THE Y.M.C.A. AT THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3032, 20 March 1917, Page 6

THE Y.M.C.A. AT THE FRONT

Sir,—Just / a brief reply .to "AA'.M.p.," with the accompanying; ■ statement that I have no further time= to deVote to i replying to a correspondent who does not write over his owir> signature, and as far as I am con-t eerned, this lebter will close the incident. . In fbe first place, the corrcspon-. dent referral to and I agree entirely as to incalculable benefit derived by our soldiers in every section through the work of the Y.M.C.A. Oue striking difference, and practically the only one, is that "A.Y.M.C." regards, whisky, etc., as essential in providing comforts as lie indicates that without it all that ire can offer is only equal to a cup of cold water.- With him on this point I absolutely differ. I have seen; hundreds of letters from men who nave thanked God for the provision wade by the Y.M.C.A. and the comforts received by them from that body, which, have not in a single instance mentioned whisky or wine, but they have mentidned hot soup, • bovrN, °° co £> malted milk; and various other rerresnmeuts of a similar nature which have put new life into the men, a>nd tor which they have been - de*outlj thankful. . . . Mr. Snieeton, who has ]ust returfl* 0 - from the front, states that in 'one Y.M.C.A. shelter close up to the firing line he found that in one week alone--26,600 cups of cocoa had been distributed hot to the men just coming out of the trenches. The state of mud and discomfort that they -were experiencing made tho men appreciate this hot refreshment, with "the biscmtSg etc.. and cigarettes accompanying it." If "A.Y.M.Cv? , cares to call on me, I will undertake to convince him and any other interested that in the hutments run by the Y.M.C.A. whisky aud rum and wine are not supplied to the soldiere. The. letter ,at the foot ot this, which was sent in voluntarily by Mr. P. H. Wood, of the La«d Tax Department (from whom I nave _ received permission to use his name),_is just a sample of the appreciative letters that we are constantly receiving.. The' only other item that I need refer to is the mention of the lateLieut. H. M. Butterwprth. In mr statement that the incident referred to in this connection had nothing to do with the Y.M.C.A. work, there was no word to suggest that the officer named was nob held in the very highest esteem both by\the members of the Y.M.C.A. and myself. Aβ a matter or fact, anyone who is acquainted with his record, and has read his "Letters from Flanders," cannot but form the highest, ideal of appreciation of his character/ both as a man and as a 6oldier. . The incident in question was used, amongst others, to show the inconceivable hardships that our men are passing through in the winter season, and had no hearing -"whatever upon what was suppwi in the Y.M.C.A. huts. ■ ■■•„ If "A.Y.M.C." is a citizen worth hitf salt, he will give his heartwhole assistance to the work of the' Y.M.C.A. in.- , stead of wasting his. time ,in corres' pondence which tends to raise doubte in the minds of many as to tho lines on which the work is being prosecuted.- ' As I before statedf from evidence in my possession, I am prepared to re' peat and confirm the .assertion that) whisky is not a part of the Y.M.G.A> comforts scheme, and that ample pro* vision is being made for tho weltaW of the soldiers without it—l am, etc.,

■"■■■■- .'. [Enclosure.] . . "■ ■"•' "In regard to the letter -signed b? 'C. R. Smith,' I can vouch for all h;si statements, 1 having seen service in J>v»t and France. I came ill , contacti deal with tho Y.M.C.A.' Thej. are doing an immense amount of gooa amongst the boys, 'but never hare. I seen "spirits in any shape or form m any of the Y:M.O.A. canteens, and 1 have been in scores of them. Comforts of all sorts can be pui chased at almost cost price, and' it is greatly appreciated by the boys, both colonials and Tommies. In addition to the coinforts to he had in. the canteens, the men in the firing line receive trencu comforts, consisting of cigarettes, chocolate, etc., which are distributed free to aIU; All power to tha Y.M.C.A.!" ' ■