Y.M.C.A. ARMY WORK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 23 May 1916, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. ARMY WORK

"AS IMPORTANT AS THE RED CROSS WORK"

WHAT IS BEING DONE IN EGYPT.

"I can give you no better idea of the work that is being done by the Y.M.C.A. iu Egypt," said Mr. W. H. George yesterday, "than to hand you a report of the meeting of the Y.M.C.A: Army Work Committee,, which was held in the Residency at Cairo on April 10, and which was attended by Mr. Jamicson and myself. It was the finest meeting I ever attended, and as each speaker representing a branch was only allowed three minutes to report on the work of his section, tho whole business was compressed and interesting."

According to this report the chairman. His Excellency Sir James M'Mahon, 6tabed in referring to the finances, that the committee had a balance of .£IO,OOO m the bank, to which had 'o' be added JUOOO loaned to tho 'trading account, and about .£6OO in respect of the Esbekia Gardens (in Cairo). The principle underlying tho whole work of the association had been to follow the troops wherever they had gone. At any rate, the association had tried to do that, with the result that a very large number of huts had been erected, in Egypt. They had erected inanjr huts around Cairo, a large building in Alexandria, aud also tents and huts there. Tlioy had a house at Port Said and a building at Suez, as well as huts at three or four other centres along the Canal, and also alt Wardan, Fayoum, and Mersa' Matruh. In fact, wherever the troops had gone it had been the principle of the I.M.C.A. to follow before anyone else. Sir James paid a fino tribute to the personnel of the Y.M.C.A. in Egypt, and also to the secretary (Mr. Jessop). In reporting on the work at Gallipoli, Mr. W. Owens said that at the end of August last he had a telegram from the secretary_to go forward to the advance base at Kephalos on the island of Imbros. This island is nine miles from the Peninsula, and he had gone forward with a full equipment. After a fortnight tiey had established a big marquee,- set a bakery going, and served coffee, tea, and cakes to the men. After a. week or two he had permission from Sir lan Hamilton to proceed to Anzac. Tho Commandant showed them a site in Reserve Gully, and' said: "We can give you this site, but no place is safe, and ,vou must take the risk." They had taken the risk, and established the Y.M.C.A. at Anzac. The greatest, need there was to give the men something to eat over and above their 'ordinary rations. Transport was very difficult from imbros, and it was difficult to get fiour. However, they were able to run. across cakes day after day on trawlers, and at 9.30 a.m. about 800 to 1000 men would gather to wait for the boat which arrived at 1 p.m. At 1.30 p.m. the supply would be exhausted. They had worlcod -tit Ch« same iineu at Cape Itelles., At .Anzac they were given notice • to quit four days beforethe evacuation. A Teport on the working of the Esbekia Gardens was presented by Mr. J. L. Hay, who referred to the project, as "a big counteracting agency against the forces of evil in Cairo." The gardens were opened in August last by Genoral Maxwell. The use mado of the gardens by the soldiers was proved by the Post Office, which reported that they had posted as many as 7000 letters per day, and the . output of refreshments amount-' ed to 60,000 cakes per week, 400 loaves of bread per day, as well as tea and coffee. As evidence of the appreciation in which the Y.M.C.A. was held among the soldiers, he quoted the following letter:— "Just a word of admiration and appreciation. Nobody feels happy when they have a fixed idea and opinion upset, but I have been forced to overcome the feeling and whole-heartedly congratulate you on the admirable work of your organisation. Owing to circumstances I always looked upon the Y.M.C.A. as a strictly sectarian institute of narrow and strict principles, but the grand work accomplished here has forced me, at first against my will, to openly admire your principles and their results, which lam happy'to say are anything but narrow. and sectarian. If the Y.M.C.A. does not boom in Australia after this struggle ceases, please do not blame the late Army of occupation, as I am sure it will not bo their fault."

I)r. S. H. Kennedy gave a resume of the work done in Alexandria, and tlio Kev. E. D. Downes reported on the work done in the hospitals. Mr. H. W. White reported 011 the religious work campaign, uid the secretary (Mr. Jessop) gave a general resumo of' the work of the association, eulogising the help that had been fiven him on all occasions by Sir James ['Mahon.

111 his report the' chairman said that looking at the work done as a whole tie had been profoundly impressed with its magnitude and success. He had heard on all sides appreciation expressed by the generals and commanders of the Forces, and lie was not going too far in saying that the Y.M.C.A. played quite as important a part in the war by promoting the health and well-being of the troops and thereby keeping them out of the hospitals, as our medical services and Red Cross did by looking after them when they got there.