Y.M.C.A. AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2629, 26 November 1915, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. AND THE WAR

WORK AMONG SOLDIERS

AT CAIRO

NEWS FROM FIELD SECRETARIES,

rile following letter has been roceived from 'Mr. James L. Hav, Field Service Representative of the Y.M.C.A. National Committee, working in Egypt • "You may bo surprised to hear that I havo left my work at Zeitoun to take charge of a very important work in tho city of Cairo. Some time ago tho Red Cross and the Y.M.C.A. combined in an effort to establish somo place in Cairo which would bo a counteracting agency to certain quarters of Cairo, which have meant tho ruin of many a man. With a good dealof influence from headquarters a skating rink with a largo and splendidly fitted up refreshment rooms was secured in tho Gardens, and a start was made. Tito men from Homo wcro put in charge, but they were not making a success Of things, so tho comlmtteo asked me to seo what I could do. I thought the thing over, ana oil tho understanding that a man would bo put in my place at Zeitoun I consented to take-over tho work. I havo now been on the job for a fortnight, and I am glad to say that I have got things going to the entiro satisfaction of the committee. There is a great opportunity here, and I am confident that it. is going to be one of tho biggest things tho x.M.C.A. has tackled. 1 am simply rushed for time, aud am working from early morning to late at night, so I hope you; will excuse, my not going into details. Tho following programme will give you somo idea of tho work Skating, Middlesex Band, kinema, boxing and wrestling, races, hockey tournament, exhibitions by the Egyptian Club, under the patronage of GenorSl opens, and Sunday servicos with Biblical pictures, singing, etc. "The Sixths arrived a day or two ago, ? n ., 1 got amon g them at once, and tokl them of the Y.M.C.A .'s in camp and my "work in Cairo. Quito a largo number have been iij, .The motor bicycle that the Now Zealand Presbyterian Bible fellows supplied mo with is invaluable in my present ivork. 4.1, 1 received word a day or two ago that my brother is among the missing. I am afraid that this means killed, for' he was xtx that terrible, chargc of August

The Club. "Since last I wrote the work at the Jisbekia Gardens has gone on splendidly. Its popularity is growing day by day, the average attendance every night being about 500, and on Saturday nights about 1500. A small article from the Egyptian Press: 'There is not tho slightest doubt, that the recently formed! Soldiers' Club in the Esbekia Gardens is meeting a real need and appealing to tho soldiers m a unique way. The fact was demonstrated on Saturday night, when orowds of soldiers found their way to the club to see the programme that had been prepared for their amusement. an "'terest was added to the i. °If proceedings by the presence of Lieutenant-General Sir J. G. Maxwell and. Lady Maxwell, who have shown a personal interest in the ohib since its inception - During the interval General Maxwell took'the opportunity of saying a few words to the soldiers. He referred to the very useful purpose tho club was serving in bringing together in social capacity men from all parts of the Empire, and the opportunity the club afforded of providing comfort'and recreation for the men when visiting Cairo. J He General s words were received with .hearty applause, aiid as he and Lady iuaxweJl left they were given three ringing cheers. _ There were also present on tho stage Lieutenant Walford and Prince Alexander of Battenberg, A.D.C.'s.' " Military Assistance.

The task that has been set me is a big one, and there is ample work for two or three mqn; but owing to every available man being used elsewhere'lL a if 6 the best 1 call by myself. I thank God for the way He is enabling me to stand the strain I have never felt in better form. I am sure -that this work is going to do a great deal for tho Y.M.C.A.'as a whole. Hie military authorities themselves are keenly interested in it, and wo are getting their whole-hearted sympathy, fast Mo n a" int ?rview with General Maxwell, G.O.C. of- the whole forces. was most interested. He has nven orders to have my notices distributed to all the O.C. s in his command, and generally is taking a real interest in, things. Colonel Barrett, who was responsible for .getting the money adfrom the Red Cross for this work, is frequently at the club, and Ms own words to me are: "I am more pleased with this work than with anything else I have done in Egypt." Tho whole position is this: If we can keep lout) men here on Saturday \night, aii inestimable service is being doiie. You know the moral and social conditions of Cairo, and the dangers to which the soldiers are exposed. Well, this club is the only big counteracting agency to these evils, and if w© man, by providing good clean. sport and amusement, keep the men from such places, we are doin" really worth while. lam endeavouring to introduce the religious work, and th©_ start I have made is inost encouraging.' The circumstances in which wo are placed are unique, and these services we hold in the open air in the skating rink will long be remembered by all who take part. At the committee meeting. the other night I suggested that hospital nurses should be allowed the privileges of the club and this has been agreed to. The men are loud in their praise of the club, and there is no question that it is meetir.tr' a long felf need. Help is urgently needed, and we are receiving strong appeals from O.C/s at the front to o*o over. Three men arc alreadv there, and a fourth is being sent shortly. I was picked to go, but they won't let me lonve this work. I suppose it is just as important, and I am prepared to do just what is bc6t.

• At Alexandria. You might' be interested in the new building at Alexandria. The cost of this blinding has boon met I>v tlio joint assistance-of the British Y.M.C.A., the British Red Cross Society, and last, but not least, tlio Y.M.C.A. of America. We f. a y c a ' s ° received £150 from tlio British Soldiers' Cafe in Cairo, which is being run so successfully there. The British High Commissioner remarks:— Such is tho history of file inception and construction of this buildlnS- I think lam voicing your sentiments when I say we congratulate tho , 'or what they have accomplished on beliaif of the Army and Navy, on i whom the future and fortune of our Empire depend to-day. I speak not r rft wor ' J accomplished by tlio '! l p^ypt —that you can see in the hospitals and convalescent homes of this country—but I spoak of the gigantic work carried on in the great camps of England and largo military bases on tho Continent."