Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1918 — WELD SEVEN WAR WORK AGENCIES INTO RELIEF ARMY [ARTICLE]

WELD SEVEN WAR WORK AGENCIES INTO RELIEF ARMY

Great Organizations Which Are Helping to Keep Up the Morale of Fighting Millions Unite in Campaign for $170,500,000. With millions of American men on war fronts, in training camps and on the seas and with thousands of American women on foreign soil, all engaged in the stupendous task of making tiie world safe for democracy, a great duty devolves upon those who remain in the United States,—the duty of sending Home to those who have put Home behind them for the period of the war. The agencies through winch tids can be accomplished'’ are joined in the United Wai- Work Campaign. Front being given the cigarette or chocolate bar, with which he stays his hunger in the fury j»f battle, to the theatrical entertainment or the athletic games, which relax him into normal comfort after weeks of terrific combat, the American tighter is dependent upon the continued efforts of the Y. M. C. 'A., the Y. W. C. A., the National Catholic War Council and K. of C., the War Camp Community Service, the Jewish Welfare Board, the American Library Association and the Salvation Army. To carry on this w-ork t-lie combined welfare organizations are seeking a fund of $170,ol)0,00b. The Y. M. C. A. provides 538 huts in American training camps and more than 800 in the war zone as centres which the fighters can use as clubs, schools, theatres, stores, churches, libraries and writing rooms. More than 7,000 men and women had been sent overseas or approved for overseas work by early autumn and 3,822 were serving in American camps at home. Y. M. C. A. huts are the canteens of the American Expeditionary Force and are the theatses where the American entertainers, sent ever by the “Y,” appear. Noted American public men and clergymen speak in the huts. Classes are conducted there. Millions of letters are written there on paper provided free by the “Y.” Physical directors of (lie “Y” teach and spread mass athletics, using material furnished free by the organization. The Y. W. C. A. does similar work for the thousands of American women in war work overseas—signal corps telephone operators, nurses and Frencli inunitionVorkers. It provides cafeterias, rest and recreation centres, entertainment and reading for these women and girls. The Y. W. C. A.’s outstanding contribution to soldier welfare work in training camps was the establishment of Hostess Houses, where the soldier or sailor may receive his mother, wife, sister or sweetheart in the surroundings and atmosphere of the best homes.

The National Catholic War Council eo-ordinates all Catholic welfare work in support of the government and through the K. of C. provides clubhouses for our fighters in all American training camps, as well as having seventy-five centres in France and three In England. In their huts the K. of C. provides entertalningment, movies, boxing bouts, educational work, religions services, free stationery, reading matter and writing rooms. In France their rolling canteen accompanies the American army, their secretaries march with the troops, giving away cigarettes, cookies, chocolates, soap and towels. The K. Of C. had 300 workers in France at the beginning of autumn, with 450 more passed by the government. and 200 others signed up. At the same date they had 468 secretaries in American training camps, 150 buildings, fifty-six more in the course of erection and contracts let for fifty more. War Camp Community Service functions exclusively in America, its special mission being to “surround the camps with,..hospitality.” In place of leaving the soldier or sailor to the promiscuous companions and diversions formerly his lot, the organization obtains for him the best to be had in communities adjoining camps or through which he passes. W. C. C. S. obtains for him invitations to dine, bathe or spend the, day in the best homes. It Introduces him to the best women and girls at social gatherings, church entertainments, theatre parties. It arouses communities to provide concerts, athletic contests and other wholesome diversions for the soldier, and to drive out or discourage the vicious elements which have been historic camp followers. The Jewish Welfare Board is correlating the strength and purposes of 100,000 Jewish soldiers, sailors and marines with that of the Gentile soldiers. The board teaches the English language, American civics and ideals to thousands of young Jewish men who were Inducted into service after only a few years’ residence in this country. While safeguarding his religious rites, the board assists in the process of welding the Jewish soldier into the solid American unit and in bridging over the differences between him and the others. The American Library Association Is providing reading matter for every American soldier, sailor, marine and prisoner of war. In addition to gathering and forwarding three million

books contributed by the American people the association bought 560,271 books, mostly technical, of which 198,267 were sent overseas. More than 1,500,000 books of all kinds have been assigned to Y. M. C. A., K. of C. or Salvation Army huts in the war zone, a similar number being distributed In American training camps, while half a million are on warships or transports. The association has erected and operates forty-one library buildings. The Salvation Army, with 1,210 Workers, principally women, overseas, has won the affection of the fighters. Its 501 huts, rest and reading rooms are popular gathering places for the soldiers. The doughnuts fried by Salvation lassies in huts or trenches and given to the men have become famous around tiie world. Tiie Salvation Army gave forty-four ambulances to the American and Allies’ armies and in many other ways gives constant unselfish service.