RED TRIANGLE NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1820, 30 April 1918, Page 1

RED TRIANGLE NOTES.

America has considerably over 1,000 Y.M.C.A. field secretaries serving the U.S.A. troops in France.

Among many other activities, the Y.M.C.A. in Chicago runs a hostel with 18 floors and 1,821 bedrooms. During the first year there wore 383,028 registrations at this huge Red Triangle building.

“I wish our mother’s and sisters and sweethearts could have seen us that night,” writes a Red Triangle secretary, giving an account of the Christmas dinner given by the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. to our boys at Hornchurch. “It was the merriest gathering I have ever been in, and the cracking of bon-bons was interspersed with sallies of wit such as can come only from soldiers when having ‘a night, out,’ One boy, rising with due (‘are from the table, after having distinguished himself in an attack on Ihe viands, was overheard to remark: ‘.lt’s a cruel war!’ To the ladies of the Canteen Staff our grateful thanks are due. No praise could be adequate. In addition to these activities, we also had a most excellent concert on Boxing night, and on January 2nd, arranged by Miss Lena Ashwell, 0.8. E. They were, all that one expects from the now famous ‘concerts at the front’ parties. Each evening the hall accommodation was taxed beyond its capacity. Finally we may say that though nothing can ever replace our home Christinas gathering, we did our best to mako the present conditions as bright as possible, and to give the boys the best possible. If wo may judge of our success by the remarks of gratitude we heard, we may say that in a measure beyond expectation wo succeeded in carrying into effect our intention.”

A Y.M.C.A. secretary in one of (lie New Zealand lints in England writes: —“1 liave had an exceptionally busy time in (ho emiuiry department planning trips to occupy four, seven, ten and fourteen days’ leave. I think there are. few counties in Fngland*which have not been visited by boys from this, office. I am supposed to know every! hing — where to go, where to stay, what to see, where comfortable lodgings can be had when the boys bring their wives back after leave, when does the boat leave? what route is it going? what pensions are granted to returned soldiers? and scores of other such questions are asked every day. In addition to all that, I have several hundred pounds lodged with me for safe-keeping, also such valuables as ariol bombs, a. D. 5.0., a M.C., and many other articles. When people lose trace of relatives in the Forces I get letters from all quarters ; they hear rumours months back, and of course the Y.M.C.A. must know all about it. Between the lot I have to deal with, I think myself lucky to get. two meals a day, war rations at that.”