Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 154, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1918 — GERMAN SHELLS CAN’T STOP Y. M. C. A. WORK [ARTICLE]

GERMAN SHELLS CAN’T STOP Y. M. C. A. WORK

Chicago, July 10. —Examples of conspicuous bravery on the part of Y. M. C. A. workers with the American troops in France are contained : n private reports just received here from abroad and made public today »y the central department war work council of the Y. M. C. A. Shrapnel, gas, machine gun fire and various other forms of German attack have been withstood by the workers within recent days in order to serve the men along the firing line. . , For heroism displayed in assisting French troops and rescuing French refugees while under heavy shell fire, Edwin W. Ely, of New York, xas just been decorated unofficially with the French war cross, it is stated. Other red triangle workers lave been recommended for citations for exemplary conduct in the recent fight at Xivray. Charles R. Patterson, of Alberta, Canada, and Homer Toulon, of Philadelphia, are said to have kept a Y. M. C. A. tent in operation under a German attack in which their equipment was destroyed and they suffered from gas and shell shock. A group of secretaries among whom was Benton Johnson, of Detroit, joined the stretcher bearers and carried out wounded men under fire or stood at the entrance of dressing stations under atack and gave wounded soldiers drinks and lighted cigarettes. In many instances physicians say the Y. M. C. A. workers gave the wounded men the necessary stimulus to save their lives. Miss Edith Prescott, a Y. M. C. A. canteen worker operating in the Toul sector, was informed that shell fire made it too dangerous for her to remain, but she prevailed upon the military authorities to hold up the order and she is still reported to be on the job.