AT THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2867, 4 September 1916, Page 3

AT THE FRONT

WORK THE Y.M.C.A. IS DOING ! LETTER FROM MR. J. L. HAY The following is the copy of a letter received from Field Secretary J. L. Hay, now in France, by Mr. Brownell, acting national secretary (vico Mr. Varney) of the Y.M.C.A. in New Zealand :—

"Jugt a few more hurried lines. Since last I wrote our work has been going along as steadily as the present circumstances will allow. We had a good spin all last week, and excepting Monday night, which I keep free for lotter-writing, etc., we had somothing on ovory night, and apparently appreciated by the soldiers. Tho debate last Saturday night was quite a unique aifair, and 1 have asked one of the men to write it up, as men from most of the New Zealand Universities took part. I wish you could have been hero for our social tea tho other Sunday afternoon. Guess it was the strangest Strangers' Tea. in the history of any Y.M.C.A. We could accommodate only about 90 men, and. although wo had no ladies to wait on tho men.- as wo did in Cairo, wo tried to introduce the 'homo' touch with some success at least. Wo purposo running these teas every Sunday afternoon, and I am drawing on the Comforts' Fund account to defray tho cost.

"Speaking of comforts. I hava taken upon myself to organise a. scheme whereby wo will reach men in tho trenches with whatever comforts we may bo able to supply. Up in the trenchos tho men have a pretty deadly time. They get but tho bare ration, and it is difficult for them to obtain anything else. They cravo for such things as cocoa, chocolate, soups, etc., and I am in a unique position for geting these things to them. I am, therefore, not waiting for your authority for drawing on our Comforts' Fund account for this purposo, but am going straight as these are days when things must be done quickly. I made a trip to one of tho Y.M.C.A. stores yesterday, and ordered goods to the value of £100 for distribution to men in the trenches. Already I have got quito a lot of chocolate and writing-paper to the men in tho trenches, and I know the fellows have been truly grateful. You want to be out hero to know what trench warfare really is, and I know it is in accordance .with your wishes that I should used part of the Comforts' money in this way.

"You will bo pleased to hear that to-day I took over another hall in a locality where one brigado of the New Zealand men have just gone, and this is number two New Zealand, Y.M.C.A., at the front. We are amongst the closest of all the Y.M.C.A.'s to the trenches, and in this particular centre a unique work is possible. It will be largely trench work. We aro running a canteen, ae this is wanted, and the men in the trenches will bo able to get dolivcred to them whatever they may order. Everything wo sell comes over duty free, and is sold at practically cost price. We' are running a tea and cocoa bar, and I guess this will be appreciated. By working in with tho brigade ration arrangements we can get our stuff right up to the trenches every night.

"A night ago this town had a terrible 'strafing,' and our building had a wonderful escape. Hugo shells landed, all around us, but none hit the building. Just next door to us tho chaplains have a room which is now just about 'mafish,' as wo would 6ay in Egypt—owing to a Jack Johnson bursting right outside. The holo in the ground is fully 20 feet in diameter 'and' 'JO fc'et'dcep. I hope our building will continue to haro a charmed (life. The other one is nearer the j trenches, so I suppose wo will get it soniq time or other.

"I don't know whether any copies of 'Blighty' have found their way to New Zealand. This is a. paper which is heing distributed free to tho troops from London, and as it is dependant upon private subscriptions to keep it going, I can heartily commend it to anyone wanting to assist something really good and much appreciated by the soldiers. Donations can bo sent to the Committee of 'Blighty,' 30-32 Fleet Street, London."