopolis. These men had no place to go outside their own tents. Within four days the YMCA erected a large marquee which was filled with men seated on the ground writing letters, before tables and benches could be procured. A circulating library of 1000 volumes was collected, books and magazines were made available, games were loaned to the men, and a piano was installed. A post office was carried on in this tent from which 1500 to 2000 letters were posted daily. This emergency campaign was a daring undertaking as the regular Association forces at this time consisted of one secretary, and he was responsible for the local branch as well as the camp work. It was made possible only by the loyal cooperation of the Egypt General Mission, the Central Military Staff, the American Mission and civilians. The treasury was empty during the first month; £ (Egyptian) 120 was con- tributed in Cairo, later £ (E) 40 came from England in response to a letter written for the Lancashire papers by a Lancashire woman resident in Cairo. Then a grant was made to Egypt by the English National Council, and money was received from America, New Zealand, and other sources. Supplies were hurried to the front from English civilians, the Austr-alian National Committee, New Zealand National Committee, Indian National Council, and tlie International Committee in New York. Australian Troops Encamped along the Nile Fresh troops, 40,000 strong, had arrived and encamped under canvas in the vicinity of Heliopolis by January, 1915. Four Australian secre- taries arrived with this contingent. Australian groups of hospitals were founded at Heliopolis, and the Y worked among the sick and wounded as they began to pass in from the front. It soon became apparent that some- thing should be done to relieve the condition in the cities of Cairo and WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 81 Alexandria. It must be remembered that Alexandria is essentially a cos- mqpolitan city, Levantine rather than Egyptian, that Port Said is still more cosmopolitan, while Cairo is essentially Egyptian. The bulk of the troops were quartered near Cairo; these vigorous men arriving from frontier countries where external discipline is unknown, now for the first time came in contact with semi-Oriental conditions. At Alexan- dria the Army granted a site near the Quay ; the Y M C A found that a suitable building could be erected iqr £ (E) 1000, and appealed to the Red Cross for cooperation on the ground that the building would also be used for convalescents. The British Red Cross made a grant of £250, the Australian Red Cross £500^ and the remaining £250 was raised by the Y M C A. The building was opened on September 11, 1915, by the High Commissioner for Egypt. Soldiers' Club in Cairo The problem in Cairo developed on a large scale. In the center of the city is a sort of public park called the "Esbekieh Gardens." In this park was an open air theater called the "Skating Theater" with an asphalt rink or auditorium, and in its vicinity was a small restaurant. The Y General Secretary started negotiations to secure this place. After many difificulties the lease was secured, and on August 17, 1915, it was opened under the name of the Soldiers' Recreation Qub. The slogan was "something doing every night." Upon a gift of £ (E) 2,000 from America, a magnificent outdoor swimming pool, 90 feet long by 35 feet broad and 9 feet deep, was constructed in Cairo. Cinema, concerts, plays, billiards, roller-skating, swimming and a variety of games made this point the gathering place in Cairo. The club was presided over by English ladies; its fame spread far and wide, so much that a number of "Esbekiehs" were started throughout the East. "Anzac Hotel" in Tel-el-Kebir The concentration camp at Tel-el-Kebir grew rapidly; and opera- tions on the canal increased in 1915 until it became necessary to open a club in that city. A large building owned by the Cairo Bourse was secured by the Australians and operated as the Anzac Hotel. This was managed from its inception by two Y M C A secretaries. At first the Club was owned and managed by the Australians, but when these troops were removed to France, the Y took it over and administered it. Y Huts on Front Line in the Dardanelles The troops left Egypt for the Dardanelles in March, 1915. The landing was effected under fire on April 25. Transports were crowded, — 82 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA the sick and wounded began to reach Cairo three days later. The mili- tary base was on the island of Imbros, a short distance from Gallipoli. Here the YMCA established its base of supplies for the fighting line in August. A marquee was erected and a contract placed for the entire output of a bakery. Goods were transported from the island to the pen- insula on government trawlers. Two huts were established on the lines, one at Anzac and the other at Cape Helles. In the latter place the beach was within artillery range. Quarters were established in three marquees lashed together in the form of a T ; a canteen was operated, and the soldiers gathered to write messages home and to hear the home news. On December 10, 1915, the marquee forming the stroke of the T was destroyed by an eight inch shell. In the fighting at Anzac the beach itself was within rifle range; there was no shelter except in the dugouts- About 40,000 Australians were in the lines. The Y hut was built in the side of a hill, where thousands of men were served; queues sometimes 1000 men long assembled every day. A tent was placed near the hut to serve as a writing room; it was so exposed to shell fire that it was soon abandoned, the men preferring the safety of their dugouts. The scarcity of water caused much difficulty. Each man was allowed only a gallon per day, and if the sea was rough did not get this, as fresh water had to be transported to the' peninsula by trawlers. The coffee bar frequently had to shut down because there was no water. Under the terrible strain of trench warfare the soldiers craved something to give their monotonous food a different taste, — ' pickles, Worcestershire Sauce, something pungent to take away the awful taste that a soldier gets in the midst of hourly death and decay. Biscuits from the bakery at Jmbros were distributed in fairly large quantities; chocolate, tea, coffee, fruit, vegetables and tobacco were sent over as they could be procured. The touching eagerness with which these were welcomed was evidenced by the long lines of men always waiting when the stores were distributed. Just as the evacu- ation was taking place a ship from England arrived with £ (E) 15,000 worth of stores for the YMCA. They arrived too late to be of service and were reshipped to Egypt. With the Troops at the Suez Canal The troops returned from the Dardanelles in 1916. As they poured into Egypt some of the difficulties of the first landing were repeated. Men who had spent months in the trenches in Gallipoli were broken in spirit. The Y activities were pushed as far as possible to offset this tendency. The Suez Canal was crossed, outposts were pushed into the desert to protect the Canal, and an advance was made in the direction of WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 83 Romassi, about 30 miles from Kantara. The Y followed these opera- tions closely. More than 40 centers were established along the Suez Canal and the coast from Suez to Mersa Matruh. Each hut was equipped with a canteen and supplies furnished as rapidly as possible. Transport again was the greatest difficulty. Trucks were sent daily from Cairo and at times a string of a hundred camels could be seen, each with the familiar sign of the Red Triangle on its back. Across the Sudan — to Khartum There is always in the Sudan a certain number of English garrison troops, and they are usually distributed in four places — at Khartum, at Atbara, at Port Sudan, and at Gebel — and provision had to be made by the Y M C A for the reasonable social wants of these men. Headquarters were €sta:blished at Khartum, the nearest "out station" being 200 miles away, and the furthest 300 miles from that point. It was a question of distance rather than numbers. Thanks to the traveling facilities offered by the Sudan Government and the courtesy of the military authori- ties, the Y was able to solve the problem. By traveling a thousand miles a month the Y secretary was able to supervise the work at all points established. Soldier orderlies carried on the work in each place during his absences. Four centers were established : Khartum, Atbara, Port Sudan and Gebel in the Red Sea hills. The chief duty of the Y was to provide shelter from the sun, cold acidulous drinks to quench the desert thirst, a variety of foods to stimulate appetites dulled by monotonous fare, and entertainment to revive drooping spirits. At the Oases of the Desert — to Tripoli It will be remembered that in 1915 the Senussi — a Mohammedan tribe living in the Western Desert and Tripoli — were militant. Accordingly small detached units were placed in the oases, and men stationed in the towns of Upper Egypt. The enemy was completely defeated and dis- persed in November, 1915. The occupation was limited to Sollam, Mersa Matruh, Shenka, and Siwa. About 150 miles west of Alexandria, on the shores of the Mediter- ranean, and among the sands of the Lybian Desert, lies Mersa Matruh where there is a British garrison. The nearest city is over a hundred miles away, wood costs $25 a cord, and it costs 15 cents a pint to con- dense fresh from sea water. For the soldier there is nothing visible but the sea before him, the desert behind him, and above a pitiless sun. The mail comes only once a week, and not always then. No wonder that each successive garrison sinks into a state of dull apathy. It is here that the Y M C A is the Good Samaritan ; — ^more than that, it is home. The Y is 84 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA justly proud of the fact that only one man has gone mad from the dreari- ness of this desert life. Potent factors in relieving this dreariness are cinema films, mostly comic, and gramophone records, mostly ragtime. The canteen is the popular resort ; it is near the beach and the men drop in after bathing for cocoa and biscuits, lemonade or milk, chocolate or cigarets. How great is the moral support of these material things cannot be overestimated. All over Egypt the main object was to draw the men out of themselves, and all work was directed to this result. One of the Y secretaries toured the camps along the coast from Alexandria to the Tripoli frontier. He made • no addresses, sold no refreshments, distributed no gifts, yet everywhere he brought good cheer and enjoyment. How was this done? Charlie Chaplin did rriost of it, and other film favorites did the rest. A compact portable projector, a storage battery for light and some 12,000 feet of film comprised the means. The camps on the desert were 75, 100, and 400 miles distant from the nearest daily paper, or shop window, or white women and chil- dren. The troops had been out there from six months to a year. These soldiers had whistled themselves into unpopularity with popular airs. There was nothing new to do, nothing new to see. They had never thought to see a moving picture show way out in the desert. Probably not since they were children did they find such hearty enjoyment in such simple entertainment. With laughter they shook off their load of de- pression. Restoring Disabled Soldiers in Egypt As the War progressed the service of the YMCA expanded into relative proportions along all the warring fronts. The introduction into Egypt of a scientific plan for rehabilitating the wounded, also estab- lished in other countries, proved to be a great constructive service. Dr. Gilbert Deaver, M. D., B. P. E., of the University of Pennsylvania, and also a graduate of Physical Education in the Springfield YMCA College in Massachusetts, volunteered and soon reached Egypt. He started his work at the Esbekieh Gardens. It attracted considerable attention, and he was put at the disposal of the medical authorities. The problem was one of conditioning convalescents become soft from long inaction, and the re-education of joints and muscles stiffened from wounds and disease. This American scientist adopted for this work calisthenic drills such as the Swedish and Roberts systems, modifying them to meet the needs. These drills were given to selected classes and were set to music. The immediate and permanent benefit was remarkable and has received con- siderable attention from medical authorities throughout the armies. It is estimated that 150,000 men passed through this system of .restoration. WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 85 11 — With the Victorious Army at the Capture of Jerusaletn The dream of the ages, the Christian reconquest of the Holy Land, the glorious mirage of four centuries of Crusades, was finally accomplished in the last year of the War. The British Army in Egypt, reinforced from India and Australia, fully recovered from the setback at Gallipoli, and freed from local dis- turbances along the Suez Canal and in the Sudan, embarked on this great campaign in the Fall of 1917. The Turks in the south of Palestine were routed by the end of September and on October 31, 1917, Beersheba, the first of a long list of holy places, was occupied. The Army pushed on, and late in November, Jerusalem, the spiritual capital of the Christian world, which had been held for 673 years by the Turks, was besieged, and taken on December 8. On December 11, General Allenby, the Allied Commander, entered the Jaffa Gate on foot, after the noble example of the Crusaders. The Y M C A (an international group under British auspices, assisted by American money and men) had by this time perfected its organization to the extent, in spite of a shortage of per- sonnel, that one representative accompanied each brigade. Sanitary conditions in Jerusalem were appalling. Cesspools, centuries old, were overflowing and contaminating the cisterns, then Jerusalem's only water supply. The streets were never cleaned. Disease was rampant. An- outbreak of fever was threatened. Something had to be done or else the city would have to be evacuated. The Senior Medical Officer turned to the Y M C A for aid. Mr. Jessop, who was in Jerusalem at the time, immediately went to Cairo, obtained an engine and five sealed carts and a hose cart, and shipped them to Jerusalem, thus supplying the machinery for cleaning up the city for the first time in centuries. In the great drive of September 20, the first conquest of which was the immortal little town of Nazareth, the Y served the troops directly behind the first line. It took care especially of the lightly wounded "walking cases" in a series of hospital marquees, where men passing to the rear were given hot drinks, food and cigarets. Competent military orderlies were assigned to the Y service wherever the active personnel could not be supplied, and transport was provided by the Army which kept Y supplies thoroughly distributed even in the headlong advance of this final victori- ous drive. After a great battle on the historic ground of Armageddon, Damascus was won on October 1, and from then on the Turkish Army in Syria, which had lost 73,000 prisoners in 10 days, practically ceased to exist, and Turkey, hopelessly beaten in all fields, sued for peace. On the march of the conquerors in Palestine the Y M C A estab- lished centers at all halting places which, however, were soon closed up again as the troops pushed north beyond the Sea of Galilee. At 86 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Jaffa the German Consulate was assigned to the Y who also took over the management of the Jaffa hotel for officers. In Jerusalem a large building was used for a hotel, and an adjoining hall was fitted for cinema shows and was used for social and religious purposes. Sight-seeing trips were arranged for the Indian troops as well as the Europeans, for Jerusalem is a holy city to the Moslem as well as to the Christian and Jew, being, for him, second only to Mecca. Mohammedan Grand Mufti Greets YMCA The Y had by this time put its activities in Jerusalem on a firm basis, and on Armistice Day it received, through Mr. Jessop, the Chief Secre- tary, a fine tribute from the Mohammedan Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. The meeting took place in the Governor's office where, after extending congratulations on the Armistice, the Grand Mufti said, "We have seen your work for the troops all these months, these tourists going through, your cinema shows, the playing field, and we want you to do the same thing for the young men of Jerusalem and Palestine." Mr. Jessop re- plied : "We are Christians. We are doing this because of the Master who lived here some two thousand years ago." The Grand Mufti answered : "We know all about that, but don't we worship the same Lord? Allah is your God and He is our God. I have a boy and I should like to make him your first member." Summary of Service in the Near East During the three years 1916-1918, from 20 to 56 centers were at work at all times in Egypt and for Egyptian forces in the Darda- nelles and Palestine. The maximum personnel for this work, ex- clusive of the number of women who gave part of their time in ser- vice at the Esbekieh Gardens, was 56 secfetaries: of these 5 were Americans, 19 Australians, 2 New Zealanders and 27 British. 12 — With the Armies in Mesopotamia Through the sandstorms of Mesopotamia, in the scorching heat of an average 106 degrees in a tent during the day and the cool of night— with camel trains bearing the Red Triangle, the crusaders of the Y followed for three years the campaigns against the Turks with the British soldiers, the Indians and the Arabs, across the deserts to the borders of Persia, and into the ancient capital at Bagdad. The first Mesopotamian expedition began to fight its way up the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates toward the coveted goal of Bagdad in 1915, and on September 29 of that year took its place on the world stage WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 87 by the capture of Kut-el-Amara, 300 miles up the Tigris, and due east across the desert from ancient Babylon on the Euphrates. The 5000 British troops, with 10,000 Indians and other Allies which composed General Townshend's army, were caught here by a superior force of Turks, and after a gallant defense their shattered remnants of less than 10,000 surrendered on April 28, 1916. The objectives, a strong contact with Persia, a junction with the Russians, and the control of Bagdad, were too important to abandon, and a new expedition under General Maude in less than a year (Feb. 26, 1917) had recaptured Kut, and driv- ing the Turks in confusion before them, entered Bagdad on March 11. The great pass of Khanikin traversed by Alexander in his invasion of Persia was soon opened, and after thoroughly pacifying Mesopotamia, the great break-through of October, 1918, overwhelmed the last Turkish armies, captured their great base at Mosul, and at the time of the Armis- tice had freed the whole of Mesopotamia from Turkish domination. American and Canadian college men reinforced the first contingent of Y workers from India, who went up with the British and Indian armies into the great desert through which the Tigris and Euphrates trace their long, narrow areas of ancient civilization. The work was started from India by the secretaries who accompanied the Army under the auspices of the Indian National Council of the Y M C A (referred to in the section "With the Indian Armies"). The bulk of these American and Canadian volunteers stayed with the expedition to the end, and served with the same spirited youthfulness which had impelled them to volunteer in this arduous field so far from home. Some of them are there now, as Mesopo- tamia, occupied as a new outpost of the British Empire, presents a vast problem for Christian service and social reorganization. Red Triangle in the Streets of Bagdad Important service is being accomplished through, the Y M C A in this land of the "Arabian Nights." Its headquarters are at Bagdad and- Margil which are operated from Bombay, Calcutta and London, for the success of the activities in Mesopotamia. In a land so monotonous, with no family attractions, no religious influences, no familiar sights and sounds, the soldiers found life intolerable. The trials and troubles of the heat, mud, and pests added to the depression of the troops. The greatest service of the Y was comradeship. Here in the desert they made friends with Arabs, Jews, and Christians. The people of Mesopotamia seem to lean on the Y for the endurance and courage to "carry on." The Red Triangle became the sign of friendship. It carried its message to Baizi, half way between Bagdad and Mosul near a place the Arabs call Shoramick; from Railhead the Y center supplies were sent to Mosul, Shargaat, Fratak and Kirkuk. Kirkuk was the base of operations against an uprising of a band of Kurds. The Y secretary near Kirkuk took 88 , WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA affairs in his own hands in the beginning of the uprising ; loading up his Ford automobile, he was on the ground at Kirkuk before his own men reached there. At Basrah, Amarah, and Bagdad centers were manned by secretaries volunteering to carry on the Y war service for the Army of Occupation. At Jaipur lines center, in Basrah, the Y conducted wrestling contests. The Y, at the request of the military forces, went into Shargaat, half way between Railhead and Mosul, to put life in this barren spot near the ruins of Asshur. At the Marwari Relief Center, at Amrah, Chatelier, the magician, gave an evening of magic nightly to 1000 Sepoys with about 30 British officers and Sisters among the spectators. During the last week in June, 1919, there were two variety entertain- ments, one social gathering, two bagatelle tournaments and two ciqema shows. Hockey was one of the most popular sports. Coraradery in the Tents at Kirkuk The Y work with the Kirkuk column spreads along six miles of scat- tered troops. Chaldari is a model center, and perhaps the best equipped in Mesopotamia. The Y tent, located in an open air park, well lighted by electricity, has a pavilion with tables and benches, gramophones and a piano. Here several hundred men gather every night to spend an in- formal evening smoking, singing and chatting. Two band concerts, two cinema shows and two trips on the Tigris are given every week. The library tent contains 1000 volumes of reference and general works. It is furnished with electric lights and fans. There is a splendidly equipped game tent, a secretary's tent, repair tent, and orderlies' tent. In July, 1919, a new bakery was installed, with a large kitchen. An 800 gallon water tank has been built which is filled daily with filtered wafer. There is a church tent with altar, chancel rail and curtains. Two religious services are held on Sundays. Educational activities include two classes in motor mechanics with a Ford car to work on, three times a week, while a short- ' hand class meets five times a week. There are classes in Hindustani, drawing, arithmetic, and bookkeeping. Nightly Scenes in Y Tents in Mesopotamia The Y tents in Mesopotamia are arranged in hollow rectangles, one end open. At the far end are the secretaries' and orderlies' tents; on either side are the activity tents. There is always a stream of men going ■into the canteens on the right where two orderlies are kept busy serving tea, lime juice, cakes, etc. These men emerge to sit in groups around tables placed in front. There they tell the. escapades of the day. On the right of the large space is the game tent, — always filled with men playing billiards, draughts, chess, ping pong, etc. Opposite is the meeting tent where there is a piano which is a meeting place for the boys. The other WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 89 big tent is the library and reading room. It is a homelike place ; day and night there is always someone there. The place is a desirable spot to all for its companionship at night. At Massey 100 Sepoys are attending Y educational classes. They have hockey and football matches daily, and wrestKng matches at least once a month. There is one lecture each week at the camp. At Mosul they have impromptu stunts every night. At Hillah, Singh's Brigade is furnishing tents for the educational work with 530 names of persons handed in for the classes. A drama was produced on the Y M C A stage in the center of the camp on June 2, 1919, which attracted an audience of 3000 spectators. The Divisional Commander made a thorough inspection of the Y M C A on May 23, 1919, and highly commended it. The Com- missioner of Education in Bagdad is holding a stereopticon lecture every week in the central theater. This is attended by several hundred boys in- vited from the various schools. The lectures are given both in English and in Arabic. Here, in far away Mesopotamia, the Y M C A is laying the foundations for Christian civilization. 13 — ^With the Indian Army^ India, with her vast population of over 300,000,000, proved herself a substantial asset in man power to the Allies, and beside the Sikhs, Gurkhas, and other regular troops from her more warlike races, she raised a large army of volunteers, which proved to be the backbone, before the War was over, of Great Britain's eastern campaigns; here, again, the Red Triangle followed the armies. Out of this army India provided troops for the West Front and the Mesopotamia, Palestine, East Africa and Salonika campaigns besides a large force for garrison duty at home. Indian troops bore the brunt of several of the most brilliant campaigns of the British expeditionary armies. This was particularly the case in Mesopotamia where General Town- shend's arjny at first, which passed through a fearful ordeal before it was captured by the Turks in 1916 at Kut-el-Amara, and General Maude's splendid force later, which captured Bagdad in 1917, were largely com- posed of Indian troops. The exploits of the Deccan Horse and of the Griirkhas on the West front, although they could not stand the terrible strain of trench warfare, were also among the finest things in the War. Indian troops served in Egypt, and were to be found in China, in the Malay States and wherever else garrison, guard and emergency duties called them. Along the Tigris and the Euphrates When toward the end of August, 1914, the Indian National Coiincil of the Y M C A learned that troops from India were to be hurried to the 90 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Western Front, the Council made an immediate offer to the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief of its entire resources in serving the Indian troops at the front. Though at first this offer was turned down by the authorities, because ever since the Mutiny, Christian missionaries had been excluded from'service to Indian soldiers, the good faith of the "Y" and the need of its services were so apparent that the authorities raised no objection to the first twelve secretaries sailing as stowaways with the Indian troops en route for France. These secretaries with full equip- ment had landed and begun their work in France before the British War Office had sanctioned the sending of English Y workers across the Channel. From this beginning the Indian YMCA rapidly extended its activities so that it maintained eventually a total staff of 83 secretaries in France; opened 56 branches for British, and 27 branches for Indian troops in India itself; maintained at the height of its work a hundred Indian and British secretaries and 102 centers of work in. Mesopotamia ; and established, organized and developed the entire welfare and canteen service for both Indian and British troops in British and German. East Africa. It is intereeting to note that it was from India that the American YMCA finally fleeted its Chief Secretary for its operations with the AEF in. France, Mr. Carter who had been the organizing head of the Indian National Council's work just described. Though the majority of the workers engaged in this work under Mr. Carter's leadership came from India and Great Britain, a considerable number of Americans and Canadians were recruited by the Indian YMCA for service in Meso- potamia, East Africa, Palestine, and India itself. The units from Prince- ton, Michigan, and Harvard Universities won unusual distinction in these fields. The Y services frequently came to be of the most vital use in Mesopo- tamia where Y transport, especially Y river steamers, brought the sick and wounded from the battle lines down the Tigris to the British camp at Basrah and conducted them to the safety and care of base headquarters. The Association, as recorded in these pages, followed the Indian troops through the Mesopotamia campaign, and in the camps of the great desert between the Tigris and the Euphrates where much of the campaign was fought. Y shelters were a welcome refuge from the frightful heat, while the canteens provided food and entertainment and recreation in these primitive regions which did more than any other single factor in mak- ing them habitable. On the great overland march to Recht on the Caspian, by which the British tried to save Baku from the Bolsheviks and the Turks after the Russian Revolution, the Y was on duty with the marching columns, which included, as did the army of occupation left in Baku and along the Trans-Caspian Railway beyond Krasnovodsk, large numbers of Indian soldiers. Finally, among the troops left in Mesopotamia, based on Bagdad, WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 91 the Y, as previously stated, is continuing its work among the Indian Ex- peditionary Army. 14— With the Armies in East Africa The campaign in East Africa was the hardest colonial campaign prose- cuted by the Allies during the entire War. It lasted for the full four years, at the end of which the little German force, which had fought its way from German East Africa into British East Africa, and, driven out again, had struggled resolutely back, crossing into Portuguese territory, was still uncaptured. The Allied operations were carried on by a composite army made up of Indian, Negro, South African, and British regiments. The cam- paign covered a territory as great as the whole Western Front and was waged under the deadly climatic conditions of equatorial Africa. The Colored Y M C A made a generous response to the invitation of the Indian Y and took a splendid part in backing the Y enterprise with the East African expedition. They maintained seven colored secretaries whose special duties were with the army of negro soldiers fighting uhder British colors. Of the seven, two were drowned, two were shipwrecked but rescued, and one was permanently shaken by African fever; only two of them, indeed, came back from this long ordeal but little the worse in health. The British Y performed for its troops the same splendid service it adniinistered through the War to British soldiers engaged in every part of the great British Empire, but the special service of the American Y at the point where it was most needed was a consecrated task. The service of American Colored Y Secretaries side by side with Indian and British" workers, brought home the fact that even before America joined the Allies, the colored citizens of America were keen to serve colored soldiers enlisted in the Allied cause. The colored branches of the Y in America, which supported a good part of this work, brought the fellow-members of their race in Africa as well as in France in direct touch with the public spirit of millions of colored citizens and rose admirably to their great opportunity. 15 — With the Armies in Turkey and Asia Minor The collapse of the Turkish alliance with Germany in the colossal plot to set up a powerful empire from Berlin to Bagdad, even at the cost of a Holy War, is one of the most dramatic scenes in the history of mad ambitions. Turkey's army of 1,600,000 was terribly punished; it suffered over 1,000,000 casualties, mainly at Gallipoli and in Palestine and Mesopotamia. Morale sank to the lowest ebb in the Central Powers. At 92 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA the beginning of this Teutonic-Moslenj conspiracy, the American Y MC A was operating at only one point in this general area, — Constantinople. The Turkish Government ordered the abandonment of this work in 1916 and the building was turned over to the Prisoners of War service, which was conducted by a Dutch secretary. During this period of hostilities, therefore, the American YMCA had no access to the Turkish Empire. After the Armistice the Turkish Empire was completely opened up to the various relief agencies. The situation among the Armenians and Greeks in Asia Minor has been and is still one of extreme seriousness. The Armenians and Greeks were subject to the attacks of the Turks, not primarily because they were Christians, but because they were in reality an enemy population within Turkish borders, since both nations were strongly pro-Ally. The result is that in this section there reigns a desti- tution among the people not equalled anywhere in the world. Aiding Armenians and Greeks in Constantinople Relief agencies, such as the Armenian National Committee and the Near East Relief, rose to the situation in a very effective manner, and Iiave been putting forth tremendous efforts to solve the colossal problem of the mere maintenance of life among these starving and destitute people. Their program, under the circumstances, called primarily and almost exclusively for the relief of the economic distress, but it was felt by these agencies themselves that something more was needed in the population laboring under a heavy sense of depression. The YMCA therefore entered with its social, recreational and spiritual program. The line of work devised was aimed, as usual, to build up the spirits and inspire courage and hope in the minds of distressed people. Work for Greeks and Armenians was established at Constantinople, Smyrna, Aleppo, Adana, and Konia. The conditions that the Y meets at the present time are war-created conditions. There is a unanimous demand, in which other relief agencies join, for the continuance of this work for some time to come. Camps for Armenian Boys One great problem in the Turkish cities is the large number of Armenian orphan boys drifting around the streets. These waifs are described as "fearful, cunning, uncivilized barbarians." The Near East Relief requested the YMCA to assist in handling this situation. A camp was opened sixty miles south of Constantinople and use was made of the military equipment which the Germans had left behind. The activities were of an educational and athletic character, and the boys were in the charge of the camp authorities for the full twenty-four hours. Thus their whole life had to be organized. The relief committees here WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 93 have urged that this work be greatly enlarged. Boys cared for in this camp during the Summer of 1919, and given a start on the road to character, were carefully placed as far as was possible in homes, agricul- tural schools, and factories. A trained Armenian secretary looked after them during the Winter of 1919. This work has been developed largely from the eflforts of a comparatively few men; the force has varied from two to ten secretaries. The secretaries have organized and stimulated the work but the extent of the service could never have been carried on without the help given by those of the various communities, missionaries and the relief committees. It has been a cooperative task throughout. Service for the American soldiers and sailors in Constantinople has been maintained since 1919, serving from a few hundred to two thousand at times. A club house has been opened as headquarters for this work, with French classes, arithmetic classes, and other educational and social programs. Motion picture shows are given on board various ships as well as on shore ; sight-seeing tours are conducted all over the ancient city. 16 — With the Armies in the Balkans In Serbia — Montenegro — Bulgaria The Balkan region has long been the "war brewing pot" of Europe. In the Balkans the flames of the World War were kindled, and here the Y M C A found urgent need of welfare expeditions from America. Serbia, the seat of the first bloodshed in the struggle of the nations, sent practically all her men of fighting age, — 707,343 men, — while Montenegro furnished 50,000 more. The toll taken from these gallant armies was only exceeded by that of Russia, and to the case of the southern Slavs was added the humiliation and despair of seeing their country overrun and their homes occupied by the Austrian and Bulgar armies of invasion for three long years. Serbia's casualties are stated as between 450,000 and 500,000 out of her little army of 700,000. The figures for Montenegro were 20,000 out of her army of barely 50,000. The struggle of Serbia and Montenegro against the Bulgarians is one of the most tragic phases of the war. The "resurrection" and reconstruction of these bleeding peoples of the Balkans is one of the problems which the Y M C A is now facing — ^for this is the breeding place of new wars unless its social and economic conditions are improved. Carrying the Red Triangle into Roumania The Roumanian Army was crushed in the fall of 1916; it lost 400,000 effectives out of 750,000, and accepted Germany's armistice terms in 94 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN Y M C A 1918 when Russia's collapse made Roumania's further defence hopeless. The Y M C A sent four men to the stricken country during the German campaign against Roumania. They made their headquarters in the little town of Jassy which in a short time became a flourishing center as pro- visional capital. The Y opened up a few little centers with tea and sugar as the main attractions. The idea of serving the common soldier was so new and attractive that Roumanian society immediately became interested and leading Roumanian ladies backed up the Y men. Thirty Roumanian Boy Scouts became full-time volunteer helpers, some of them serving for considerably over a year. When the Germans evacuated Roumania and the army was disbanded the problem of destitution faced the people as they returned to their towns, — they had nothing to eat. The Y secretaries used "what little funds they had left to help in feeding the most needy in Bucharest and other places. This is a field of service which is now calling to America for help. Here also, the British Y is doing a creditable work. 17 — ^With the Government in Czecho- Slovakia The "Uncle from America" The birth of this new republic with its 11,000,000 people is one of "the notable results of the World War. With the crumbling of the once mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire, its many races began to throw of? the yoke of despotism and new nations cime into being. Throughout the War the Czecho-Slovaks fought in the Italian Army ; over 20,000 were at the front when the Armistice was signed. It was at this time the Czechs arose in Bohemia and proclaimed the Republic with Dr. Masaryk as its first president. During the making of this new nation the Y's supporting activities were valued. The Czecho-Slovak soldiers in France, Italy, Siberia (as related elsewhere in this record) had carried their "Uncle from America" with them, — this was their familiar name for the Y. Entire Nation Extends Gratitude to Y M C A The Minister of National Defense of the Czecho-Slovark Republic (M. Klofac) at Prague on October 14, 1919, sent this message to Mr. D. A. Davis : "You (The American Y M C A) came to our delivered Fatherland soon after the crushing of Austria-Hungary and helped through all your .forces to care for our Army with the same attention and thoughtfulness that you gave to our soldiers on the various fronts. As Minister of National Defense, to whom the public entrusted the youth of Czecho-Slovakia and the difficult task of erecting our Army, I am best able to appreciate all that the Y M C A has done for the WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 95 Czecho-Slovak soldier. . . . The entire Czecho-Slovak nation will never forget the friendliness of the great nation of the United States as expressed in the Association service. I beg you, Sir, to accept this utterance, not as an act of courtesy or mere politeness, but as a real expression from the Government, the Army and the whole nation." The soldiers returning from the War called for their "Uncle from America" to stand with them in the building of their nation. General Pelle, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies in Czecho-Slovakia, and practically all the Army and Government officials joined in the request. The Colonel of the 5th Regiment asserted that " 'The Uncle from America' has become indispensable to us, — to our soldiers as a central place of social life, and to us officers as a general cooperator for the physi- cal and moral education of our soldiers." President of New Kepublic Urges Y Cooperation The President of the Republic and the prominent business men urged the American Y to cooperate with the new republic. The leaders of the Protestant churches of all denominations, representatives of the Student Christian Movement and the Bohemian Y M C A appealed to have the American type of the Association work established in Czecho-Slovakia. By its fourfold program it has appealed to the imagination of the Slav peoples. As one of the constructive results of Y work in the World War the Red Triangle is now a national institution in Prague on a co- operative basis. The agreement with the Government is the most niutually advantageous that exists between the International Com- mittee and any nation. The Government has turned over to the Y M C A property valued at $594,000. Property once given over to its control cannot be taken from it without the consent of the Association, save by direct order of the Minister of National Defense of Czecho-Slovakia. The Republic furn- ishes buildings, light, heat, furniture, transportation and supplies, also automobile maintenance. Czecho-Slovakia gives a permanent assignment of two men for each building, and assigns others from local units as the occasion may demand. Officers are furnished for liaison work to be de- veloped as future leaders of the work. Slav Government Makes Y a National Institution There were twenty-seven Y units in operation in Czecho-Slovakia on October 23, 1919. There were 71 soldiers receiving instruction in the Y M C A Training School as secretaries, 82 soldiers receiving instructions for general athletics, 74 soldiers receiving instruction for 96 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA specialized athletics. This number has since been greatly increased. According to the plan agreed upon by the Ministry of National De- fense and the YMCA they are training athletic officers for the entire Czecho-Slovak Army. After these men are trained they are returned to their regiments to carry on the program. They make regular reports to the Ministry of War and to the Athletic Director of the Y M C A. Over 100 athletic leaders are to be coaches not only in the Army but in the Sokols and in the schools. At the inaugural ceremonies of the 22d and 23d Y huts in Czecho- slovakia, one in Silesia and the other in Moravia, Governors of provinces, Generals in command, local officers, — all attended and spoke enthusiasti- cally of the work accomplished. Cooperation of the Government There are many concrete instances of the cooperation of the Govern- ment. At Beno, Moravia, the YMCA has been furnished a home which before the War was erected at a cost of $101,300 (500,000 kronen). A hall is provided with a seating capacity of 1500, large rooms for canteen, writing rooms, reading rooms, social rooms, a completely equipped gym- nasium and a bath containing fifty shower and ten tub baths. In addition to this building the Association has large athletic grounds for a baseball diamond, football field, two basket ball and two volley ball courts. At Opava a former German exposition building situated in a beautiful park has been remodeled and given to the Y. At Komarno a former Austrian Army officers' theater and casino has been given over to the service of the Y. It is one of the most beautiful theaters in Slovensko. The attendance monthly at the cinema shows is exceeding 100,000 persons ; 6120 soldiers participated in games during the month of September, 1919, under the direction of the YMCA; during another month 325,000 men were served with buns and hot drinks. John Havranck of the Slovak Ministry says : "There was a constant question being asked in Bratislar: 'Where are the soldiers?' They were not to be seen on the streets or in the cafes during their free hours. We soon found out that they were down in the 'Little America.' For that and what you have done for our brothers we are thankful to you." Thus, the Y is privileged to assist as a nation builder. 18— With the Armies in Poland Poland, the battle-ground for four years of the contending armies, suffered terribly from the scourge of war. This nation of 30,000,000 people, thus reborn, is being created under the new world of prornise WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 97 left by the Allied victory. The Y with its headquarters at Warsaw is serving the struggling nation. This work has been started with a fearful handicap in disease, star- vation, and completely disorganized civic and economic life. It is esti- mated that over 1,000,000 Poles died of starvation and diseases growing out of its ravages before the Armistice. The new Poland, also, which like Belgium on a vastly larger scale, had been systematically plundered for three years by Germany, started on the herculean task of drawing together its shattered national life. Poland is making a struggle for union and democracy. She is fighting against a handicap imposed upon her by generations of domination by Prussian, Russian and Austrian imperialism. Poland's Fight for Civilization Poland is passing through a grave crisis — a crisis that affects the whole world. The great Polish leader Sobieski saved civilization from Moslem domination at the time of the Turkish invasion, and now at the present day, the Poles are trying to save the world from anarchy. At the urgent request of the Polish Government, Premier Ignace Paderewski, (who left America to return to his beloved homeland and reconstruct it into a powerful nation) cabinet officials, and army officers, the Y M C A entered the field as a constructive force in the hours of peril. The struggle is one of an anti-Christian, materialistic, social order against ordered progress as represented in a Christian civilization. Mr. Henry Morgenthau said on his return from his investigation of conditions in Poland : "Poland needs everything you (the Y M C A) can do for her." It has been said by an emissary in war-stricken Europe that "one thousand men of the right type under the Red Triangle at a certain mo- ment could have saved Russia from its reign of terror." In Poland there are already instances, where Y secretaries by persuasion have suppressed revolts before which army officers were powerless. Polish Government Endorses the Y General Pilsudski, Chief of Staff of the Army of Poland, said: "During the short time that you have been here, "we have seen that the Y has rendered an invaluable service to our government." These words were confirmed by Premier Paderewski, who said: "I know the splendid work your organization has done, and the magnificent spirit in which it has been accomplished. I sincerely hope that it may be continued." A letter signed by thirty-one officers and members of the General Staff of the Ministry of War stated : "We, the undersigned, wish to ex- 98 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA press our great gratitude and our real respect for your work for the Polish soldiers, which stands proof of such perfect self-denial." Red Triangle with Polish Patriots in France How the Y comes to be a factor in the reconstruction of Poland today is one of the results of the World War ; it has followed the Polish soldiers from the battlefields of France, back to their homeland. It is a direct outgrowth of the Y work in France with the American and French Armies. Fighting in France with the Allies was the Polish Autonomous Army of which about 80 per cent were Polish patriots from America.- Chaplain Jawovski, a priest while stationed at Laval, France, in January, 1918, was impressed by the work of the Y and expressed a desire to have it extended to his countrymen. Chaplain Ray Sonnek, with the Polish troops at Potigny (Calvados), on April 8, 1918, appealed for Y workers among these troops. The YMCA work had been conducted through the Foyer du Soldat since January, 1918, in France. By October 25, the Y had about IS secretaries, especially assigned to work among the Polish Army in France in the huts (or orgniskos). General Archinard, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, at a re- view at Sompuis (Marne) in France, expressed to Walter S. Schutz, the American Secretary in charge of Polish work, his appreciation of the aid which the YMCA had rendered to these troops. General Haller, who took command of all the Polish troops in Europe, expressed his gratitude for the services of the Y to his regiments at the front line and in the training areas. At Sille-le-Guillaume where the Polish Army had its base of supplies and equipment, the Y had a thoroughly equipped can- teen, reading and writing room which served every need of the soldiers. Y secretaries, who rendered this service with the Polish forces in France, returned with them to Poland at the end of the War at the urgent request of soldiers, army officers, and the Polish Government. General Pilsudski, on May 3, 1919, the Constitutional Day, (like the Fourth of July in America) attended the open air mass and review of troops. The Y was privileged to participate in the National festi- val since it shared with the Poles in contributing to the rebirth of Poland. The Polish Government has granted every facility to the Y M C A in the task in which it is engaged. There are three regions with headquar- ters respectively at Lublin, Lwow and Cracow, in Poland. Large bar- racks and extensive buildings are continually put at the disposal of the Y at all the centers. The Government gives the Y free transportation for men and supplies. Soldiers and officials are detailed. On every hand, officers, especially when they receive orders from the War Ministry, are making the Y service possible and effective. WITH THE ARMIES OF OUR ALLIES 99 Poland's Soldiers Crowd Y Huts Thousands of soldiers crowd the Y huts — understanding that the Y buildings are for their use. The sight of 1500 soldiers or more packed in the great Eagle Hut in Warsaw is one that arouses enthusiasm. Group and choral singing is very popular with the Poles, while dramatic, musical, and other clubs now realize their old ambition. The Y is supplying them with musical instruments and equipment. The Y choral leader has revised their national songs and the voices of the soldiers can be heard ringing from the huts. General Haller and the Chaplain-in-Chief Jean Wieckowski have both expressed appreciation of the Y's contribution in keeping up the morale of the Polish Army, while Poland is in a critical place in its history. A private of the Polish Chasseurs recently came to a hut and insisted on making a contribution from his 41^2 cents per day for the continuance of the Y work. Legion of Death — A New^ Social Order There has been established a hut for the Legion of Death — the fighting battalion of Polish women, who first organized themselves in the city of Lemberg to strike d, direct blow at the Bolsheviki. They succeeded after much hard fighting in driving the Bolsheviki from the city. These women did service on the front lines in the infantry and carried guns and supplies on their backs. A new social order is being instituted. Every Y in Poland has a "wet canteen," attracting men to the huts and creating a social intercourse; there are the entertainments, cinema, physical recreation — in short, all things that are conducive to making life worth while under the distress- ing circumstances. The Poles have not been permitted to have gymnastic societies for years; they had no equipment for play or athletics. The Y has taken the initiative; volley ball, basketball and football are now popular with the Polish soldiers. This is awakening the Poles from their lethargy caused by the centuries of subjection to Austrian, Prussian, and Russian domination. The Y educational work is being accomplished under direction of the soldiers' university which is a department of the War Ministry; classes are generally held in the Association huts. The Polish, French, and English languages and other subjects are being taught. Polish libraries are being put in each of the Y huts. The future work in Poland is being taken care of by recruits trained in the first Y M C A secretaries' training school. The Y a Power for Democracy Reverend S. Oskierko, senior chaplain of the Mazovian Front, visited the Eagle Hut in Warsaw and was so impressed that he wrote: "There 100 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA they may, after heavy physical toil, rest their bodies and develop and protect their minds; may this 'Young Christian Spirit' (Zwiszek Mlod- ziezy Chrzescijanskiez) extend its work more and more to the Glory of God and the good of the soldier and his Fatherland." Colonel Rzadkowski, commanding Polish troops in an Eastern sector, says: "I think it would be an excellent thing if the Y could as far as possible found its very useful institutions^ not only for the soldiers, but also for the peasants and all civilian young men. This would greatly elevate the moral standards of the inhabitants of our towns and villages, and at the same time, of our soldiers. The Honorable Hugh Gibson, American Minister, stated that the Y work is so important that he considered the Association "the greatest foe to Bolshevism" through the athletic and recreative program rendered to the Polish Army and now continued in Poland. And in closing this outline of the work of the Y in Poland let us quote from an army surgeon in a hospital at Cracow : "I believe the YMCA can have a greater influence for democracy than all the social and political parties put together." XIII— WITH THE PRISONERS OF WAR American Y in Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Other Countries The world-wide service of the American Y M C A in the World War, as rapidly surveyed in the preceding chapters, all began with the work in the Prison Camps in 1914 — in itself a notable accomplishment, inaugurated, as we have already recorded, by Dr. John R. Mott. One inevitable result when opposing armies are counted by the mil- lions, is the capture of prisoners of war in vast numbers. Out of single battles they came by hundreds and thousands, disarmed enemies in a hostile country, an infinite embarrassment to even the most friendly captors. When every facility of transport is strained to maintain the fighting strength at the front, it is to be expected that prisoners will receive only the minimum of consideration, just the attention necessary to bring them into a situation where they can be so surely guarded that they are eliminated once and for all as a fighting factor. In comparatively few situations was there a resort to deliberate brutality in any of the warring countries. But public opinion is all against the prisoners. Their keepers realize that to raise their living conditions above the lowest standards of the community is to provoke a storm of popular indignation that cannot always be withstood. Accurate figures cannot be obtained, but general estimates all place the total number of Prisoners of War at over 6,000,000. WITH THE PRISONERS OF WAR 101 In the early days of the War, this meant a vast group of young and active men penned up in a state of complete idleness in the midst of an enemy country — each man practically always hungry, lonely and de- pressed. When Dr. Mott visited the war area soon after the great con- flict started, he regarded this situation as a direct appeal to the American Y M C A, and its distinctive purpose to promote the highest welfare of young men. America was then a neutral nation and there was no other internationally-minded and internationally-equipped organization ready to undertake the task of carrying effective relief to these "caged men." This was, it rhust be borne in mind, the first American social welfare work in the World War. In the establishment of service for Prisoners of War, Archibald C. Harte did notable pioneer work. He succeeded in establishing such personal relations with the governments of the Central Powers and Russia that he was able to travel freely between Berlin and Petro- grad and through the countries at war. It is due to his character and skill in difficult negotiations that the American Y M C A was placed in such a commanding position of service to prisoners of all nationalities. R. L. Ewing was appointed by Dr. Mott to take charge of Prisoners of War work in England. By his administrative skill, and active cooperation with the English authorities, the work was more exten- sively developed among prisoners in England than in any other country. German Government Admits Y in Its Prisons All of the belligerents, except Turkey,, opened the prisoners-of-war camps to the work on a basis of international reciprocity. Permission to maintain activities in Germany, for example, was conditioned on the maintenance of a similar work for German prisoners in Allied prison camps. This work did not cease when America left the ranks of the neutrals and joined the forces allied against the Central Powers. The International Committee by permission of the German Government, kept its executive responsibilities, continued its support, and retained the majority of its senior secretaries, in order to maintain the reciprocal nature of the service. This was essential as a measure for maintaining a position for giving any real help to American soldiers who might later be confined to prison camps. It was necessary, however, to withdraw most of the American workers who were replaced by neutral nationals. Through the cooperation of the World's Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Scandinavian Committee, the work went forward. 102 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA German Imperial Chancellor Thanks the Y On the departure of the American secretaries from Germany, Prince Max von Baden, who later, for a short time, became Imperial Chancellor, addressed them as follows : "In a most solemn hour I address you, for your going signifies a new and ominous phase of this World War. That your work here will not wholly be abandoned and that Mr. Hoffman intends to remain on, causes me to rejoice' greatly; for I see in these facts the finest possible expressions of the ideal you represent in this world, worthy of the great Christian organization of which you are a part." Prisoners Interned in Denmark, Holland, Switzerland Beyond the ordinary military prisoners there were other groups who were closely confined during the War. Sick and severely wounded prisoners of all nationalities were by mutual consent interned in Den- mark, Holland and Switzerland. There were eight military and civilian internment camps in the United States and Canada. Also, a large number of Belgians and British, who escaped from Antwerp, were in- terned in Holland. As far as was possible under the severe limitations inherent in the situation, the Y served all these groups in some manner or other. This effort on behalf of prisoners reached across Europe and Siberia, south to Tashkend in Turkestan and Ahmednagar in India, and on to the German prisoners in Japan. Headquarters were located in Berne, Switzerland. The total staff included 65 secretaries. A total of over $1,100,000 was spent in this work by the American YMCA during the period from April, 1917, to October, 1919. Funds were also contributed by the various governments and other home agencies for their own nationals. The work in Switzerland was con- ducted in cooperation with an international organization. Dr. A. C. Harte had general direction of the European work. The program of the Y in the prison camps was designed wholly to meet the extraordinary conditions of close confinement. It is true that France early adopted the policy of putting prisoners to work. Other countries as the War progressed, did employ some in various ways; but there were at all times a very large number of men caged by themselves. Recreational and social activities were organized to bring relief from the intolerable monotony; religious work was estab- lished to replace depression with hope and faith and remind the men of the best things at home; educational lectures and classes were estab- lished so that those times of imprisonment might not be years cut out of vigorous young lives and thrown away. Then, too, relief in the shape of food and clothing was in many cases the most immediate need. Large WITH THE PRISONERS OF WAR 103 numbers of British and American prisoners of war received their first food packages through the Y. What the Y Did in Prison Camps It- may appear presumptuous to speak of sixty-odd secretaries serv- ing several millions of men. But the character of the situation must be borne in mind. With thousands of men idle there was no lack of '^workers; what was needed was organization and equipment. First of all the Y men sought to build up a simple organization in each camp and put what was really a welcome burden on the shoulders of the capable leaders in every camp. In one situation the committees were left to themselves for two years but there was no lapse in their work. The completeness of some of these organizations is shown by the list of committees in the camp at Grodig, Austria. It included, Welfare, School, Library and Reading Room, Music, Theater, Cinema, Athletic and Recreation, Arts, Wood Carving and Handwork, and Religious. Huts were provided in many prison camps. Sometimes it was pos- sible to secure the use of excellent buildings loaned by the commandant. Through the cooperation of the Red Cross and by direct purchase a quantity of supplies were secured. Here is a list whose variety should satisfy a range of tastes : theatrical costumes, wigs, rouge, artists' paints and brushes, musical instruments, music. Bibles, prayer books, hymnals, library and text books, church decorations, school supplies, tools, den- tist chairs and equipment, hospital supplies, athletic equipment. The quantity of each was meager enough, to be sure, but some simple ath- letic apparatus and a few tennis balls have proved the saving element in more than one situation. What music did for these prisoners they alone can tell in adequate terms. "Now we can keep our courage, and hold on until the day of peace" — this was the response to the old home music. Theatrical enter- tainments put on in buildings erected or adapted by the Y were a god- send alike to audiences and actors. Further, the Y was able to help in dealing with the prison authori- ties. The conduct of each camp was, of course, a reflection of the spirit and disposition of its commandant. But the advantage of an organized, orderly camp was so apparent that many concessions were readily secured. A large measure of self-government was accorded in many camps where the prisoners were busy and reasonably con- tented. In. certain cases, the efforts of the Y organization actually secured a much-needed change in the whole basis of rationing — a ser- vice that touched every prisoner within the range of its operation. One enterprise of the general organization should not be forgotten: The Information and Correspondence Department — whose service was to seek out missing men and collect information concerning the physical 104 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA welfare of prisoners. The news (officially approved) was conveyed to anxious relatives through the various national offices of the Young Men's Christian Association. In Russia 64 prison camps were touched by Y workers and through visitation 102 camp enclosures in France were served. In Great Britain an extensive and effective work was carried on everywhere. The major camps within the Central Powers, with their more than 4,000,000 prisoners, were organized and visited regularly. One Russian, caged for several years, summed up his opinion: "Years of youth were passing. Mental atfbphy had begun. You came. You showed us a new way and extended a helping' hand." Recreation relieved the aching straiff of monotony, but education saved the waste of some of the best years in the lives of young men. Prisoners Become Students in Y Schools In Ruhleben, Germany, the camp for interned civilians, there were 1800 students in the school with 150 teachers. In one of the camps in England, 520 out of 990 were in classes. In a far-off Siberian camp, 35 teachers carried through a curriculum for 1700 students in sixteen courses, though provided with only the most elementary equipment and a limited supply of textbooks. In Mauthausen, Austria, the Italians had so outgrown the original Y hut that a new school building was necessary to house their four- teen courses, including, sculpture and painting. Under_the leadership of an Italian professor, the school was so effective that the Educational Commission in Italy agreed to give credits for all work done. Among the Russians in Wieselburg, Austria, over 2000 in seven months passed through the three schools, one for invalids, a night school for day workers, and a third for officers. Classes included not only the elementary branches, but agriculture, medicine, physics, chem- istry, economics, banking and sociology. Aside from regular educational classes, much was done through the lecture plan and through the circulating of libraries. Books were as eagerly sought after as meals, and in spite of the millions of books and periodicals forwarded by the Y and by the various governments, the dearth of reading material was regrettable. One report covering a short period states that 5437 books were distributed to 53 points in Italy. To reach the men out in the working parties traveling libraries were established. Within the camps were to be found many cripples and sick who needed special attention. Trade schools were established to be of prac- tical service to these unfortunates. Not infrequently the Red Triangle furnished benches and tools for shoemaking, tailoring, and carpentering WITH THE PRISONERS OF WAR 105 in the effort to reeducate men for the future. Raw materials were supplied to many who craved the opportunity of making articles to be placed on sale. Worship for Various Faiths in Prison Camps The religious ministry of the Y was deeply appreciated. The aim was to furnish the means for the nurture of the religious life in the accustomed forms, since in most cases the interned were denied the ministry of their respective chaplains. It was the Association's privilege to provide the places of worship for the various faiths. Vast quantities of religious literature and Bibles were distributed. By this ministry, the men came to recognize the spirit of Christian charity. In some camps the secretaries could personally meet the desires and needs of the prisoners. At Frith Hill, England, the secretary wrote: "Bible classes are being recorded almost daily, meeting almost every hour to suit the con- veniences of the different groups. The regular Sunday service is also in the hands of the religious committee. For two Sundays they insisted I must give the message and they declared I must make some arrange- ment to be with them Sundays at any rate. What pastor in America has 200 male voices in his choir, 35 or 40 more in the orchestra to supple- ment the singers, and then 500 or 600 additional hearers? Under these conditions the spirit of sullenness, skepticism, cynicism and stolid, sel- fishness is gradually melting away under the Christ spirit of hopeful- ness and wholesome optimism and personal regard the one for the other." Relief Work in the Central Powers The Y workers assisted the governments and the Red Cross in the actual distribution of supplies: The necessity of relief was most press- ing within the Central Powers. Individuals as well as governments placed large sums of money at the disposal of the individual secretaries. It was necessary to establish an office in Copenhagen and to utilize as well the Association offices in Switzerland and Holland for the send- ing of food packages to the destitute prisoners. Convalescent kitchens for the sick played no small part. Cooperative societies in the Aus- trian camps rendered a great service in distributing food secured by the Association. On behalf of the Slavs and Italians in Germany in the first five months of 1918, 150 tons of food were secured. In East Siberia, in cooperation with the American Embassy, the secretary was asked to distribute ten to twelve trainloads of food, clothing, and medicine. Doc- 106 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA tors have officially reported that thousands of lives were saved through these means. With Our Own Boys in German Prisons The wisdom of nfeintaining this unselfish work was soon demon- strated. Within the German Empire, the service of the American Senior Secretary, Conrad Hoffman, who voluntarily remained through- out the entire struggle, proved most valuable to the captured Americans when conditions had become desperate regarding clothing and food. Through personal contact with the American prisoners, the War Prison- ers' Aid at Berne and Copenhagen was informed regarding the needs, of the Americans; and the American Red Cross, to which had been com- mitted the task of supplying food and clothing, was given the essential information. Through the YMCA efforts the American prisoners were con- centrated in one place and later transferred to a far more pleasant and sanitary camp near Rastatt. In addition the following privileges were secured: Abolition of the block system, by which the prisoners were sep- arated into non-communicating groups. The use of a large athletic field. Permission to erect a Y M C A hut and a kitchen. Permission for members of the Help Conimittee to make pur- chases in the city for their comrades. The establishment of a system whereby the Americans were made responsible for discipline within the camp without interference from the officials. In the Prison Camps After the Armistice Quickly following the signing of the Armistice the Y serving the troops in the combat zone was called into an unexpected ministry to thousands of returning war prisoners, British, French and American. To the released Russian prisoners who arrived in France, the Asso- ciation also brought special aid work which, at the time of writing, still continues. By sending additional secretaries to Germany, efiforts were redoubled on behalf of the 600,000 Russians whose condition in the prison camps had become most desperate. And as many thousands of these half- starved and poorly clad Russians reached their homeland by long and weary marches, the Association in various centers came to their aid again. In Siberia, where the plight of the prisoners has been sad beyond description, the Y, through the permission of the State Department, WITH THE PRISONERS OF WAR 107 is again strengthening its forces to render a helping hand in the spirit of the Master. In all parts of Europe, prisoners of the World War returned to their homes in city or hamlet, carrying a new appreciation of the world-wide reach of Christian brotherhood, and ot the meaning of the words: "I was in prison, and ye visited trie." International friendships have been created which will bear fruit in the days to come. The spirit of America, at her best, of Christian America, has been interpreted to men of many races. Few can appreciate the strain of the monotonous and deadening routine of prison life. Those who have shared in the lot of the war prisoners have testified that thousands of lives have been literally saved from insanity, mental atrophy, and physical death by the stimulating effects of the Association's all-round program of activities, as well as by the relief efforts and the personal friendliness of the secretaries. A prisoner speaking at the opening of a Y M C A hut at Harth, Austria, voiced the feelings of thousands of his comrades when he said: "Many of us have already been behind barbed-wire fences for two years. We have suffered much, we were dying slowly the death of physical and spiritual attrition. We were revengefully disposed toward our guards and captors and we forged and vainly tried plans of escape. When life seemed darkest within these inclosures, there appeared like a heavenly messenger the secretary of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation. As he rallied us round himself and organized this work we took courage. Only since then have we lived. We forgot our sorrows, and the bitterness in our hearts against our guards and captors is dis- appearing. Now we wish to thank our Commandant that he has per- mitted this day of joy. We wish to thank the secretary who worked here against great oddSj and more than anything else, we wish to thank our unknown friends and members of the Association in America who thought of us in our loneliness, who came to us and by their gifts made this work possible." That the work of the Y M C A gained highest approval was made manifest by a letter of commendation which Herbert Bury, Bishpp for North and Central Europe, wrote to the London "Times." He was possessed of especially fine opportunities for observing the Y work at first hand: "Will you allow me to offer my small tribute to the generosity of the American YMCA? In October, 1915, at the suggestion of the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, the War Office appointed me to superiiitend the social and religious work in the prisoners' camps in Great Britain and Ireland, and in all that work, important and responsible as it has been, I have had the unfailing support, financial and otherwise, of the American Y M C A . . . They have also financed non-conformist ministers and 108 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA others who have applied to them for their expenses in the neighborhood of dififerent camps, met the expenses of Roman Catholic clergy in poor neighborhoods, visiting their co-religionists, and have even found them the accessories of worship. "It would be difficult to speak in too appreciative terms — as no funds have been available for such work from the War Office — of the modest, generous and entirely unadvertising work of the American YMCA. I know of no other way than through the columns of the 'Tinjes' to let the American people know how grateful we feel — for the Archbishop of Canterbury is with me in wishing to give it expression — for this great generosity, which has enabled us to try our best to do for our prisoners of war that which international law and Christian duty have alike re- quired." PART II Summary of Essential Facts and Figures from Headquarters Service Departments The field operations of the American Y M C A throughout the World War have been outlined in the preceding chapters. It is now necessary to summarize the War Work by Departments of Activities, — the machinery behind the field operations, under direction of the Head- quarters Organization. This includes: (1) Administration, — the or- ganization of all War Work; (2) Personnel, — the organizing of the working staff in Europe and America; (3) Construction and Equip- ment of huts and buildings on both continents ; (4) Entertainment for the soldiers at home and abroad; (5) Athletics, — games and contests in the Armies; (6) Education, — books, periodicals, newspapers, schools, and classes throughout the Armies ; (7) Post Exchange, — the operation of the Army canteens and stores for the soldiers; (8) Leave Areas^ — the operation of hotels, restaurants, theaters for the soldiers on leave in the cities and towns of France ; (9) A E F Re- mittances, — conducting a banking and exchange business for the sol- diers, transmitting money to their homes; (10) Religious Work, — conducting church services and religious duties in the Armies on a non-sectarian basis; (11) Transportation of men and supplies; (12) Relationships, — cooperation with other welfare or relief organiza- tions; (13) Resources, — raising the funds necessary to support all the War activities; (14) Financial Statement of all receipts and ex- penditures. The operations of each of the afore-mentioned Activities are suf- ficient to require a book for each department. We can give in these limited pages only a few basic facts and figures. As a foundation to these Activities let us consider a few fundamental tacts relating to the Y M C A and Headquarters and Business Administration: I— ADMINISTRATION— THE ORGANIZATION OF ALL WAR WORK IN AMERICA AND ABROAD International Convention and International Committee The Young Men's Christian Association in America might be called a working federation of strictly independent units. Each local Asso- ciation is entirely responsible for its own work and no general organi- zation holds any authority over it. These separate units, however. 110 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA unite for the extension of the Association, for mutual encouragement and assistance, and for the administration of certain common activi- ties. The International Convention of Young Men's Christian Asso- ciations — including those Associations in the United States and Canada which conform to the basis of membership set. by the Con- vention — is the authoritative legislative body. The Convention elects the International Committee which is charged with the "supervision and extension" of the work. The International Committee's relation- ship to the local unit is purely advisory. Similarly, within a state there are organized state committees whose function is to assist the local Associations in a general manner and extend the work within the state. The International Convention has ruled that any local Association may deal directly with either the state or the Interna- tional Committee as occasion may require. World's Committee — Headquarters at Geneva National movements such as those in Great Britain, France, the United States and Canada, are united in a world organization headed by the World's Committee with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Emergency Action It is understood that the International Committee acts for the Association movement in the United States and Canada in any extraor- dinary emergency. The entrance of the United States into the World War was a national crisis of such a character that it justified offering the services of the whole Association to our Government. The Inter- national Committee then proceeded to organize the National War Work Council of Young Men's Christian Associations. This separate organization was created largely for two reasons: First, the task projected was of such a character that every branch of the Association would be called upon to assist; it seemed wise to have that work conducted by a body representing directly local and state as well as the national bodies. Second, since it was self-evident that a large fund would have to be raised for War Work, a separate administration of that fund seemed desirable. National War Work Council in New York As stated in Part I of this handbook the National War Work Council was organized immediately upon America's entrance into the World War. It represented only the Associations of the United States. Previous to this the work of the Americans had been in con- junction with the Y M C A's in the Allied Nations and in camps of Prisoners of War. The British, Canadian, and other national Associa- THE ORGANIZATION OF ALL WAR WORK 111 tions had been actively engaged in great independent achievements since the outbreak of the War in 1914 (see record in preceding pages). The general headquarters of the National War Work Council was established in New York. It developed its work through Executive and Finance Committees and a group of committees to supervise special aspects of work. The Overseas Department was intrusted with the general supervision of overseas operations of every kind. The increasing responsibilities of this Council, the accumulating duties which it volunteered to perform, its daily expansion with its increasing problems until it became a great business institution, carrying burdens never before required of a social welfare organiza- tion, are recorded in this report. Its duty was to cooperate with and to meet to the fullest degree within its resources the needs of the American Government and the Army in America and throughout the warring countries. Its labors were without precedent, and it was forced to act at all times on an emergency basis. Home Service of National War Work Council The Home Section of the Council was divided for purposes of administration into seven departments. Six of these corresponded approximately in name and area with the six military departments, — Northeastern, Eastern, Southeastern, Central, Southern, and Western. The seventh, the Department of Insular Possessions, in- cluded the West Indies, the Canal Zone, the Philippines, and also detached units in China and Guam and with the Atlantic Fleet at South American ports and on the Mexican coast. In each depart- ment there was established a complete administrative organization. This plan provided the decentralization necessary for prompt and efficient supervision of work for men in the service. These depart- mental organizations were .also a basic part of the machinery for securing an adequate corps of workers and an adequate supply of funds for the War Work of the Y M C A. Local Associations and state committees in the departments working with the Department executives carried their full share of this vital responsibility. Foreign Service of National War Work Council The Government at Washington in the Spring of 1917 did not contemplate either the necessity or the possibility of transporting an American Army overseas in any great numbers until late Fall. After the visit of the British and French Mission, however, the plans of the United States were entirely changed. The emergency required that preparations be made for the rapid transport of men to France. This necessitated prompt action by the National War Work Council. Under this pressure the organization had to be developed on the 112 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA basis of immediate expediency. As the number of troops increased, the Y headquarters set up a sound regional organization on which it placed the responsibility for the close supervision of the divisional Y organization. There were as stated above six regions in the conti- nental United States, each with an executive staff. It was necessary to maintain the earlier divisional organization in order that troops in rapid movement could be accompanied as far as possible by their own secretaries. The work among Allied Armies and Prisoners of War was fi- nanced by the National War Work Council, but administered jointly by the War Work Council and the International Committee in the name of the latter. This varied work, involving contact with thirty different nationalities, was administered from New York with special field secretaries in charge of different branches of the work scattered over the world. American secretaries whose services- were loaned to other YMCA movements worked under the general direction of those movements. II— PERSONNEL— RECRUITING AN ARMY OF WORKERS UNDER THE RED TRIANGLE A grand total of 25,926 workers served the Y M C A in the World War. Of these 12,971 were assigned as workers in the home camps; and 12,955 overseas. Women in overseas work numbered about 3480 (2700 recruited in America), men 9475. In the home camps the divi- sion was: women 1665, men 11,305. To secure these an approximate of 200,000 applicants volunteered. Those examined and accepted passed successively the local, state, departmental, and national personnel comimittees. The exact figures for personnel, based upon the Overseas Roster for Overseas personnel and upon the Headquarters (Findex) Register for Home Camps, are as follows: Allied Armies Total Grand Home A E F and Prisoners Overseas Total Men 11306 8045 1430 947S 20781 Women 1665 3401 79 3480 5145 Total 12971 11446 1509 12955 25926 These figures do not include the many thousands at home and abroad who rendered occasional volunteer service. Under Strict Military Intelligence Supervision This working organization consisted of staunch Americans in every walk of life, — successful business men and laborers, bankers RECRUITING AN ARMY OF WORKERS 113 and mechanics, and professional men and women who desired to serve their country in this crisis. It was the first essential that this army of workers be recruited from those who were not eligible for military duty. Both the Military Intelligence and the Y M C A ex- amination boards investigated these conditions thoroughly, — no pass- ports were granted until every qualification was proved. Workers of all organizations at all times overseas were under the vigilance of both the Army Intelligence and the French Intelligence Department. Full qualifications, character endorsements, records of business and private life covering many years, and detailed personal facts, with photographs of each worker were sent to Washington, where the Military Intelligence Division of the War Department investigated the individual cases, before passports were granted. Duplicate informa- tion was filed with the Intelligence Section in France, and a triplicate with the French Government. How the Workers Were Recruited Recruiting at first was in charge of a Personnel Bureau appointed by the National War Work Council. A policy of special recruit- ing through local 'Associations and churches was followed, the effort being to secure trained Y M C A workers. The selected candidates were brought to New York for examination and approval by the Personnel Bureau. With the assumption of responsibility for the Post Exchange, late in Septeinber, 1917, it was seen that this method was not adequate and the sudden and unforeseen speeding up of troops to France in April, 1918, found a new system organized and operating. This involved drastic decentralization. A War Personnel Board had been organized at Headquarters in January, 1918. Six departments corresponding to the administrative divisions of the War Department were established, each with a Personnel Committee, one member of which was also a member of the War Personnel Board. These de- partmental committees organized state committees, which, in turn, established local committees. It was the duty of the local committees to find candidates and make preliminary investigations in their home localities. Candidates recommended by the local committees were sifted through state and departmental committees, and only those whose qualifications stood repeated scrutiny were passed to New York for final decision. Unquestionable loyalt)^ and enthusiasm for winning the War were required by the Government. Freedom from liability to mili- tary service, combined with physical activity and vigor were ob- viously necessary. Exemption was not sought for men of military age, nor were such accepted unless having obvious physical defects. Men of German, Austrian, Turkish, and Bulgarian birth or parentage 114 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA or with relatives in enemy countries could not be accepted. For a long period workers with German names were not accepted. Later, this policy which had acted as a deterrent and kept many good people from going over was changed. The standards required were those of the best American citizen- ship. Proved character and ardent, unselfish eagerness to serve were indispensable. Fraternal spirit and ability for team work, initiative and adaptability were essential. All contracts were signed by the Chairman of the War Personnel Board, or deputy. Many enlisted for service during the War, or for at least one year. Some exceptionally desirable men were accepted for six months, and a few specialists called for by name by the execu- tives for even shorter periods of special service. A tabulation made March 1, 1919, of workers who had at that time returned to America showed that the average period of actual service overseas was 6.35 months. Final figures will probably show a higher average. Statistical Tables of the Y M C A Personnel Every state and territory in the Union furnished the YMCA workers, the leading states being as follows: State Home Camps Per Cent Overseas Per Cent Total Per Cent New York 2042 15.7 2512 21.6 4554 18.2 Pennsylvania 837 6.5 877 7.2 1714 6.8 New Jersey 931 7.2 536 4.6 1467 5.9 Massachusetts 559 4.3 894 7.7 1453 5.8 California 779 6.0 621 5.3 1400 5.6 Illinois 577 4.5 787 6.7 1364 5.5 Ohio 544 4.2 555 4.7 1099 4.4 Texas 469 3.6 207 1.8 676 2.7 Indiana 297 2.3 358 3.1 655 2.6 Georgia 473 3.6 175 1.5 648 2.6 The overseas secretares were assigned among the different services as follows : A. E. F. SERVICE: MEN France, etc 7283 Great Britain 541 Italy 124 Siberia 97 Total AEF ,. 8045 ALLIED ARMIES AND PRISONERS OF WAR: France (Foyer du Soldat) 463 ♦Russia 280 ♦Italian Army 277 ♦Chinese laborers 131 ♦Prisoners of War 72 ♦Mesopotamia 40 WOMEN TOTAL 3198 10481 155 696 17 141 31 128 3401 79 11446 542 280 277 131 72 40 RECRUITING AN ARMY OF WORKERS 115 *Czecho-Slovakia 40 ♦Poland 39 *India 34 ♦Egypt 26 ♦Portuguese Army 18 ♦Greece 10 40 39 34 26 18 10 Total 1430 79 1509 GRAND TOTALS 9475 3480 12955 OVERSEAS SECRETARIES REGISTERED FROM THE FOLLOWING OCCUPATIONS: MEN WOMEN Accountants 198 26 Advertising Business 1 1 Architects 51 3 Artists 98 81 Attorneys and Lawyers 457 5 Automobile Business 113 2 Bankers 133 1 Barbers 4 Business 1360 116 Chemists 6 Cinema 48 Clerks ". 276 182 Dentists 42 3 Druggists 26 Educators 1435 949 Engineers 161 1 tEntertainers 390 593 Factory Workers 2 Farmers 103 16 Florists 4 Government Officials 41 7 Hotel Employes 37 8 Insurance 264 6 Inventors 1 Lecturers 38 Librarians 58 Manufacturers 87 1 Mechanics 276 Miners 6 Ministers 1464 2 Nurses 18 Opticians 6 Photographers 10 3 Physical Directors 137 20 ♦These figures do not include the many British women who served the A E F as volunteers, nor the American residents and the wives of Secretaries in many countries who aided in the work with the Prisoners of War and the Allied Armies, nor do they take account of the fact that Secretaries with the A E F, both men and women, worked .also for the Allied Troops and the Prisoners of War, whenever such opportunity came to them. tThis does not include professional actors and entertainers sent over specifically to give performances to the soldiers; it relates only to Overseas Y M C A Secretaries. 116 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Physicians 74 Policemen- 3 Post OiBce Employes 34 Printers 46 ' 2 Rabbi 1 Railroad Men 50 Real Estate 33 Salesmen 721 5 Secretaries 29 216 Social Workers 64 191 Soldiers 17 .*. Statisticians 1 Stenographers 23 199 Students 109 24 Undertakers 7 Writers 182 68 YMCA Secretaries 296 24 Unclassified 510 649 Total 9475 3480 A glance at these figures reveals that the personnel was drawn largely from business and professional sources. The regular YMCA secretaries were seventh in the number of recruits furnished. As the funds which made the work possible were contributed by the American people, so the working force was representative of the na- tion, and not of any group or organization exclusively. The nationality of 96.7 per cent of the secretaries was American, and 2.4 per cent British, less than one per cent being of non-English speaking race. In addition to the regular uniformed workers there were whole and part time volunteers and civilian employes, whose number can- not be definitely determined. In the overseas work, at least 3000 men and women gave service to American soldiers through the Y. These included persons of wealth and leisure, and persons ,who gave of. their scanty and hard-earned rest time, as, for example, the English working girls who took the Saturday night and Sunday shifts at "Eagle Hut" in London. The doors of these huts were never closed, and the canteen served meals at any hour of night or day. They do not include recruits from Army and other sources. Nearly 500 soldiers were recruited after the Armistice mainly classified under their civil occupations, as well as a large number of women resident in France or released from Red Cross and other relief or welfare service. Thousands more served part time in the home camps in the United States. The figures in all the foregoing tables are grand totals. It must be understood that at no time was the full force in simultaneous action. It was subject to constant arrivals, releases and replace- ments. The maximum strength of American Y workers overseas at any one time is estimated at 7000, of which 6000 were in France. RECRUITING AN ARMY OF WORKERS 117 Compensation of Y M C A Workers Compensation of workers was strictly on a service basis. No man, however important his work, received more than the equivalent of his normal wages in civil life. In home camps the standard for un- married men was $1000 a year ; for married, $1200, >vith a maximum of $1500. Executives were paid on a scale corresponding to pay of Army officers with corresponding duties up to the rank of Major at $3000. For overseas service a standard sum, $60 a month, was written in to all contracts signed in New York. In case living costs at post of service demanded, this sum might be increased after assignment overseas to a maximum of $120. The standard maximum family allowance, in case such allowance was needed, was $100 a month. If more were needed in any case, the need was carefully scrutinized, and the desirability of the candidate considered by the New York Com- mittee, which alone had power to grant an allowance jn excess of $100. Workers were equipped at the expense of the Y M C A with uni- forms and whatever articles not ordinarily used that were required. The average cost of equipment was, for men $225 ; for women $215. Transportation expenses were paid. Transportation Problems Transportation to France and England presented serious problems. Every foot of shipping space was needed for fighting men and sup- plies. Except for secretaries who served troops on the voyage, usually two to a ship, there was no room for welfare workers on transports. The main reliance was on space released by the Government on commercial liners, controlled by the Shipping Board. Such releases were made only a few hours before sailing time. It was the prac- tice to keep a group of 50 to 250 secretaries at Headquarters on sail- ing days, papers ready and baggage packed. When the desired message came, the stated number of men, with a few extra "on specu- lation," were started on a race to the Custom House for embarkation passes and thence to Hoboken. « The Transportation Department kept a hawk-like watch on ship- ping up and down the coast, and often discovered ships apparently overlooked by the Shipping Board. Men were sent to Philadelphia, Boston, Portland, St. John, Montreal and Quebec — wherever a boat could accommodate even one man. Sometimes steamers from South America through the Panama Canal put in to Newport News for coal, and parties were rushed aboard. The men accepted accommo- dations of any class, and sometimes served as stewards or kitchen scullions — anything to get to France. So successful was the director 118 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA of the Y's Transportation Department that he was asked to become chairman of transportation for all the war work organizations. Military Investigations for Passports Military necessity required, for obvious reasons, that thorough investigations be made into the records of every social welfare worker permitted to enter the War Zone. Persons moving about among the troops would see and hear much about military strength and movements, supplies, arms, communications and the like, which would be of inestimable value. The safety of the whole Army and the cause required that it be guarded with the most scrupulous care. Respon- sibility for authorizing the issuance of passports (by the State De- partment) rested with the War Department. The YMCA made most thorough and careful investigation of every candidate. The War Department made its independent investigations which assured double security. It could not issue the necessary clearance except upon the results of its own independent investigation. That the YMCA investigation was competent and searching was proved by the fact that the Military Intelligence Bureau passed with very few exceptions those who were accepted by the Y. These investigations, covering men and women from every part of the country, necessarily consumed much time. The recruiting committees supplied candidates faster than they could be cleared. The Y did all it could to cooperate. It established an office in Wash- ington and loaned a number of clerks to the War Department to assist in the clerical work. On July 11, 1918, just before the Second Battle of the Marne, when the demand for workers with the AEF was urgent, there were approximately 1500 candidates accepted by the YMCA awaiting clearance. On July 31, the number reached 2381, and 900 of these were in New York ready to sail as soon as passports should be issued. On August 21 there were 3424 names in the files of the Military Intelligence Bureau. As late as October 31, the number was more than 3000, and of these 1000 had been in the files more than a month and 150 more than three months. On November 20— following the Armistice— the War Department de- cided that its separate investigation was no longer necessary and that it would act on the reports of YMCA investigators. Thus, not until after the Armistice was the congestion relieved and an adequate supply of workers enabled to proceed to France. The consequences to the work of this situation must be obvious. At no time from the beginning of July, 1918, until after the Armistice did the YMCA have 50 per cent of the quota called for by its minimum estimate of workers necessary to perform the work as- HUTS— THE ARMIES' "HOME" 119 signed to it, and most of its workers were trying desperately to do the work of two. There was no other course open than to do the best possible under the stern conditions imposed by a state of war. Died — Wounded — Decorated in Service The loyal devotion to duty and the service rendered by the Y M C A workers is best ascertained by the records : 276 died and wounded in the service; 355 decorated, cited, and commended. Of the dead and wounded, 218 were casualties overseas, 58 at home. Killed in the battle zone 9; wounded and gassed in battle zone 126; died of wounds and accidents 15 ; and the remainder of the casualties from injuries, operations, etc. A full list of decorations and citations is given in the appendix of this handbook. It is further of value to note that the delinquency in discipline and efficiency in this overseas Red Triangle Army of 12,000, was, according to disciplinary records, a fraction of less than one per cent for insubordination and all other infractions of military and civil rules, a remarkable record even in civil life, and especially re- markable under the stress and strain of war. Ill— HUTS— THE ARMIES' "HOME" AND THE SOLDIERS' "CLUB" The American Doughboy A contributing cause to America's triumph in the World War was the high morale of the troops — the unconquerable spirit of the American soldier. It was to assist in maintaining this spirit to the highest pitch, to help render the men "fit to fight," that the Y M C A threw itself into the struggle. The Y huts were "home" for all they were able to accommodate of the two million men Overseas and for more than two million men in America. It would be impossible to describe in detail the innumerable tasks performed for our "soldiers, all with one object in view — the en- couragement and promotion of that indefinable force known as morale. The Y erected and operated for the American Army over 4000 "huts" or gathering places — soldiers' "homes" and "clubs" — at a cost of over $20,000^000 for construction and equipment. It then expended more than $73,000,000 on activities and free services in these huts or directly radiating from them — in addition to the expenditures for Post Exchanges and canteens. The Y operated 90 per cent of all the social welfare huts and similar establishments with the A E F ; the Red Cross huts and hos- 120 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA pitals were for an entirely independent sphere of work along relief lines. In America — 952 wooden buildings were constructed and equipped by the Y at a total cost of $8,338,317. In France and Germany the number of Y huts operated has not yet been ascertained with exactitude. All figures reported are under- estimates. In February, 1919, there were being operated in France and Germany 2505 huts. Of these 431 were specially constructed wooden buildings, 538 rented buildings, 579 Army billets or tempo- rary quarters, and 957 tents, but several thousands of huts had been previously opened, equipped, operated for periods varying from days to months, and evacuated as the military population moved out. A total of $11, 697,490 was expended in France and Germany on huts alone. Over 100 hotels and cafes were operated in France and Germany for American officers and soldiers, the yearly rental of which was in excess of 3,000,000 francs. In the United Kingdom — 154 huts were operated. Of these 47 were permanent buildings, 37 huts, 33 rented quarters, and 37 build- ings furnished rent free by the British YMCA, Government, or civilicms. To Give the Boys a Gathering Place In carrying out this work the aim and apex of the whole organi- zation was the "hut." Everything was centered in the desire tc make the Y camps bdth at home and abroad take the place of the American home, school, club, stage, and church. The "hut" in hundreds of cases was a large, commodious, especially designed wooden building, uniquely fitted to be the Center of the social life of the military community. In the cities of France and England h was often a luxuriously furnished private dwelling, chateau, or hotel At the front, near the firing line, it was often nothing more than a half demolished building, a barn, a cellar, or a dug-out, but wherevei the Red Triangle was displayed it was still. a "hut," the connecting link between the soldiers and their homes. The extent to which thi; service was appreciated by the soldiers is illustrated by the fact thai more than 400,000,000 visits were paid to the huts in the Home Camps alone. Organization Behind Construction of Y Huts in America When war was declared in April, 1917, the Y M C A realized thai in providing huts for the large army about to be mobilized it was confronted with no light task. It at once set about to build ai HUTS— THE ARMIES' "HOME" 121 organization necessary to carry out the work. On April 7, 1917, the Building Bureau of the International Committee met in the drafting rooms of that Bureau and drew up plans for the first hut to be erected at the Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg, N. Y. On April 28, 1917, the National War Work Council had its first meeting and instituted the Bureau of Materials whose duty it was to supply buildings and equipment for the American camps. As the magni- tude of the work grew, this Bureau was divided into the Bureau of Construction and the Bureau of Equipment. To facilitate super- vision and speed of construction, Supervisors of Construction were appointed, one for each of the six Military Departments. These men had the authority to negotiate contracts and push construction as rapidly as possible. Each supervisor had under him in every camp a camp mechanic and in each building a Building Custodian. Great Chain of Huts in American Camps From nine to fourteen buildings were erected in each of the National Army cantonments, while in National Guard Camps six was the average number. In the typical cantonment there would be an auditorium, an administrative building, from five to seven service buildings, a garage, and possibly a base hospital building. The ideal was one hut for each regiment, but as the early financial situation made it necessary to keep down the number of buildings, accommodation for 5000 men was adopted as an arbitrary unit. In the large cities, such as New York and Washington and at embarkation points, special huts of elaborate design were erected. Typical of these are the "Eagle" and "Victory" Huts in New York and the "Hudson" Hut at Hoboken. Each of these huts was capa- ble of serving from 3,000 to 5,000 men a day. The following table indicates the number and cost of the build- ings in the various Military Departments in the United States: Total Buildings Total Department of All Kinds Investment Northeastern 50 $528,607.85 Eastern 228 2,529,546.34 Southeastern 205 1,207,450.21 Central 176 1,708,669.33 Southern 219 1,000,663.33 Western 74 724,047.69 Troop Transportation and Miscellaneous Equipment 639,332.35 Total 952 $8,338,317.10 122 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Erecting a Chain of Huts Through France The construction problem overseas was radically different from that in America. In this country it was simply a matter of construct- ing standard buildings in many large camps and cantonments. In France it was necessary to serve troops stationed in camps varying in size from 50 to 30,000 men. The Y found itself in the contracting and construction business on a big scale. It was necessary to design many types of buildings in order that economy might be exercised in filling the needs of each. In permanent camps, wooden huts of elaborate design were constructed. If troops were located in a large city, such as Tours or Bordeaux, private dwellings and hotels were utilized, though even in the large cities a great many huts had to be built to supplement the work in existing dwellings and hotels. In the billet- ing areas, where the men were grouped in small units, simple huts were erected and army billets were used. The mobile units and divisions were housed in tents, barracks, and when at the front, in dugouts. Due to the scarcity of building materials, of transportation, and of labor, the Y did its best to secure substitutes for the actual construction of buildings, but where substitutes could not be found, felt completely justified from the point of view of military necessity, in using such timber as could be secured for the construction of its recreation centers. The work in France was centered in the Construction Department, with headquarters at Paris. All orders for huts and all contracts for manufacture were cleared through that central office. The erec- tion of huts in the field was handled by secretaries assigned by the Construction Department to the several regions and responsible to the Regional Construction Secretary for the erection and maintenance of huts in the region to which they were attached. The Equipment Department in Paris provided for the equipment of all huts. It was closely connected with the Construction Department and was at one time a part of it. A special bureau known as the Real Estate Bureau of the Legal Department was set up to handle all leases and rentals ; these under French law and custom presented many features strange to Americans. Problems of Material and Labor in Erecting Huts The general shortage of building materials of all kinds, labor, and transportation, which was so acute in Europe, made the construction of adequate housing a very great problem. Four armies had been draining Europe, and especially France, for over three years. During the first few months in France the American Army needed 130,000,000 feet of lumber and had only 30,000,000 feet in sight. The French HUTS— THE ARMIES' "HOME" 123 and British armies were also drawing upon the slender lumber re- sources of the continent. Since the needs of the armies were naturally considered first, the Y M C A was left to its own resources to secure materials for its buildings. To avert an absolute famine, a repre- sentative was sent to Switzerland in January, 1918, to purchase lumber. He succeeded in getting into France, before the end of the month, 996 cubic meters (approximately 422,000 feet board measure) of rough and milled lumber, but even this large order was only a beginning. The Y M C A then looked into the question of manufacturing its own lumber. The matter was taken up with the Army and an agree- ment reached whereby it was to supply the Y with the raw material for a sawmill, provided the Association would furnish the mill. Two sawmills were bought, one each in England and America, and turned over to the Army; by this arrangement, green lumber equivalent to the output of these mills was furnished the Y. This opened the way to further Army aid. When the Army forestry operations be- came established a large quantity of lumber was turned over to the Y. Transportation Problem in Erecting Y Huts The transportation problem was almost as great as that of ma- terials. During periods of military emergency there was an abso- lute embargo on Y M C A shipments. At all times it was necessary to secure transportation orders from the French Government before a shipment could be made. Many cars of hut materials were delayed for weeks in transit or lost altogether. Of the 25 huts shipped to Brest alone, three were lost in transit. Manufacture of Huts to Meet Demands The Construction Department relied on three principal sources for the production of its huts : First, French contractors ; second, its own factories ; and third, local construction by Y M C A secretaries. Sixty-five per cent of all huts built were manufactured on French contracts. Plans were submitted to the contractors and the huts were fabricated in the shops in sections, sent to the field, and set up by Army details. The French firms always depended on the Y to fur- nish them with orders for the transportation of materials to and from the factories, as well as purchase orders and other Government con- cessions. Very often the Y was obliged to furnish nails, bolts, roof- ing paper, etc., to enable the contractors to live up to their agreements. Y Was Forced to Open Its Own Factories In March, 1918, the Y M C A opened a factory for the manufac- ture of huts at Champagnole, in the Jura mountains. This factory 124 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA produced 41 huts during its year of operation at a cost of 45.80 francs per square meter against an average cost of 87 francs per square meter. A second factory was opened at Bordeaux in June, 1918. Besides a large quantity of equipment this factory produced 24 huts during the ten months it operated, at a cost of 61.25 francs per square meter. Twenty-one per cent of the huts built in France were constructed locally by Y construction men from materials either secured locally or shipped directly to the field. The cost of this kind of construction was 78.10 francs per square meter.. Four hundred and ninety-one demountable huts were built and 1045 tents were erected in France at a total cost of 27,860,000 francs. These structures were capable of accommodating 1,141,000 men daily. Equipment of Overseas Huts In order properly to equip its huts overseas the Y set up a special department known as the Hut Equipment Department. It was the function of this department to determine upon standard equipment for the several types of huts, purchase the same in wholesale quan- tities and distribute equitably to the huts. After much experimenta- tion a standard equipment was decided upon which included some 90 articles, including tables, benches, chairs, games, musical instruments, canteen and kitchen equipment, stoves, etc. A shortage of this material existed in France, especially of tables, chairs, stoves, and wet canteen equipment. Purchase agents were sent to Switzerland, Spain, and England. A large order of chairs was finally placed in Spain. Deliveries of this order were delayed on account of embargoes and importation regulations. Pianos, and cauldrons for preparing hot chocolate were secured in England. Stoves and stove pipe were imported from the United States. For tables and benches the Equipment Department placed orders with French contractors and with factories operated by the Construction Department. Purchase agents were sent throughout the whole of France. By buying small quantities of the necessary material here and there a sufificient amount of material was collected to fill all orders. The Equipment Department expended for equipment and decoration of the huts in France 9,165,000 francs. Construction in United Kingdom The construction' work of the United Kingdom was handled in- dependently by the Construction Department in London. Valuable aid was rendered by the British YMCA and much lumber was fur- nished by the American Army, thus reducing to a large extent the KEEPING UP THE SPIRITS OF THE TROOPS 125 problems that beset the Y in France. The two most elaborate huts in existence — the "Eagle Hut" on the Strand and "Washington Inn" in St. James' Square — were built in London from plans drawn up by the British Y. (See page 22.) Besides the work in cities, considerable construction was carried on in the aviation and rest camps. IV— ENTERTAINMENT— KEEPING UP THE SPIRITS OF THE TROOPS Entertaining Armies at Home and Abroad The Entertainment Service carried through for the American Army, at home and overseas, reached immense proportions — the most extensive ever made for any army, at an,y time, in the history of the world. In two years the Y M C A created an organization for entertaining and amusing the Army which ultimately became recog- nized as being as indispensable to the social welfare of soldiers in modern scientific warfare as were the departments which fed and clothed them to their material welfare. The result showed the most skeptical military critic: first, that an elaborate entertainment organi- zation could be adapted to almost all varieties of conditions in the field; and second, that such a service on such a scale is of inestimable value in keeping up the spirits of the troops. This is the positive result ; on the other side of the ledger may be put the claim that for every evening of wholesome relaxation there was just so much less unwholesome relaxation. The Entertainment Service took the only virile course; it beat the distractions of war- time at their own game. Let us estimate this value with appropriate figures — the totals are surprising. To put through this great work the Y organized the biggest theatrical enterprise in the history of amusements. It mobilized a personnel of 1470 entertainers (augmented by an estimate of 15,000 soldier-entertainers) for overseas service alone; virhile in the home camps many times this number volunteered their services to the Y stage. These entertainers included a large proportion of the best knovim dramatic and musical artists in the United States. It has been estimated that 20,000 professionals and non-professionals made ap- pearances in the home camps. It gave upward of 220,000 separate performances to the soldiers with an approximate attendance overseas of 88,000,000, and more than 48,000,000 at home. It provided overseas alone 23,000 costimies and accessories, 18,000 musical instruments, and 450,000 pieces of sheet music. 126 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA It sent out stock companies and soldier shows throughout the area of the American Army. It organized four great "play factories" which were centers for rehearsals, and costume equipment. It improvised plays and vaudeville acts. It trained or assisted more than 4000 soldiers to entertain their own troops with soldier shows, it being estimated that 15,000 soldiers appeared in entertainment service. It sent 135 trained "song leaders" to France, 1000 athletic direc- tors were also trained as song leaders and augmented the service at home and overseas. It sent 200 lecturers to France — among them some of the most eminent public speakers in America. It ran in the Leave Areas and important cities behind the fighting line the largest circuit of casinos and amusement halls ever admin- istered under one management. It gave overseas 157,000 movie shows aggregating over 8,000,000 feet, or more than 1500 miles of film. The aggregate attendance at these movie shows overseas alone (between April, 1918, and July, 1919) was over 94,000,000 at 5261 different places. It is estimated that in the United States and overseas the gross attendance at motion picture shows reached 210,000,000. This was all absolutely free of cost to the soldiers. If, as under ordinary conditions, the soldier had paid a minimum admission fee of ten cents it would have cost the soldiers the sum of $21,000,000 to attend these motion picture shows, and at even the same low admission price for vaudeville and other entertainment, in excess of $13,000,000 more. The net expenditure of the YMCA to provide this huge enter- prise exceeded $7,000,000, and this was augmented by gratuitous or underpaid services which at usual professional costs would have doubled this expenditure. Beginning of a Notable American Enterprise When America entered the War, the idea of Army entertainment had already been developed with splendid results in the British and French armies. The American Army in the Spring and Summer of 1917 was in the process of reorganization and building up ; throughout the Summer the city Associations of the YMCA were the fixed points at which most of the entertainment initiative developed. They acted as the first clearing houses for volunteer entertainers. As the number of YMCA volunteers grew, six divisions were created in the country at large, corresponding to the military depart- ments. A central booking house came to exist in each of these six sections, of which, naturally, the largest was in New York. At first, KEEPING UP THE SPIRITS OF THE TROOPS 127 professional entertainers were the chief volunteers ; at the Summer camps especially, the entertainment programs read like those of a regular New York season; but as the service widened, the great re- sources and the spontaneous approach of an army of amateur volun- teers developed. Small bands of Y volunteers began to be allocated to the districts in which they lived. Thus arose the beginnings of the organization whereby the soldiers, getting in touch with their own camp entertainment committees, began to entertain themselves; and by the Fall of 1917 the big, enthusiastic soldier audiences had come to stay. Organization — The Men Behind the Achievement The man who first visualized the idea of this rapidly growing organization was Thomas S. McLane, who established ofifices in New York, at the urgent request of the Paris office of the Y, in order to lay the foundations of an entertainment service covering the entire operations of the American Army. The field secretaries in the camps at home and in France provided the ready-made or- ganization circuit; from the new headquarters were to come the entertainers, and from there was to be built up the supply service of musical instruments and stage equipment, with the tons of rouge and grease paint that did their bit in helping the modern doughboy to fight. War camp entertainment tours were an old story with our Allies; the Y had received valuable training in the Mexican Border campaign, • and the early units sent abroad, like the Francis Rogers unit, provided the initial experiment. One of the early recruits of the work thus newly visualized was John Craig; his unit went to France in February, 1918, and its successful tour acted as an informal opening of the field. Over There Theater League — Professional Actors in the War The enthusiasm with which the American actors— the whole American stage — volunteered to go to the front is one of the great chapters in the War, which in itself is now being recorded in a book. E. H. Sothern and Winthrop Ames went over to France in the Winter of 1917-18 to study the situation from the theatrical side. On their return the Over There Theater League was formed at a remarkable meeting in the Palace Theater, New York, on April 23, 1918; this meeting is an important event in dramatic history— practically every celebrated actor in America volunteered for the service. The whole theatrical world wanted to go "over there." The eminent American dramatist, James Forbes, was appointed in charge of recruiting in America for the Over There Theater League. 128 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA The crisis in transport following Germany's great offensive inter- fered seriously with their plans to get the personnel they had mobil- ized over to France. Many of their troupes toured the camps at home while waiting. But by August 1, they had begun to send recruits abroad in large numbers. They provided the medium whereby some 454 professional entertainers, actors, opera singers, magicians, jugglers, comedians, dancers, musicians, and playwrights, as well as technical men such as stage directors, dramatic coaches, advance men, and theater managers, added their invaluable professional aid to the great enterprise in France. Vaudeville teams went over in large numbers, and each entertainment unit, professional and amateur, was organ- ized on the basis of a complete evening's program. The cooperation, and goodwill of the whole American theatrical profession, including that of all the well-known theatrical producers in America, was thus, through Y cooperation with the Over There Theater League, put at the service of the American Army. The Army Shows in France The Over There Theater League and the Overseas Entertainment Bureau sent 1470 men and women entertainers to France. The next step was to make the most of their services in the great area of operations which was covered by the American Army in the Fall of 1918. The first units pivoted on Paris; they "-looped the loop" on the French railways, all of which center in the capital, covered a certain area of the front or the Services of Supply, and came back to Paris. Later the regional system enabled them to be routed much more thoroughly over a local territory administered by a Y regional director, who booked them up and kept them moving over his field for two and three months at a time. With the fluctuatitig movements of combat troops especially, this flexible system worked splendidly. In many cases troops came out of the line for two or three days to find a strong entertainment unit waiting just behind them in the field, which took hold at once and gave many shows a day right ^p to the moment when the command came to reenter the line. The last civilians the soldiers saw, in such cases, were the Y entertainment units, and the men went into battle with their songs on their lips. In the base areas the programs were of a more settled character; here full-fledged theaters and impromptu vaudeville houses grew up with stock companies and regular weekly attractions. In Paris alone, 2963 performances were given to audiences aggregating over 1,800,000. Later this work grew to huge proportions. At one time, in May, 1919, there were over 700 soldier shows alone on circuit, practically all organized and coached by Y experts, KEEPING UP THE SPIRITS OF THE TROOPS 129 ranging in character from amateur troupes of a dozen men to finished productions like that of the famous Argonne Players. The entertainment activities for fourteen days (April 27-May 10, 1919) in the whole area of the Services of Supply were reported to comprise 5706 separate shows, playing to audiences of 3,549,946 persons. In Le Mans alone, during the week ending May 3, the Entertainment Service gave 660 shows attended by 574,111 men, in an area whose military population was just under 175,000. The stock companies at Tours, St. Aignan, Brest, and other places, in- cluding many well-known players, some of whom had-^ncexi-arf'fhe front in the War, became famous throughout the American Army. Entertainers like Elsie Janis, whose tireless pilgrimage over many sectors of the American Front will never be forgotten, won special personal gratitude which can only be recognized in a much more elaborate statement. The splendid company of players and enter- tainers sent over by James Forbes, the chief of the Over There The- ater League, rendered a service whose part in sustaining the uncon- querable morale of the American soldier can never adequately be estimated. Famous Casinos Become Soldiers' Playgrounds With the long period of the Armistice the Leave Areas became more than ever the soldiers' vacation centers ; here the Entertainment Section created a complete change of environment iii harmony with the holiday spirit. The great casinos such as those at Aix-les-Bains and Nice ran day and night with French attractions which added the last touch to the perfect atmosphere of these ideal resorts. Be- sides running casinos, music halls, and theaters in all the leave areas on this basis, the Y also arranged with the French civil author- ities in each area an elaborate and spontaneous series of social parties and private entertainments at French homes. This was also done at Paris and elsewhere in France, but nowhere was there such gen- erous and widespread cooperation in gracious hospitality by the French as in the leave areas. The Y also added to its other facilities the attractions sought be- fore the War by thousands of tourists, such as the Alpine sports at Chamonix under Mont Blanc, the special trips around Paris, and its service at Monte Carlo, Menton, and other towns in the most famous of all the leave areas, that of the Riviera. Entertaining the Third Army The American Army of Occupation in the Rhineland was prob- ably the most prodigally entertained army in the history of the world. 130 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Following are some of the entertainment features provided by the YMCA during the six and a half months beginning December IS, 1919: Performances given 7654 By regular entertainers 2719 By soldier shows 4935 Shows on tour 214 Entertainment units 68 Soldier shows 146 Personnel 3377 Regular entertainers 273 Officers 138 Soldiers 2966 Costumes 17,478 Theaters and Show Places 492 The Third Army had a complete theatrical organization, to which was added its own stock company, its own play factory, and its technical plant where stage equipment, curtains, etc., were made for twelve full-time shows. Three circuses were among its typical side attractions, and the Fest Halle in Coblenz, opened in January, 1919, with over 80 separate activities going all the time, and a record of 1236 professional and soldier talent shows between its opening and the end of June, was probably the most elaborate and success- ful single amusement enterprise ever utilized by an army. With the Palais de Glace in Paris and the famous Cirque de Paris, together seating 9000 persons, crowded night after night in Paris with boxing, movie shows, and high class entertainment; with the Victory Theater at Genicart, near Bordeaux, also seating 6000, the great casinos of the leave areas, and the Army-constructed the- aters at Brest, St. Aignan, St. Sulpice, Marseilles, etc., and with the hundreds of huts and halls scattered elsewhere — the Y entertain- ment establishment is estimated to have gathered under its mul- tifarious roofs during April, 1919, an average nightly attendance of between 350,000 and 400,000, or ten million a month. As a contribu- tion toward keeping up the spirit of a modern army this achievement stands unparalleled. French Vaudeville Acts French vaudeville as a leading feature of entertainment in the Leave Areas was developed to a high degree of efficiency by Joseph KEEPING UP THE SPIRITS OF THE TROOPS 131 I. Bond assisted by L. Soccodato and became a special .section of the Entertainment Department. For the various acts which included acrobats, gymnasts, dancers, ventriloquists, etc., 250 artists, 230 musi- cians with orchestras, and 140 stage hands, etc., total 620, were en- gaged. Ninety-six acts were supplied at a total cost of 7585 francs per night. Complete programs of French vaudeville, including from six to twelve acts were given at the principal Leave Areas in 1918 and 1919, aggregating 1236 performances. It was estimated that from 800,000 to 1,000,000 men were entertained, the ingenious perform- ances of the French actors being received with enthusiasm by the American doughboys. Cinema Service of the Y The Cinema Department carried the Y motion picture service not only throughout the American Army areas at home and in France, but also served British Army recreation huts, the Foyer du Soldat in the French Army, the Italian soldiers' huts, the Chinese labor battalions, and the Polish, Russian, and Czech troops in Europe. It followed the American forces to Archangel and Siberia, and went into Serbia, Greece, Egypt, and Armenia. In France alone to Ameri- can audiences it gave over 150,000 performances in locations ranging from the big amusement huts of the permanent areas to the white- washed walls of village barns where the projectors covered a divi- sional area, on Ford trucks. The average attendance was 600, and the total audiences mounted to 94,000,000. The personnel utilized to carry on this extensive service for the American troops was as follows: Y Secretaries in charge of programs 561 Y Operators, drivers, mechanics, etc 775 , Community Motion Picture Bureau employes 115 French civilian employes 75 1526 The total number of permanent and portable machines used at home and abroad exceeded 1000, and the amount of money spent was over $4,500,000. This sum was expended on moving picture perform- ances given absolutely free to the Army. The Community Motion Picture Bureau, both in America and in France, put its distributing and technical organization, through the Y, at the disposal of the Army, beginning early in 1918, and deserves credit for the high standard of films, in many cases first releases, provided for the relatively high level of taste among America's citizen soldiers. 132 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA The service had many valuable by-products, such as the installa- tion of Delco lighting, which solved the lighting problem in many barracks, Y huts, and obscure little French villages. The pictures from "home" kept the men conscious of their ties back in America. The news events on the screen, week after week, featured unforgettably the familiar scenes and the spirit of devo- tion with which the home folks were following them. One series of pictures even showed the faces of wives and moth^s from their own towns. The whole spirit of America was cast up before them. The Lecture Bureau The Lecture Bureau was instituted, organized and developed through the Entertainment Department. In reality, lectures consti- tuted the first form of entertainment. The lecture- work was trans- ferred to the Educational Department in October, 1918, and at the death of C. D. Brooks, reverted to the Entertainment Department, May, 1919. Nearly all lecture arrangements were booked through the Entertainment Department, (see page 125). "Race to Berlin" The Entertainment Department also devised and put into oper- ation the plan for expediting work among the men of the Services of Supply, known as the "Race to Berlin," (see page 188).' V— ATHLETICS— BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES "Every Man in the Game"— The Y Slogan Modern athletics in warfare as known in the American Army today, and as adopted by many of the armies of Europe, is a direct development upon foundations laid by the YMCA. Under the orders of General Pershing, and in full cooperation with the Army, the Y organized in the World War the greatest series of athletic activities of all kinds, put the most individual participants into the game, and gathered the largest army of spectators ever before handled under a single management in the annals of sport — all for the purpose of mak- ing the men "fit to fight" as a direct factor in winning the War and keeping them "fit to go home" when the War ended. A grand total exceeding 170,000,000, including 75,000,000 partici- pants and 95,000,000 spectators is the record of the Y games in the World War. BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES 133 In the A E F more than 33,000,000 took part in games under Y supervision, which were attended by 40,000,000 spectators. The Army in France, which averaged during this period 1,200,000, was thus served more than sixty times over. During three months (January 1 to April 1, 1919), when the Y program reached its maximum, there were 19,000,000 participants in these games against 14,000,000 spectators, thus impressively living up to the Y principle — "Every man in the game." More than 10,000,000 watched the Army baseball games in Amer- ica and France, or more than twice as many as the season's attend- ance at both big leagues ; while 3,600,000 played the game, fifteen times the equivalent of the army of fans who pushed through the turnstiles at the last World's Series. Participants in informal games in the A E F, including the mass and company games with everybody on one side or the other, numbered 12,000,000. Only 1,855,000 doughboy spectators watched these games, a striking contrast to the usual proportions in modern sport. More than 1000 Y athletic directors were employed to carry this program through, including 345 full time directors at the maximum activity in France, and 541 in the home camps in March, 1918, whose number steadily increased up to the Armistice. The immense schedule in France was promoted by 5900 separate meetings of the directing committees under Y supervision, attended by 50,000 officers and men. The gross cost of athletic equipment aggregated $4,000,000, in- cluding over $2,200,000 spent on the American Armies abroad, and just under $1,800,000 spent in the United States. Seven Allied Armies and 27 Nations Ask for Y Athletic Directors While conducting its work in the American Army, the Y assigned physical directors and organized athletic activities for the French, British, Italian, Russian, Greek, Roumanian and Belgian Armies, and among the Chinese Labor Corps, also helping to set on foot athletic programs in the new states of Poland, Czecho-Slovakia and Armenia. At the present time Y physical directors are working on the recre- ational principles evolved in the War among many nations, includ- ing besides the above : Argentine, Brazil, Chile, China, Cuba, Egypt, Hawaii, India, Japan, Jugo-Slavia, Korea, Mexico, Porto Rico, Philip- pines, Turkey and Uruguay. The Y Behind the Inter-Allied Games Besides serving the Army during the combat period, the Y pro- posed to the Army as early as October, 1918, a constructive athletic 134 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN Y M C A program to be put in operation after the Armistice. Colonel Wait C. Johnson of the Intelligence Section of the General Staff, an ex- pert on athletics and himself an athlete of high reputation in the Army, was appointed Chief Athletic Officer of the A E F, December 1, 1918. Three months previously Elwood S. Brown had been ap- pointed Athletic Director of the Y M C A, succeeding E. B. deGroote who returned to America to assist in recruiting additional athletic directors. Mr. Brown was known to the Army as "the man who taught the Filipino to play." Mr. Brown had, on October 15, 1918, addressed a letter to Colonel Bruce Palmer of the General Staff, outlining a comprehensive plan of athletics for the Demobilization Period. This included mass games, pageants, A E F Championship competitions in a wide variety of sports, culminating in the Inter-Allied Games — a military Olympic. The plan was adopted by the Army and was carried out in cooper- ation by the Army and the Y M C A. In the Inter-Allied Games, June 22 to July 6, 1919, 1500 athletes, representing 18 nations, contested, and 875,000 persons sought admis- sion. The Pershing Stadium, seating 25,000 persons, was designed and built at the expense of the Y M C A. The French Government donated the site and the American Army furnished most of the labor. This Stadium was presented to the American Army, and later through General Pershing was offered to and accepted as a gift by the French Nation. Setting up the Standard of American Physique Before describing this remarkable post-Armistice accomplishment, however, it is necessary first to record the broad foundation upon which it was built. This was laid in the long established policies of the world-wide Y M C A for physical and moral development, and was developed in the A E F under the able leadership of Dr. John H. McCurdy, the first Physical Director of the A E F Y M C A. In America the Y was among the pioneers of modern physical training. Gymnasiums have -been an important part of all Y M C A activities. Y physical directors helped to set the standard for the nation. The enormously popular game of basket ball originated within its walls. The profession of physical director was established on a dignified basis. Outside of school and college athletics, the Y's gymnasium and track and field instruction have provided for two generations the standard of athletic training on which rests a funda- mental share of the physical fitness of modern America. The Y M C A is the exponent of the idea that physical recreation BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES 135 is a builder of manhood, a strengthener of character, and an unsur- passed teacher of cooperation. The achievement of the Athletic Department of the Y M C A in the War was a natural outcome of this background and training. It was an achievement in the social value of sport on a scale hitherto unknown in the world's history. First Physical Director in A E F — Dr. John H. McCurdy When the American Army first entered the War, physical train- ing loomed up as one of the first services that could be contributed to the American soldiers by the Y M C A. Physical directors were placed in every camp, and were attached to every Division where possible in France. The physical training of the Army was largely in setting up drills, with only occasional provision for mass recre- ation and games. The Y was exceedingly fortunate in securing as the first Director of its Physical Department in France one of the greatest specialists in physical training in America, Dr. John H. McCurdy. He had been summoned by wire during the Summer of 1917 while directing physical training at the University of California. He went to France on August 3, 1917, and after a thorough inspection of the divisions then in the field, promptly set in operation the Y facilities for physical instruction in the Army on a constructive, scientific basis. Dr. McCurdy found large groups of soldiers entirely deficient in the agility necessary in modern warfare; he immediately devised ways and means to help bring up this standard and to organize mass instruction among the training divisions, which proved of invaluable service later on in combat. This led eventually to his organizing an Athletic Department within the Physical Department of which he was the head. He also organized a Medical Department for the special care of the Y M C A personnel, opened up the important field of sex hygiene, and inaugurated a Bureau which gave specialized instruction to large groups of soldiers. This work was one of the factors which produced the cleanest army morally ever known, and is resulting in powerful movements for the solution of the problem of sex hygiene the world over. Developing High Standards for American Soldiers The need for scientific physical instruction during the training days of the Army, right up to the combat period, was clearly demon- strated by Dr. McCurdy in two series of tests with the Artillery Brigade of the 1st Division. In a single afternoon at St. Nazaire in September, 1917, it was shown that 28 per cent of the 1600 men 136 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA could not jump a six-foot trench, and that 17 per cent, could not run 220 yards in 30 seconds. These are both zero grades in Amer- ican public school standards, the jumping test of six feet being for thirteen-year-old grammar school boys in New York City. This result, among men who joined the Army after 35 per cent of the candidates had been rejected, showed at the start the immense utility of special instruction for those physically below par. These realistic tests were based on potential military situations of the highest value; for jumping a trench and running across an open stretch of 200 yards on a surprise attack are both crucial ele- ments in the question of casualties. In fact, the proper training of the men who failed in them might make all the difference, as one of the principal officers under General Summerall, the Brigade Com- mander, testified, "between the success or entire failure of an attack." This instance proved the military need of the Y system of mass athletic training. It immediately commended itself to the principal leaders of the Army, and by September, 1917, the program was in operation, under Dr. McCurdy's delegated supervision at the First Corps School at Gondrecourt. The first objective at all times was to provide sports and recre- ation during off duty time, as well as during training periods of the troops; also to abolish the crowd on the side lines, break down the purely spectacular element of the skilled few playing for the unskilled many ; in other words, to put into practice the Y slogan "Every man in the game." Supplying Over $1,900,000 Worth of Athletic Goods To accomplish this purpose, equipment on a scale beyond ordinary requirements was the first demand. The gross supplies of all kinds of athletic goods ordered by the Y within the year before the Armistice aggregated over $1,800,000. Of this $300,000 worth were available during the early training period and during the Summer of 191S. The greatest order in the history of athletic equipment was placed }>y the Y Athletic Department in America, aggregating more than $1,500,000 worth of all kinds of supplies on June 27 and 28, 1918. Although transport difficulties almost prohibited such supplies, this order for athletic goods was steadily filled during the crucial months of the final Allied drive. Immediately after the Armistice more than half of it was either delivered in France or actually on the way. By January 1, 1919, the whole order was available for the troops. Some of the details in this order included: 276,000 baseballs, 45,000 bats, 40,000 baseball gloves, and corresponding equipment for basket BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES 137 ball, volley ball, indoor baseball, boxing, tennis, and all types, of track and field events. A substantial share of credit should also be given to the Fosdick Commission, which pioneered the original athletic organization in the home Army, and brought to France more than $300,000 worth of athletic equipment, according to the director in charge, at a time when "it was worth its weight in gold." The $30,000 worth of base- ball equipment provided by the Clark Griffith Fund also helped in this period. Recruiting 345 Full-Time Athletic Directors It was September -1, 1917, — at the very beginning of America's participation in the War — that Dr. McCurdy had been assigned as "Physical Director for the American YMCA among American Troops in France." A strenuous recruiting campaign was started in America under Luther Gulick's direction. Every state was canvassed for directors, and special courses were given at the Chicago and the Springfield YMCA Colleges. The result of this intensive effort was soon dem- onstrated, and by October 22, 1918, there were 297 Y athletic directors in France; on January 1, 1919, there were 345 full time athletic direc- tors on service with the troops. These athletic directors were con- centrated almost entirely for service directly with the troops. During October, in the midst of the Argonne campaign, full time athletic directors of the Y included 80 experienced men assigned as divisional directors, and 249 others assigned directly to brigades and special units, as against nine regional or area directors and five at- tached to the Headquarters Staff. Plasdng Basket Ball in Belleau Wood The problem of providing physical recreation for troops in the combat zones required personal initiative; the results varied with the character of the director. The general principle evolved by the Y athletic organization was to carry through the greatest number of sports for the largest number of troops that could be reached at all times with the equipment available. Thus, artillery units in Belleau Wood, and even some infantry units in reserve in that memorable territory, played basket ball within reach of the German artillery. Ragged remains of basket ball nets are still hanging on the trees in the immortal wood now called by the French "Le Bois de la Brigade des Marines." Major General Bundy, Commander of the 2d Division at that time, unreservedly approved of athletics right up to the front line. His 138 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA only stipulation was that the games should be individual sports which gathered no crowds, and which put "every man in the game." The Y directors went up to the front lines with basket balls and cages, medicine balls, indoor baseball stuff, and quoits; they traveled far and wide, starting these games and sandwiching them in with non-equipment games such as hand wrestling, "rooster-fighting," and similar sports in which the only thing needed was to get a few men started to insure half a hundred miniature athletic tournaments all going at the same time. Athletics Organized Throughout the Services of Supply About October also it first became possible to set up a construc- tive program for the great army of 400,DOO men working in the humdrum Services of Supply. The stationary character of employ- ment in this area made it possible to lay out baseball diamonds and erect buildings on a much larger scale than could be done among mobile troops at the front. Baseball diamonds, running tracks, and gymnasium buildings were laid out and erected during the off times of this service army, and many a cheerfully given half holiday was devoted to clearing ground for games. Maj. Gen. Harbord Backs the Y Athletic Program The following testimony of Major General Harbord, Commanding General of the Services of Supply, expresses the value of this work, as seen by an experienced military leader, in unmistakable terms : "In any Army we have in France, no matter how large, there will always be relatively one-third of it in the Services of Supply. These officers and men are without the stimulus of meeting the enemy, their work is of the humdrum, monotonous character that lowers tone, yet it is so important that the Army at the front cannot exist without it. ... I can think of no better method of elevating the tone of this large force, of taking their mind off their work outside of office hours, so necessary to maintain health and at the same time guard their morals, as the recreational athletic sports that the YMCA alone is able to furnish them. . . . The benefi.ts of this phase of the YMCA work are so clear to me, so generally believed in by all officers, and so welcomed by the men that I am astonished that there should be any doubt expressed by anyone." Glimpse of the Great Army Playgrounds Here are a few of the features of the great Army playground that sprang up in the Services of Supply during these few months of in- tensive effort : BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES 139 75 baseball dieimonds at St. Nazaire alone; 21 playing fields and 15 gym buildings or hangars in the Intermediate Section; 80 out-door rings, buildings, and hangars used on an average once a week for boxing shows after March 1, 1919; one complete athletic field includ- ing track, bleachers, tennis courts and basketball courts, built by the Army and Y M C A at Le Mans ; Cirque de Paris and Palais de Glace taken over in Paris for boxing, wrestling, and basketball finals; and the Colombes Stadium, including track and seats for 18,000, with 12 complete football fields, baseball diamonds, and playing fields adaptable for ten other sports, used regularly for more than fourteen months for Army athletic sports. Coincident with the creation of the First and Second American Armies and launching the Argonne campaign, the Athletic Depart- ment laid foundations for the .final drive to put over organized ath- letics for the Army now rapidly reaching its maximum strength. The program thus laid out fell into three chapters : the development of mass games throughout the Army, the organization of Army cham- pionships for which every American soldier should be a possible com- petitor, and the Inter-Allied Games, a military Olympic tournament to stage the Army championships of the world. Elwood S. Brown — Director of Athletic Department in France It is here that record should be made of the far-reaching work of Elwood S. Brown, one of the best known and most popular ex- ponents of play for everybody. It was he who suggested the athletic plans put before the General Staff on October 15, 1918. He later carried through these Army contests to completion, becoming director of the Athletic Department of the Y M C A in September, 1918, for the specific purposes herein outlined. Mr. Brown had special quali- fications to carry out such a plan on the colossal scale ^designed. As a result of Director Brown's initiative for more than ten years, as Athletic Director of the Y M C A in the Philippines, more than 80 per cent of the 800,000 public school students in the islands play regularly every day. The Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation, which organized sports throughout the archipelago, has entirely transformed the recreational life of the Filipino people. The growth of athletic spirit in the Philippines naturally led to contests with neighboring people, and thus arose the Far Eastern Games which were first held in Manila at Carnival time, in 1913, under Mr. Brown's direction. Japan and China were the other con- testants, and in the games at Shanghai 150,000 people saw the Chinese athletic teams win a victory for the first time in world sport. Games 140 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA were held in Japan in the presence of the sons of the Mikado, and resulted in breaking down finally in that country, with the added impetus of a Japanese victory, the last resistance to social games as opposed to individualism in wrestling, swordsmanship, etc., which had been the traditional sport of Japan. The results of these games was incalculable on the life of the rapidly westernizing nations of the Orient. In the Philippines one dealer alone sold 11,000 volley balls in one year, and the Bureau of Education reported that 135,000 girls were playing indoor baseball adapted to out-door conditions, two of whose teams travelled through China and gave a demonstration before President Yuan Shih-k'ai. At the next series of games, presumably to be held in 1920, Siam and Java and the Malay States are planning to enter as contestants, and the games will probably be held in Peking. Army Sports Expand to Climax of Inter-Allied Games In choosing Mr. Brown, therefore, to develop the athletic spirit throughout the American Army, to sustain its morale ,and to main- tain its esprit de corps during the trying periods of the final battle, and the long months of demobilization — the Y put this opportunity into the hands of a man of world-wide experience. Mr. Brown's long-time acquaintance with the Army from his Philippine experience was also a solid factor in cementing Army cooperation. He early suggested to the Army a plan to organize Army sports on an ascending basis, which should come to a climax with the great Inter-Allied Games. This policy was of enormous benefit to the Army, for the sports program, instead of "letting down" as more men went home, attracted an even large proportion of men right up to the championship events at the end. In the Athletic Department the Armistice period was planned for more carefully, perhaps, than in any other section of the Y's work, ► » save the Educational Department. The greatest activities clearly lay in that period. But the work during the fighting period should not be passed over, and the following schedule gives an indication of the immense variety of activities which were being carried on for the widely different needs of the Army during the height of the combat period : Intensive Athletic Activities during the Final Drive At ports of entry, in the Services of Supply areas, at aviation camps, in training camps and schools, near the combat zones, in the leave areas, among the Navy in ports of entry — at Corfu, Gibraltar, BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES "' 141 with the British Army through the B E F-Y MCA, the athletic activ- ities comprised some or all of the following during the fighting period : Mass games for troops in transit A range of activities from croquet More or less permanent type of to football, mass calisthenics, work, leagues, boxing instruc- drills, hikes tion Standard games, athletic exhibi- Exercise and games calling for tions, hikes, excursions muscular stimulation and not Boxing, wrestling, vigorous physical fatigue games of quick organization Vigorous games harmonizing possibilities with training program Introduction and instruction in Great variety of individual and baseball, volley ball, basket small group games; non-equip- ball, and many non-equipment ment sports games ; great stress on play idea Organizing the Army Championships With the Armistice, the second chapter of the Y program, the great army contests schedule, was launched almost at once. Although the mass sports continued and were greatly increased in number of participants and variety, the popular emphasis of the soldiers soon be- gan to be placed upon the series of Army championships which were soon initiated. The whole policy of the Y was directed towards help- ing the Army. Joint Basis of Operation Established On December 29, 1918, the famous General Order No. 241 was issued by which General Pershing directed "the attention of all con- cerned to the importance of encouraging development of general and competitive athletics- — for the purpose of keeping up the morale, fostering and developing organization esprit de corps, and improving the physical fitness of the Army." One of the ablest officers on the General Staff, Col. Wait C. John- son, was detailed in charge of the Athletic Section of the Army as Chief Athletic Officer. Official championships consisting of track and field events, baseball, football, basketball, tennis, boxing, and wrestling were planned "on an elimination basis, beginning with the company, progressing through the battalion, regiment, brigade and division, and culminating in a series of finals for the athletic championships of the A E F." The Y was specifically delegated to assist the Army, in paragraph 4 of this order, reading as follows : "The Y M C A with the approval of the Commander in Chief has organized a Department of Athletics and is prepared to give every 142 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA assistance in the development of general athletics and the arrangement and management of competition between military units. It has a large number of specially trained physical directors with wide experience in mass play and ii^ other activities now in its ranks in France. One of these will be attached to the staff of each division and separate unit, and will be designated in orders as divisional (or unit) athletic director, and, under supervision of division athletic officer, will be charged with the responsibility for the arrangertient, management and general conduct of athletic activities throughout the unit." Creating a Record in Fighting Spirit and Clean Sportsmanship The months that followed were probably the greatest period of athletic activity in the Army at any time. Certainly, America citi- zens never satisfied more thoroughly their love of the national game of baseball than they did in those months. These games not only de- veloped the physical stamina of vast numbers of men who partici- ,pated in them, but they provided more thoroughly than any other attraction a great physical equivalent for war, which let down the nervous tension of the American Army by normal degrees to the psychological standards of the life to which they were • to return. They provided, furthermore, the two elements of Anglo-Saxon sports, — fighting spirit and clean sportsmanship — in a cumulative record which was one of the inspiring achievements of the War period. According to Colonel Johnson : "The spirit of fair play shown by the participants throughout the contests was most remarkable, and no games in the history of sport ever furnished finer examples of true sportsmanship and chivalrous regard for the rights of the other man." This was not only noteworthy in the football games, where through- out a series of the hardest fought pigskin contests on record, there were almost no instances of foul play or of any "breaks" of bad sports- manship, but it was conspicuous as well in the boxing tournaments from the out-door ringside scraps up to the championship finals in Paris. To quote Col. Johnson again: "The majority of men who partici- pated in the boxing finals had formerly been professionals, but with no expectation of reward other than the approbation of their com- rades and the desire to win for their organization, these men went through a long period of training and an elimination tournament of gruelling matches. Fighting under a new set of rules especially com- piled for the A E F these men gave a magnificent exhibition of the manly art and demonstrated that boxing can be conducted along abso- lutely clean lines and in such manner as to give it, in the field of BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES 143 sport, the eminent position that it so justly merits as a clean and splen- did game." Football Championship Games in the Army For fighting spirit no football games in the history of the sport ever developed finer matched teams or more exciting contests than those for the supremacy of the Second Army. The four teams qvial- ified for that championship played five tie games before the cham- pionship was finally won by the 7th Division. The 28th Division team played three scoreless games with their principal rival, the Sth Division, and agreed that in case the fourth game resulted likewise, to accept the unheard of solution of judging the winner on a yardage basis. The 28th Division won the game, but this strange rule had to be invoked in its final game with the 7th Division, for neither team could score during the sixty fiercely fought minutes of the game, and the 7th Division was adjudged winner by only 34 yards. Such football games at Toul, Bar-sur-Aube, Coblenz, Luxemburg, and Paris stirred not only the whole American Army, but a great part of the rapidly growing sporting population of France to an understanding of the true character of the American spirit, and pre- pared the ground for the great series of international games which were inaugurated at the Pershing Stadium. Inter-Allied Games — The World's First Military Games The history of the games has been fully recorded in "The Inter- Allied Games — 1919," compiled by Major George Wythe, head of the Historical Branch of the Games Committee and published by the Committee. It is also fully told in Spaulding's "Official Athletic Almanac of the A E F Championships and Inter- Allied Games," edited by Colonel Wait C. Johnson and Elwood S. Brown. Suffice it here to say that the games were conducted by the American Army and American Y M C A in cooperation, the Y M C A financing the stadium, athletic equipment, prizes and general operating expenses, including welfare and entertainment service to competitors of all nations. As official host, General Pershing sent invitations to the Com- manders of the Armies of 29 Allied nations and dependencies. Eight- een acceptances were received. Colonel Johnson, as Chief Athletic Officer of the A E F, was Chairman of the Games Committee, and Elwood S. Brown, who as originator of the plan had a clear vision of the end to be accomplished and the best means for its realization, was Director General of the Games. 875,000 spectators sought ad^ 144 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA mission, iialf of whom could not be accommodated, and 1500 athletes of 18 nations contended. The Pershing Stadium, where the games took place, was built near Joinville on the site of an old jousting ground for the knights of Henry of Navarre. As already stated, it was designed and erected by money exclusively contributed by the YMCA. The American Army fur- nished most of the labor. The ground was donated by France. The completed stadium was turned over to the American Army by the Y, and in turn placed by General Pershing personally at the disposal of the French people in perpetuity. The games began on June 22, 1919, and lasted over a fortnight, the flags being finally pulled down and the events declared closed on July 6, 1919. During this time almost every conceivable sport was either contested or demonstrated, from American baseball to Italian pelota, and a bewildering series of sword games and camel fighting exhibitions given by the Arabs sent by the King of Hedjaz. Principles of Fine Sportsmanship in Inter-Allied Games The Americans won a great proportion of the victories, although in many cases the French, in the track and field events, and the British, Australians and Canadians in the boxing bouts, were the warmly ac- claimed victors of the day. The principle was adopted that victories were to be counted in specific sports and no attempt made to deter- mine a winner of the tournament. Thus the famous Prague soccer team, representing Czecho-Slovakia, carried off the soccer champion- ship, the only event in which they seriously contested, and carried home as much glory as if they had won the tournament. This prin- ciple encourages the small nations to participate much more keenly and had a splendid effect in emphasizing the international and uni- versal character of the Inter-Allied Games. Colonel Johnson, speaking for General Pershing before the event on the ultimate value of the Inter- Allied Games, said : "What more fitting ending for the final separation and demobili- zation of the Allied Armies than that their representatives should be assembled on the friendly field of sport to further cement the bonds of common friendship first forged upon the field of battle!" Eight Million Khaki Spectators at Y Boxing Matches No story of the work of the Athletic Department in France would he complete without particular mention of the boxing instruction and the long series of boxing contests which became one of the prime features of life in the American Army. More boxing bouts were -staged during the six months following the signing of the Armistice BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES 145 than in any other like period in the annals of the ring. It is estimated that between January and June, 1919, more than 400,000 American bouts were staged and were watched by more than 8,000,000 khaki clad spectators. French, British and Australian boxers toured the American Army during March and April of that year under the auspices of the Y, boxing an average of 80 bouts a week to more than 200,000 delighted weekly spectators. A tour of the A E F boxers was also arranged through Italy, and another tour, of Americans paired with French boxers, was taken through the American Army of Occupation in Germany. The result of these tours, together with the championship con- tests which reached their finals at Paris in May, roused a spirit of such interest in the Army that the famous Palais de Glace in Paris was not big enough to hold the crowds, and the Cirque de Paris, holding more than 3500 spectators, was leased by the Y for the great boxing finals. The spirit of the boxing thus provided was worthy of its popularity, for a large proportion of the important bouts had to be continued with extra rounds before a hard- won decision could* at last be granted. Of the 39 championship contests, 22 were decided on points. Four were forfeited, all for valid reasons, and only two were won on fouls — a splendid record for a group of boxers, the vast majority of whom were amateurs. In other words, boxing in the A E F entirely dropped its professional spirit and became more nearly an amateur sport than ever before on a large scale. Carr3dng Out an Intensive Athletic Program in America During all this period it must be remembered that a similar in- tensive program in the whole athletic field was being carried out in camps and great training centers in America. To put this schedule through in an efficient manner required the sum of just under $1,- 800,000. In character, the program carried out .in the home camps was a normal extension of a regular American season of sport. It laid special emphasis on inter-company and intra-company cham- pionships in a wide range of games from volley ball and football to baseball and track and field events. For the average man, quoits, handball, volley ball, and an extensive program of mass sports was provided, as well as a long competition of mass drills in collaboration with the development of the Army. The boxing and wrestling bouts at the home camps were quite as lively and as splendidly run as those abroad. More Americans at one time undoubtedly learned to play more new games than in any previous sporting season in the history of the country. 146 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Y Athletic Directors Assigned to the French Army As in all its other fields of work the YMCA rendered constant service to the Allied Armies through its Athletic Department. Gen- eral Cottez, Director of Physical Training in the French Army, rec- ommended in 1918 that baseball be introduced in all centers of physical instruction. A special bureau for physical and moral education in the French War Department was also opened during this year, and Y athletic directors aided materially in forming and carrying out this program. As a resialt of the baseball order, one Y director, at a train- ing school for French infantry, made it possible for the French sol- diers- to lengthen their grenade throwing considerably, and improved their accuracy by thirty per cent. Corresponding results were secured at many other schools. Although baseball was not generally taken up, a number of French baseball teams were formed for training practice. The game for the first time secured a foothold among French youth. French boxing received a tremendous encouragement through the severe competition offered to the best boxing talent in the country by the aggressive amateurs of the American Army. The French boxers who went on tour with the American teams made a splendid showing in skill and sportsmanship. When the results were cast up at the end of the season they came within one match of scoring a tie in the gross matches fought throughout the American Army. The French soccer team, which beat the Americans at the Inter- Allied Games, demonstrated French advance in this sport. Their victories in cross-country running, culminating in the splendid triumph of the one-armed veteran, Vermeulen, at the Inter-Allied Games, still further commended them to the Americans as fine sportsmen. The Y directors of the Foyer du Soldat helped to teach soccer and running, and even gave instruction in the French games of bowling and quoits, traditionally popular throughout the French Army. Finally, the YMCA cooperated in cordial relationship throughout the whole period with the famous National Committee of Physical and Athletic Education and of Social Hygiene (Comite Nationale d'Education Physique et Sportive et de I'Hygiene Sociale). This organization approached Marshal Petain, Commander in Chief of the French Army, and submitted the first proposals to turn over to the YMCA the ground in the Bois de Vincennes where the great Pershing Stadium was later erected. Teaching Basket Ball to British Army In the British Army, basketball, a game invented by a Y physical director and originating on an American YMCA gymnasium floor, BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES 147 was officially adopted as an Army sport. It proved immensely popu- lar as a training feature with the British troops. A picked American Army team, coached by a Y director, was sent on a tour through the British camps in Great Britain and France. It proved not only a great drawing card, but a constant stimulus of friendly rivalry and sporting education. Roumania Calls for Y Recreation Leader Roumania, which has played soccer football for a number of years, put up a strong fight against the American soccer team. Her large delegation at the Inter-Allied Games showed great appreciation of the mass games which were a special feature of the Y work with the A E F. Her chief military officer asked the Y to assign to that country for at least a year a trained recreation leader. J. A. Davis and four assistants were sent to introduce the non-equipment sports as far as possible into the new training system of the Roumanian Army. Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Greece and Armenia Seek Y Instruction As a result of interest stimulated by Y Army athletics, 12 Asso- ciation leaders are now providing athletic instruction under the Polish Government; seven men are serving in Czecho-Slovakia; while in Greece and Roumania, as well as in France and Italy, American Y instructors are now at work, not only on military athletics, but helping to plan the reconstruction programs with special attention to modern recreational games throughout the schools and the athletic associa- ions of those countries. Teaching Asiatic and African Races American Games Special mention should be made of the advance of the sporting program among many of the Asiatic and African races serving in the Allied Armies. Not only among the Chinese Labor Corps and the Indian troops serving in the British Army did the Y assist in popularizing sport, but aid was constantly given through the Foyer du Soldat to the Arabs, Algerians, Senegalese, Tunisians, Anamites, and other Indo-Chinese recruited in large numbers in the French Army. At Marseilles, where there were always from 15,000 to 20,000 of these troops waiting for transportation home during the Armis- tice period, soccer, basketball, volley ball, and many other games were intensively taught, so that these men would carry to their homes the desire to continue sport on clean European standards. A great demand was shown among all the Allies for literature 148 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA on American sports, especially mass games. Thousands of books and leaflets, giving in detail the nature of the games and sports played at the Pershing Stadium, were distributed among the nations attend- ing. Mr. Brown appeared by invitation before the International Oljmi- pic Committee at Antwerp, to suggest a plan for world promotion play for everybody. Many Y physical directors coached in the series of Olympic games which took place in Belgium in 1920. The national teams which represented France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Czecho- slovakia, and Roumania. as well as America and England, included many Y coaches. American Army Adopts New Standard of Physical Training The great advance of athletic training in armies as a result of the experience of the War has been signalized in the American Army by the adoption of new courses and of a much wider system of physical instruction under a recently created special department, the Division on Education and Recreatioii. The YMCA Athletic Organ- ization is everywhere cooperating toward setting it firmly on its feet. The results in clean sport, in the strenuous body-building of Army athletics, and the development of the most extensive physical equiva- lent for war that has ever been set tp as a standard of peaceful civilization, have been carried to the ends of the earth. The emphasis upon physical fitness that Y athletics have brought before the youth of the nations forms a lasting contribution to the world's reconstruc- tion after the War. YMCA Casualty List According to Data in the Files of the War Work Council, September, 1920 Died in Service Overseas Killed in Action 6 Men 2 Women Killed by Brigands 2 Men Died of Wounds 3 Men Died of Disease 49 Men 21 Women Died of Accident 8 Men 1 Woman Total 92 BUILDING UP THE FIGHTING FORCES 149 Disabled Wounded and Gassed 123 Men 5 Women Total l28 Died in Service in Home Camps Died of Disease 54 Men 1 Woman Died of Accident 3 Men Total 58 Prisoners Western Front 1 Russia 4 Total 5 Total of Casualties 283 Citations and Decorations Citations 99 Croix de Guerre 41 Officier de rAcademie 25 Legion d'Honneur 6 Medaille d'Honneur 4 Fourragere 2 Brevet de Cuirassier de la Premiere Classe Honoraire 1 Officier de I'lnstruction Publique 1 Order of the British Empire 6 British Air Society Medal 1 Distinguished Service Cross 4 Distinguished Service Medal 2 U. S. Army Ambulance Service Medal 1 Croce de Guerra 82 Cavaliera della Corona d'ltalia 21 Cross of Knight of the Crown of Italy 1 Knight of Saints Mauritius and Lazarus (Italian) 1 Medalia de Agradeciemento (Portugal) 1 Ordem de Cristo 2 Order of St. Stanislaus (Russian) 4 Cross of St. George (Russian) 3 Order of the Redeemer (Greek) 3 Medaille de la Reine Beige 3 Czechoslovak Revolutionary Medal 1 Kaisar-i-hind (India) 1 Order of the Crown of Siam 1 Ratanapara Medal (Siam) 2 Total 319 150 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA VI— EDUCATION— GIVING THE SOLDIER HIS OPPORTUNITY Statistical Facts Regarding Y Educational Service The YMCA expended in educational work for American soldiers and sailors, at home and abroad, up to October 1, 1919, more than $6,000,000. It made further commitments for similar work now in hand or decided upon, amoimting to $5,000,000, making a total ex- penditure of $11,000,000 for this activity. The sum of $2,509,655 was expended in America. Of this, $1,476,- 575 was for lectures, library service, instruction and educational liter- ature, $931,273 for newspapers, magazines, and correspondence materials, and $91,807 for sex hygiene education. Overseas the educational expenditures amounted to $3,952,073. The books and periodicals distributed free to the American Army abroad, up to May 1, 1919, reached the grand total of 60,000,000. The record in France was: books, 5,400,000; periodicals, song books, maps, pamphlets, religious literature, 19,670,000; newspapers, 31,400,000. In the British Isles, 2,700,000 books, magazines, and newspapers were distributed. The Library Department in London purchased and dispatched to France more than 5,000,000 items, and 170,000 to Gib- raltar, Russia, and War Prisoners in Germany and Austria. In addi- tion it forwarded 128,936 volumes for the American Library Asso- ciation. In this wdrk the American Library Association cooperated heartily with the Y M C A. The Y's Greater Educational Contribution These figures, large as they appear, do not represent the most important educational contribution of the YMCA. That is to be found in its preparation and practical working out of a plan of educa- tional work so vast and diversified that had the War continued a few weeks longer it was calculated to meet the needs of an army of 2,000,000 men in both combat and demobilization periods. During the fighting period the Army was too busily occupied to give thought to any education except for strictly military purposes, and had not a moment to plan for post-Armistice instruction for the benefit of individual soldiers. The YMCA saw both the need and the oppor- tunity, and took early steps to meet them. When the Armistice came, the Army found the YMCA ready with a methodical plan so im- mense that only the organization of the Army itself was adequate to its operation. GIVING THE SOLDIER HIS OPPORTUNITY 151 The Y M C A an Institution for Self Development From the first, the Y M C A was alert for opportunities to serve the mental needs of soldiers. Since the foundation of the Y M C A in 1844 education has been a strongly emphasized feature of its work, especially for men who have passed school age and feel the desire for self improvement. Before the troops were mobilized, local Y M C A's featured instruction in subjects of special interest to prospective soldiers. Upon arrival in the training camps, the men found educa- tional secretaries ready to offer a varied program. Class work in elementary and advanced subjects, both technical and liberal, was organized on a large scale. Lectures and practical talks on such subjects as the causes of the War, the war aims and the history of the United States and their Allies, were given in all camps. Par- ticular emphasis was laid on the French language. Elementary instruction in reading and writing English was furnished for illiter- ates and foreign born and reading matter made accessible to all. In the home camps, during 1918, 7,592,184 men attended 24,572 lectures; 5,111,864 attended 251,000 classes; 126,296 attended 2008 clubs; a total attendance of 12,840,344. Educational World of America Cooperates The educational work with the A E F presents a striking example of cooperation. The Y M C A brought with its official standing as the designated organization for such work in the Army, its unique pre-war experience in educational work supplementary to the regular academic institutions, its funds, and its personnel. The educational world of America contributed technical educational knowledge, ex- perience, and enthusiasm, through Prof. Anson Phelps Stokes, of Yale University, Chairman of the American University Unjon, who formulated the plan, supported by Professor John Erskine, of Columbia University, Dr. Frank E. Spaulding, Superintendent of Schools, Cleve- land, Ohio, and President Kenyon L. Butterfield, of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, who constituted the Y M C A Army Educational Commission, as well as hundreds of teachers of all grades who enlisted in the Y M C A. The educational institutions of France and Britain opened their doors to students from the A E F, and contributed lec- turers, instructors, and apparatus. The Army, when it was set free by the Armistice from the urgent occupations of war, contributed a great number of American teachers who had been serving as officers or privates, cooperated in putting the Y M C A plans into operation, and finally at the request of the Y M C A, took over the personnel and undertook the administration and operation of the going enterprise which the Y M C A had helped to establish 152 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Achievements Under the Army Educational Plan The results of this ambitious plan, as initiated by the YMCA and later operated by the Army reached the following proportions : Soldiers attending lectures in France aggregated 1,440,000, including 750,000 at general educational lectures, 300,000 at agricultural lectures, 230,000 at lectures on citizenship, 160,000 at lectures on business subjects. Soldiers regularly attending schools: Post Schools, 130,000; Di- visional Schools, 55,000 ; Army Schools, 362,300 ; Agricultural Schools, 100,000; Farm School, Allerey, 2300; Vocational Schools, 5800; Amer- ican University, Beaune, 6000; French Universities, 7000; British Universities, 2100; a grand total of nearly 700,000 men enrolled for systematic instruction. 800 officers and 1300 other ranks were placed in 38 British institutions. They represented about 100 American universities and colleges. They were assigned as follows : Scotch Institutions 375 Students Irish Institutions 110 Welsh Institutions 40 English Institutions 1575 " Helping the Doughboys to "Make Good" The army life of American soldiers was divided into two sharply contrasted periods. First came the period of combat, when attention was concentrated on winning the War. Afterward came the period of occupation and demobilization, when attention was equally con- centrated on getting back into civilian life and resuming interrupted careers. The educational program of the YMCA provided appro- priately for each period.. In the first, the primary objective of educa- tional effort was to help the Army win the War. "It must stand the acid test," said Professor Stokes, "of whether or not it will im- prove the military efficiency and fighting edge of the individual sol- dier." For the second period the objective was to return the men to the United States with a better individual equipment and an enlarged vision of citizenship, for the work of civil life. To accomplish the first, the subjects most necessary were: causes and issues of the War, and America's part in it ; character and history of Allied peoples, especially the French and British; the French lan- guage. Knowledge of the first would give that prime essential for the citizen soldier, an intelligent comprehension of what he was fighting for. Knowledge of the second would improve cooperation between the fighting forces. Knowledge of the third would facilitate the soldier's life in France. To these was added instruction in ele- mentary EngHsh branches for illiterates and foreign born. Recogniz- ing that the Soldiers' paramount duties were training and fighting, and that education must be strictly subordinated to military necessities, GIVING THE SOLDIER HIS OPPORTUNITY 153 plans were made for seizing upon spare hours and utilizing chance opportunities for imparting instruction along the indicated lines. Where instruction by a teacher was not feasible, it was attempted to place useful books where all soldiers could have access to them in spare moments. In the second period, the emphasis was removed from war to civilian life, from Europe to the United States. The subjects offered in common and high schools, for soldiers who had not finished a high school course, industrial and vocational courses for 30 to 40 per cent of the soldiers, citizenship in its varied phases, and subjects common in the first two years of college work, were included in the plan. In this period the soldier would have more time and inclination for study, and more facilities of evei-y kind would be available. The work could therefore be more elaborate and systematic than in the fighting period. Commander-in-Chief Approves Y Educational Plans On January 18, 1918, Professor Stokes arrived in France under the auspices of the Y M C A to survey the educational opportunity and formulate a plan. The following month he submitted two memo- randa to E. C. Carter, who transmitted them to General Pershing. The first proposed an educational program for the period of fighting ; the second for the period following the Armistice. On March 5, 1918, Colonel Logan, of the General Staflf, wrote to Mr. Carter in behalf of General Pershing, as follows : "I am directed by the C.-in-C. to acknowledge receipt of the extremely interesting project prepared by Mr. Anson Phelps Stokes. The C.-in-C. is interested in this matter and is very much pleased with the comprehen- sive report which Mr. Stokes has submitted, in which he outlines the objects of this educational project. The C.-in-C. approves the project in principle and has directed that proper facilities be given for this work throughout this Command. As already telegraphed, the only important change that will have to be made in this project will be by transferring the functions that he has assigned to the Educational Director of each Division to an agency of the Y M C A. This is necessary as military reasons make it a paramount necessity to restrict all operations at Divi- sional Headquarters to those exclusively connected with combat." General Pershing's Order No. 192 Regarding Education A General Order was prepared and submitted to the Y M C A for study and approval, with the information that it would be officially promulgated when the Y M C A was ready and when military condi- tions should warrant. This order, published as General Order No. 154 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA 192, October 31, 1918, was publicly characterized by Dr. Spaulding as "the most significant document in the history of American educa- tion." It included the following provisions: "1. The Young Men's Christian Association, through the YMCA Army Educational Commission, has organized, with the approval of the Commander-in-Chief, an educational system charged with the standardization of educational methods and the establishment of schools for instruction of ofKcers and soldiers in all of the larger posts, camps, and hospitals of the American Expeditionary Forces. "2. In order to further education in the American Expeditionary Forces, army, corps, division, regimental commanders and commanding officers of schools, special units and posts will each appoint a qualified member of his staff as school officer. The school officer will be charged with the supervision of educational work within the organization to which attached, as defined in Pars. 5, 6 and 7 of this order. "3. In compliance with the provisions of A. R. 449, post, regimental or detachment commanders will establish post schools in all posts, canton- ments, hospitals or rest camps, or areas which have a constant population of five hundred or more soldiers. Action will be taken under the provi- sions of Army Regulations to secure proper rooms, heating, lighting, equipment and service, when same is not otherwise provided. In cases where building or other facilities are furnished by civil societies, action will be taken to secure lacking material or service. "4. Instruction will be standardized as to textbooks, courses, rec- ords and requirements in accordance with the system arranged by the YMCA Army Educational Commission, approved by these head- quarters. It will comprise the following subjects: French language; History, character and institutions of the people of the Allied nations ; Causes of the War and America's participation; Civics; Courses in common school subjects; Special courses for examination for pro- motion. At places where civil organizations have provided the necessary facilities the following may be included: Special correspondence and university extension courses; Physical education; Additional subjects authorized by these headquarters. "5. Post schools will be controlled by post commanders as to disci- pline, attendance, sanitation and, in the absence of volunteer civil agen- cies, instruction, but such instruction will conform to the approved system of the YMCA Army Educational Commission, and such schools will be subject to inspection and supervision as to methods, results and subject of instruction by properly authorized agents of the YMCA Army Educational Commission. "6. Wherever practicable, the buildings, organization, equipment, GIVING THE SOLDIER HIS OPPORTUNITY 155 management, and other facilities provided by the Y M C A Army Edu- cational Commission will be utilized as the post schools by command- ing officers. In such cases, the duties of the commanding officer will be limited to those necessary to proper discipline, sanitation, and regula- tion of attendance ; and the duties of the school officer of the post or camp to liaison with the Y M C A War Educational Commission's agent, and superintendence of discipline, attendance and sanitation of the post schools under the direction of the commanding officer . . . ." Modifications of General Order 192 General Order 192 was modified in important respects by General Order 9, January 13, 1919. Instead of being charged with the duty of establishing schools, the Y M C A Army Educational Commission was charged with the duty of "developing courses and course material, and with providing expert educational advisors and assistants for schools." The duties of these advisors were further defined: "to act as teachers of methods of instruction to detailed instructors ; as super- visors and inspectors of instruction ; as advisors to the school officers ; and as instructors of classes so far as their other duties will permit." Attendance of illiterates was ordered, instead of being voluntary. The order that instruction should conform to "the system develQped by the Y M C A Army Commission and approved by these Head- quarters," was reaffirmed. General Order 30, February 13, 1919, provided for divisional schools. It specified 14 subjects for vocational training, and increased the list of academic subjects previously authorized. It provided that courses should consist of five hours work daily, five days a week, for three months, and gave the necessary authorization for detachment of officers and men, with commutation of subsistence, for attendance at French and British universities as arranged by the Educational Com- mission. It also authorized the American University at Beaune. Organization of the Y M C A Army Educational Commission. The Educational Commission referred to in this order was or- ganized before the promulgation of the order. Dr. George Drayton Strayer of Columbia University, President of the National Education Association, was Home Director of the Commission, with offices at Y M C A Headquarters in New York City. Professor Stokes, having set the work in operation, found it necessary to return to his duties at Yale University, but retained an advisory connection with the Com- mission. 156 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Pre-Armistice Conditions and Educational Achievements Before the Armistice, the Commission labored under two principal difficulties. Scarcity of transportation, which seriously affected every YMCA activity, delayed personnel and supplies. The Army's in- sistence that the Y's primary task at that period was canteen service, made it almost impossible to hold members of the educational staff in the field to their specific duties. The situation was critical because at this time, through no fault of its own, the Y had considerably less than half of the personnel which it required to meet its various obli- gations to the Army. Men sent out as edupational secretaries felt that opportunities for their special work were meager, while the tremendous pressure of canteen work, calling for the most strenuous exertions of every man and woman available among the inadequate personnel, drew them irresistibly into its current, individual secre- taries showed remarkable alertness and resourcefulness in grasping opportunities for educational work. In the face of these difficulties, the Commission maintained a constant stimulating influence upon the secretaries, sent out supplies to every point where there was a prospect that they would be used, built up a huge book, magazine, and newspaper service, and expanded the lecture service which it had taken over from the Entertainment Department. These efforts resulted in no mean total of accomplishment. Com- plete figures for the pre-Armistice period are not available, but in a report by Dr. Erskine, October 1, 1918, the Director of the Educational Commission estimated that at that date 30,000 illiterates and foreign born were being reached by instruction in reading and writing English and more than 200,000 were being taught French in YMCA huts. At the Base Port of St. Nazaire alone, 9000 class lessons in French were given in the month of March, 1918, 34 French professors being engaged in the work, which was growing rapidly. A set of maps of France and Europe had been hung in every hut and groups of men were constantly studying them. The Book and Periodical Depart- ment, during July and August, 1918, sent out 2,726,870 items, includ- ing textbooks and general literature, magazines and newspapers. 335 men were lecturing in the camps in May, 1918, many of them with slides and films. At the Naval Bases in the United Kingdom, a work of exceptional quality if not of great extent, was performed by edu- cational secretaries. Educational Commission Meets the Post- Armistice Emergency Parallel with these activities the Commission steadily pushed forward its preparations for the operations that would become possi- ble with the altered conditions following the Armistice. A list of GIVING THE SOLDIER HIS OPPORTUNITY 157 text and reference books and educational supplies estimated sufficient for an army of 2,000,000 men was prepared. This, probably the largest single order for educational supplies ever compiled, amounting to $2,000,000, was sent to America and placed with the publishers con- cerned. An aggregate of 1,795,483 books and pamphlets, costing $1,178,168, were actually delivered and paid for. A vigorous recruiting campaign for educators was inaugurated by the fallowing cablegram from E. C. Carter to the War Personnel Board, in August, 1918, sent on the recommendation of Professor Erskine : "Recruit 600 men teachers as well as organizers in all educational fields, especially History, American and European Institutions, Tech- nical Subjects." Delays in the issuance of passports at Washington detained in America many volunteers for educational work until after the Armis- tice, when some found themselves no longer free to leave their duties in this country. A survey of the entire Y M C A personnel was made, and workers with educational experience and ability were located, so that if desired, they could be speedily transferred to educational work as soon as conditions might permit. Courses were outlined, and methods carefully considered and adopted, with especial consideration for the unusual characteristics of the unique student body to be dealt with. Regional and sub- ordinate directors were selected, and, in short, so far as possible, detailed specifications were prepared for the great work whose be- ginning could be foreseen but not definitely dated. Without this preparation, involving months of preliminary study and activity by expert educators, which the Army had no time to attend to (see letters of General Pershing and Secretary Baker, page 160) the Army would have been wholly unready to avail itself of the incomparable morale-maintaining force which educational activities provide for soldiers suddenly relieved from the strain of prospective battle, and the soldiers would have been deprived of the educational benefits which they actually received and which could not by any human possibility have been improvised after the Armistice in time to be of any use. Building Up a School System in the Army The program outlined in General Orders No. 192 (1918) was consid- erably expanded and authorized by General Orders No. 9 and No. 30 (1919). While not exhaustive, it aimed to provide something worth while for every grade of student, from those who could not read or 158 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA write English to college students anxious to get back into the stream of academic pursuits and men who desired vocational instruction to fit them for more successful careers in their chosen occupations. Plans were worked out and textbooks provided for collegiate, agricultural, and vocational instruction, so that the A E F University later organ- ized at Beaune found essential supplies ready at hand. Arrangements were made for the admission of qualified officers and men to the universities of France, and the United Kingdom. Work of the Citizenship Bureau The nation's interest in its citizens was also safeguarded. A Citi- zenship Bureau was organized which undertook to spread reliable information and stimulate thought upon the great questions arising out of our industrial, social, and civic life. The YMCA appropriated upward of $1,000,000 for the work of this Bureau. Because of valued cooperation in the form of slides, films, exhibits', and literature from numerous organizations in the United States, the work was accom- plished for a considerably smaller sum. Starting the YMCA Educational Machinery In the Summer of 1918, the American Chief of the General Staff announced that the War could be won in 1919. The Educational Commission, not anticipating the Armistice earlier, but believing that weather conditions would enforce a considerable reduction of military operations, was preparing to utilize the long Winter evenings when the soldiers, comparatively inactive, would naturally turn to the YMCA huts for recreation and mental change. Suddenly the Armistice was signed, and the time had come all too soon for putting the carefully prepared plans into active opei-ation. School officers appointed in the various posts, and educational directors furnished by the Y M C A began at once to act. Ten days after the Armistice Professor Erskine asked General Headquarters, by telegraph, if he might proceed to place soldiers in French universities. Post Schools were opened January 1, 1919, and Divisional Schools, and all the rest contemplated by General Order 192 and subsequent orders were quickly set up. Selections were made of qualified members of the A E F for detachment to attend French and British Universities. An- nouncements of courses were circulated among the soldiers before January 1,^ 1919, and applications for enrollment invited. A census was taken of officers and men who had experience as teachers, and more than 40,000 were detailed to serve as teachers in the schools under YMCA direction. The plans were expanded to include the GIVING THE SOLDIER HIS OPPORTUNITY 159 Army of Occupation in Germany. Within two months of the Armis- tice the system was well under way. A E F University at Beaune Educational work with the A E F was crowned by the organiza- tion of an Army University by educational experts. The general plan was formed in January, 1919, by General Robert I. Reese, Chief Educational Officer of the A E F, and the Army Educational Com- mission. On February 7, General Reese appointed Col. Ira L. Reeves, former President of the University of Vermont, as Superintendent and Commanding Officer of the University. In just one month after that appointment, an unfinished hospital camp at the beautiful little city of Beaune had been chosen as a site, 200 buildings were com- pleted or altered and 175 new buildings erected, an administrative and teaching staff of nearly 1000 was secured, courses announced, and students received. As an indication of the equipment, the chemical laboratory was a building 50 by 200 feet, with a complete supply of utensils and reagents, where 600 men could perform chemical experiments at one time. The botanical laboratory was provided with 60 high power microscopes. Colonel Reeves appointed as Educational Director of the University, Prof. John Erskine, chairman of the Y M C A Educa- tional Commission. The faculty was recruited from professional teachers in the Army and directly from civil life in the United States through the Y M C A. It included both officers and privates, and the spectacle of a major reciting in calculus to an enlisted man was not uncommon. The following statement of purpose was issued by the University Council March 2, 1919: "The unusual conditions under which the American E F University begins its work, the absence of hampering traditions and the presence of unusual problems, all suggest an opportunity of organizing here such an educational institution as ipany of us would like to see in the United States — that is, a system so unified from the elementary to the graduate schools that every man can find in college, post school, or division school classes, the particular instruction that he needs." The first students, numbering about 500, were received March 7. At midterm, April 25, upward of 6000 students were enrolled in 398 classes, representing 240 courses organized in 36 departments under 11 colleges, the total class enrollments aggregating 13,243. The stu- dent register by States, was, in the words of the University Catalogue, "almost a League of Nations as well as of States ; it is the summary 160 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA of a remarkable roster of upward-looking youth whose names repre- sent every State and Island Possession of the United States, as well as almost every country under the sun, yet they were all United States soldier boy students in the military garb of Uncle Sam at the American E F University in France." Army Assumes the Full Responsibility On April 15, 1919, at the request of the Y M C A Army Educational Commission, after several weeks' negotiation, the Army took over the educational work. A previous offer of the Army to reimburse the YMCA for textbooks and supplies was accepted, the sum of about $1,150,000 being paid. The educational personnel became members of the Army. The plan was not changed, and the methods worked out by the YMCA were carried out under the direction of the men who had devised them, with the results already given in the paragraph "Achievements Under the Army Educational Plan." General Pershing's Estimate of Y M C A Service In arranging this transfer. General Pershing wrote to E. C. Carter as follows on March 25, 1919 : "It is desired, in conclusion, to express the highest appreciation of the work of the YMCA through its Educational Commission in organizing the educational work at a time when it was impracticable for the Army to do so, and for the continued assistance up to the present time in the wise development of the educational system in the AEF. The large number of well qualified educators brought to France by the Y M C A during the past year will be of inestimable value to the Army in its educational work, and this contribution is especially appreciated." Secretary of War Baker's Appreciation of "Admirable Work" Hon. Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War, in a letter to Mr. William D. Sloane, Chairman c5f the National War Work Council, April 3, 1919, wrote: "In accepting this transfer on behalf of the Army, we wish to thank the Y M C A for the admirable work which it did in initiating and carrying on this educational work at a time when because of the pressure of the all-engrossing business of actual fighting it would have been difficult for the Army to have undertaken it. "I have been familiar in a general way with the origination of the idea for an educational program for the AEF in the mind of Dr. Anson Phelps Stokes; of the selection of Professor Erskine, CARRYING THE CANTEEN FOR THE ARMY 161 President Butterfield, and Superintendent Spaulding, Dr. Sullivan, and Mr. Fairley for the corresponding duties on this side, and I under- stand from my associates that because of their accomplishments it is now a comparatively easy task for the Army to carry on the work which they undertook." Education for ex-Service Men The educational efforts of the Y M C A for soldiers have not ended with their discharge from the Army. Organized as the Y M C A United Schools, operating through local Y M C A's and through the correspondence method, opportunity is offered every ex-service man to pursue such courses as he may elect. The sum of $3,000,000 has already been set aside by the National War Work Council to provide free scholarships for ex-service men. This scholarship fund is allotted geographically in proportion to population and awards are made by local Y M C A Educational Service Committees. These committees consist of five members, of whom one is an ex-service man, one a rep- resentative employer, and one a representative industrial worker. Up to July 1, 1920, more than 25,000 men had been awarded scholarships, of whom approximately 17,000 are resident students at local Y M C A's, 4000 residents at various colleges and universities, and 4000 pursuing correspondence courses. Futm-e Educational Work in the Army Perhaps the best comment upon the educational work thus in- augurated by the Y M C A is to be found in the fact that it has been retained by the Army and made a permanent part of soldier life in peace as well as war. On its recruiting posters the Army advertises, "Earn, travel and learn." For the last and most important of these advantages, the Army is following and developing plans and methods similar to those worked out by the Y M C A Army Educational Com- mission for the A E F. The Army, the Y M C A, and the American people owe a great debt to the substantial contribution made by Professor Erskine, President Butterfield, and Dr. Spaulding to the whole cause of edu- cation. VII— POST EXCHANGES— CARRYING THE CANTEEN BURDEN FOR THE ARMY The Y M C A, in addition to its free service requiring expenditures of $129,082,900 to American and Allied Armies and Navies in the World War, took the burden of the Post Exchanges and Canteens off the shoulders of the American Army in France and operated at 162 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA estimated cost for the soldiers a chain averaging for several months during the height of the Y work 1500 retail stores with a gross btisi- ness amounting to over $50,000,000. It was necessary to set up a reserve to cover the estimated freight charges on the French railways as well as on ocean transport. The French railways charged the French Government, who, in turn, charged the American Army, and it was expected they would pass the bill to the Y. The Government finally ruled that YMCA freight carried on transports and French railways was at Government expense. This ruling was not officially conveyed to the Chief Secretary until May 5, 1919, so that through practic^ly the entire period of operations, the YMCA was obliged to maintain reserves to meet this change. By the release from this liability a surplus of $500,000 on Post Exchange account was created, and this, by a vote of the National War Work Council, was presented as a gift to the American Legion. Why the Y M C A Undertook the Post Exchange The Post Exchanges in peace time and in former wars were oper- ated by the various military units, for the purpose of enabling sol- diers to purchase conveniently minor articles of necessity or luxury not furnished as rations or equipment. The labor involved was per- formed by soldiers detailed for that duty. In France no Post Ex- change had been opened when the matter came up in conference between General Pershing and the Chief Secretary. Owing to the inadvisability of sparing soldiers from active military duties, General Pershing was opposed to their establishment in the usual way, if it could be avoided. The use of every man in the paramount duties of training and fighting was obviously of prime importance. Sup- plying them with comforts and luxuries was secondary. The YMCA had offered, and sincerely desired, to help in any way possible. Here was an important task which it could perform. The proposition was not to take over existing exchanges, for none had been established. It was to undertake the responsibility for open- ing and operating exchanges for all troops as they arrived and wher- ever they should go. It was a field new to the Y, involving both risks and increased opportunities for service. After careful con- sideration, and not without forebodings, the YMCA agreed with General Pershing to undertake this great task, believing that, as the representative of the multitude of American citizens who supported it, its plain duty was to bear whatever share of the Army's burden it could. Clearly this meant service to the men as individuals and to the Army as a whole. In making its decision the YMCA was actuated by motives of loyal citizenship and patriotic duty. CARRYING THE CANTEEN FOR THE ARMY 163 General Pershing's General Order No. 33 (1917) General Pershing issued General Order No. 33, September 6, 1917, governing the operations of the Y M C A Post Exchanges. Record is hereby made of this order : "III. 1. The Y M C A is granted authority to establish exchanges for the American troops in France subject to such rules and regula- tions as may be issued from time to time by these Headquarters and imder such control by commanding officers as will insure no interfer- ence with military operations and discipline. "2. These exchanges will be operated, in so far as the same are applicable to them, along the lines of post exchanges, whose places they are intended to fill, in order that officers and enlisted men may not be taken away for that purpose from their paramount military functions of training and fighting. "3. Commanding officers will therefore prohibit the maintenance of any Army exchanges in commands in which exchanges have been established by the Y M C A. "4. The establishment of these exchanges should not be limited to the areas more remote from active operations, but it is particularly desirable that they should be pushed as far to the front as military operations will permit in order that such comforts and conveniences as they laif ord may reach the soldiers in the more advanced positions where they are most needed. "5. Commanding officers are enjoined to facilitate the efforts of the Association's officers in this work. They will arrange suitable locations according to circiunstances for the establishment of these ex- changes, and accord such consideration to the officers of the Associa- tion engaged in this work and insure such facilities to them as would be enjoyed by those operating post exchanges under similar condi- tions, to the end that the purposes and objects of this undertaking may be duly accomplished." Difficulties in Supplying the Canteens The difficulties in securing supplies for the canteens, the congestion at the ports, the congestion in freight and traffic, the absolute necessity that first consideration be given to movements of armies and munitions, the inability of manufacturers to turn out the products, the fact that not more than 30 per cent of the provisions required to meet the demand of the soldiers could be procured — ^will be comprehended by even the most cursory glance at the following statements. It is sufficient at this point, however, to record the official statement made by General Pershing when the labors were completed at the close of the War and the Post Exchange tvas returned to the Army on March 31, 1919: 164 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA General Pershing's Commendation of Y Service to Army "Permit me to thank you for the very valuable services and assist- ance which the YMCA has rendered to the A E F in handling these exchanges. Handicapped by a shortage of tonnage and of land trans- portation, the YMCA has by extra exertion served the Army better than could have been expected, and you may be assured that its aid has been a large factor in the final great accomplishment of the American Army." Problems Involved in This Tremendous Task The task was essentially a vast merchandising operation. It involved, as heretofore recorded, the maintenance of some 1500 retail stores. Each store served purchasers varying in number from a few hundreds to several thousands a day; men were constantly coming and going under orders. Military movements were often made known only after they had taken place. It was impossible to foresee the moment when a large stock of goods would be needed at a new point, or when the purchasing con- stituency of a well-stocked store would disappear. No business man was ever forced to operate a chain of stores on such a shifting basis. Distri- bution of supplies to these stores miust be made either by overtaxed rail- ways or by motor trucks over roads in all stages of disrepair. The original order stipulated that "they should be pushed as far to the front as military operations will permit, in order that such com- forts and conveniences as they afford may reach the soldiers in the more advanced positions where they are most needed." This meant that goods must be taken forward over roads that on frequent occasions were mere series of shell holes; when the appearance of a truck by daylight was the signal for shelling by the enemy. They must be bought in America and transported; or they must be manufactured in France. If manu- factured, the raw materials must be found, bought and assembled. In either case competition for a share of the inadequate tonnage was always involved. Against an estimated need of 208.83 net weight tons a month for each 25,000 men the War Department allotted 100 tons gross weight. During the Summer of 1918 it became impossible for the Quartermaster's Corps even to fulfill these promises. Not until January, 1918, were the proper amounts delivered to the Y direct from Quartermaster's supplies. Business Organization Behind the Canteen The necessity was to create an organization to operate purchasing, accounting, manufacturing, importing, warehousing, transporting and retailing functions, handling a variety of merchandise comparable to that of a country store, in a manner to satisfy individual soldiers, without interfering with military operations. Some of the ablest organizing CARRYING THE CANTEEN FOR THE ARMY 165 business brains of America responded to the summons of the Y for aid to supervise and direct this great enterprise, and its workers in the field faced one more test of adaptability and resourcefulness. Accomplishment of This Service to the Army This accomplishment can only be summarized here: Canteen or Post Exchange goods were distributed at 1068 points September 1, 1918; this number steadily increased so that in January, 1919, Canteens and Post Exchanges were operated at more than 1500 points, ranging from large hotels or casinos in leave areas where thousands of men might be served in a day to the hundreds of points served by rolling kitchens consisting of camion and trailer serving men at the front. Goods to the value of more than $50,000,000 were sold. In a period of eighteen months, from May 1, 1918, to October 31, 1919, the gross sales were approximately $40,000,000. At one time or another 159 different kinds of articles were sold. Twenty biscuit factories producing more than 10,000,000 packages a month were operated; sixteen chocolate or candy factories with a monthly capacity of 20,000,000 tablets or bars; and eight jam factories producing monthly 2,000,000 tins. 1,834,847,200 cigarets, 48,468,750 cigars, 3,205,191 pounds of smok- ing tobacco, and 2,756,506 pounds of chewing tobacco were sold, valued at $12,546,661. Goods to the amount of $28,637,322 were purchased in America, requiring 52,395 ship tons for transport across the ocean. Goods piu:- chased overseas aggregated $11,769,211. This covers only the period from May 1, 1918, to October 31, 1919, and does not include factory, warehouse, motor transport, ocean and rail transportation, nor any overhead charges. Three great base warehouses, the largest covering more than half an acre, were built at Gievres, a junction point to which railroads converged from the base ports, and from which they radiated towards the front. Here also the great Army warehouses were located. At this point the Y M C A, in the seven months from July 1, 1918, to January 31, 1919, received 1158 cars and dispatched 1204 cars, not in- cluding the goods moved by motor trucks. Army Orders on Sale of Goods General Order 33 directed that the YMCA exchanges should be operated along the lines of the Army Post Exchanges, whose places they were intended to fill. The Army Post Exchanges were run for the benefit of the company or regimental fund. While certain articles ob- 166 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA tained from the Quartermaster were sold at cost, there was always a variety of other goods on which a profit was sought and made. The Army authorities expected the YMCA exchanges to be run in the same way, as is shown by a letter from the Adjutant General, explaining General Order 33, September 28, 1917. "No provision has been made for any division of the profits accru- ing from the exchanges among the organizations patronizing the same. The YMCA authorities have agreed to expend any profits accruing from the exchanges entirely for the benefit and amusement of the sol- diers. Inasmuch as this exchange service has been entirely voluntary and as the principal object of the YMCA in France is to minister to the needs of our soldiers, it is not believed that any regulations are nec- essary which would fix the percentage of profits. The history and repu- tation of the YMCA are sufficient guarantees against any reasonable conduct of the exchanges. Sales will be made at a slight advance over cost price plus cost of operation of the exchanges." The YMCA made no attempt, however, to realize a profit. It did not seek to recover the cost of operation, making no charge for use of warehouses, huts or equipment, for the services of secretaries or of the numerous civilian employes engaged in the operation of the canteen, nor for accounting or other overhead expense. All this was considered as welfare work and was so charged in the. accounting. Its sole aim was to recover merchandise cost and no more, prices being fixed on the basis of cost of goods, freight and insurance, with a margin of safety as small as would be adequate to protect it against possible loss through submarine attack, theft or enemy shell fire. It should be clearly recognized that the assumption of the Post Ex- changes forced the YMCA to function on two slightly different planes. Simultaneously it conducted free welfare service with an ex- penditure of more than $129,000,000 and a commercial operation with a gross turnover of more than $50,000,000. First it aimed to provide free for the soldiers such educational and recreational facilities as the most progressive communities provide for their citizens, such as play- grounds, baths, reading rooms, libraries, schools, concerts, movies, re- ligious privileges, etc. Second, because of abnormally high prices for those things that citizens buy to suit their own taste, it undertook to provide for the soldiers hotels, restaurants and general stores where they could find sleeping and eating facilities and buy candy, tobacco, toilet articles and the like at prices not only lower than the prevailing prices in France, but lower than they were accustomed to pay at home. Owing to the restrictions upon his freedom of movement, the soldier was neces- sarily subject to exploitation by local profiteers as well as to advanced prices due to war conditions. It was to protect him from these that the YMCA entered the commercial field, because to protect the "douahbov" CARRYING THE CANTEEN FOR THE ARMY 167 was essentially welfare work. Its two functions were parallel and often blended, yet they were both undertaken in the same spirit of service, and if the Y M C A is to be fairly judged they must be separated in thought as they could not be separated in operation. The money contributed by the American people had not been given for a commercial operation. The Y M C A therefore kept the most scrupulous records of its transactions, and though at only two periods it was obliged to borrow from outside capital to conduct the exchanges, it considered the funds invested in the Post Exchange as borrowed capital which it must be in a position to recover and repay, and was governed by this obligation in fixing prices. Price-Fixing an Intricate Business Problem The necessity of conducting the business without either profit or loss set a problem in price-fixing which would have been difficult under any conditions. Under the conditions which had to be met, the problem was almost impossible. The Y M C A made no charge for use of quarters, services of personnel, accounting or other overhead, but added only the cost of transportation and insurance to the original purchase price. This caused a slight increase in selling price on certain articles, as compared with the Quartermaster, due to two elements : the Y in some instances had to pay more for goods because it bought in smaller quantities and in the open market and frequently when the pressure for certain lines was unusually great, paid fancy prices rather than fail to get goods that were in great demand. The Quartermaster's goods were transported by the Government free of cost, while the Y had to pay for all the trans- portation of its goods in the United States to the ports, and had to pay fancy war prices for most of the goods carried across the Atlantic on commercial liners. Furthermore, as the Government did not make a de- cision until as late as the Summer of 1919 as to whether it would charge the Y M' C A for carrying its goods on Army transports, nor the rate to be fixed if charge was made, it was necessary to set up a reserve fund to meet such charges. There were further elements of uncertainty in price-fixing. Goods were often ready for distribution before the original purchase' price or the freight charges on commercial ships were known in France. TJiis was occasioned by congestion in the mails. The Censor forbade cable- grams announcing shipments in which names of ships or ports or dates of arrival or departure were mentioned. The goods were ready for dis- tribution, the soldiers were clamoring for them, and they were sold even though the proper price could in some instances only be approximated. Tt was inevitable that prices should occasionally be too high, sometimes too low. and usually slightly higher than the Quartermaster's prices. 168 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA The Y's procedure was never criticized by those who knew the whole situation. Beginning August 1, 1918, all forms of tobacco were sold at Quar- termaster's prices in the Y canteens; and after January 1, 1919, all goods were sold at Quartermaster's prices. Final Accounting on the Post Exchanges When the accounts were finally balanced on December 31, 1919, the net result of this business extending over two years and conducted under such uncertainty, was a surplus of $508,899.91, or approximately one per cent, of the gross turnover. Commercial experts have given high praise to the business skill that achieved so close an approximation to the result aimed at. Against this surplus there were possible charges on various accounts, unused reserves provided for losses by theft, sinking of ships, etc., and for Government transportation, estimated at more than $1,- 500,000. If these had been needed or exacted there would have resulted a deficit of $1,000,000. The War Department had, however, cancelled the transportation charge, and the resulting surplus of half a million dollars on Post Exchange account was presented to the American Legion by unanimous vote of the National War Work Council. Free Distribution Continued at All Times It must be understood that the YMCA continued at all times its free distribution of its own goods. The rolling kitchens dispensed their hot coffee, chocolate, and other products to soldiers without charge. Secretaries carried on their backs, where trucks could not go, supplies of cigarets, tobacco, and chocolate, as gifts. Every secretary operat- ing a canteen had discretionary powers to give away supplies to men who had no money to buy. Some men used these powers too freely, others were too niggardly, but generally the tired, hungry, needy soldier found generous treatment. Supplies given away in free service in these canteens amounted in value to $2,664,253.61. In addition to the large quantities of food, drinks, and smokes, the free distribution and provision of athletics and entertainment supplies, books, magazines, stationery, huts, entertainments, and so on, supplemented free canteen service and in financial cost was greatly in excess of this. With tte work completed, and the necessity for further service re- moved, on January 29, 1919, the Chief Secretary renewed his request to General Pershing to relieve the YMCA of operation of the Post Ex- change, in view of the fact that the exigency under which it had under- taken that task no longer existed. At the close of business March 31, 1919, the Post Exchanges were transferred to the Army. There were on hand goods to the value of 60,000,000 francs, of which 20,000,000 francs' THE SOLDIERS' HO LID A YS . 169 worth was reserved for the wet canteens which the Y M C A continued to operate until the completion of its activities. The commendation of the services rendered by the Y under the greatest difficulties, issued by General Pershing, is recorded at the beginning of this statement. VIII— LEAVE AREAS— THE SOLDIERS' HOLIDAYS BEHIND THE FIRING LINES The Y Became "an Arm of the Army" One of the great problems that the Y M C A was privileged to assist in solving for the Army resulted in the institution of an entirely new feature in modern warfare, — the establishment of the Leave Areas for soldiers. This, according to military authorities, was one of the most important welfare services rendered in the entire War — and developed to such an extent that it became an essential factor in the military plans. Thus, the Y became "an arm of the Army" charged with the respon- sibility of the welfare of soldiers on leave. In fulfilling this responsibility the Y M C A took over the entire amusement and recreation facilities of the leading French holiday resorts and watering places. It leased the beautiful casinos for which those resorts are famous, so extensive that in them the Y could operate simul- taneously theatrical and cinema shows, concerts, dancing, games and social amusements of every kind, as well as restaurants and cafeterias. It leased besides other large restaurants, theaters, and lake and river steamboats running daily trips loaded with American soldiers. After a survey of the lodging and feeding facilities of all the resorts in France it cooperated with the Army in securing the exclusive use of selected hotels and pensions with accommodations for more than 40,000 men at one time. Twelve Leave Areas, with 28 centers in well-known towns, were opened in France for men enjoying seven day leaves. In six places including Paris, Recreation Centers were established for men having one day or week-end leaves from nearby points, or for casuals with a few hours on their hands. Five Leave Areas were provided in the Rhine Valley for the Army of Occupation, two in Italy and one in England. This was accomplished with an organization of 885 secretaries, 408 men and 477 women trained for the wrork. More than 1,100,000 men were entertained, of whom upward of 450,000 enjoyed "Class A" or seven day leaves, and about 700,000 one day or week-end leaves. In addition, 780,000 men billeted in the Rhine Valley Areas enjoyed the special entertainment features in their free hours. The operation of these Leave Areas and Recreation Centers cost 170 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA $1,143,800, exclusive of the cost of theatrical, musical and cinema enter- tainments and of athletic and other supplies furnished. The Army designated the areas and centers, on the Y M C A's sug- gestions, besides providing transportation and an allowance for food and lodging for soldiers on leave while on a duty status. The Y furnished all recreation, entertainment and service. General Pershing's Leave Problem The leave problem was especially difficult for the A E F. French soldiers could spend their leaves at their own homes. England was just across the Channel, and although congestion of Channel shipping severely limited leaves in "Blighty," it was nevertheless possible for a very large number of such leaves to be granted to British soldiers.' For Americans, leave at home was out of the question. Yet it was clear that they must have leaves, since it was beyond human power to endure fighting conditions or even the strenuous life of the Services of Supply without relief. For a variety of reasons it was undesirable that they should follow the American instinct to visit Paris. The extraordinary congestion in that city alone was sufficient to render impossible the accommodation of large num.bers of Americans on holiday. Equally they could not be allowed to scatter through France. Military exigencies required that they should be somehow kept within easy and sure recall for active service in an emergency — a situation which was vividly illustrated when the first Leave Area was emptied, barely a month after opening, at the time of the great German drive in March, 1918. , On the other hand, if the leaves were to result as desired, in a restor- ation to the normal after months of the abnormal conditions of camp life, a prime necessity was to relax the restraints of military routine and discipline. The man must feel free — free to sleep and get up when he felt like it, free to eat what and when he pleased and to go and come and amuse himself as he chose. But the dangers of such freedom in a foreign country were obvious. The forces that prey on idle men would be alert to take advantage of the opportunity and the eflfect on the men and on the Army might be extremely injurious. The Y's Assistance in Solving the Problem For the solution of these problems the Army invited the assistance of the Y M C A. The YMCA believed that if the men were offered ample and varied recreation of the kinds they knew and liked, they would freely choose these rather than deleterious pleasures. It believed also that it could, though at great effort, provide a wide choice of amuse- ments, all beneficial, in a program running from early morning until THE SOLDIERS' HOLIDAYS 171 late at night, so attractive that no soldier would have a single moment in which he would be at a loss for congenial occupation. The results fully justified both beliefs. On August 3, 1917, the Chief Secretary outlined to the Commander- in-Chief and the American Ambassador a proposal that the Y M C A should undertake responsibility for operating one or more of the famous holiday resorts of France, such as Chamonix, as a leave center for American soldiers. It would obtain, as nearly as possible, control of the entire hotel and amusement facilities of the region, and seek the cooperation of local civilian officials in maintaining such public social con- ditions as were desirable. The Army was to designate such resorts as the places in which leaves must be spent, and the Y M C A was to ar- range for living accommodations and provide amusement. General Pershing stated that in principle the plan met with his entire approval. General Headquarters Commissions the Y Mr. W. A. Tener, one of the first members of the Y staff in France, formerly in Y service as General Secretary in Manila, was deputed to investigate certain French resorts. As the Canadian Y M C A was at that time considering uniting with the American Y M C A in providing facilities for Canadian officers and men at French resorts instead of England, several Y officers of the Canadian Army accompanied Mr. Tener on his first trip of investigation. It soon became apparent, how- ever, that it was not feasible to carry out the plan as a joint effort, owing to the scale on which the American project would have to be de- veloped. On suggestion of officials of the Office National du Tourisme of the French Interior Office the commission visited Chamonix and Nice. In its report of September 4, 1917, the former was recommended with the latter as an alternative. Because of the proximity of Chamonix to the Swiss border international precautions regarding neutraf boundaries pre- cluded the possibility of its development as a leave center until after the Armistice. Cooperating w^ith French Officials On October 29, 1917, Rev. Karl S. Gate of Boston, a young Epis- copal rector, began the organized development of the field. Aided by counsel of French Army officials, and of the Bureau du Tourisme, and several prominent American residents of Paris, a list of watering places was compiled for the Army giving a survey of the total number of available hotel beds in France. Immediate investigation trips were made to the Savoy region, resulting in the survey of several resorts, conferences with leading officials and hotel proprietors, and the ultimate selection 172 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA of Aix-les-Bains, Chambery, and Challes-les-Eaux as the centers of the first leave area designated by the Army as the Savoy Area. These leave centers were opened on February 16, 1918. The Grand Cercle at Aix-les-Bains, famous around the world, was con- verted into a club house for the American doughboy. With theaters running, several movie performances a day in the cinema hall, dancing in the ballrooms, continual canteen service in several parts of the casino, rough and tumble frolics every night after the show, athletics in the form of baseball, volley ball, soccer, hikes in the moimtains, boat excursions on the lake, thermal baths — the soldier's vacation was a continuous round of fun. In charge of this undertaking were Mr. Franklin S. Edmonds, of Philadelphia, as Divisional Secretary, assisted by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., as head of the women workers. From the outset the experiment was fraught with obstacles which might have spelled immedi- ate failure. Nothing but indomitable courage and persistency saved this situation for the Army. By provision of the first General Orders No. 6 authorizing leaves, only those soldiers could go who had a required amount of money in pocket. Attainment of this sum by the average soldier was found generally impossible after deduction of war risk insurance premiums, allotments and payments on Liberty Bonds. Few were able to take advantage of leaves when granted. After the departure of the first permissionnaires, hotels at Aix-les-Bains and the other two centers, running out of season at full expense, were left empty. Some never had been occupied. The YMCA solved the problem for both the soldier and the Army. The Army's attention was called to the unfairness of sol- diers defraying their own expenses when ordered on leave in the line of duty. Difficulty was encountered in reaching the proper authorities who recognized the Army's obligation to provide rations and lodgings to men when ordered on leave as in camp. Strong opposition to the leave area idea developed. Personal appeals at the Services of Supply Headquarters, combined vnth the efforts before the General Staff at General Headquarters, finally brought about a satisfactory General Order which put the Leave Areas on a successful basis— and gave the soldier in France his holiday leave away from the battlefields, where for a few days respite he could return to civil life. Leave Area Department Organized A separate department devoted exclusively to the development of this project was established during the big German offensives of March, April and May, 1918. Because of his legal ability in executing leases and general administrative experience, Mr. Edmonds was chosen head THE SOLDIERS' HOLIDAYS 173 of the department. Mr. Gate's judgment in selection of leave centers and genius for organization made him equally valuable. He had laid the foundations on a practical, working basis. He organized seven areas and one recreation center besides making the preliminary investigation for nearly every place operated, succeeding Mr. Edmonds upon the latter's retirement a year later. James A. Sprenger and C. A. Russell were also associated in an executive capacity, and largely responsible for the leave areas' success, together with Mrs. Roosevelt, who became head of all the women in the leave area field. Army Commands Y to Open 25 New Leave Areas All leaves, which had been annulled for three months during the heavy fighting, were restored late in June, 1918. Due to the extremely rapid increase of incoming Americans, the Army, now fully appreciative of the value of the leave area idea, requested the Y M C A to develop immediately twenty-five new centers equipped with accommodation for 50,000 men. Using the Savoy Area as a pattern and training school for new leave workers, plans were rushed for the opening of the Brit- tany, Auvergne, Dauphine, Ardeche, Herault, Gard, Riviera, Pyrenees, Alpine, Annecy and Biarritz Areas. The towns operated as leave centers within jurisdiction of the various areas comprised Aix-les-Bains, Chambery, Challes-les-Eaux, St. Malo, Dinard, Parame, St. Servan, La Bourboule, Montdore, Grenoble, Uriage- les-Bains, Allevard-les-Bains, Vals-les-Bains, Lamalou-les-Bains, Nimes, Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo, M'enton, Luchon, Cauterets, Eaux-Bonnes, Pau, Chamonix, St. Gervais, Le Fayet, Annecy and Biarritz. Madame Jofire and the Recreation Centers To this great enterprise, covering a multitude of activities from Brittany's coast to the Riviera, from the shores of Biscay to the Rhine, and from the Pyrenees to the Alps, was added the system of Recre- ation Centers. These provided entertainment and recreation for men on short leaves, of a few hours or a week-end. The idea was suggested by the Association of French Homes, an organization formed to give American officers a glimpse of French home life. Madame Jofifre, wife of the Marshal, was Honorary President. Its executive head was Madame Edouard de Billy, wife of the alternate delegate of the French High Commission to the United States, a brilliant French, woman much interested in the promotion of Franco-American friendship. The first Recreation Center was opened in the Hotel de la Plage at Ste. Marguerite, for Army and Navy officers at St. Nazaire. There Mme. Borel, widow of the Portuguese diplomat, assisted by Miss Mar- garet Sharp, daughter of the American Ambassador, conducted a social 174 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA program through the Summer of 1918. The experiment proved so successful that similar centers were opened at Trez-Hir, near Brest, Nancy, close to the Front, and Valengay, near Issoudun. Later Lyons, a railroad center where great numbers of men were obliged to wait for trains, was added, and after the Armistice similar work was estab- lished in Paris for men and officers on leave. Swimming Pools for the Army at Nancy The recreation center at Nancy opened in July, 1918, soon became one of the most valuable developments of the recreation idea. The Hotel de I'Europe was rented as an Officers' Club, and a large office building opposite the railroad station was fitted up as a dormitory for enlisted men with accommodations for four hundred. The Nancy Thermal, a magnificent bathing establishment which had just been com- pleted by the Summer of 1914, and which contained a magnificent swim- ming pool, 170 feet by 70 feet, with twenty-eight hundred litres of natural warm sulphur water per minute. Summer and Winter, was leased. It was fortunate that the Y had made this arrangement, for in a short time Nancy became a center for a large portion of soldiers, who were concen- trating first for the St. Mihiel Drive, and secondly, for the battle of the Argonne. Realizing the advantage which this concentration presented, the Y Leave Area Department requested the Army to install a salvage plant at the Nancy Thermal where soldiers bathing would have the opportunity of securing fresh underwear, stockings, shoes, and other supplies. This was done and from August, 1918, to February, 1919, 120,000 men took advantage of the baths at Nancy. In addition the Y served a free lunch at this place, and installed a cinema in the enter- tainment hall. For a long period of time the Second Army had its leave trains, averaging 1200 soldiers, center at Nancy, where the men all re- ceived a fresh outfit of clothing, then bathed, then lunched at the Y, and then departed on leave trains clean and happy. This recreation center was also used in November, 1918, as a place for the entertainment of prisoners of war, not only Americans but British, French, Italians and Russians, who had been given their freedom at the signing of the Armistice. With no directions as to how to return to the Allied lines, nor supplies, many of these found their way on foot into Nancy and were received, bathed, fed, and entertained by the Y. The Show Place of the Leave Area Valenqay was perhaps the show place of the recreation centers for it possessed an elaborate historical background in the Chateau de Valengay, famous since mediaeval ages as the home of the d'Etampes family, John Law of the notorious Mississippi Bubble, of the Perigord- THE SOLDIERS' HOLIDAYS 175 Talleyrands, and as the prison of Ferdinand of Spain while a captive of Napoleon. This . celebrated building was generously thrown open to the Y free of charge, by the Duke of Valengay. * The Rhine Valley Area was opeaed after the Armistice, following the advance of the Army of Occupation. Five centers were conducted at Coblenz, Neuwied, Treves, Andernach, and Neuenahr. These were operated under supervision of the Paris Leave Area office until May 7, 1919, when they were turned over to the control pf the Third Army Y M C A at Coblenz, to be merged eventually with the general Y M C A work within its respective Army divisions in Germany. Leave Areas for Negro Troops In view of the high grade of the work attained by all of the colored secretaries, men and women, in France, it is not surprising to find that their work in the Leave Areas was of such quality as to receive the highest commendation from General Headquarters. In December, 1918, the centers of Chambery and Challes-les-Eaux in the Savoy Area were set aside for negro soldiers on leave. Each was conducted by a colored secretarial staff which managed permissionnaires in their charge in a manner highly commended by the French officials and inhabitants of the two cities. The principal difficulty here was in securing a competent colored personnel for which President John Hop'e of Morehouse College, head of the colored secretaries department, made a special trip to the United States. Mr. William L. Anderson was placed in charge of the two negro centers. He was assisted by Mrs. Helen L. Curtis of New Orleans, widow of a former American Consul to Liberia. Army and Y Work Together in All Leave Areas The cooperative plan in all Leave Areas was as follows: Upon assignment to leaves, troops were transported to the various areas in special trains. They were met at the stations by Y personnel, and reg- istered by the American Provost Marshal, then assigned to hotels oper- ated by their respective proprietors under Y supervision. In each city or resort the Y M C A maintained some large social center, usually the casino or chief amusement place. On its list were some of the most noted institutions of the kind in Europe including the Grand Cercle at Aix-les-Bains, the High Life Casino at Dinard, the St. Malo Casino, the Jetee Promenade at Nice, the Cercle Nautique at Cannes, the Palais du Soleil at Beausoleil, overlooking Monaco, all converted into elaborate club houses. In the Recreation Centers were the Coblenz Fest Halle, the Kxu-haus and Roman baths at Neuenahr, the magnificent Palais de Glace in Paris, numerous historic chateaux 176 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA such as the Chateau de Valengay and many smaller casinos of lesser note throughout France. Tours for the Soldiers on Leave A phase of the Association's activities which continued popular as long as there were soldiers in France was the affording of facilities for sightseeing. This was conducted at all the Leave Areas and in many of the larger cities, The work at Paris illustrates the volume and popu- larity of this service. The granting of three-day leaves in Paris to members of the A E F necessarily resulted in a great expansion of the sight-seeing work which had been carried on on a small scale in connec- tion with the hotels for officers and enlisted men, and early in 1919 it was organized as a separate Department of the Paris Division. Beginning with a personnel of nineteen, it came within a few weeks to demand the services of more than one hundred workers. In the city itself, sight-seeing tours, on foot, by motor and by boat, were conducted, including all the points of general interest. Arrangements were also made for trips of special interest to particular groups, such as one to places made familiar by the novels of Victor Hugo, another through the sewers of Paris, designed particularly for engineers, and others to the Sevres Pottery Works and to the plant of the Gobelin Tapestry Manufacturing Company. It was found possible in connection with this work to secure a number of privileges which are not usually open to visitors to Paris. Of the out-of-town tours, the one to Versailles proved to be the most popular. After traveling conditions had become more nearly normal, a daily excursion by train to Rheims and Chateau-Thierry was inaugurated. Through all the picturesque country, the doughboy was enabled to visit the most interesting places. Some of the soldiers became en- thusiastic Alpine climbers, scaling many of the tallest peaks. Guide books were furnished giving historical details of the country visited. Boat excursions on Lakes Bourget and Annecy, the Seine, up and down the Rhine were regular features besides water festivals on the Mediterranean at Nice and Menton. Some of the most noted opera houses of France were rented by the YMCA for theatrical performances. In addition to an extensive program of concerts, vaudeville, opera, soldier shows, instructive lec- tures, movies and athletics the YMCA conducted educational classes at the leave areas for the benefit of those wishing to continue certain courses during spare hours. From December, 1917, to July 1, 1919, 703,463 persons took advantage of the Association's sight-seeing service in Paris, of whom 554,400, coming after March 15, received it free of charge, at a cost to the Y M C A of more than 300,000 francs, exclusive of salaries of SENDING THE SOLDIERS' MONEY HOME 177 secretaries and upkeep of motor cars. In the later stages of re- patriation, sightseeing was continued, and as late as October and Novem- ber, 1919, 4000 soldiers enjoyed this service. The Leave Areas represented a service of the most varied char- acter. In its entirety the American people may regard with satisfaction the general excellence of its accomplishments. Throughout there was the closest cooperation with the French as well as the. English, through the instrumentality of the International Hospitality League in England, in the endeavor to supply every comfort to the American soldier in his leisure moments. IX— REMITTANCES— SENDING THE SOLDIERS' MONEY BACK HOME Free Banking for the Soldiers An early problem for the soldier in France, and later in Great Britain and Russia, was the care of his money. The Army took all other prob- lems oS his shoulders; food, billets, regulations were provided for him, but he alone was responsible for the safeguarding of his personal funds — both the money he brought with him and his "Army pay." The great difficulties he would encounter in sending money home from out of the way villages in France were foreseen by F. E. Powell of the Anglo- American Oil Co., London, who was acting as an advisor of the Chief Secretary, and who urged the arrangement of a remittance service by the Y M C A. Accepting the suggestion the Y offered to receive and forward remittances from soldiers without charge. As a result of this service the Y found itself engaged in extensive banking operations as trustees of funds. The Y on behalf of the members of the A E F forwarded 351,460 remittances, involving the sum of $21,558,214.41 to the relatives of the soldiers, throughout the world, without any charge for handling. This service was especially valuable in the front areas and the combat zones. In the storm and stress of battle with men wounded, gassed or dying.it was impossible to find any other means of sending the money home except through the Association. All red tape was dispensed with. Just before going into battle, large numbers of men made remittances. The soldier handed the money to the Y secretary, who gave a receipt, sometimes on a scrap of paper or on the back of an envelope. A letter of advice was forwarded to Paris, which in turn instructed New York headquarters to pay a specified sum to a designated payee. These letters were entrusted either to the ordinary mails or to the Navy itself, for transmission and for safety and security. Two weeks later, carbon copies of the same advices were forwarded for verification 178 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA and for substitution for the original advices in case the originals should be lost or destroyed. This method of transmitting funds, while safe and acceptable at the time to the soldiers, was subject to many delays, the causes of which delays were entirely beyond the control of the Y organization. * This service soon became very popular with the soldiers; the number of remittances grew rapidly. The work of the YMCA of forwarding remittances for the troops in the A E F was begun in the latter part of February, 1918, and continued even in 1920. In February, 1918, the month the service began, there were 68 remittances forwarded. In October of the same year, only eight months subsequently, the number of remittances despatched amounted to 59,423 — and from this the service grew to the grand total of 351,460, aforementioned. Transmitting Large Funds by Cable The Association also transmitted money by cable. To New York alone the Y cabled 549 remittances, aggregating $98,287.39. With the exception of some cable transfers for which a charge was made the majority were transmitted without any charge for the service, although it cost the Association 32 cents for every remittance forwarded. It would have cost the soldiers more than $1 12,000 for the actual expense incurred for this service. It is estimated that if the entire amount had been forwarded through the banks it would have cost the men in uniform $150,000. If the money had been transmitted through the Army Post Office, it would have cost $97,000. In spite of all the money handled, the numerous obstacles en- countered, the great handicaps under which the Y persoimel labored, only 263 remittances remain undelivered. This constitutes less than one-thirteenth of 1% or one remittance in 1300. These have been held up mainly on accoimt of the payee's address being defective and every effort is being made to effect delivery. The fluctuating rate of exchange involved considerable loss to the Association. As is shown elsewhere, the average conversion rate for the year 1918 was 5.70 francs to the dollar. In October, 1919, the rate had depreciated to 8.78 francs to the dollar, and in December, 1919, to 10.90 francs to the dollar. Because of the large zone of operations and the impossibility of obtaining reliable information of the rate of conversion, the soldier was given the benefit of any doubt. It may be interesting to observe that the average remittance to the United States equalled $61.41 ; to other parts of the world $59.52; the average remittance per cable $179.01 ; virhile the average remittance throughout the whole operations amounted to $61.05. In addition to the foregoing, the Y developed an extensive banking THE CRUSADE FOR GOD AND COUNTRY 179 business. The French banks refused to cash American checks other than Army pay checks. The duty then devolved on the Y to serve the soldier and assist him in cashing his checks. For some time it made payment on pay checks, personal checks and checks on American banks in large numbers. This was especially heavy at week-ends and holidays. While the Y cashed' the checks according to the varying rate of exchange, it did not charge anything for the service as the banks did. The consequent saving to the soldiers from this source alone is esti- mated to have aggregated $100,000. Money orders aggregating $20,500,000 were handled in the Y huts in the United States. X— RELIGION AND CITIZENSHIP— THE CRUSADE FOR GOD AND COUNTRY Spiritual Forces Which Support Civilization All unselfish service to humanity is essentially of a religious char- acter. The work of all the relief and welfare organizations in the World War was a demonstration of practical Christianity. The War, in fact, was fought to maintain Christian civilization. The Y M C A in all its activities, whether in entertainment, athletics, education, or in any other phase of helpfulness to the armies, was actuated at all times by the teach- ings and spirit of Christ. In full expression of its world-wide watch- word: The development of young manhood in "Body, Mind, and Spirit," the Y M C A's ministration to the spiritual needs of the soldiers is one of its noblest services. There v^as a total attendance estimated at 37,000,000 at the special services conducted by the Religious Work Department of the Y M C A in the home camps and overseas. These services were held in huts, in auditoriums, in any buildings that were available, and often out- doors when the weather permitted. More than 100,000 Bible classes were held in the home camps, attended by more than 3,000,000. Between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 copies of the New Testament and portions of Scripture were distri- buted among the troops by the Y in cooperation with the American Bible Society and the Pocket Testament League. More than 200 music directors were trained and sent into the camps at home and overseas. Over 1,000,000 song books were circulated by the Association in himdreds of camps. More than 15,000,000 copies of special religious books and pamph- lets were printed and distributed by the Y M C A. These had been prepared by noted church leaders in the United States. 180 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA The War Roll pledge, early adopted by the Y as a declaration of Christian purposes, and practically the only form used at any meeting under Association auspices, was signed by upwards of 500,000 men. The whole character of Y M C A service being religious, although 1462 clergymen were sent overseas by the YMCA, only a small portion of these were assigned to definite religious duties, aside from the smaller group of special speakers sent in 1919. Denominationally the rosters of these were as follows : Baptist, 268 ; Christian, 100 ; Congregational, 191 ; Dutch Reformed, 1; Episcopal, 129; Evangelical, 3; Lutheran, 9; Metho- dist, 338 ; Moravian, 1 ; Presbyterian, 361 ; Reformed, 14 ; Swedenborgian, 1 ; Union, 8 ; Unitarian, 23 ; United Brethren, 7 ; Universalist, 8. Non-Sectarian Spirit Permeated the Armies At the huts, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish chaplains conducted or assisted in services of an informal character. Saturday evening a Roman Catholic chaplain would use the quarters of a Pres- byterian minister as an improvised confessional, and Sunday morning celebrate early inass in the hut, which later was used for a Protestant service. On the two great Jewish holy days. New Year's Day and the Day of Atonement, when Jewish soldiers were given three days of leave to go to certain designated centers, the YMCA huts at these places were placed at the disposal of Jewish rabbis. At the Jewish New Year's Day service in the Y hut at Chaumont, General Headquarters of the A E F, a Roman Catholic chaplain, by invitation of the officiating rabbi, made the address, while Protestant ministers in the congregation joined in the service. Religious activities comprised: regular religious work furthered by specially designated leaders and chaplains cooperating with the Asso- ciation, and evangelistic addresses by special speakers ; Bible study work ; distribution and use of religious literature, Bibles and Testaments, hymn books and various other kinds of books; recruiting for Christian life vocations. For months the Music Department formed a part of the Religious Work Bureau. Later it was established as a separate agency, but a close relationship was maintained. Schools for training the large num- ber of music directors required were inaugurated in New York and in three territorial departments, the men so trained being sent both into the home camps and those overseas. On the basis that all helpful service to the soldier is of a religious nature, the Y M C A felt that the program which did not provide opportunity for religious services as one form of special assistance was incomplete. It was the firm conviction that habits of worship are far more important factors in the lives of men in both civil and THE CRUSADE FOR GOD AND COUNTRY 181 military life, than recreation and physical and mental development. Religious services were held once or twice on Sunday in nearly all of the Association huts and other Y centers ; midweek services also were conducted in many huts and daily services in many of the Leave Areas. Only 19 per cent of the regular secretaries were ordained ministers, but many hut secretaries who were Christian laymen cooperated whole- heartedly in the religious programs by conducting services and giving addresses of great inspirational value. Secretaries cooperated with army chaplains, turning their huts over to them. When chaplains were lacking, the secretaries them- selves would hold services. Well-known clergymen were sent over- seas for work in the camps. In addition to holding services these men made addresses upon different subjects of an ethical and moral nature. In most cases religious workers received full cooperation from army officers. So extensively was this plan adopted that one Division General cleared the calendar of all entertainment and other features for an entire week, officially ordering attendance at the special religious meetings. While the plan was opposed by a few at first, the officers who followed orders against their wishes expressed at the close the heartiest approval of this religious work program. That the plan was considered beneficial by the army men, who at first had disapproved, was shown by the fact that it was followed by other divisions. In all sections of the United States, France, and other countries where the Y M C A was in the service, the spirit of religion pernieated its duties, and its quickening influence was widely felt. Indicative of this fact is the following extract from a letter written by a Y secretary in England. "The spirit of sullenness, skepticism, cynicism and stolid selfishness is gradually melting away under the Christ spirit of hopeful- ness and wholesome optimism and personal regard, the one for the other." Religious Work in Army of Occupation The Third Army organization was effected December 15, 1918, with Dr. Maitland Alexander, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, as its head. In addition to the regular meetings on Sundays, a large number of informal services were held during the week. In Cob- lenz, each Sunday evening from 7.30 to 9 a special service conducted by Dr. Alexander in the great "Fest Halle," which seated 2500, drew a congregation that completely filled the auditorium. Two full-time Reli- gious Work Directors were with each of the eight divisions in the Third Army. Twenty itinerant speakers, and the same number of singers, were also provided by the Association to assist those regularly assigned. More than 760 services were held. For even the numerically small detachments religious services were regularly conducted. Dr. Hugh 182 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Black, of Edinburgh and New York, and Dr. Henry C. Risner nightly delivered addresses to the American Forces in Germany, in the month of November, 1919. More than a million pieces of religious literature and 250,000 special Third Army edition song-books were distributed during the first six months of occupation. Organization of the Religious Work in America Organization of the distinctively religious feature of YMCA work in the home camps and overseas was due largely to the foresight of Dr. Mott. Sometime before the entry of the United States into the War he assembled a number of religious leaders. The part the Asso- ciation could take in respect to purely religious work in the event of war was discussed. This first meeting was followed by a larger one on April 6, 1917. At this conference a tentative program was adopted and committees appointed to fulfil its chief provisions. The War Work Council on April 28, 1917, arranged for the forma- tion of the Religious Work Bureau. Full charge of the religious work of the Council was given to the Bureau only in the United States. But this Bureau, while having no authority overseas, cooperated with religious workers of all kinds, leaders, speakers, secretaries, etc. The prepara- tion of religious literature and its distribution was also one of its allotted tasks. i Another duty performed by the YMCA was that of recruiting men for making addresses on religious topics to the soldiers Overseas. President C. A. Barbour, who headed the personnel section of the Re- ligious Work Bureau, labored long and potently in the matter of re- cruiting these special workers, nearly all of those so secured being clergymen and evangelists. Many were representatives of the most prominent churches in the United States. Organization of Religious Work in France In France the religious work, which was planned to include preach- ing, Bible Study promotion and circulation of Christian literature, was at first conducted under the leadership of Dr. Robert Freeman of Pasa- dena, Cal., who was succeeded by Carlton Harrison. Bishop Luther B. Wilson, in June, 1918, acted as honorary head, with Carlton Harrison as executive secretary. Bishop Wilson retained the position until the early Autumn, when President Henry C. King of Oberlin College, took charge. * President King was made a member of the Executive Com- mittee in France. He made plans for a complete organization of the YMCA religious work in France when the signing of the Armistice necessitated their modification to a large extent. Under his direction, however, an organization was developed which proved entirely practical. THE CRUSADE FOR GOD AND COUNTRY 183 In addition to the personnel in the field it used to the greatest advantage the large body of special speakers of all denominations detailed from the United States. Religious Work of the Y M C A during the Post-Armistice Period The religious work of the Association during the post-armistice period was carried out as far as possible according to the program which President Henry C. King had formulated at the time he took charge of the Religious Work Department in 1918, though certain modifications were necessitated by changing military conditions. In the Spring Presi- dent King was called by the Government to an important mission in the Near East, and he was succeeded as Religious Work Director by Dr. Cleland B. McAfee, of Chicago. This program contemplated an extensive and varied work, not only along the usual lines of furnishing speakers, distributing literature and promoting Bible study, but also in such ways as the development of methods of work adapted to the needs of particular groups, such as the colored men and the American railway men in Europe; the improvement of sacred music in connection with religious services; the giving of counsel in the matter of life callings; and the dissemination of information regarding the deeper meanings of the war and the constructive issues involved in it. In spite of great difficulties arising out of the shortage of transporta- tion, the reorganization on the basis recommended by President King resulted in a marked increase in the efficiency and influence of the Reli- gious Work Department. On August 1, 1918, its personnel consisted of 73 workers, of whom 67 were in the field. During the year following that date, there were 721 engaged in its activities, 624 men and 97 women. In the main, these workers did not devote themselves exclusively to duties of a distinctively religious nature, but, in order to link up the religious program with the hut work and to coordinate it with every activity which promoted and emphasized the Association's objective, they served in almost every capacity, in the huts, at the leave areas, as guides in museums or on sight-seeing trips, as educational or recreational workers, wherever they could establish helpful touch with the men them- selves. Some features of this work proved to be specially eflfective. In connection with the distribution of religious literature, for example, in October, 1918, a weekly average of about 62,000 items were being distributed, while in April and May, 1919, the weekly average was more than 528,000 items. From October 1, 1918, to June 1, 1919, there were sent out by the Department 11,500,128 items, and previous to October 1, 1918, so far as records are available, 2,668,960 items, making a total of 14,169,088. These included Bibles, Testaments and other 184 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA portions of the Scriptures, Bible study courses, religious books, pamphlets, tracts, song books, posters, post cards, etc. In addition to the popular song books included in these figures, the Director of Sacred Music also sent out from time to time large numbers of copies of special music designed for use at religious services and on partic- ular occasions. The Easter services were especially well provided for in this way. This music was rendered by singers and other musi- cians recruited from the Entertainment Department and by soldier choirs trained for the purpose. "Comrades in Service" An organization promoted by the Religious Work Department should be mentioned as having rendered useful service. This organi- zation, known as "Comrades in Service," was participated in by the Knights of Columbus, the Jewish Welfare Board, and the Salvation Army, as well as by the YMCA, and all of these societies had repre- sentatives on its Central Council. Its object was the formation of similar organizations in the various military units which should stim- ulate interest in religion, education, hygiene, recreation, wholesome entertainment, clean living, and general morale, but whose activities should be largely self-directed and along non-partisan and non-sec- tarian lines. More than 200 such clubs were formed, and a total membership of about 200,000 was enrolled, including all ranks from generals to privates. Their influence led thousands of men into volun- tary classes of various sorts, created a large number of citizenship forums, and resulted in the circulation of a bi-weekly paper which carried its message to a large percentage of the A E F. Their work was highly commended by General Pershing, who awarded to "Com- rades in Service" the fund from the "Chicago Tribune" which he had been asked to place for the best interests of the men of the A E F. The "Honey Bee Clubs" of the Colored Troops Another organization which proved its usefulness was known as the Honey Bee Clubs and was designed to help the colored soldiers in the American Army. These clubs were originated by an Asso- ciation worker among the colored troops at Brest engaged in unload- ing transports and other such labor. In his first religious meeting he used a humble little parable of the South, telling the difference between the honey bee and the turkey buzzard. It was in this way that the idea was conceived, and as a result of the meeting the first Honey Bee Club was organized, a negro Bible class numbering some 400 men. It met the needs of the colored men so well that the idea was passed on to other camps where they were located. A special PROVISIONS AND MEN TO THE FRONT 185 badge was made and distributed for use by members of the Clubs. Up to July 1, 1919, the Department had issued 21,550 badges and had distributed 14,200 copies of Honey Bee Lessons, a simple course of Bible study prepared especially for the purpose. Letters have been received from practically every oiificer commanding colored troops, commending the work of the Honey Bee Clubs and its splendid results in building up the morale of the men. In one important unit the Commanding Officer promulgated a system of rewards and pun- ishments in which the Honey Bee badges had a part. The Observance of Special National Days A notable feature of the religious work was the attention given to the observance of special days. Such recognition was given during the closing months to four days in particular — Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July — on which excellent use was made of the staflf of speakers specially recruited by Dr. Barbour in America. The largest attendance at religious services was on Easter Sunday. In connection with Memorial Day, services were arranged at the American cemeteries and at practically all of the points where American soldiers were stationed. In this the Association cooperated with the other welfare agencies and with the Graves Registration Service of the Army, as well as with American civilians in France. Reduction of Personnel By the beginning of August, 1919, the personnel of the Depart- ment had been reduced to 45 workers, and at the end of the month its activity as a headquarters department was ended, though at all points where the work of the Association was continued locally this important part of its service has been maintained. XI— TRANSPORTATION AND SUPPLIES— GETTING PROVISIONS AND MEN TO THE FRONT The Y Forced to Become a Great Industrial Organization The transportation of supplies and men to all parts of the world under the severest military restrictions was fraught with almost insur- mountable difficulties. Transportation became a military monopoly; navies controlled the high seas; ships and railroads were strained to the utmost to meet the demands of the armies ; industries were working day and night to provide munitions, provisions, and neces- sites for the herculean task of conducting a World War. Armies in all warfare must be the first consideration — all else is secondary. 186 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA The YMCA, recognizing at all times this military necessity, under- took to meet its own difficulties through its own initiative and its own resources. A Few Impressive Facts and Figures The Y shipped from the United States to France alone $25,424,537 worth of supplies, aggregating 103,816,367 pounds in weight, an amount equal to 21 full ship loads. The Y shipped supplies from America to Siberia, $1,143,314; to Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Roumania, Czecho-Slovakia, Ger- many, Italy, England, Switzerland, U. S. Naval Bases throughout the world, Insular Possessions, White Sea, — until the grand total for all parts of the world, including France, reached $28,637,322, These operations, great as they seem, were but a .part of the service. The Y found it necessary to take over and operate 44 fac- tories in France alone to supply their needs in addition to the ship- ments from America — thus becoming the largest American manu- facturing organization in Europe, outside of the Army. Great quantities of supplies were also secured by the Y in Eng- land, France, Italy and Spain. The transportation of Y supplies and men required over 2220 motor trucks and cars in France alone in addition to the railroad and steam- ship lines — thus requiring the Y to operate one of the largest motor transport and garage industries in Europe, outside of the Armies. During the busiest period, approximately 1000 freight cars were handled per month for the A E F-Y MCA. Problems Involved in This Complicated Enterprise The problem involved in handling, storing and transporting this great volume of supplies from ships to the front was one of the largest encountered overseas. Available tonnage was a serious factor The amount that could be secured was always far less than requirerl in filling the demands. Commercial tonnage was utilized as far as it was available. Chief Secretary Canter made it clear from the very beginning that the Post Exchanges could not operate successfully unless sufficient ocean tonnage was placed at the disposal of the Association. He asked that the same amount of transport be avail- able for the Canteen Department of the Y M C A as would have been used by the Army if the Army operated its own Post Exchanges— and in addition a certain amount for other Association activities. On December 1, 1917, the YMCA indicated that the minimum tonnage required would be 208.83 tons per month for each 25,000 men, plus eight tons of exceptional tonnage for each division for equip- GETTING PROVISIONS AND MEN TO THE FRONT 187 ment. In January, 1918, General Headquarters informed the Y that only 100 tons per month per 25,000 men could be allotted. From the outset the Assbciation was faced with a shortage exceeding 50 per cent of the required needs. Difficulties in Discharging and Storing Cargoes at Base Ports Under stress of war the harbor facilities of France were taxed to the utmost. Commercial steamers landed for the most part at Bor- deaux and Marseilles and discharged their cargoes on the docks. In these cases the steamship companies had adequate storage facilities and goods could be landed and checked over against the ship's mani- fest. With the Army transports the conditions were different. Dock- ing and storing facilities were entirely insufficient. The largest ves- sels could not be docked and had to be unloaded on. lighters. Even the smaller vessels due to lack of harbor space had often to lie ouU in the bay and transferred their cargoes to lighters. This had to be done with the greatest dispatch for a transport is of no value from a military standpoint if it is kept lying at wharf. Generally within 24 hours after a ship cast anchor its cargo had been discharged and it was again under way. Lighters swarmed about it like bees; goods were handed from the hatches, regardless of mark or contents, and transferred from barge to dock with only the roughest sort of classification attempted. Often one barge would contain Quartermaster and Ordnance supplies, Y M C A and Red Cross goods. Marks were often obliterated or goods buried in such a way that it was impossible to determine the owner. Everj^hing was in the hands of the Army, unloading the vessels, checking, storing and ship- ping from the port. Everything was subordinated to the military necessity of speed. Goods could not be kept lying on the docks with- out seriously hampering the unloading of the next vessel. The Army provided cars and shipped each cargo to one of the Bases. It some- times happened that Y goods, mixed with Army, Red Cross and other welfare organization supplies, were loaded on a car together without being detected. Weeks later they would turn up at Gievres. Organization of the Traffic Department To handle this difficult situation the Traffic Department was or- ganized. At first, as 90% of the goods handled were Post Exchange articles, this department was directly under the Post Exchange. In May, 1918, however, the operations grew to such importance that it was set up as a separate department of the General Supply Division under C. D. Silvernail. 188 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Traffic Department men were stationed at all the Base Ports. They were informed as soon as possible of shipments which were on the waters and instructed to keep on the lookout for them. When a transport arrived, these men were on the job day and night locating and checking YMCA goods. In spite of their indefatigable labors they were unable to locate at the docks the bulk of the Y goods. Often at one port there would be a commercial steamer unloading at its wharf, an army transport unloading at another, while out in the harl)or another would be discharging its cargo on lighters. Enough men were not available to have one art each hatch; even if this re- quirement had been met the conditions were such as to make it im- possible to locate all the goods. It is estimated that only about 50% of the 25,000 tons of goods unloaded was located at the point of entry, the remainder being found after forwarding to the intermediate warehouses. This was due not at all to lack of energy or ability of the Traffic Department personnel. There are many records of men working 36 hours without rest in order to check a ship's cargo. It resulted from the conditions with which they were confronted. A maximum of 65 men were employed for this work, not more than 60 being actually on duty at any one time. This little force was responsible for the delivery of monthly shipments which grew from 168 tons in January, 1918, to 7800 tons in January, 1919, and which included a variety of over 159 articles from fountain pens to motor trucks. "Race to Berlin" By means of a competition known as "The Race to Berlin," freight- handling was expedited and a morale-building machine built up among the men of the Services of Supply. This branch of the service was full of men who had enlisted to fight and were chafing because they had been assigned to duty in the back areas and port cities. Major General Harbord realized that special measures were required to raise their spirits and requested the Y M C A to devise some plan to speed up the handling of freight in the port cities and to encourage the hundreds of thousands of men engaged in this branch of military service. The plan devised by Charles M. Steele of the Y Entertain- ment Department took the form of an efficiency contest to determine the championship port handling the largest tonnage in the effort to get the Army to Berlin. 'The contest was a decided success in causing a spurt in handling freight, the result being an average increase of 11 per cent in all ports for the six weeks from November 2 to December 17, 1918, during which the contest lasted. Each of the nine ports competed' ao-ainst GETTING PROVISIONS AND MEN TO THE FRONT 189 its previous eight weeks' average tonnage, and on a point basis care- fully computed the leadership changed weekly. The final victory fell to Brest with Rochefort and Rouen close up in almost a blanket finish. According to the contest, the "Race to Berlin" was won in six weeks and two days, whereas the schedule allowed eight weeks for the contest. Obstacles in Transport of Materials from Port to Warehouse The question of handling supplies was not alone that of getting them off ships and on docks. It was of prime importance that they be transferred with the least possible delay to the individual hut — ^be it at port, the interior, or on the fighting front. Between June 1, 1918 and March 1, 1919 the Traffic Department handled 9554 cars of material ranging in weight from 10 to 30 tons each. It is difficult for an American unfamiliar with Europe in war-time to visualize the transportation situation. Our highly perfected rolling equipment, fully adapted for large transcontinental hauls, is as un- familiar in Europe as a ship-of-the-line on the prairies of the Middle West. "Over there" the railroad equipment is adapted for short hauls of small quantities. The average car holds only about ten tons. This cuts down the amount of goods necessary to make up the average American carload, and increases the number of cars necessary to handle a long shipment. The turnover in European stock is relatively low. Cars or engines are never scrapped as long as they will run. In every French train several generations of types and classes of rolling stock will be rep- resented. However well this system is adopted to normal peace-time conditions on the Continent it is a great handicap to military oper- ations. The military problem is to transfer large shipments of ma- terial from base to the fighting line in the shortest possible time. The American train, with its 50 ton cars and mammoth engines capable of handling a large load at a rapid rate, is ideal for this pur- pose. The French system with its small cars and engines, requiring as it does three, trains to one American, with consequent track con- gestions and loss of time on sidings, constituted a very serious handi- cap. In addition to this, war conditions had prevented proper up-keep of material resulting in serious delays as cars became disabled in tran- sit and had to be sent out for repairs. The tremendously increased ship- ments over normal demands, caused by the operation of three armies, resulted in a serious actual shortage of equipment. 190 WAR WORK Of THE AMERICAN YMCA French Railways Under Rigid Military Control The entire railroad system of France was placed under the direc- tion of the French Department of War. Shipments of all goods con- sidered as military necessities were authorized only on special War Department orders known as transport orders (ordres de transport.) Goods included in this category were military supplies and foodstuffs. All other commodities were shipped on priority certificates (bons de priorite) ; that is after all military supplies had been shipped, com- mercial goods would be handled according to their priority classifi- cation. This, then, was the problem the Y had to face in transporting its goods from port to field. The situation was similar in many respects to the ocean trans- port problem. A military monopoly existed. In order to function at all it was necessary that Y shipments be placed in a class coordi- nate with other departments of the A E F. Recognizing the military necessity of Y goods the Commander-in-Chief gave the Association the right to use transport orders. Unavoidable Delays in Securing Transport Orders This privilege was not fully recognized by the different railroad companies or the French War Department till the end of August, 1918. At that time, through the insistence of the Y M C A Legal Department the Traffic Department of the Y M C A was given the privilege of issuing transport orders. Before this point was definitely settled the Y experienced many serious delays because of refusal of the authorities on certain lines to honor these orders. The report of the Traffic Department shows very reasonable cooperation from the Army at all bases. Army transportation offi- cers were liberal in the interpretation of the orders concerning the allotment of cars. During periods of military emergency absolute embargoes were placed on Y shipments, priority being given to bare subsistence and ammunition. Special embargoes affecting certain lines were in effect practically all the tirrie. For the actual assignment of cars, the Traffic Department had access to two sources: First, the French authorities; second, the American Army. An attempt always was made to get cars directly from the French ; upon failure an appeal was made to the Army for necessary transportation. It was often necessary to go directly to Headquarters because of the fact that orders covering the movement of supplies were not sufficiently specific. These appeals were generally favorably acted upon whenever it was possible. GETTING PROVISIONS AND MEN TO THE FRONT 191 Loss of Cars and Delays in Shipment Endless troubles were caused by loss and delays of cars in transit. Frequently cars would become disabled en route and have to be side- tracked for repairs; this made it necessary to transfer the cargo to other cars. It was a question of weeks sometimes to trace these cars ; often they were never found, due to the fact that proper records would not be made when the transfer was made — and the cargo would be turned over to the Army. It finally became necessary to send a convoy with each important shipment to ensure its prompt arrival at its destination. On the average it took about 30 days from the time sup- plies were loaded until they were received at the warehouse. Great Warehouses Operated by the Y in France The principal warehouses operated in France included : 7 base port warehouses, 5 central; 3 forward and 32 divisional. As stated above, supplies had to be cleared from the base ports as rapidly as transportation could be secured. This required the main- tenance of a warehouse system in the interior where goods could be stored, checked and redistributed to the field. A warehouse was established for this purpose in Paris in November 1917, and in April 1918. a second base warehouse at the Intermediate General Supply Depot at Gievres was established. Organization of the Warehouse Department The Warehouse Department was created as a coordinate depart- ment of the General Supply Division, to meet tlie need of centralized control over all goods received from abroad or manufactured in France. By thus systematizing the records, the Warehouse Department was able to know the exact volume of supplies on hand and by cooperation with the Traffic Department the volume of supplies of different cate- gories en route to France or in transport on the railroad. Its relations with the Traffic Department were very intimate. By working together they were able to make the best of the available facilities. The duties of the Warehouse Department were to assemble all Y M C A shipments, check and classify them and consign them to the field on order from the Shipping and Order Department at Paris. Huge Warehouses at Paris and Gievres At Paris, two buildings on the Seine and a big warehouse north of the Seine were utilized. The warehouse received goods by rail 192 WAR tFOkk ot The AMEkicAN yMcA frona the base ports and factories, by trucks from local factories and by canal from the Channel ports. A total of 63,275 tons of supplies valued at $13,069,195, were shipped into the various fields from the Paris warehouse from December 1, 1917 to April 20, 1919. At Gievres the Army constructed three large warehouses similar to those used for military purposes. These warehouses received ship- ments by rail from base ports and interior factories. A total of 26,810 tons of supplies valued at $14,559,842 were shipped from the warehouses at Gievres from June 1, 1918, to April 30, 1919. During the seven months of greatest activity — ^July 1, 1918, to Janu- ary 31, 1919 — 2362 cars were handled at the station. The belt-line into Paris would not accommodate the large USA cars. Consequently all such had to be consigned to Gievres. Not having control over the loading of cars at the base ports it often hap- pened that certain goods intended for Paris had to be placed in U S A cars and go to Gievres, thus causing not only considerable delay but actual loss of efHciency because it was necessary to furnish transporta- tion back to Paris before the shipment could be utilized. Why Military Embargoes Retarded the Operations The Army for a long time could not allow warehouses to be estab- lished in the zone of operations. During offensives an embargo was always placed on shipments other than the very necessary military supplies. Hence, the Y found itself without supplies at the front the very time it needed them most. After much negotiation, perriiission was given to establish bases at Chaumont, Nancy, and .Ippecourt, within trucking distance of the front. Sub-warehouses were later established at Souilly to provide supplies for the Argonne. For obvious military reasons the Army could not give definite information as to positions on the front where troops were about to be concentrated. It was only occasionally through hints dropped, and tacit admission upon direct questioning, that reasonable information could be secured so that provision could be made to meet these emergencies. The forward warehouses were established to meet these shifting conditions. The Y Operated 44 Factories Abroad The problem of transportation and storage was not alone that of shipping goods from port to field, but was further complicated by the necessity of assembling raw materials necessary in the extensive manu- facture of Post Exchange supplies in which the YMCA was engaged. The scarcity of ship tonnage, preventing the shipment of confec- CeTTING provisions and men to the .front 193 tions from America and the absolute lack of these in Europe, forced the Y into an extensive manufacturing program. The scheme was set on foot early and by April 1, 1918, the Y accumulated enough raw material to begin operating on a large scale. From that date until December 31, 1918, when the Quartermaster Corps of the Ameri- can Army took over the plants the Association put successively into operation 44 factories. These factories during their maximum activity produced monthly 22,356,000 articles as follows: chocolate, 11,972,000 tablets; chocolate cream bars, 3,854,000; chocolate nut rolls, 1,590,000; caramels 3,120,000 cartons, and jam 2,000,000 tins. 23,797,267 pounds of flour valued at $1,246,300 and 23,787,700 pounds of sugar valued at $1,785,893 were imported for manufacture. The factories operating were the largest in France. The Olibet Biscuit Company in Paris and the Lefevre-Utile factory at Nantes are notable examples. Owing to the limited quantities of flour and sugar available in France, these factories had been forced to close for some months. Permission was secured from the French Government, and after con- siderable difficulty the idle plants were put in operation. It was necessary to import or assemble from distant parts of France practically everything which went into the makeup of the products. In this connection must be mentioned the voluntary and expert service rendered by Albert Philip Frapwell, who devoted him- self to the work of the Post Exchange Purchasing Department. How Critical Difficulties Were Overcome in Europe For the manufacture of biscuits, the Y had to transport such in- gredients as flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, almonds, peanuts, figs, etc., as well as material for cases. For the manufacture of jam, fruit pulp was brought from Spain and Southern France. Even the tins in which the jam was placed had to be manufactured. For this purpose tin was brought from Bordeaux. For the manufacture of chocolate, cocoa beans were needed in great quantities. Through its purchasing agents the Y cornered the cocoa bean supply, in France. Thousands of bags were brought from Bordeaux, Havre and St. Nazaire. Stationery was also manufactured. For this purpose wood pulp was purchased and transported to the factory ; lamp black for printing inks, gum arabic for mucilage and talc to surface the paper were bought in large quantities. A paper factory was also secured at Tolosa, Spain, where 100,000,- 000 sheets of writing paper bearing the Red Triangle were made. This employed practically the whole town, men, women and children, for a considerable period of time. When the American Army moved to the front line it found its 194 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA supply of hard bread was inadequate. It therefore took over the YMCA factory at Nantes. After arrangements were made in De- cember 1918, for the Army to supply the Post Exchange with goods, these factories were operated by the Quartermaster Corps. The assumption of the Post Exchange by the Army left the Y with an increased cold and hot drink program. For the manufacture of these articles, bottles, straws, bottle wrappers for packing, fruit syrups for flavoring, citric acid and lime juice were purchased in large quantities. Serious Problem of Motor Transport The end and aim of the warehousing and forwarding of supplies was to send them with the least possible delay to the canteens where they could be distributed to the soldier. The problem of getting supplies into the warehouses was chiefly one of overcoming railroad transport conditions. The problem of the distribution of these supplies to the various units was that of motor transport. It is needless to mention the difficulties the Association experienced in getting cars. At no time did its motor equipment approach the re- quired needs. Cars and trucks were purchased by the Y in France, England, Switzerland, Italy and the United States. An attempt to standeu-dize on a few types of automobiles was made, but not enough cars of any make could be secured. Eagerly grasping whatever cars could be secured in its great need, the Y fovmd itself operating twenty makes of touring cars, 22 makes of trucks and five of motorcycles. This made the problem of furnishing supplies and spare parts a very serious one. The total motor equipment purchased was about 2200 vehicles of all descriptions, costing $1,647,000. The number actually in operation at any time varied from twenty in September 1917, to 1665 in May 1919. Twenty-five percent of this equipment was purchased in France, eight percent in England, and five percent each in Switzerland and Italy. The remaining fifty- seven percent was imported from the United States. The Y Forced to Operate a Big Garage Business For the care and maintenance of this equipment the Association operated two large garages in Paris and one at each of the eight regional headquarters. Garages were also maintained at the divisional headquarters. There were maintained in France about 100 garages. Mobile re- pair shops were operated in the advance sector. Drivers and me- chanics employed aggregated about 600 men at the period of maximum GETTING PiiOViSiONS AND MEN TO THE ERONT 195 activity. Only about ten percent of these men were professional chauffeurs or mechanics. Seventy percent of the cars in operation were assigned to the ad- vanced area, thirty percent to the intermediate section and the bases. The most important function of the Transport Department was to move supplies from the base and forward warehouses to the canteens and the huts and on the fighting line. The Y M C A has been criticised for its failure to furnish ample supplies to the men at the front, but when the conditions under which it worked are thoroughly understood the marvel will be how it succeeded in accomplishing what it did. All Roads to the Front Jammed with Traffic The white roads of France are justly famous for their excellence, but were they made of adamant they could not have withstood the on- slaught of enemy shells and the constant grind of the never ending stream of heavily laden trucks and other military transports, to which they were subjected. In spite of the constant labor of army engineers the roads leading to the front were always full of holes, a fact which though seemingly insignificant in itself was a serious handicap to motor operations. , During offensives, all roads leading to the battle front were jammed with traffic. Great trucks laden with ammunition, food, and men, long lines of horse and motor drawn cannon, little carts bearing machine guns and ammunition, ambulances, every conceivable form of military transport crowded every possible road. There was no question of making speed any more than on a crowded city street. Strict mili- tary regulations ruled the traffic. Military police were at every crossroad to prevent confusion and jams. It was simply a question of winning running space on the road and following the general stream to the journey's end. To add to the difficulty much of the traffic had to be carried on at night — without light, not even the glow of a cigaret being permitted. This made it impossible to avoid shell holes and other obstructions, and put an extra strain on both cars and drivers. Such were the conditions under which the Red Triangle with its limited equipment was expected to supply sweets and smokes to over a million men in the fighting lines. How the Y Got Supplies to Chateau-Thierry The operations around Chateau-Thierry will serve to illustrate how this work of distribution of supplies was carried on. During those operations supplies were trucked directly from the Paris warehouse to a base some fifteen kilometers behind the lines. From this for- ward base light Ford trucks carried the goods forward as far as motof 196 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA transport was permitted. At given points dumps were established from which the regimental secretaries drew their supplies and trans- ported them sometimes on horseback sometimes on bicycles and often on their own backs to the very front. Similiar conditions prevailed in every sector during active operations. In the Argonne, most of the roads v/ere open to traffic one way only. It took sometimes twenty-four hours to make a circuit of fif- teen or twenty kilometers. At times, even the Army Quartermaster could not get to the front the necessary subsistence. Much less could the Y with its limited equipment — although its warehouses were often overflowing — get forward its goods. There was no question of lack of will — for men and trucks went until they could go no more. Insuperable physical limitations made, deliveries impossible. Thirty percent of the motor transport was used in the static areas back of the fighting line and in the base section of the Services of Supply. Heavy trucks were used to transport materials from base to field when railroad transport was not available. Camionettes were used to supply outlying points and to transport entertainers from railroad to hut. Each regional ^nd each divisional headquarters were supplied with one or more passenger cars and wherever possible a truck. At no time was the Y able to secure more than fifty percent of the transport which its activities required. XII— RELATIONSHIPS— COOPERATING WITH THE RELIEF AND WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS It has been the privilege of this handbook to pay tribute in the "Foreword" (see page vi) to the generous and beneficent work ac- complished by all the relief and social welfare organizations in the World War. Their valuable services to the soldiers cannot be cal- culated even by the statistical tables of the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, the Jewish Welfare Board, the Young Women's Christian Association, and all other organizations in the service of humanity. The Red Cross, as the first of the relief OKganizations, has issued its own historical statement of accomplishments — the most notable record of achievement in all the annals of relief work. It records that its expenditures throughout the world reached $273,000,000, and that its home workers reached a grand total of 8,100,000. It sent 23,822 nurses into the Army, and Navy, and Red Cross hospitals, expending $57,000,000 in France, $48,000,000 in the United States, WITH THE RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS 197 $64,000,000 elsewhere — the remainder was in supplies and articles distributed. In the social welfare group, the Knights of Columbus issued recently its own history, recording how its workers registered abroad from America, performed a most noteworthy service. Besides 1134 secretaries engaged in home service, the Knights of Columbus report a total of 1075 workers sent overseas. This number included 36 chap- lains and 563 secretaries in France ; a commissioner and 41 secretaries in the British Isles; and 14 secretaries in Italy and Dalmatia. The Jewish Welfare Board, with its 189 workers, extended a highly efficient service of unselfish devotion to a great cause, the results of which it will issue in its own statement. The Salvation Army, with its 264 workers from America, did an heroic service to which every doughboy pays tribute. The Y W C A, with its 289 workers, has received and deserves very high credit for its remarkable work. These figures are from the most authoritative available sources, and if provisional, we ask the organizations kindly to furnish the correct figures for the final record. Points of Contact Between All Organizations This record permits mention only of the points of contact and cooperation with these co-workers and fellow-countrymen in the AEF. The Red Cross and the Y M C A were veterans and "blood rela- tions" of the Spanish War ; they were co-workers in the Mexican Border fray — the former in its relief work and the latter in its social services. The Red Ci^oss was concerned primarily with the sick and wounded, while the Y M C A was occupied primarily in the comfort and welfare of the fit. The World War made new demands on these friendly organiza- tions. They found themselves subjected to new and varied emer- gencies .which the old systems and divisions of labor hardly covered. The need for Red Cross and Y M C A would always be greater than their combined efforts could supply, and duplication must be avoided. Accordingly, as early as August 28, 1917, the Army undertook to divide the work, and General Orders No. 26 (1917) were issued : General Orders Defining Duties of Red Cross and Y M C A "The Red Cross will provide for the relief work and the Y M C A will provide for the amusement and recreation of the troops by means of its usual program of social, educational, physical, and religious activities. The foregoing partition is not intended to give a monopoly 198 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA to either organization but is made to afford a guiding rule to all con- cerned. At small points needs for both agencies will exist but not on a sufficient scale to justify a double personnel. Where the Com- manding Officer of such a point decides that this is the case, the de- tails regarding equipment and personnel will be settled by confer- ence between the senior representative of the Red Cross and the YMCA. Whenever one of the agencies cannot furnish the necessary facilities for performing its functions, the other is authorized to render such assistance as it may be able to give." The War, as far as the Americans were concerned, developed into training periods in certain areas, followed by a move to the front, this in turn followed by a period in rest camps and hospitals. The two organizations, under these circumstances, found definite ex- pression for their work, but began to run upon situations quite un- provided for in Army orders. The Red Cross constantly extended its assistance to the Y, which reciprocated at every opportunity. At times, when hospitals were filling rapidly, the sick required all the personnel available from both organizations. Y men and women gladly helped in base and field hospitals and in dressing stations. There were notable cases of this in the work with the 1st, 2d, and 82d Divisions. A coincident epidemic of influenza closed the Y huts and left their personnel free to help with the sick in these divisions. The recreation field delegated to the YMCA in Army Orders occasionally overlapped into the Red Cross Area in the matter of recreation for convalescents, and for nurses, doctors, ambulance units, and other hospital personnel. Consequently, on October 20, 1917, General Orders No. 48 was issued. In this the earlier order was amplified to include a joint arrangement made by representatives of the two societies. Huts or other appropriate quarters were to be furnished and equipped by the Red Cross, each to be designated: "Hospital Recreation Hut donated by the American Red Cross," At each of these places a Red Cross staflF should conduct all the regular activities of that organization in connection with the hos- pital. The head of this hut should be responsible for the recreation work done in the wards, while the YMCA should also provide a representative and a staff to conduct those activities prescribed in General Orders 26. Efforts to Avoid Overlapping of Service There was, necessarily, some preliminary overlapping. If the Y provided a good entertainment in the hut, the hospital staflf was eager to have the performance repeated in the wards, and this was often done. There was much visiting in hospitals done by Y per- gpnnel, and in many cases supplies were distributed. An occasional WITH THE RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS 199 Y man made a unique place for himself in the wards. For the first hospital recreation huts, the Y made the plans and did the construc- tion work, and the Red Gross reimbursed the Y for the cost. Six were put up in this way ; then, by agreement, the Red Cross accepted the hut plans drawn by Y construction men, but arranged for further erection themselves. In the Spring of 1918 the Red Cross asked that the Y withdraw gradually from the hospitals as the Red Cross was able to fill all capacities except that of supplying entertainment. This was done gradually during the Summer of 1918, so that by November 1, except in a few specifically granted or exceptional cases, the Y had with- drawn all of its personnel from the hospital huts, from distribution and home service in the wards, and from other tasks which they had undertaken when on hand where needs of all sorts were urgent. This withdrawal gave rise to misunderstanding on the part of the patients who did not realize that the Y was merely following orders, and that the personnel so withdrawn was at once set to work in other fields. As late as March, 1919, there were a few of these huts still in Y hands at such crowded points as the Replacement Camp at St. Aignan where the presence of some 60,000 casuals, many of them fresh from the base hospitals, continually overworked the local hos- pital forces. The Red Cross was, by mutual agreement, left free to ask the Y to furnish its entire program of activities at hospital points. The Post Exchanges, or Army Canteens, were operated solely by the Y under General Orders No. 33 (1917) until turned back to the Army after the Armistice ; other organizations then began voluntarily to conduct exchanges. Before this, however, they were confined to limited restaurants, called canteens, in restricted districts. With reference to this canteen service there had been but little overlapping. The arrangement settled in joint Y M C A and Red Cross confer- ence in May, 1918, required the Red Cross to furnish regular canteen service on all railway lines of communication, as well as emergency canteen service for troops in transit, exclusive of front line canteen service. The Red Cross was also to furnish such canteen service as might be necessary for the ambulance men. All other canteen service for American soldiers was to be furnished by the Y. Cooperation between Y W C A and Y M C A Early in the War the Y M C A had sought the aid of the Young Women's Christian Association (Y W C A) in its work with the hospital personnel. In July, 1917, E. C. Carter had intimated to the A E F Headquarters that "wherever clubs or hotels for nurses or other women war workers were required the assistance of experts provided by the Y W C A would be secured in making the necessary provisions." 200 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Previous to this he had urged on the officials of the Y W C A in America the necessity of sending their representatives to study and enter the field at the earliest possible moment. In view of the an- nounced desire of General Pershing during the early part of his administration, that all activities be developed in cooperation with either the Red Cross,' or the Y M C A, the Y W C A, so far as the militarization and circularization of its workers with American troops, used the existing machinery of the YMCA. The internal develop- ment of the Y W C A was wholly in its own hands. It grew steadily into a place of enviable usefulness in the A E F. Its nurses' clubs and its series of hostess houses furnished an almost invaluable meeting ground for the personnel alike of the Army and the relief and welfare organization. It also rendered valuable service in developing a large number of Foyers for French munition and other women war workers and in the federation of several French national women's organizations for cooperation in social work. The Salvation Army and the Y M C A In the summer of 1917 Colonel Barker of the Salvation Army asked the YMCA to extend an invitation to the Salvation Army to erect and man a number of huts in the training camps in France. The Y M C A replied this would be usurping the prerogatives of General Head- quarters, as an invitation of this sort could only be extended by the Army itself. The Y, however, did extend a most cordial invitation to the Salvation Army to send to France as many of their best trained workers as possible to assist in the welfare and general religious serv- ice in the huts, agreeing to give to these workers exactly the same fa- cilities as the YMCA proposed to accord to the leaders of all the religious bodies in the United States. The Salvation Army courteous- ly declined this invitation, maintaining that its constitution was so dif- ferent from those of the principal Protestant bodies that it could not be classified with them. The Salvation Army therefore maintained its separate identity throughout the history of the A E F, and though the scope of. its work was all too small, the popularity of its service was widespread. On a great many occasions the Y was able to provide transportation, supplies, equipment, films, and other facilities for the Salvation Army, and at all times the relationship between the workers of the two organizations in the field was of a most cordial nature. Jewish Welfare Board and YMCA The Jewish Welfare Board officially accepted the invitation of the YMCA and functioned throughout the combat period as an auto- nomous body working within the Y M C A organization. A large num- WITH THE RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS 201 ber of their workers were stationed in the larger Y huts and by being a regular part of the hut staff were able greatly to enrich the whole welfare service to the men. Through a division of labor by which the clerical work and functions were handled by the Y workers, the Jewish Welfare Board secretaries were able to gain a maximum personal con- tact with the soldiers. This meant, especially when the nujnber of Jewish Welfare workers was very small, that the staff was so dis- tributed as to be accessible to the maximum number of Jewish sol- , diers. On Jewish holy-days and at other times, the facilities of the Y huts were freely offered and used for Jewish religious services. In the Winter of 1918-19, when the number of workers was substantially in- creased, it was possible for the Board to establish a number of centers of its own, completely manned by Jewish workers. The success of these centers was pronounced, and the cooperation between the Y M C A and the Jewish Welfare Board was all that could be desired. In fact, many workers in both organizations testified that one of the most inspiring experiences of their efforts abroad was the magnificent team- work with the members of the other organization. Knights of Columbus and Y M C A The first man to arrive in France in the uniform of the Knights of Columbus was the Reverend Father Joseph Pontour, who, with Felix Limongi, was sent over in the latter part of August, 1917, to investi- gate conditions with a view to securing the necessary permission to operate with the A E F. A study of the reports of Father Pontour led the Knights to send abroad their first Overseas Commissioner, Mr. Walter N. Kernan, who sailed in October, 1917. After extended con- ference with the Commander-in-Chief and the heads of the Red Cross and Y M C A, full authority was accorded to the Knights to begin active operations with the A E F. Commissioner Kernan's report, on his return, led to increased effort in behalf of the soldiers overseas. The Overseas Department was organized, offices being secured in New York to facilitate the handling of men and supplies bound for Europe. In the words of the official history, "The Knights of Columbus in Peace and War" : "The first group of Knights of Columbus, properly speaking, to sail for France, went with Commissioner Kernan in March, 1918." In accordari.ce with another recommendation of Com- missioner Kernan, the Reverend Patrick J. McGivney and Mr. William J. Mulligan were sent to France. They made an extensive tour, con- ferred with General Pershing, and were able to inform him that the Knights of Columbus were eager to expend a large sum of money for their work in France. Leases on buildings for clubs were acquired in Brest, St. Nazaire, Bordeaux, LeMans, Toul and elsewhere. Con- 202 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA tracts were made for the erection of huts at these and other centers. In fact, while Mr. Mulligan and Father McGivney were in France, the number of Knights of Columbus workers increased from 20 to more than 50. Early in June, 1918, Supreme Chaplain McGivney and Mr. Mulligan returned to New York to reinforce Commissioner Kernan's plea for more workers. The response was inspiring, for on September 11 the number of workers had jumped from less than 60 at the be- ginning of June to 223. On October 30 it totalled 380 ; on January 1, 1919, 576 ; and on April 2 the grand total had reached 725^ This force , was later supplemented by numbers of demobilized members of the A E F who donned the Knights of Columbus uniform. to assist in the still further expansion of its work for the troops awaiting rieturn to America. Owing to the limitations which war conditions placed on the ex- pansion of the YMCA program, which to a certain extent similarly constricted the efforts of the Knights of Columbus, the total number of huts and clubs provided by the two organizations was never, prior to February, 1919, sufficient to meet the full recreational needs of the A E F. This situation, so little understood in the United States, explains why there was virtually no reduplication of effort in the pro- vision of soldiers' clubs overseas. There was at all times the heartiest spirit of cooperation between the Chief Secretary of the YMCA and the three successive Overseas Commissioners of the Knights of Col- umbus, Mr. Kernan, Mr. Lawrence O. Murray, and Mr. Edward L. Hearn. In addition to the recreational clubs established, the Knights of Columbus laid especial emphasis on the promotion of boxing on a large scale. In the Spring and Summer of 1919 they entered the enter- tainment field, putting several shows on the road. They also organ- ized the A E F Circus, which toured France in the summer of 1919, the YMCA cooperating in furnishing performers, costumes and equipment. At places where the Knights of Columbus had no huts, the facili- ties of the Y huts were placed at their disposal for religious services at mutually convenient times, and for the distribution of literature. General Orders Coordinating Work of All Organizations On November 30, 1918, Bulletin 96 from Army General Head- quarters again defined the field for all organizations: "The Red Cross will provide for the relief work, and the Y M C A will provide for the amusemenit and recreation of the troops by means of its usual program of social, educational, physical, and re- ligious activities. The Knights of Columbus and the Salvation Army will participate with the Y M C A in the activities prescribed for it. WITH THE RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS 203 The Y W C A and the Jewish Welfare Board will carry on their activities through the Y M C A. The American Library Associa- tion will cooperate with the other organizations to the fullest extent and wherever possible will put its book service at the disposition of the A E F through the medium of those organizations. "A joint committee representing these organizations will meet at least once every month for consideration of questions of mutual concern and coordination of plans and activities. "Exchanges for the A E F are conducted by the Y M C A. Ex- changes may also be conducted by the Salvation Army and Knights of Columbus in localities not served by the Y M C A and by the Red Cross in connection with hospitals and at railroad sitations, to be governed by existing orders affecting the Y M C A exchange service. By command of General Pershing." Cooperation between American Library Association and Y M C A The work of the American Library Association in France was done chiefly through the medium of other organizations until the Spring of 1918. American Library Association books in large quan- tities had been placed on transports since the Fall of 1917 and had been distributed during the voyages by Y M C A secretaries. Camp libraries had been furnished by both the Y and the American Library Association, but after April, 1918, the latter agreed to furnish all library books used in the huts of the various organizations. This did not include the text books for Army educational work, and the distribution of all other literary supplies was left to the Y. After this time, the American Library Association sent over a number of library experts to install and manage their work at various centers. The personnel of the American Library Association were cleared through the Y, and they were responsible to the Y chiefs in the divisions where they worked. The American Library Association sent over 37 directors, and the Y loaned a large number of librarians in France to the American Library Association for that service. The largest camps usually had an American Library Association librarian in charge of the distributing station and main library. The branch libraries in any district were in huts of Y, Red Cross, Salva- tion Army, and Knights of Columbus, or in separate buildings rented or erected by the Y, and kept well supplied with reading matter by the American Library Association. Even in Vladivostok, in De- cember, 1918, there was an American Library Association repr£- sentative who furnished books to the Y huts. On May 25, 1918, the Y M C A offered to sub-lease to the American Library Association the ground floor of the building at 10 Rue de 204 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA I'Elysee with such storage space at the rear of it as might be needed. This proposition was accepted, and the Paris library became an im- portant clearing station for the entire work. Conditions Created by Critical Military Situation As is usual in extensive and cooperative welfare work, much criticism was current; some justified, some uninformed and unworth- ily attempting to discredit the sincere efforts of workers and organi- zations. When criticism was justified, the causes were removed if possible. A great deal of criticism, justified by facts, was misdirected. The conditions caused by limited rail and motor transportation, the lack of tonnage, the urgent need of the Allies to subordinate everything to the transfer of American troops and their absolute necessities to France, the exigencies of the critical military situation imperilled by the submarine and other activities of the enemy, which the entire military and naval forces of the Allies could not at once overcome, — these were the conditions largely responsible for failures in performance on the part of the welfare organizations. During the War these criticisms were willingly borne in silence, because it was contrary to military policy to publish explanations which would, have given information to the enemy and impaired morale. Aspersion • frequently arose from treacherous propaganda, foreign and domestic, or from rumor and gossip magnified for ulterior purposes. But, the United States Government and the Commander-in- Chief and General Staf? of the A E F, always accurately informed of the prevailing conditions and of the plans and efforts of the YMCA to perform its work under these conditions, repeatedly signified confi- dence in its good faith and approval of its performance. The YMCA unreservedly stands on its record of achievement and services rendered in the World War, as summarized in this hand- book. Summary of Cooperative Relationships of All Services In summary: The Army Orders outline the work undertaken by the several organizations and define the relationship between them. The YMCA supplied entertainment service to all organiza- tions, rendered assistance in hospital and construction service to the Red Cross, lent its clearance and military contact privilege to the American Library Association, to the Y W C A and to the Jewish Wel- fare Board. It supplied the American Library Association with per- sonnel for many of its branch libraries. In return, it received the privileges of care of its sick personnel in Red Cross hospitals, the valuable services of Y W C A and Jewish Welfare Board personnel HOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GAVE 205 in some of its activities, the generous stocking of its library build- ings by the American Library Association. Each organization found the others helpful in the fundamental matter of covering the field and ministering to the welfare of the American Army. XIII— RESOURCES— HOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GAVE OVER $161,000,000 The money necessary to maintain these extensive operations was obtained from three campaigns and miscellaneous sources which re- sulted in the addition of the sum of $161,722,649.42 to the Y's re- sources. The first campaign April 26-May 3, 1917, netted the sum of $5,113,666.98. The second campaign November 11-18, 1917, re- sulted in $53,334,546.81. The third campaign was held under the auspices of the United War Work Council which consisted of representatives of seven or- ganizations cooperating jointly for the collection of funds. These seven organizations were The Young Men's Christian Association, The Young Women's Christian Association, The Knights of Colum- bus, The Jewish Welfare Board, The War Camp Community Coun- cil, The American Library Association, and The Salvation Army. A National Organization was constituted and located in New York City, which functioned through the six military departments of the United States each of which was organized along the same lines as the National Organization. These again had jurisdiction over the states within their areas and were also similarly organized. Dr. John R. Mott served as Director-General of this United Campaign. The entire American people responded to this joint appeal with a generosity which was typical of the America'n spirit. Never in the annals of human history had such a sum been collected for social service work through voluntary contributions. While the amount requested by the seven organizations was $170,000,000, the total collected was $203,199,730, nearly 20% above the quota asked; 46 states exceeded their quota. Among the most notable were Arizona by 248% ; Delaware by 230% ; Texas by 222%. The responses from foreign countries were most gratifying. China subscribed $1,300,000; Japan $575,000; Cuba -$118,000. The largest individual subscription was that from John D. Rockefeller and his son, $8,000,000. The amount collected was apportioned pro rata among the seven organizations composing the United War Work Council and the Y received as its allotment 58.65% of the amount collected. As a result of this campaign the amount of $100,759,731.17 was added to its funds. In addition there were miscellaneous donations amount- 206 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA ing to $551,628.92 from home and overseas; miscellaneous income of $252,940.73 and interest on bank balances and securities amounting to $1,710,134.81 which incidentally was sufficient to pay 70% of the total of the General and Administrative expenses at General Head- quarters, New York, from the commencement of operations till October 31, 1919. SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS (From April 26, 1917, to December 31, 1919) First Campaign $5,113,666.98 Second Campaign 53,334,546.81 Third Campaign (United War Work) 100,759,731.17 Overseas and Miscellaneous 551,628.92 Miscellaneous Income 252,940.73 Interest on Bank Balances and Securities 1,710,134.81 Total Receipts $161,722,649.42 XIV— FINANCES— WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE PEOPLE'S MONEY It is impossible to estimate service rendered in terms of money. The preceding pages record the work accomplished in terms of service. Pp. 217-228 of this handbook give the statement of the Finance Com- mittee. It is well here, however, to summarize the appropriations and expenditures for conducting the aforementioned operations. The total amount expended in maintaining the activities of YMCA work amounted to the sum of $129,082,917.43 from April 26, 1917, to December 31, 1919. Financial Statement of February 22, 1920 Mr. William Sloane, Chairman of the National War Work Council of the Y M C A., on February 22, 1920, made public a full financial statement of the operations of the Council from the beginning of its work in April, 1917, down to the beginning of the present year. The statement shows that the Council received from the first YMCA Campaign $5,113,666.98; from the second YMCA Campaign $53,- 334,546.81 ; from the United War Work Campaign it received up to January 1st $100,759,731.17, and from other sources $2,514,704.46, or a total of $161,722,649.42. The expenditures show that there were spent on the American soldiers, sailors and marines in the United States $38,809,642.50 ; upon American soldiers, sailors, and marines overseas, less income from salvage operations and from the operation of the WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 207 Post Exchange, $52,382,736.03; upon serving the Allied Armies and Prisoners of War $19,782,192.95. Other expenses involving the work, both at home and overseas, such as the selecting and training of secretaries, general activities expenses, etc., aggregated over seven million dollars more. The commitments already made for continuance of the work not only on behalf of the American Army and Navy at home and over- seas, but also among the many Allied Armies in the troubled areas of Europe and Asia, amount to something over $21,000,000, leaving an approximate unappropriated balance of $17,000,000. This has sub- sequently been reduced to between $7,000,000 and $8,000,000, and this balance is to be devoted largely to permanent Y M C A Army and Navy Buildings. The favorable showing indicated by the statements is due to the following facts : 1. The military and naval forces have been demobilized much more rapidly than was originally contemplated. 2. The educational work of the Association in France was trans- ferred, shortly after the signing of the Armistice, to the Army — the Government reimbursing the Association for the large amount of money expended by it on textbooks and also assuming the support of some 460 Association educational workers. 3. The salvage operations of the Association overseas have been remarkably successful. 4. The French Government most generously remitted to the Asso- ciation the large item of railway transportation, and a like generous action was taken by the American Government in remitting the item of freight on government transports and on American railways in France and also in canceling charges for certain large items, such as oil and gasoline used in motor transport. 5. The War and Navy Departments recently assumed responsi- bility for welfare work inside the camps and stations hitherto con- ducted by the Association in conjunction with other welfare societies. Constructive Plans for Future At the last joint meeting of the Executive and Finance Committees of the National War Work Council after consideration of the state- ment of the Comptroller, the following recommendations were adopted : (1) The continued support of such Welfare Work as the Young Men's Christian Association is now carrying on for enlisted men in the American Army and Navy in the United States and its possessions and Overseas wherever American troops are still held. This recom- mendation includes the maintenance of the permanent Young Men's Christian Association buildings for American soldiers and sailors, 208 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA also needed additions thereto 'and new buildings for such purposes. (Any money devoted to buildings will be paid from funds remain- ing from the distinctive YMCA Campaigns.) (2) The continuance of the support of the work now being carried on for the soldiers and sailors of our Allies beyond the year 1920, should the seriously unsettled conditions occasioned by the War con- tinue. (3) The setting apart of a substantial portion of the surplus to be regarded as a Reserve Fund which might be used at any time for rendering YMCA service in any grave national emergency. This Reserve Fund should certainly be held for these purposes for at least two years. (4) The continuance of the Educational Program for ex-service men. We recommend also a study of the needs of the wounded ex- service men who are now having Vocational Training. (5) We recommend that the total amount that seems now to have accrued in the operation of the Canteen, approximately $500,000, (brought about by the Government's cancellation of the charges aggre- gating $2,500,000 and for which we ha:d a reserve fund) be used for the benefit of ex-service men, either through an appropriation direct to the American Legion or to the relief of incapacitated ex-service men, or to such other purposes for the benefit of ex-service men as might be agreed upon between the officers of the National War Work Coun- cil and the officers of the American Legion. (See correspondence with American Legion, on page 211.) (6) We recommend that a. Budget be prepared embracing the above recommendations, with estimated amounts required to carry out each item and including such other appropriations as the Execu- tive and Finance Committees may agree upon ; and that a full detailed statement be published. (7) As the United States is not yet at peace, as the world situation is still so unstable, and as our responsibilities both within and outside our national borders cannot now be determined, we recommend that another financial statement be made about July 1, with any further recommendations necessitated by changed conditions. Successful Salvage Operations A Salvage Board was organized overseas early in February, 1919, and worked under the supervision of the Paris Finance Committee. This board was charged with the problem of converting into cash as quickly as possible and on the most advantageous basis the assets of the "A E F-Y M C A." Motor transport equipment, which constituted one of the largest items of the investment, presented one of the most complex problems for the Salvage Bureau to handle. This equipment was in every stage of physical condition, due to rough usage. Many cars were gathered from the roadsides where they had been abandoned and were taken WHAT W4^ ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 209 to Divisional Headquarters and from Divisional Headquarters to the Motor Transfer Department in Paris. It was found that the market was overstocked with motor equip- ment not in running condition but that there was ready sale, at favor- able prices, for equipment in good running order. Confronted by this fact, steps were taken to secure space and equip a motor rebuilding plant, capable of dismantling and rebuilding this equipment, supply- ing the necessary new parts, and turning out rebuilt machines. This plant, when under operation, employed over 300 French mechanics, together with fifty American Y M C A secretaries who were spe- cialists on motor mechanics and who filled the executive positions. Under normal conditions, the plant was able to turn out fifty rebuilt cars per week. The prices secured for these rebuilt cars were beyond expectation and the wisdom of the plan has been shown by the rapidity with which the entire output was disposed of. The amount realized on motor transport overseas to October 31 was $1,672,000. Much the same procedure was followed in the reconstruction of pianos, talking machines, organs, etc. They were transformed into serviceable instruments by the repair shop and brought very satis- factory prices. Salvaging of materials in scattered points, of which there were over 2000, was conducted by a flying corps of salvage men, who followed each demobilization move made by the Army and sold the supplies to the local populace. This method of sale avoided the expense of packing the goods for shipment and the cost of transportation, and very satisfactory results were obtained. Theatrical materials, including over 13,000 costumes used in con- nection with the traveling soldier shows, trunks, musical instruments, and scenery, were assembled in Paris, where quarters were opened and where the materials found ready sale. Over 500,000 francs were realized from this class of goods which at first seemed to have little, if any, salvage value. Huts proved to be one of the most difficult items in salvage to dis- pose of, due to the hard usage received, the poor materials used, and the surplus of similar construction material abandoned and salvaged by the Army. A number of them were disposed of at a nominal price to the Belgian Government for public schools ; others for churches in devastated areas. Receipts to October 31, 1919 on huts, tents, etc., amounted to $476,000. The salvage operations in the United States are on a much smaller scale. Owing to the scattered locations where activities were carried on from the Atlantic to the Pacific, it was not practicable to assemble the stocks at one central point. A Headquarters Salvage Bureau is maintained in New York and has, in addition to the stocks returned 210 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN ^ M C A from nearby camps, those returned from overseas. The principal item in the latter class is athletic goods, for which little sale is to be found in France. Only a small'number of our huts and buildings in the United States has been disposed of, due principally to our inability to secure from the War Department authority to salvage. This authorization is re- quired, as the buildings are on Government property. In addition, the buildings and equipment located in all continuing camps in the United States, have been loaned free of charge to the War Department for use in welfare work. This disposition materially affects our salvage showings. Salvage operations have practically closed overseas, except in Germany and Silesia, but are being continued in all Departments of the United States in full force as quickly as the materials and supplies are made available. The total salvage receipts to December 31, 1919, are in excess of $6,000,000. Note on Post Exchange Operations The result of the Post Exchange or Canteen operations, as shown by the books to October 31, 1919, is a book profit of $666,553.88 which, at December 31, 1919, is reduced, by reason of subsequent adjust- ments, to $508,899.79. This figure, however, is not a true reflection of the net results of the operations of the Y M C A for the reason that no charge has been made against the Canteen for the wages or living allowances and traveling expenses of the canteen workers, for rent of huts^ cost of construction of canteen facilities, or for any of the expenses of the Paris Headquarters Office from which the Post Exchange business as a whole was conducted and directed. These items collectfvely, if ascertainable, would probably more than absorb the relatively small credit balance now shown, which is less than 2 per cent, of the total Canteen sales in Europe. In explanation of the disparity between the book loss of $1,478,- 084.14 shown fn the March published report, and the book profit of $666,553.88 now reported, it should be stated that the difference repre- sents adjustments made necessary by the action of the United States Government in relieving all welfare organizations of any charges for ocean freight on supplies carried on transports and tor rail trans- portation and motor supplies furnished in France, in respect of which provisional reserves had been set up on our books. These reserves have now been written back and cancelled and the results, as shown above, correspondingly adjusted. WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 211 Correspondence with American Legion The oifer of the War Work Council to the American Legion, of the funds now accruing in the operation of the Canteen, and the accept- ance of this offer, are shown in the following correspondence : February 7, 1920. Franklin d'Olier, Esq., My dear Mr. d'Olier : Doubtless you know that at the desire of General Pershing, as expressed in G. O. 33, Series 1917, the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association undertook the operation of the post exchanges or canteens in France in connection with its other work for the American Expeditionary Forces. This was done in accordance with General Pershing's expressed desire "that officers and enlisted men may not be taken away for that purpose from their paramount military functions of training and fighting." Up to the time this work was taken back by the Army on April 1, 1919, the total volume of busfness transacted by the Post Exchanges through the Association was $37,800,000. It was the practice of the Association from the outset to make no profit whatever from this business, but on the contrary to assume whatever loss was incurred. On March 31, 1919, this loss appeared to be $1,4/8,084.14 and was charged on the Association's books to the cost of operating the can- teens. The cost included only the actual cost of the articles sold in addition to estimated cost of transportation and insurance. The prices charged did not include wages or living allowance, traveling expense of canteen workers, rent of huts, cost of construction of canteen facilities, or any overhead expenses. Recently the charges for transportation of canteen supplies have been generously remitted by the American and French Governments, so that the Association now has a surplus in excess of $500,000 above the cost of conducting the canteen. Our Executive and Finance Com- mittes have, therefore, authorized us to write you as National Com- mander of the American Legion — the organization which is most widely and intimately in touch with and representative pf the ex- service men and in our judgment best qualified to make the best use of any such funds in their interests — and hereby beg to place the entire amount at the disposal of the American Legion without re- striction as to its use. We would, however, express a preference that so far as needed, the money be used for the benefit of disabled ex-service men or for the work of the ex-service men on behalf of the country— for example, for the most commendable efforts of the American Legion through its National Americanism Commission. 212 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Will you kindly take the matter into consideration? Should your decision be favorable as to accepting this money, we would be , glad to hear from you with suggestions as to the use of such a fund.~ Very truly yours, (Signed) WILLIAM SLOANE, Chairman, J. R. MOTT, General Secretary. February 11, 1920. John R. Mott, Esq., General Secretary, National War Work Council, YMCA, 347 Madison Avenue, New York City. Dear Mr. Mott : I am instructed by the National Executive Committee of the Amer- ican Legion to accept on behalf of the American Legion the fund of approximately $500,000, which the National War Work Council gen- erously offered to the American Legion in your letter of February 7, 1920. After consideration of your letter the National Executive Commit- tee in meeting at National Headquarters, Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 10, 1920, adopted the following resolution : "Whereas, the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association at the request of General Pershing undertook the operation of the Post Exchanges in France in connection with its other work for the American Expeditionary Forces, and "Whereas, it was the practice of the Association from the outset to make' no profit whatever from this business and to assume what- ever loss was incurred, except the actual cost of the articles sold and the estimated cost of transportation and insurance, which, up to the time this work, was taken back by the Army on April 1, 1919, en- tailed a loss of $1,478,084.14 and "Whereas, through the remittance by the American and French Governments of transportation charges for Post Exchange supplies, there is now available a surplus in excess of $500,000 over and above the cost of operating these exchanges by the Association, and "Whereas, the National War Work Council through William Sloane, Chairman, and John Mott, Sec'y, has offered to place this fund at the disposal of the American Legion for the best interest of ex- service men, without restriction as to its use, now therefore "Be it Resolved, that the National Executive Committee of the American Legion hereby accepts on behalf of the American Legion the fund offered by the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association, to be held as a trust fund for a period of five years by a Trust Company acting in the capacity of a trustee under a deed of trust providing that said trustee shall hold, invest WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 213 and re-invest the principal sum, paying only the income therefrom to the American Legion, disposition of said income, subject to the authority of the National Executive Committee to be used in further- ance of activities for the benefit of ex-service men and women and said trusteeship to be subject to revocation by the vote of three- fourths of the entire membership of the National Executive Com- mittee. ../.^, "Be it further Resolved, that the National Commander be in- structed to express to the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association the gratitude and appreciation of the ex- service men for whose benefit this fund has been offered." In accordance with the above resolution, I desire to express to the National War Work Council, through you, the sincere appreciation of the American Legion. In forwarding these funds, you may designate Robert H. Tyndall, National Treasurer, American Legion, Meridian Life Building, In- dianapolis, Indiana, as the proper person to receipt for them in behalf of the American Legion. Sincerely yours, (Signed) FRANK D'OLlER, National Commander. February 11, 1920. Mr. John R. Mott, General Secretary, National War Work Council of the Y M C A, 347 Madison Avenue, New York City. My dear Mr. Mott : In order that all State Departments and individual posts of the American Legion may be fully advised of your recent action, the enclosed Bulletin has been forwarded to all Department Commanders and Department Adjutants throughout the entire country, and will be forwarded by them to their respective posts. This copy is sent you for your information in this regard. Sincerely yours, (Signed) FRANKLIN D'OLIER, National Commander. BULLETIN SPECIAL February 11, 1920. No. 14. Subject: Canteen Surplus Receipts, Presentation of At the meeting of the National Executive Committee here in In- dianapolis yesterday, the following letter was presented as being 214 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA received by the National Commander from William Sloane, Chairman, and John R. Mott, General Secretary of the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association of. the United States : "Doubtless you know that at the desire of General Pershing, as expressed in G. O. 33, Series 1917, the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association undertook the operation of the Post Exchanges or Canteens in France in connection with its other work for the American Expeditionary Forces. This was done in accordance with General Pershing's expressed desire, 'that officers and enlisted men may not be taken away for that purpose from their paramount military functions of training and fighting.' "Up to the time this work was taken back by the Army on April 1, 1919, the total volume of business transacted by the post exchanges through the Association was $37,800,000. It was the practice of the Association from the outset to make no profit whatever from this business, but on the contrary to assume whatever loss was incurred. "On March 31, 1919, this loss appeared to be $1,478,084.14 and was charged on the Association's books to the cost of operating the canteens. This cost included only the actual cost of the articles sold in addition to the estimated cosfof transportation and insurance. The prices charged did not include wages or living allowance, traveling expenses of canteen workers, rent of huts, cost of construction of canteen facilities or any overhead expenses. "Recently the charges for transportation of canteen supplies, had been generously remitted by the American and French Governments, so that the Association now has a surplus in excess of $500,000 above the cost of conducting the canteen. Our Executive and Finance Committees have, therefore, authorized us to write you as National Commander of the American Legion — the organization which is most widely and intimately in touch with and representative of the ex- service men and in our judgment best qualified to make the best .use of any such funds in their interests — and hereby beg to place the en- tire amount at the disposal of the American Legion without restric- tion as to its use. "We would, however, express a preference that so far as needed, the money be used for the benefit of disabled ex-service men or for the work of ex-service men on behalf of the country — for example, for the most comrnendable efforts of the American Legion through its National Americanism Commission. "Will you kindly take the matter into consideration? Should your decision be favorable as to accepting this money, we would be glad to hear from you with suggestions as to the use of such a fund." After a full discussion of this proposition, the National Executive Committee unanimously passed the following: "WHEREAS, the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association at the request of General Pershing under- WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 215 took the operation of the post exchanges in France in connection with its other work for the American Expeditionary Forces, and "WHEREAS, it was the practice of the Association from the out- set to make no profit whatever from this business and to assume whatever loss was incurred, except the actual cost of the articles sold and the estimated cost of transportation and insurance, which, up to the time this work was taken back by the Army on April 1, 1919, entailed a loss of $1,478,084.14, and "WHEREAS, through the remittance by the American and French Governments of transportation charges for post exchange supplies, there is now available a surplus in excess of $500,000 over and above the cost of operating these exchanges by the Association, and "WHEREAS, the National War Work Council through William Sloane, Chairman, and John R. Mott, Secretary, has offered to place this fund at the disposal of the American Legion for the best interests of ex-service men, without restriction as to its use, now therefore "BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Executive Committee of the American Legion hereby accepts on behalf of the American Legion the fund offered by the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association, to be held as a trust fund for a period of five years by a Trust Company acting in the capacity of a trustee under the deed of trust providing that said trustee shall hold, invest and re-invest the principal sum, paying only the income there- from to the American Legion, disposition of said income, subject to the authority of the National Executive Committee to be used in furtherance of activities for the benefit of ex-service men and women and said trusteeship to be subject to revocation by the vote of three- fourths of the entire membership of the National Executive Com- mittee. "BE IT FURTHEll RESOLVED, that the National Commander be instrucated to express to the National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association the gratitude and appreciation of the ex-service men for whose benefit this fund has been offered." It is particularly gratifying that this Association should desire to turn over to the American Legion this fund, especially when it was brought out oflScially that the Young Men's Christian Association in the operation of its canteens in France, charged a price which merely covered the actual cost of the merchandise, plus transportation charges and insurance. On a business of nearly $38,000,000 an ac- tual loss of about one and one-half million was sustained, not con- sidering any charges outside of the actual merchandise cost, plus transportation and insurance. As a result of the remission of trans- portation charges by the American and French Governments, this loss was turned into a profit of approximately $500,000 and this is 216 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA the sum which is being turned over to'' the American Legion for the benefit of ex-service men and women. It is recommended that the information contained in this bulletin be forwarded to each Post in your Department in the usual way. FRANKLIN D'OLIER, National Commander. February 14th, 1920. Dear Mr. D'Olier : I have just received your important communication of February 11th in which you report the resolution adopted by the National Executive Committee of the American Legion in its meeting in In- dianapolis on February 10th with reference to the proposal made in the letter of Mr. Sloane and myself in "the name of the National War Work Council of the YMCA- I wish to express our deep appreciation of this action and of the terms in which you have kindly conveyed it. We have called a joint meeting of the Executive and Finance Com- mittees of the National War Work Council to be held Thursday, February 26th, at which time your communication will be presented and the action of Mr. Sloane and myself will be confirmed. I feel entirely confident that the plan which your Committee has proposed as to the use and custody of the fund will commend itself to our Committee. With highest regard. Very sincerely yours, (Signed) J. R. MOTT. FRANKLIN D'OLIER, ESQ., National Commander of the American Legion, Meridian Life Bldg., Indianapolis, Ind. •o (I WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 217 £0 -S *■ —1 1 CO et ^ u ■M •0 . voKO •-<•-! t>!r^^O V0'*r<5 00 Thvotv* voiot^ro CMfMOOOv tO'^oTio vOVCftON" .I CO 100 •*t^«m .-(^mt^ 1-1 •>a-«iocM lOfOO *-H «9-mo 5! VO oT ot^ o>ni CM CM •- £8-^" fcwHO 09 Q 5 bs •3 0) U) U « s +- Bl 0* C (s^'ti o o e e o t^ JTi in W iS •■s n en a ment Camj 1 Y. amps rs of .&.«SU«j C4 3 ai ^ ws^s-l ctf R V 03 B vh §"-2Sls a 1 ^-S S 8 u g';3 a a M a Sasug n m g u 0, 0. oca M UO< M •-) 218 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA CO 00 o\ l>. Ol-H (sf ogra 00 >oao 00 ts. O CO «■ «t>: VO o\ (M 0\ .-T 00 lO 00 tT CO ■*co S3R SKI to«o COO\ >ooq sg-"" s ooo 00 pq Kco CM CO ON voo Nt> fOVO 00*0 VO to V > o ■ o :w ■ o. ■ X ••a a '.< . g u « U ■■•3 ; 3 ■M to en's o ^.S 0^ 3-S °< S-s ci. « oi S "= Wi 4-1 O 2 c ^S o W s .2 ..-= o u c *. 10 "a > 1) "i; en . m o C 3^ u 2 _, u« coffl ■*J ^ O flj" « w Sis^lE p:; en " S fe o X « jH-3 rt -S.S O c 9 O u « < o E o i« •" rt rl «J u §lg o c t; ut) iS J2 "j: : rt 13*^ ■ dj (u i> I •^ I. o S u •• 2 CO in o 220 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA o Si Ntvfcvf to o y ^ J3 a g « V ps p 1 1 H en a V s « +- es ■M (» Si. 5?^ >>P V '-' S -K _- n « "2 C !£ ^ - w u-O o <« O c'-'j3 C S; cd V CO o 01 t) H P 2 X H ta p < H-l H CO P < H H o o o o o o o o o o \n o o\ o 000000000 OOOOOOOOQ 0_0>0 0_0_0 0_ oot-Toooooin mooqotnomor^ 0\l000Oi-H\0C^»-i rt CO C-2H •Si co- .< « DO •o 3 O - o\ « CO O CIS cflS as H ** « ■^ D- . U C « rt.9 CO U CO o tOTJ "^ o s 2 > " " ■05^^ C t: " rt-S' 5 e cj o u e e ■ S i2 r; •oJ2 C4 Of P3 o o. a C« c %^\ ««ss still 1 u •» > o o fob 10 u u_t i^^ o o o rt o"S-5-|-5fi. g S g CO oi.S.2.2 „•««-'*- U U U Ih V; *j cOcoQ,ei,OicSSS B BO O O 3 > > > »< M Pi.Oi 0< u V V u WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 221 ?5 ««• OOi-lOOON vo>oo<-iix> 00MO1-00 .I o> csi^ o MOM OvOvt iom' ooo u B2 a •«.2 PB > . u < i Ci .SPe B B n) GobO «'-' cs c< to ^ B-O-O £ to g-S-tS « (SotHHO 0) 10 o « s *j rt 0) a I Q B S,5 O e B O B " O. " .2" ".2 o ao. ovoovo OOliTf ^vooo OVOcs 3 •a J3 P0>0 00 00 mio O\ao Tt'iri aim •-H-H ON>0 Iv^OO 00 1/) oio oovo Tf VO fS. oovo oo-* m* m m 0) a O u bo S o E /- o pq o B ■!-• to t^ 1-4 (4 .S to B S^.2 £■2.2 aO> •O to e« c s . c« o e m-d.2* 0) o V bo Id _^ "(3 E o o to O ^ S ■" P ho (o ■(-. 2 8 -a X, l-H W iziw-c m O S fe -> c o o 222 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA On o o> 00 o; f6 V) *— i o\ •-» oo" o to IT* o t>. •*' vH CJ to •I <»5 s: On ON t^ o lO 00 Q ^0 ■^ »-< 1^ o 00 v-4 00 |N._ 1^ ON r^ •-< On cm" ON 00- n •-H t^ °oo xnTf S3S?§?S On On 00 On oCMTfvO lOrtOO- o oo" 53:^ 00 (M NO ^^ o csjirj ON(V) (Mm ^ JS-^" ^' iniovo to 00 "5 i-HNCS- VOON'* odwvo 00 CM NO "-ICO .a «< c S ^ B H 0. S o U w O h :2;Q O W Q fiHiz: ■. <; ^' w W Sh o" u o o CN) On ci J. SIS ■* to IFHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 223 00 ' ■* pa oo" Si © s^s 00 to O\M0d OOOOi-i >ovo TfoT i-iOOOf*i OOOVION 00 tv PJO vooT ooot^g:*voj2 <*5 •-* -^ Csl t^» 00 ^ PO ^00 *^ ^P*J *^ 00 vo vo ■* i^ lO OS 'l-l CO 1 S 2 1 H ON O ♦J U o vo < S o bo is '3 n is- '3 pq § to 1) << -^ OoomON^-* S mcao»-tt^r^ " Ol O) PJ "-i < M I— I w rJ Q M a u (A (3 (U a o, '3 o< W •o c n) 13 .2 o 3 -a CO S ni " s l-l > .Ot/J 3 DO c .OhH w c o tn to V o a p a bo u .5 <- " &£ tJ s « S S CO g W w m'H.bi) S6 few "E •. 2 K o, "3 i-."'d„j to <«'^H .2 s^ BoH^V -,, - a •^ w IS c Ph Pi -5 Ph . O rt NU •-! 60 til in •a a a to V ■*-< c •o s u t) •4-1 OJ 3 C/) •a 'B o tn '•B ^t ■M u « >> _N 4-* td o V s u a to o. o & m to ,"*, o u •d bo fi cit '•S o a, a 'M^M'W'WtoS ?^ i;io;3SI3vO n U 0) to d " S eo to ° S 3 — .— CQ —1 '^ Ot3Pi WU o to 224 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA Noo ■ ^ CO ?^ sis rtMH us Q o to . . .!h o u o o o ■ C t) J5 c« 1-11(3 I cd en 6 o B o u H 5 U Q W Q WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 225 0\ QO 1-1 c^ l^ ^^ 1-H «0- OOvOJ r-iO\ CMCMO\ vOO sg ooKvo NON vtfroi-T ^-^- ooooro vom lOrol^ vo\o o\ >o'«^f Cvf «9- o\ 00 0) O OB 3 & (L> O +J O . o w C O ■^ O\CMT-HC^VO0QfO 33:o>-<"-'^dvdc4 - -+ CV)_i-<_00 ''i^.rQ ^C 0\ NOO ■*^ roCvl_ oTtC C3N00 vd 0\' fi ^ CO ■*OCN)CO'* ? M H I— ( pq h- f w 1:3 Q W M u en M. a '3 cr W •a a e .2 u 3 u +-> en a o u ■t; c :Ofi 2 c S to 3 C O o a> "It; c'a o HWS _ -«« tn V < 1) C O o CM W grt ^- u . i-i rt i '3k5 «.- ° ^c 10 m M *^ 01 "W-^ C 3 •- .5 rt « o " •r" lu ^ en O OSPh "B o ^ 3 O* en O dJ 3 to 226 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA 00COt-< 0000^ oooovS 00c<5 O ,1 lo 00 in °i in GO 1— 1 o\ 00 CO r-4 m cvj 00 -*" C5 m u a nl 3 CI' •a ei dj to ffi Q w Q W iw s bo c! .2 <;ff;a. (J 3 1) Q C (J m w Z H < O < GO W o < O X w O ft o w O I— I H < « o o H H 0\ ■*■ o o- s Ol 00 ^— 1 1—1 a> o\ T-l 1—1 1-H -h" CO >% (^ M m o o 4-> H c O < UW c " Cll PQ 9^ in CM 00 C3 Ur O a> '^ a ^^ o a > rt -a o a o o "*• c 3 = s (U C ■ o. o c u 3 p o 3 "a Q .5 n o ■4-» o a o -M IB O 00 00 '-t 00, f^ to •n m in m oC •<1-00 o a o u 3 w ■ o « 3 5g^o o. PM u 3 c - 2-S § ^W « B.M " . rt u cnpLi Ol aj3 _ Jo 5 bo ih ^ .5 2 o bo"" •& 4_l (!} .2-« S o o pq bo B H WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY 227 K < ^ % o m (14 » S o\ o 00\ CO <|^ i-i u-r 04 ^Z Q 2 ..00CMO \o\o~v6"i-r CM-a-iot-.. ^r^ J^ c 3 O 1- U n! Ti iH iH rt 3*; c 3 O 5.2 >> *^ 5S *t-t V 1-1 „ in 2^J3 t/) a; 3 13+3 S3 0"^ c c c c •a < o c 3 O •r) c CO IS 01 0x1 'il o 3 ■■ o c U rt M tSi a a 3 m u m JJ M u in ^ U )-• 3 rt t/3 ^ ,_ OJ c4 •o C 3 .2 iz; 6 !>i J3 B n! !> •O cH B 3 O a *- 228 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA W H I— I M M X <: Ph m Wo w >* > g H O < < en < O P neumonia. Secretary, Traffic Department, Marseilles. Born, Feb. 3, 1874. Sailed, Aug. 26. 1918. Place of burial, grave trench 25, AEF Section, St. Pierre Cemetery, Marseilles. Next of kin, Mrs. John T. Johnson, wife. West Point, Ga. JONES, THOMAS B. Brooklyn, N. Y. Lawyer. Died, Paris, Dec. 14, 1918, of pneu- monia. Secretary, Legal Department, Head- quarters, Paris. Bom, 1868. Sailed, Dec. 15, 1918. Place of burial, grave 110, YMCA Plot, American Cemetery, Suresnes-sur-Seine (Seine). Next of kin, Southwell Jones, brother, 27 Harley House, Marylebone Road, London, N. W., -England. KIME, CLAUDE V. Ridgway, Pa. Designer. Died, Evacuation Hospital 21, Bazoilles-sur-Meuse (Vosges), Feb, 5, 1919, of pneumonia. Secretary,. Gondrecourt. Born, Dec. 8, 1870. Sailed, Nov. 12, 1918. Place of burial, grave 490, AEF Cemetery 6, Ba- zoilles-sur-Meuse. Next of kin, Mrs. R. V. Kime, mother, 200 South St., Ridgway, Pa. KNIGHT, ALICE J. Natick, Mass. Missioinary Deaconess. Died, Pruniers Camp Hospital 43, Feb. 21, 1919, of pneumonia. Secretary, Educational Department. Born, Jan. 21, 1860. Sailed, Sept., 1918. Place of burial, grave 2065, OiBcers' Plot, Gievres Amer- ican Cemetery 331. Next of kin, Mrs. E. A. Pendleton, sister, 41 Johnson St.; Waterbury, Conn, KOHL, H. Enlisted overseas. Died of pneumonia, Nov. 16, 1918. No further record. LAWWILL, HUGH S. Indianapolis, Ind. Shop Superintendent. Died, Paris, Nov. 13, 1918, of heart disease. Secretary, Motor Trans- port Department, Headquarters, Paris. Born, Feb. 9, 1878. Sailed, Sept. 10, 1918. Place of burial, grave 108, YMCA Plot, American Cem- etery, Suresnes-sur-Seine (Seine). Next of kin, Mrs. H. S. Lawwill, wife, 1035 Eugene St., Indianapolis, Ind. LOOMIS, CHARLES Palm Beach, Fla. Physician. .Died, AEF Evacuation Hospital 9, Coblenz, Germany, Jan. 12, 1919, of pneu- monia. Secretary, 42d Division, AEF. Born, Nov. 12, 1867. Sailed, July 14, 1918. Place of burial, AEF Cemetery, Coblenz, Germany. Next of kin, Mrs. Charles Loomis, wife, Palm Beach, Fla. LINN, JOHN A. New York, N. Y. Teacher. Killed near Apremont, Argonne front, Oct. 8, 1918, by Austrian shell. Secre- tary, Sth Field Artillery, 1st Division, AEF. Bom, Sept. 9, 1872. Sailed, Feb. 2, 1918. Place of burial, grave 1, section 20, plot 1, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon (Meuse). Next of kin. Rev. J. M. Linn, father, 7731 N. Marshall Av., Chicago, 111. LUEDERS, JEAN (MRS. LEWIS B.) Philadelphia, Pa. Died at sea on the S.S. Northland, Oct. 10, 1918, of pneumonia. En route to Paris. Born, May 16. 1882. Sailed. Oct. 3, 1918. Buried at sea. Next of kin, Annie M. Munro, sister, 26 Albany St., Edinburgh, Scotland. McCOMBER, STEWART A.' Schenectady, N. Y. Teacher of Physical Training. Died, Ameri- can Hospital, Neuilly (Seine), Nov. 5, 1919, of meningitis. Associate Physical Director, Foyer du Soldat, Paris. Born, July 3Q, 1871. Sailed, March 1, 1918. Place of burial, Amer- ican Cemetery, Suresnes-sur-Seine (Seine). Next of kin, Mrs. S. A. McComber, wife, 318 Putnam Av., Detroit, Mich. McCREARY, JAMES B., Jr. Buffalo, N. Y. Aviator. Died, Prague, Bohemia, July 5, 1919, of fractured skull. Cinema Department, International Committee, Prague. Previous as- signment, Cinema Department, Paris. Born, Sept. 9, 1893. Sailed, March 18, 1918. Place of burial, Prague. Next of kin, James B. Mo- Creary, father, Buffalo, N. Y. 232 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA MARSH, CLARK H. Fullerton, Cal. Minister. Died, Camp Hospital 82, Le Havre, March 4, 1919, of pneumonia. Educa- tional Director, Le Havre. Bom, Feb. 6, 1877. Sailed, June 28, 1918. Place of burial, grave 4, row O, division 65, American Sectioti, Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre. Next of kin, Mrs. Clark H. Marsh, wife, 116 May Av., Monrovia, Cal. MARTIN, WINONA C. Rockville Center, t. I., N. Y. Librarian. Killed, Hospital Claude Bernard, Paris, March 11, 1918, during German air raid. Awaiting assignment. Born, May 21, 1882. Sailed, Feb. 2, 1918. Place of burial, grave 114, YMCA Plot, American Cemetery, Sures- nes-sur-Seine (Seme). Next of kin, Elizabeth E. Martin, aunt, 80 Lenox Road, Rockville Center, N. Y. MOON, JOHN L. Sanford, Fla. Minister. Died, S.S. San Jacinto, Cherbourg Harbor, Feb. 22, 1919, of paralysis. En route to France. Born, Nov. 21, 1879. Sailed, Feb. 12, 1919. Place of burial, grave 1, row O, division 65, Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre. Next of kin, Mrs. J. L. Moon, wife, Sanford, Fla. MURRAY, WALTER R. East Orange, N. J. Minister. Died, Nogent, near Cond-en-Bie (Meaux), July 16, 1918, from shrapnel wounds. Secretary, 2d Battalion, ' 109th Infantry, 28th Division, AEF. Bom, Sept. 1, 1877. Sailed, Oct. 27, 1917. Place of burial, grave 1, Officers' Row, American Cemetery near Romandie, be- tween Verdun and Cond-en-Bie. Next of kin, Mrs. W. R. Murray, wife, 83 Sussex Av., East Orange, N. J. NAUFFTS, RALPH R. Charlestown, Mass. Salesman. Died, Field Hospital 35, Feb. 28, 1919, of pneumonia. Entertainment Secretary, 7th Division, AEF. Born, Feb. 20, 1885. Place of^ burial, grave 10, American Cemetery on Minorville-Royammeix Road. Next of kin, Mrs. A. Nauffts, mother, 7 Monument Sq., Charlestown, Mass. NOBEL, CHARLES S. Portland, Ore. Construction Engineer. Died, Tours Camp Hospital 27, Feb. 3,. 1919, of bronchitis. Con- struction Secretary, Tours. Bom, Dec. 30, 1868. Sailed, Nov., 1918. Place of burial, grave 54, Officers' Plot, American Cemetery 33, Tours. Next of kin, Mrs. C. S. Nobel, wife, 563 E. Madison St., Portland, Ore. OSEN, ERIC G. , Lyons, Kan. Minister. Died, Bazoilles Base Hospital 46, Dec. 4, 1918, hemorrhage. Secretary, 77th Di- vision, AEF. Born, July 7, 1872. Sailed, Sept. 24, 1918. Place of burial, grave 477, Officers' Plot, American Military Cemetery. Bazoilles-sur-Meuse (Vosges). Next of kin, Mrs. E. G. Osen, Lyons, Kan. PACE, ROY B. Swarthmore, Pa. Teacher. Died, Base Hospital 43, Blois, Aug. 27, 1918, of pneumonia. Secretary, Blois, Sailed, May 26, 1918. Place of burial, grave 32, Plot Q, American Section, City Cemetery, Blois. Next of kin, Mrs. R. B. Pace, wife, 1819 G St., Washington, D. C. PERRY, JAMES Camden, Me. Minister. Killed near AinUb, Turkey, Feb. 1, 1920, by Turkish brigands. General Secre- tary for Turkey. Previous assignment. Sec- retary, AEF. Bordeaux; Foyer du Soldat, France and Germany. Bom, 1887. Sailed in 1917. Place of burial, American Cemetery, College -Yard, Aintab. Next of kin, Mrs. James Perry, wife, Camden, Me. PETERSON, ARTHUR F. Waupaca, Wis. YMCA Student. Died, Presbyterian Hos- pital, New York City, March 5, 1918, result of operation. Secretary, Prisoners of War, Petro- grad, Russia. Born, 1890. Sailed, Sept. 29, 1917. Place of burial, Waupaca, Wis. Next of kin, William Peterson, father, Waupaca, Wis. PHINNEY, EDWIN C' Minneapolis, Minn. Banker. Died, Military Hospital, Blois, Feb. 25, 1918, of pneumonia. Secretary, Casual Offi- cers' Depot, Blois. Born, April 9, 1880. Sailed, Jan. 10, 1918. Place of burial, grave 2, Amer- ican Section, French Catholic Cemetery, Bloia. Next of kin, Wm. T. Chapman, uncle, 96 Walnut St., Springfield, 111. POWELL, SAMUEL A. San Francisco, Cal. Motion Picture Producer. Died,.U. S. S. ' * Santa Cecelia, May 8, 1919, of appendicitis. Entertainment Secretary, Theatre Albert, Paris. Born, Aug. 12, 1874. Sailed, Dec. 18, 1918. Place flf burial, San Francisco, Cal. Next of kin, Mrs. S. A. Powell, wife, 625 Asbury St., San Francisco, Cal. PRITCHETT, ROBERT S. Philadelphia, Pa. Minister. Drowned, Dar-es-Salam Harbor, German East Africa, Sept. 24, 1918. Secretary, Negro troops, Dar-es-Salam. Bom, May 13, 1886. Sailed, July IS, 1917. Place of burial, Dar-es-Salam. Next of kin, James A. Prit- chett, father, 818 Walnut St., Wilmington, Del. RANSOM, LORRAINE New Rochelle, N. Y. Secretary. Died, Camp Hospital 43, Pruniers (Loir-et-Cher), Feb. 24. 1919, of pneumonia. Business Secretary, Gievres (Loir-et-Cher). Bom, Jan. 30, 1892. Sailed, Sept. 21, 1918. Place of burial, grave 2066, AEF Cemetery 331, Gievres. Next of kin, Mrs. A. P. Dennis, aunt, New Rochelle, N. Y. RICHARDSON, HARRY L. Elmira, N. Y. Advertiser. Died, Florence, Italy, Jan. 22, 1919. of Bright's disease. Secretary, Casa del Soldato, Florence, Italy. Bom, 1881. Sailed, Sept. 2, 1918. Place of burial. Receiving Vault, Cemetery degli Allori, Florence. Next of kin, Xola Fay Richardson, wife, 502 William St., Elmira, N. Y. ROBERTS, JOHN I. Trenton, Mo. Professor, University of Chicago. Died, Lucknow, India, Nov. 6, 1918, of pneumonia. Secretary, Army Branch, Lucknow. Previous assignment, Secretary, Flngland. Born, 1894. Sailed, April, 1917. Place of burial, Lucknow, India. Next of kin, George E. Roberts, father, Trenton, Mo. ROBERTSON, NELLIE Virginia, 111. Supt. Industrial School. Died, Camp Hos- pital 55, Marseilles, March 23, 1919, of typhoid fever. Secretary, Marseilles. Born, 1877. Sailed, Nov. 23, 1918. Place of burial, grave 584, AEF Cemetery. Next of kin, J. T. Rob- ertson, father, Virginia, 111. OVERSEAS 233 ROGERS, ALICE C. Riverside, Conn. o.^i^A^'-''*}"'' Bernard Hospital, Paris, March ?. • ,i.,T "Vninsitis. Secretary, Le Havre. Boim. 1872. Sailed, Dec. 21, 1918. Place of bunal, grave 112. YMCA Section, Arne Ceme- tery, Suresnes-sur-Seine. Next of kin, Charles T. Pierce, cousin, 88 Washington Av., Brook- lyn, N. Y. ROGERS, FAITH H. Superior, Wis. Musician. Died at sea, S.S. Espagne. Nov. 6, 1918, of heart trouble. En route to Paris. Bom, 1896. Sailed, Oct. 31, 1918. Place of bunal, grave 25, AEF Cemetery 25, Talence (Gironde). Next of kin, Harris Rogers, father. 1410 21st St., Superior, Wis. ROSE, W. C. Died at London, England, Sept. 27, 1918, of pneumonia. Book and Periodical Department, Headquarters, London. Recruited in England, militarized civilian. No further record. ROWE, WILLIAM H. Citronelle, Ala. Minister. Died at Semur-en-Auxois (Cote d'Or), Jan. 20, 1919, of pneumonia. Religious Secretary, Semur-en-Auxois. Bom, 1866. Sailed, Nov. 4, 1918. Place of burial, grave 9, row 1, plot 1, American Cemetery, Semur-en- Auxois. Next of kin, Mrs. W. H. Rowe, wife, Citronelle, Ala. ROWLEY, BLANCHE A. Rochester, N. Y. Stenographer. Died at Knotty Ash Camp Hospital, Liverpool, England, Nov. 23, 1919, of pneumonia. En route to Paris. Bom, 1886. Sailed, Jan. 29, 1919. Place of burial, Roch- ester, N. Y. Next of kin, William N. Rowley, father, 658 Main St., Rochester, N. Y. RUSSELL, ELIZABETH L. New York City, N. Y. Teacher. Died at sea, S.S. Northland, Oct. 10, 1918, of influenza. En route to England. Bom, 1872. Sailed, Oct. 3, 1918. Buned at sea. Next of kin, George I. Russell, uncle. New Bedford, Mass. SANT, WILLIAM W. East Liverpool, Ohio Rhodes Scholar. Died, El Arish Hospital, Palestine, June 17, 1917, of dysentery. Field Secretary, British forces, Cairo, Egypt. Sailed, Dec. 11, 1915. Place of burial, Egypt. Next of kin. Mrs. John Sant, mother. East Liver- pool, Ohio. SCOTT, THOMAS L. Indianapolis, Ind. Business man. Died at Bordeaux, March 11, 1919, of pneumonia. Regional Secretary, Bor- deaux. Bora, 1869. Sailed, Nov. 9, 1917. Place of burial, grave 33, section A, Bordeaux- Talence Cemetery. Next of kin, Mrs. T. L. Scott, wife, 2152 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, Ind. SELIGMAN, SOL. L. Nashville, Tenn. Salesman. Died at Paris, May 24, 1919, of pneumonia. Secretary, Uniform Department, Headquarters, Paris. Bom, 1890. Sailed, July 7, 1918. Place of burial, frave 113, American Cemetery, Suresnes-sur-Seine. Next of kin, Harry Seligman, brother, 1404 Buchan- an St., Nashville, Tenn. SEYMOUR, HENRY P. Sparkill, N. Y. Minister. Died, St. Louis Hospital, Paris, Oct. 24, 1917, result of fall. Secretary, 1st Division, AEF. Born, June 10, 1869. Sailed, Sept. 13, 1917. Place of burial, grave 115, AEF Cemetery 34, Suresnes-sur-Seine. Next of kin, Mrs. Emma D. Hart, sister, 37 E. 53d St., New York City, N. Y. SHAW, HENRY C. Cambridge, Mass. Lawyer. Killed, Montrichard, May 28, 1918, in automobile accident. Secretary, Thfaie. (Loir-et-Cher) Sailed, May 30, 1918. Place of burial, French Cemetery, Montrichard. Next of kin, Charles B. Shaw, father, 17 Forest St., Cambridge, Mass. SLOCUM, ESTHER Newark, N. J. Stenographer. Died, AEF Hospital S, May 5, 1919, result of operation. Secretary, Audit- ing Department, Headquarters, Paris. Born, 1886. Sailed, Nov. 3, 1917. Place of burial, grave 29, American Plot, Cascade Cemetery, Nice. Next of kin, Mrs. S. T. Slocum, mother, 476 Broadway, Long Branch, N. J. SMITH, HALLIDAY S. Nyack, N. Y. Banker. Killed, front line dugout near Bac- carat, May 26, 1918, by German gas shell, 42d Division, AEF. Born, 1887. Sailed, Nov. 29, 1917. Place of burial, grave E 12, OiBcers' Row, French Military Cemetery, Baccarat. Next of kin, Spencer C. Smith, father, Nyack, N. Y. SWEET, BENJAMIN V. Rockland, Me. Osteopath. Died at Paris, April 4, 1919, re- sult of automobile accident. Secretary, Mailing Department, Headquarters, Paris. Born, 1881. Sailed, Feb. 9, 1918. Place of burial, grave 116, YMCA Section, American Cemetery, Suresnes-sur-Seine. Next of kin, Mrs. B. V. Sweet, wife, Rockland, Me. VALENTINE, GERTRUDE C. Albany, N. Y. Teacher. Died at Le Mans, July 11, 1919, result of automobile accident. Secretary, 7th Division, AEF. Born, 1890. Sailed, Sept. 17, 1918. Place of burial, grave 177, section A, Grand Cemetery, Le Mans. Next of kin, Mrs. Clarence Valentine, mother, 80 Chestnut St., Albany, N. Y. VAN SCHAICK, JOHN B. Huntington, L. I., N. Y. ■ Farmer-Lawyer. Died at Evacuation Hos- Eital 3, Treves, Germany. Dec. 11, 1918, of ronchitis. Secretary, 4th Division, AEF. Born, 1865. Sailed, March 20, 1918. Place of burial, Town Cemetery 356-50, Treves, Germany. Next of kin, Mrs. J. B. Van Schaick, wife, Hunting- ton, L. I. VORHEES, JOHN B. Hartford, Conn. Minister. Died in New York City, result of wounds received in France. Secretary, 26th Division, AEF. Born, 1875. Sailed, May 6, 1918. Place of burial. United States. Next of kin, Mrs. J. B. Vorhees, wife, 854 Asylum St., Hartford, Conn. VROOMAN, MARJORIE Clyde, N. Y. Teacher atid Social Worker. Died at Cau- terets, Pyrenees, March 4, 1919, of pneumonia. Secretary, Cauterets. Born, 1891. Sailed, Oct. 27, 1918. Place of burial, graire 32A, Talence Cemetery near Bordeaux. Next of kin. Dr. W. R. Vrooman, father, Clyde, N. Y. 234 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA WALSH, GEORGE H. Philadelphia, Pa. Salesman. Died at Queenstown, Ireland, U. S. Naval Hospital 4, Oct. 18, 1918, of indu- enza. Secretary, Queenstown, Ireland. Born, 1883. Sailed, Sept. 2, 1918. Place o£ burial, Philadelphia, Pa. Next of kin, S. H. Walsh, father, 203 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. WELLWOOD, ROBERT New York City, N. Y. Missionary to China. Killed, May 19, 1918, in enemy air raid on British lines. Secretary, Chinese coolies, Blargies. Born, 1864. Sailed, Jan. 27, 1918. Place of burial, grave C6, plot 1, Communal Cemetery, Blargies. Next of kin, Mrs. Robert Wellwood, wife, care of A. B. M. S., Ford Bldg., Boston, Mass. WHITE, EDITH Petsluma, Cal. Died at Chaumont, Base Hospital 90, March 13, 1919, of meningitis. Secretary, Montigny- sur-Aube, 8th Army Corps, AEF. Bom, 1886. Sailed, Jan. 8, 1919. Place of burial, grave 55, Officers' Plot, AEF Cemetery 10, Chaumont. Next of kin, Mrs. J. H. White, mother, Peta- luma, Cal. WILLING, HERMAN S. Moline, 111. Editor. Died, Camp Hospital 64, Chatillon- sur-Seine, Nov. 22, 1918, of pneumonia. Sec- retary, 80th Division, AEF. Born 1873. Sailed, May 14, 1918. Place of burial, grave 1, Chatillon-sur-Seine. Next of kin, Mrs. H, S. Willing, wife, 440 44th St., Moline, 111. WOODHEAD, HOWARD Pittsburgh, Pa. Teacher. Died at St. Germain-en-Laye (Seine-st-Oise), June 8, 1919, of pneumonia. Secretary, Foyer du Soldat, St. Germain-en- Laye. Born, 1877. Sailed, March 30, 1918. Place of burial, grave 867, YMCA Section, Arne Cemetery, Suresnes-sur-Seine. Next of kin, Mrs. Hi Woodhead, wife, 2131 North St., Logansport, Ind. ZINN, JEANETTE York, Pa. Buyer. Died, Moseley Hill Hospital, Liver- pool, England, Oct. 4, 1918, of pneumonia. En route to Paris. Sailed, Sept. 1, 1918. Bom, May 27, 1892. Place of burial. United States. Next of kin, Mr. William Zinn, father, 452 West College Av., York, Pa. Home Camps AYRES, EDWIN T. San Francisco, Cal. Garage Owner. Died, Mare Island, Cal., Nov. 3, 1918, of influenza. Motor Transport and Warehouse Secretary, Mare Island. Born, 1884. Next of kin, Mrs. Edwin T. Ayres, wife, 619 Central Av., San Francisco, Cal. BARKER, J. HARRY Rochester, N. Y. Merchant. Died, Camp McClelland, Ala., Oct. 29, 1917, of pneumonia. Secretary, Camp McClelland. Born, 1877. Next of kin, Mrs. J. H. Barker, wife, 66 Linden St., Rochester, N. Y. BARNES, WESLEY W. Nebraska City, Neb. Minister. Died, St. Luke's Hospital, New York City, Dec. 2, 1918, of influenza. At- tending 2/th conference at Columbia University. Born, 1882. Next of kin, Mrs. W. W. Barnes, wife, 112 S. 9th St., Nebraska City, Neb. BARTOW, LATHROP New York, N. Y. Agriculturist. Died, New York City, Dec. 9, 1918, of pneumonia. Secretary, Physical De- partment, Fort Jay. Born, 1886. Next of kin, Mr. C. S. Bartow, father, 33 West 73d St., New York City. BEAN, OREN N. Cavendish, Vt. Minister. Died, North Springfield, Vt., Oct. 13, 1918, of pneumonia. Awaiting sailing. Born, 1871. Next of kin, Mrs. O. N. Bean, wife. Cavendish, Vt. BENN, WILLIAM B. East Lansing, Mich. Minister. Died, Great Lakes, 111., Oct. 25, 1918, of influenza. Religious Work Secretary, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes. Bom, 1887. Next of kin, Mrs. W. B. Benn, wife, 509 Mt. Hope St., East Lansing, Mich. BLAKE, BERNARD T. St. Paul, Minn. Art and Dramatic Student. Died, Camp Mills, L. I., Oct. 15, 1918, of pneumonia. Social Secretary, Camp Mills, L. I. Born, 1892. Next of kin, Mrs. Andrew Call, aunt, 1212 Ashland Av., St. Paul, Minn. BOLT, ERIC P. Bend, Ore. High School Principal. Died, Vancouver, Wash., Nov. 9, 1918, of influenza. Camp Gen- eral Secretary, Vancouver. Bom, 1892. Next of kin, Mrs. E. P. Bolt, wife, care of Army YMCA, Vancouver, Wash. BRENNEMAN, WILLIAM D. Oregon, Wis. Minister. Died, Great Lakes, 111., Oct. 2, 1918, of influenza. Educational Secretary, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes. Born, 1887. Next of kin, Mrs. W. D. Brenneman, wife, Homewood, Ohio. BRAXTON, RUSSELL B. New York, N. Y. Steward. Died,. Camp Lee, Va., Aug. 8, 1918, of tuberculosis. Educational Secretary, Camp Lee. Born, 1876. Next of kin, Mrs. R. B. Braxton, wife, 2311 7th Av., New York City. BURSON, D. C. Brewton, Ala. Dentist. Died, Okalona, Miss., Oct. 10, 1918, of pneumonia. Business Secretary, Camp Sheridan, Ala. Born, 1877. Next of kin. Miss Blanche D. Burson, sister, Atmore, Ala. BURTON, WALTER A. Halsted, Pa. Died, Pelham Bay Park, N. Y., Oct. 3, 1918, of pneumonia. Building Secretary, Naval Re- serve, Pelham Bay Park. Born, 1878. Next of kin, Mrs. W. A. Burton, wife, Halsted, Pa. CARR, WALTER A. Adams, Mass. Efectrician. Died, Adams, Mass., Oct. 21, 1918, of influenza. Awaiting sailing. Bom, 1883. Next of kin, Mrs. W. A. Carr, wife, 6 Mill St., Adams, Mass. CASTO, EUGENE LAYTON Greenville, Ky. School Superintendent. Died, Camp Taylor, Ky., Oct. 5, 1918, of pneumonia. Camp Social Secretary, Camp Taylor. Born, 1890. Next of kin, Mr. Cf. R. Casto, father, Millwood, W. Va. HOM£ CAMPS 235 CHAMBERLIN, C. O. Crescent City, Fla. Bank Cashier. Died, Base Hospital, Camp Jackson, S. C, Oct. 10, 1918, of pneumonia. Business Secretary, Camp Jackson. Born, 1889. Next of kin, Mrs. R. G. Chamberlin, mother, Crescent City, Fla. COURSON, ERNEST L. Adel, Ga. Minister. Died, Base Hospital, Camp Tay- lor, Ky., Dec. 3, 1918, of pneumonia. Secre- tary, Chaplain's Training School, Camp Tay- lor. Boim, 1888. Next of kin, Mrs. J. Branch, mother, 156 Vine St., Macon, Ga. CRAMSIE, EDWARD A. New York City Secretary. Died, New York City, Nov., 1918, of pneumonia. Office Secretary, Educa- tional Bureau, War Personnel Board, Head- quarters, N. Y. Bom, 1891. Next of kin, Mr. E. A. Cramsie, father, 2191 7th Av., New York City. CUNNINGHAM, RICHARD H. Chicago, III. R.R. Agent. Died, Base Hospital, Camp Taylor, Ky., June 3, 1919, result of operation. Social Secretary, Camp Taylor. Born, 1869. Next of kin, Mrs. R. H. Cunningham, wife, 4233 Washington Blvd., Chicago, 111. DAMEL, ELBERT P. Jefferson City, Mo. Teacher. Died, Camp Funston, Kan., Oct. 18, 1918, of pneumonia. Social Secretary, Camp Funston, Kan. Borii, 1894. Next of kin, Mr. M. Damel, father, 786 Clark Av., Jefferson City, Mo. DAMERON, STEPHEN G. C. Selmer, Tenn. School Principal. Died, Base Hospital, Camp Wheeler, Ga., Nov. 29, 1918, of pneumonia. Athletic Secretary, Camp Wheeler. Born, 1885. Next of kin, Mrs. S. G. C. Dameron, wife, Selmer, Tenn. DOWNEY, PAUL Niagara Falls, N. Y. Student. Died, Syracuse, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1918, of influenza. Secretary, Students' Army Training Corps, Syracuse University, Syracuse. Bom, 1898. Next of kin, Mr. W. J. Downey, father, 643 6th St., Niagara Falls, N. Y. EDWARDS, CLAUDE A. Charlestown, Mo. Accountant. Died, Base Hospital, Camp Taylor, Ky., Oct. 19. 1919, of pneumonia. Assistant Secretary, Camp Taylor. Born, 1893. Next of kin, Mrs. O. A. Grenshaw, sister, Charlestown, Mo. EPPES, WILLIAM R. Athens, Ga. Broker. Died, Base Hospital, Camp McClel- land, Ala., Jan. 6, 1919, of pneumonia. Physi- cal Secretary, Building, Camp McClelland. Bom, 1892. Next of kin, Mrs. W. R. Eppes, wife, Athens, Ga. FANCHER, JOHN E. Pittsburgh, Pa. Teacher. Died, Camp Merritt, N. J., Sept. 10, 1918, of pneumonia. Educational Secre- tary, Auditorium, Camp Merritt. Born, 1879. Next of kin, Mrs. J. E. Fancher, wife, 1143 Biltmore Av., Pittsburgh, Pa. GARRY, ROBERT C. Lockport, N. Y. Bible Teacher. Died, Camp Wadsworth, S. C, Jan. 17, 1918, of pneumonia. Born, .1846. Next of kin, Mrs. Robert C. Garry, wife, Webb St., Lockport, N. Y. GRIFFITH, WILLIAM C. Boston, Mass. Singer. Pied, Boston, Mass., Sept. 25, 1918, of pneumonia. Activities Secretary, Northeastern Department Headquarters, Bos- ton. Born, 1890. Next of kin, Mrs. W. C. Griffith, wife, 520 Audubon Rd., Boston, Mass. HAMBY, E. H. _ Buchanan, Cal. Salesman. Died, Georgia State Sanitarium, Ga.,,Jan., 1918, nervous collapse. Educational Secretary, Camp Sevier, Greenville, S. C. Next of kin, Mrs. E. H. Hamby, wife. Marietta, Ga. HILL. CHARLES E. Orlando, Fla. Automobile Dealer. Died, Hotel Statler, Buffalo, N. Y., Oct. 20, 1918, of pneumonia. Recruiting Secretary, War Personnel Board, Headquarters, N. Y. C. Born, 1876. Next of kin. Miss Geraldine Hill, daughter, Dayton, Ohio. HOAGLAND. AMOS N. Oxford, N. J. Physical Director. Died, Oxford, N. J., Oct. 17, 1918, of influenza. Awaiting sailing. Born, 1884. Next of- kin, Mrs. A. N. Hoag- land, wife, care of W. K. La Bar, Strouds- burg. Pa. HOUSE, GEORGE A. West Orange, N. J. Phonograph Demonstrator. Died, Base Hos- pital, Camp Lee, Va., Oct. 22, 1918, hardening of the arteries. Assistant Secretary, Camp Lee. Born, 1855. Next of kin, Mrs. C. W. Norton, daughter," 43 Parle Av., West Orange, N. J. HOWE, GEORGE O. Dallas, Tex. Accountant. Died, Roosevelt Hosp^ital, New York City, Oct. 3, 1918, of pneumonia. Await- ing sailing. Born, 1881. Next of kin, Mrs. George O. Howe, wife, 413 West Jefferson St., Dallas, Texas. HUNT, CHARLES N. Macon, Ga. Lawyer. Killed, Iowa City, March 30, 1919, by train en route to Camp Dodge, la. Sec- retary, Troop Train Service, U. S. A. Pre- vious assignment. Lecturer Educational De- partment, Paris, France. Born, 1855. Next of kin, Mrs. C. N. Hunt, wife, 219 Duff St., Macon, Ga. JEWETT, ELIZABETH Nyack, N. Y. Died, Nyack, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1919, of influ- enza. Clerk, Filing Department, War Per- sonnel Board, "Headquarters, New York City. Next of kin, Mrs. Richard D. Jewett, mother, Nyack, N. Y. KEMERER, SAMUEL W. San Antonio, Tex. Minister. Died, Camp Travis, Texas, Dec. 22, 1917, of pneumonia. Religious Work Di- rector, Camp Travis. Born, 1872. Next of kin, Mrs. S. W. Kemerer, Kerrville, Texas. KONRAD, JOHN Boston, Mass. Real Estate Dealer. Died, Boston, Mass., Oct. 7, 1918, automobile accident. Awaiting sailing, Born, 1872. Next of kin, Mrs. John Konrad, wife, 106 Forest Hill St., Jamaica Plains, Mass. LAWRENCE, J. S. Fort Worth, Tex. Theological Student. Died, Camp Bowie, Texas, Dec. 23, 1918, of pneumonia. Assist- ant Secretary, Camp Bowie. Born, 1879. Next of kin, Mrs. J. S. Lawrence, wife, Seminary Hill, Fort Worth, Texas. 236 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA LEVI, HENRY E. Talladega, Ala. High School Principal. Killed, Camp Wheel- er, Ga., Aug. 31, 1918, by lightning, while on duty. Religious Secretary, Camp Wheeler. Born, 1866. Next of kin, Mrs. H. E. Levi, wife, 402 W. Battle St., Talladega, Ala. LOERCH, HENRY J. Highland Lake, N. Y. Draftsman. Died, Base Hospital, Camp Dix, N. J., Sept. 26, 1918, of pneumonia. Physical Director, Camp Dix. Born, 1887. Next of kin, Mrs. H. J. Loerch, wife, 104 Lincoln St., Jersey City Heights, N. J. MAGEE, THOMAS W. Died, Nogales, Ariz., Camp Secretary, 35th Infantry, Nogales, Ariz. No further record. MAHIN, HARRY H. Arlington, Ind. High School Principal. Died, Naval Train- ing Station, Great Lakes, 111., Oct. 6, 1918, of pneumonia. Educational Secretary, Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Bom, 1884. Next of kin, Mrs. H. S. Mahin, wife, Arling- ton, Ind. MEYER, CHARLES M. Grand Rapids, Mich. Died, Camp McArthur, Tex., Oct. 8, 1918, of pneumonia. Religious Secretary, Camp Mc- Arthur, Tex. Next of kin, Mrs. C. M. Meyer, wife, 1012 Baldwin St., Grand Rapids, Mich. MORELAND, SINCLAIR San Antonio, Tex. Died, San Antonio, Tex., Oct. 7, I "IS, of pneumonia. Physical Director, Kelly Field, Tex. Bom, 1885. Next of kin, Mrs. S. More- land, Sequin, Tex. NEALON, EDWARD T. Paterson, N. J. Died, Sept. 22, 1919, of influenza. Physical Director, Camp Merritt, N. J. No further record. PALMER. E. T. Hollywood, Cal. Automobile Dealer. Died, Hollywood, Cal. March 27, 1919. Secretary, Camp Kearney, Cal. Bora, 1876. Next of kin, Mrs. E. T. Palmer, wife, 1545 Formosa Ave., Hollywood, Cal. PECKMANN, HENRY R. Elgin, 111. Teacher. Died, Base Hospital, Camp Fun- ston, Kan., Oct. 8, 1918, of influenza. Educa- tional Director, Camp Funston. Bom, 1883. Next of kin, Mrs. S. Peckmann, mother, 1018 S. Main St., Bloomington, 111. PIERCE, RAYMOND G. Wakefield, Mass. Clerk. Died. Boston, Mass., Sept. 15, 1918, of influenza. Building Secretary, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston. Bom, 1893. Next of kin, A. N. Pierce, father, Greenfield, Mass. POTTENGER, AVERY K. Indianapolis, Ind. Landscape Architect. Died, Base Hospital, Great Lakes Naval Training Staticm, 111., March 5, 1919, of pneumonia. Educational Secretary, Camp Farragut, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes. Next of kin, Mrs. A. K. Pottenger, wife, De Kalb, 111. POTTER, JAMES V. Mt. Morris, Pa. Minister. Died, Mt. Morris, Pa., Nov. 24, 1918, of pneumonia. Awaiting sailing. Born, 1884. Next of kin, Mrs. J. V. Potter, wife, Mt. Morris, Pa. SCOTT, MARK L. Des Moinea, la. Died, April 4, 1919, of influenza. Secre- tary Army Branch, Iowa State Committee. Next of kin, Mr. J. W. L. Scott, father, Mt. Pleasant, la. SELBY, LESLIE Vincennes, Ind. Teacher. Died, Base Hospital, Grejit Lakes Training Station, 111., Sept. 29, 1918, of influenza. Assistant Educational Secretary, Camp Decatur, Great Lakes Training Station. Bom, 1891. Next of kin, Mr. N. S. Selby, father, 117 N. 6th St., Vincennes, Ind. SHUCK, LUTHER M. San Francisco, Cal. Principal. Died, Leland Stanford Univer- sity, Cal., Nov. 10, 1918, of influenza. Y M CA Training School, Leland Stanford Uni- versity. Bom, 1858. Next of kin, Mrs. L. M. Shuck, wife, 6327 California St., San Fran- cisco, Cal. ^ SIMS, COMER Mobile, Ala. Cotton Broker. Died, New York City, Oct. 9, 1918, of pneumonia. Awaiting sailing. Bora, 1875. Next of kin, Mr. A. T. Sims, father. Midland City, Ala. STEDMAN, HAROLD B. Holyoke, Mass. Stenographer. Died, Fort Slocum, Oct. 8, 1918, of pneumonia. Secretary, overseas training section. War Personnel Board, New York Cihr. Born, 1893. Next of tin, Mr. W. S. Stedman, father, 9 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, Mass. WALTRIP, REUBEN A. Buffalo, Tex. Minister. Died, Fort Bliss, Tex., Oct. 9, 1918, of pneumonia. Building Secretary, Fort Bliss. Born, 1882. Next of kin, Mrs. R. A. Waltrip, wife, Jewelt, Tex. WEATHERBY, ALBERT San Francisco, Cal. Efliciency Expert. Died, St. Luke's Hos- pital, New York City, Sept. 28, 1918, of acute indigestion. Attending 19th Conference, Co- lumbia University. Born, 1870. Next of kin, Mrs. Albert Weatherby, wife, 1435 Alvarado Terrace, Los Angeles, Cal. WHEELER, HIRAM H. Urbana, III. Clerk. Died, Urbana, III., Oct. 15, 1918, of pneumonia. Bom, 1881. Next of kin, Mrs. H. H. Wheeler, wife, 812 W. Clark St., Ur- bana, HI. WILSON, WILLIAM Green Bay, Wise. Insurance Agent. Died, Springfield Hospital, Springfield, Mass., Dec. 13, 1918, of apoplexy. Attending Training Conference, Springfield. Born 1874. Next of kin, Mrs. Wm. Wilson, wife, 6 Buengenen Apts., Green Bay, Wise. YAEGER, CHARLES Mount Carmel, Pa. R. R. Inspector. Died, Crouse Irving Hos- pital, Syracuse, N. Y., of pneummiia. As- sistant Secretary, Camp Syracuse. Born, 18B7. Next of kin, Mrs. Charles Yaeger, wife, 115 N. Maple St., Mount Cannel, Pa. 237 WOUNDED AND GASSED The following is a list of men and women wounded or gassed under fire. This list is based upon medical reports, insurance statements or the statement made by the individual on release sheets. AMBS, LEWIS Los Angeles, Cal. ARMBRUST, JOSEPH H. Boston. Mass. ARMSTRONG, ROBERT Northampton, Mass. AZARIAN, JOSEPH A. Pasadena, Cal. BALLEW. WILLIAM E. Lexington, III. BARK-ER, MANDEVILLE, J., JR. Uniontown, Pa. BARTHOLOMEW, HERBERT O. Brookville, Pa. BEAUMAN, JAMES H. South Bend, Ind. BLAKE. WILLIAM A. Jamaica Plains, Mass. BRADLEE, CHARLES W., JR. Providence, R. I. BRADLEY. HORACE East Orange, N. J. BRANNEN, ELEANOR New York, N. Y. BRIGGS, EDWARD P. Buffalo, N. Y. BROWN, ARCHIBALD Red Bank, N. J. BROWN, HARRY G. Hackensack, N. J. BULKLEY, DAVID B. Bonita, La. CAMPBELL, BARLOW M. Bainbridge, Ga. CANNELL, FRANK B. Brookline, Mass. CARRINGTON, JOHN J. Huntington, Tenn. CHASE, HARRY L. South Braintree, Mass. CHAUDRON, PAUL V. Mobile, Ala. CLARK, GEORGE E. Akron, O. CLIFFORD, JOHN R. Tucson, Ariz. COOK, HUGH O. Kansas City, Mo. COURTWRIGHT, WILLIAM L. Larkspur, Cal. CRESSY, WILLIAM New York, N. Y. CROSS. E. W. Grinnell, la. D'ANTONIO, JOHN Springfield, Mass. DAWES, FRED A. Newark, N. J. DERR, HARVEY R. Wooster, O. DEVAN, SCOVILLE T. Columbus, O. DIETZ. ARTHUR L. Los Angeles, Cal. DILLON, WILLIAM W. Estacado, Ore. DOUGLASS, ARTHUR M. Manitou, Col. DOWNER, SAMUEL W. Downer, N. J. ELWpOD, JOHN L. Irvington, N. J. EVANS, JACK C. Miles City, Mont. EVERS, JOHN U. Martinsburg, W. Va. FALCONER, ROBERT C. Exeter, Mass. FONVILLE, LEROY R. Burlington, N. C. GAULD, FRED. 'Arlington, Mass. GREGG, DAVID Eastern Shore, Md. HADLEY, THOMAS F. Richland, la. HAINES, CHARLES C. Middletown, N. Y. HAMBLIN, CHARLES R. Rushville, N. Y. HANCOCK, ARTHUR La Grange, 111. HANEY, HARVEY S. Quakertown, Pa. HARTLEY, ROBERT A. Quincy, 111. HINTON, CHARLES O. Paris, Ky. HINTS, WILLIAM Osceola, la. HOLLOWAY, PERCY T. Ellasville, Ga. HOWE, FRANK L^ JR. East Orange, N. J. HOWELL, WALTER D. Detroit, Mich. HOWES, DAVID H. Wilmington, N. C. 238 WAR WORK OF THE AMERICAN YMCA HUGGINS, WILLIAM L. Coolidge, Ga, HUME, MARION C. Ottumwa, la. HUNGERFORD, ARTHUR E. Baltimore, Md. HUNTER, GEORGE J. Detroit, Mich. INNES, FREDERICK E. Hartford, Conn. JEWETT, EDMUND H. New York, N. Y. JOHNSON, BENTON V. Detroit, Mich. JOHNSON, MARTIN R. Brooklyn, N. Y. JOHNSTON, MERCER C. Baltimore, Md. JONES, VICTOR R. Easton, Pa. KENNEDY, DANIEL Somerville, Mass. KRUPAR, ANTHONY C. Chesterfield, Va. LAU, OSCAR M. Des Moines, la. LEONARD. ASA K. Ithaca, N. Y. LEWIS, EDGAR S. Cincinnati, O. MacCLINCHIE, ROBERT E. St. Louis, Mo. McCORD, ROLLA E. Glenellyn, 111. McGEACHY, JOHN A. St. Paul, N. C. McKEE, HERBERT Fowler, Cal. MALE, H. L. Brooklyn, N. Y. MAURER, OSCAR New Haven, Conn. METCALF, JOEL Winchester, Mass. MILLER, BERNETTA A. New York, N. Y. MORRIS, CLYDE C. Idabel, Okla. NELSON, H. WILLIAM Lowell, Mass. NEPP, MARTIN L. Corona, N. Y. PALMER, ASHER F. Bellingham, Wash. PARSELL, ALFRED P. Auburn, N. Y. PATTON, JOHN W. Anderson,' Pa. PERKINS, G. LAWRENCE Pomfret, Conn. PEST, B. THOMAS Newark, N. J. PETTY, OSCAR E. Lewiston, Mont. PHILLIPS, ARTHUR Boston, Mass. PINKERTON, HENRY Jacksonville, 111. PRESTON, BRYANT C. Palo Alto, Cal. PRETTYMAN, WILLIAM B Pittsburgh, Pa. ROBERTSON, ROBERT Oakland, Cal. ROWE, GEORGE T. Dublin, Ga. SAYERS, CHARLES Lancaster, Pa. SEWELL, EMMETT K. Wynne, Ark. SHERMAN, PAULA New York, N. Y. - SIDLEY, THOMAS H. Evanston, III. SMITH, ARTHUR L. Rosalin, Va. SMITH, FREDERICK C. Indianola, la. SMITH, HENRY F. West Msdford, Mass. SMITHERS, KELLY C. Frankfort, N. Y. SNOW, ROBERT C. Hyde Park, Mass. STUART, SIDNEY New York, N. Y. TALMADGE, DAVID H. New York, N. Y. TAYLOR, JAMES Chicago, III. TOULON, HOMER V. Philadelphia, Pa. TRUEX, WALTER Syracuse, N. Y. VAN EMDEN, IRA H. Mt. Vernon, N. Y. VAN EPPS, FRANK M. Chicago, 111. VARNUM, ALGERNON B. Hyannis, Mass. WALCH, ALBERT W. Petersburg, Va. WALKER, ELI Stockton, Kan. WALKER, ORVILLE W. Nakato, Minn. WALLACE, WALTER Richmond, Va. WANAMAKER, OLIN D. Dallas, Tex. WOUNDED AND GASSED 239 WARD. WALTER G. Aurora, Neb. WARREN, FRANK. G. Stockton, Cal. WATKINS, GLENN Lakewood, Cleveland, O. WATSON, ALEXANDER P. Knoxville, Tenn. WELLS, DANIEL Detroit, Mich. WEST, FRANK H. Loda, 111. WHARTON, HENRY Philadelphia, Pa. WHITE, HARRY C. Bound Brook, N. J. WILBOR, THOMAS W., JR. New Britain, Conn. WILLIAMS, LINSEY E. Manchester, Tenn. WILLIS, GUY A. Darlington, Mo. WILLMER, SARAH Chicago, III. WILSON, GEORGE C. San Jose, Cal. WYMAN, LEON E. Cleveland Heights, O.