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Sidelights on the Big Bunch of Pennsylvania Boys
GEN. LOGAN PRESIDES
DEDICATING NO. 76
Warm Words of Praise By
Commanding Officers on
Work of the Army T
The, fine new spacious building of the
Y. M. C- A., known as No. 76, and lo
cated at the northeastern corner of the
112th Regiment’s drill field, was dedicated
with an impressive program on Sunday
evening, in which Brigadier General Al
bert J. Logan, Colonel Kearns, Colonel
Rickards and other well known officers
of the 56th Brigade and Machine Battal
ions, participated.
The program, besides including several
hymns, “The Long, Long Trail” and oth
er numbers, included half a dozen ad
dresses that emphasized to the hundreds
of soldier boys crowding the building,
what the Y. M. C. A. was doing for the
moral welfare of the youngsters who soon
will be going “over the top.” The ad
dresses were stratght-from-the-sboulder
punches—concise, crisp and to the point.
And many a soldier boy went back to his
squad tent that night with a greater
vision than before of what purpose lay
at the basis of the Y. M. C. A. plans.
General Logan Presides.
Brigadier General Albert J. Logan, com
manding the 56th Brigade, was the pre
siding officer for the occasion, and with
the other officer-speakers of the evening,
occupied a place on the platform. The
regular Sunday evening devotional ex
ercises were carried out. A specially
printed program had been given to each
man present, and this gave the order of
service, as well as the prayer in which
one of the Y. M. C. A. secretaries led.
Then the boys sang “Onward, Christian
Soldiers” with a new fervor.
“It is a great privilege to talk to you
young men,” General Logan said, in be
ginning his fine talk, “especially when
I know tht you are here, at the call of
your country. In all the wars in which
America has taken part, Pennsylvania
has done its fuil share, as we will do on
this occasion, I feel sure. This is, no
doubt, the greatest war we have ever en
tered.
“I am proud of you all, boys; for you
are men who have volunteered. You
came here to be trained and it is your
bounden duty to give your attention in
this work, not only for your country sake,
but for your own. And remember, gentle
men, that you cannot be good soldiers
unless you are good men, and I don’t be
lieve there is a man here tonight who
does not want to be a good soldier. To be
a good soldier you must be clean men—
clean morally, mentally and physically.
How better can you serve, in your af
fection for the friends and relatives at
home, than by going home after the war
and saying, “I have been mentally, mor
ally and physically right.”
He paid a splendid tribute to the Y-
M. C. A., emphasizing its value in border
days, and declared that, the people at
home who had contributed to a fund to
build such structures as the one being
dedicated had given greater than they
knew—a debt the boys can repay only by
their good behavior.
Three Necessary Qualities.
Chaplain Dollman, of the 107th Ma
chine Gun Battalion, emphasized in his
winning way the three things necessary
to the development of the man in the
field—physical, mental and moral train
ing, and at some length he described the
value of each one. He compared the
physical training to the pig-iron stage
and the moral training, combined with the
other two, to that of the watch-spring
typifying the climax in the production of
the perfect soldier with that of the pro
duction of iron and steel.
“Above everything else, we need a
great moral conviction, a great faith in
God, and that is what the Y. M. C. A.
is doing, inculcating that spirit among
you boys,” he said.
Colonel Shannon Speaks.
Colonel Shannon, of the Machine Gun
Regiment, introduced as one of “the
Rough Riders of the Spanish-American
War,” serving as a captain during that
time in Porto Rico, declared he was an
out-and-out advocate of the Y. M. C. A.,
and stood behind his chaplain in what
ever plan the latter proposed for the mor
al development of the men.
“Perhaps they don’t think that I am
as_devout a Christian as the rest back
home, but 1 am heart and soul in this
work.” he declared. Always, he said, he
had manifested the greatest interest in
the entertainments the “Y.” provided;
he lauded the work the “Y.” had done on
the border and added that in his belief
it was just now coming into its own,
working perfectly and systematically for
the boys who will soon be in the trenches.
Roy House, of Company B, rendered a
vocal selection that won great applause,
and then Colonel Kearns, commanding
officer of the 111th Regiment (formerly
the 18th), was introduced, and was warm
ly applauded.
Need Live “Y.” Workers.
“We need real live chaplains in this
regiment and we need real live members
of the Y. M. C. in every brigade, to take
care of the boys from a moral standpoint.
The purpose of the Y. M- C. A. is to
keep the soldier boys contented and
working along right lines; sometimes the
boys get homesick and mope, they want
to go home —and it is then that the Y. M.
C. A. lets them go home, through the
letters they write.”
He reviewed the causes of the war in
brief and said that America had entered
into the war game because the Kaiser
had three times as many secret service
agents in this country as the United
States had, and predicted the war would
not end until “the Declaration of Inde
pendence lay on the table before the war
ring nations of Europe.”
112th Chaplain Hits Mark.
Chaplain Willis W. Hall, popular "sky
pilot” of the 112th, and a favorite with
the men of his regiment, said:
“If the United States wins out in this
war, it will be because you are men from
the word go; it takes all the manhood in
you to make you a winner—physically,
mentally and morally. It is for this pur
pose that the Y. M. C. A. and the chap
lains are working, but were it not for
the “Y.” my work would be hampered.
There must be a wall of protection
FRENCH AND CAMP
around the men, and this Y. M. C. A. of
fers it.
“I would have every man in this regi
ment a praying man, and then Crom
well’s Ironsides wouldn't be in it with
you.”
Ovation for Colonel Rickards.
General Logan then introduced Colonel
George C. Rickards, of the 112th, as the
senior Colonel of the 28th Division, and
a man, who although he has spent a
great many years in the service, is still
very young. The introduction was an
elaborate one, and when the Colonel rose
to speak the audience of soldier boys
gave vent to their enthusiasm and ap
plauded and cheered wildly. The Colonel
appreciating the demonstration, modestly
remarked that all that General Logan
had overlooked mentioning was that be
was a great ice cream eater —and that a
quart of ice cream had almost interferred
with his being present. Then the Col
onel told a story that tickled the men,
and his five-minute straight-from-the
shoulder address was on.
“I presume that 99 per cent, of the
men who are here tonight are men who
have come here with clean characters,
with upright manhood, and I believe it is
as much our duty to keep these men up
right as it is to reach down and bring
others up. It is my belief that those of
us who do live a clean life should never
hesitate to reach down and help the
other fellow up.
“There is another fact I want you to
drink in deeply: You have come from
Christian homes, and you have been
taught to pray; it has been your habit.
Don’t be a moral coward; don’t be afraid,
boys, to kneel down beside your cot at
night. . Don’t let any scoffing of your
comrades ever worry you. Keep these
characteristerics strong, cherish them as
the greatest assets you have.”
To the work of the Y- M. C. A. he paid
a remarkable tribute, as being a work
that has surpassed all others in doing
benefit for the soldier.
“I spent a great deal of time after my
return from the border and never lost
an opportunity in church speaking or at
gatherings to say a good word for the
“Y.” and what it had done at Camp
Stewart. I know every member of the
brigade appreciates this Y. M. C. A.,
and I wish, as General Logan has sug
gested, that there might be another build
ing for our sister regiment, the 111th.”
Secretary Tomlinson Asks Co-operation.
Secretary Tomlinson, of Wilmerding,
who is in charge of the entire Y. M. C. A.
work at Camp Hancock and who is known
as “the man with the smile that won’t
come off” —a man who has won a warm
place in the soldier boys’ hearts, said:
“Fellows, the greatest thing you can
do for the Y. M. C. A- is to write home
and tell your friends what a great work
it is doing; write to your home town pa
per and tell them. On the 11th of No
vember a campaign will start for $35,000,-
000, $26,000,000 of which will be spent
for the work among the American sol
diers abroad, the balance in this coun
try. We have already made a request for
more Y. M. C. A. buildings at Camp Han
cock, and it is up to you boys, by ex
plaining to the people back home what
we are doing, to insure your town’s suc
cess in the campaign.
“We are here, boys, because we love
you, because we want to make you bet
ter soldiers. When you go across to
France, perhaps wo won't go right with
you, but our men are there and making
ready for you. So if we don’t go ahead
of you, we will come right after—and
greet you over on the other side before
long.”
Tiie demonstration that was given the
speaker was a splendid one, and the
tribute he paid to the Y. M. C. A-, as a
worker among workers, served as a fit
ting climax to an impressive dedicatory
exercise. No finer scene was ever staged
in the 56th Brigade Y. M. C. A. Building
than just then, when 700 soldier boys
arose to their feet and sang “America”
and Chaplain Hall pronounced the bene
diction.
AMBULANCE CORPS
The baseball season was brought to a
sudden close, on account of the stables
being built on the ball diamond. No.
4 team carried the honors. The games
were much enjoyed by everyone.
The men were given half holiday on
Tuesday in order that they could at
tend the circus.
A majority took advantage of this
opportunity for a good time.
We.have been busy collecting sub
scriptions for the second Liberty bond.
The sum of $27,750 was collected by the
four ambulance companies. This is a
very good showing. Fine spirit boys.
Liberty Loan Holiday was brought
to a fitting close by the boys of No.
112, by an election of three important
officers, namely Lance Sergeant, Lance
Assistant, Corporal. The election took
placi in the mess hall and the compe
tition for these all important offices
was very keen- After much wire pull
ing and speaking Sergeant Lauder
baugh came off triumphant as Lance
Sergeant. In his inaugural speech he
promised the men to stand by them in
all complaints. Gibson was elected as
Lance Corporal and Wilkinson Assist
ant.
. The election was followed by a mon
ster parade withg the victors bein
borne on the shoulders of their ad
miring constiteunts. Their faces were
lighted with lanters borne on brooms
and speeches were called forth at fre
quent intervals. Their activities are
already in evidence.
The football team has received its
uniforms and is ready for its first op
ponent. Take notice other teams.
Field Day was celebrated last Wed
nesday by Ambulance Company No. 109
every one in the company taking part.
Since the company has received 32
mules for ambulance the boys are kept
busy getting acquainted witji these
new recruits. Soccer was started this
week. No. 2 defeating No. 3 by the
score of 7 to 0. It was a good clean
game with plenty of snap.
FIELD DAY IN 103RD
SUPPLY TRAIN COMPANIES
Every Member of the Six
Companies Took Part in the
Events.
. Lieutenant Smith, athletic director of
103rd Supply Train, conducted “Liberty
Loan Bond Day” athletic meet for the
men of the train. Every member of the
six companies took part in the competi
tion.
1— Events, carrying the colors, won by Co.
1, of Harrisburg.
2 Football throw, won by Privae
Bream, Company 1, of Philadelphia; time
of distance, 134 ft. 3 inches.
3 Relay race, won by Co. 1, of Harris
burg; time of distance 15 seconds.
4 Running high jumj, won by May
nard, Company 2, of Lancaster; height, 4
ft. 10 inches.
5 100-yard dash, won by McCarty, Co.
6, of Pittsburg; time, 12 seconds.
6 Shoot put, won by Ryan, Company 5,
of Pittsburg; 37 ft 10 inches.
7 Running broad jum, won by Tor
rence, Company 6, of Pittsburg; 15 ft
10% inches.
8— One mile run. won by Crosson, Com
pany 4, of Philadelphia; 6 minutes, 15
2- seconds.
9 Pass back relay, won by Company 5,
of Pittsburg.
Summary—Truck Co. No. 1, Harrisburg,
25 points; first.
Co. No. 6, Pittsburg, 23 points; second.
Co. No. 5, Pittsburg. 22 points; third.
Co. No. 4, Philadelphia, 18 points; 4th.
Co. No. 2, Lancaster, 5 points- fifth.
Co. No. 3, Philadelphia, 3 points; 6th.
The officials were: Lieutenant Smith,
train athletic director; referee. Lieutenant
Starr; starter, Prof. Prechtel; scorer,
Seargeant Luttenberger; judges, Lieuts.
Snow-white and Wortmen and Boger;
timers, Lieut. Compton, Priate Carboy;
field judges, Seargeants Longenecker,
Keefer and Mumma; press representative,
Rusenthal, A. M, 8., Co. No. 3.
The prizes awarded were a turkey din
ner to the company with the most points
and pipes, tobacco and other merchandise
were presented to the athletes who won
first place in each event.
This is the first meet that the train
has held and the records made in each
event stands as the official records for
Supply Train 103.
% Concerts.
Our weekly concert was held on Thurs
day evening, October 25th, and true to
our promise of the week before, every
one had a very pleasant evening. The
stage settings were of the very latest
stwle, and have been very favorably com
mented on both in Augusta and in Camp
Hancock. Visitors came from all over
the camp and from town. Those coming
from town in the trolley cars -were met
with auto trucks and conveyed to our
train, and wree taken back to the cars
again on the trucks. The talent was the
best that could be had. and limited space
forbids us saying all that we -would like
to say in this respect. Music was furnish
ed by the Ist Pa. Cavalry band.
“shrapnel”’
The pet name of the 315th Machine
Gun Battalion is the “Suicide Club.”
Wilmexding (Pa.) Y. M. C. A. is teach
ing English to drafted men, many of
whom are foreign-born or sons of for
eigners, thus better fitting them for mil
itary life.
(From Joaquin Miller’s “Burns and By
ron,” first printed in 1870.)
In men whom men condemn as ill
I find so much of goodness still,
in men whom men pronounce divine
I find so much of sin and blot,
I hesitate to draw a line
Between the two, where God has not.
“The British army has no rear line
trenches. There is no provision for re
treat”—L. A. Crocset.
A fast will relieve nature while she is
coping with the task of overcoming extra
burdens that have been laid upon the
system.—Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, Commis
sioner of Health of Pennsylvania.
Scranton, Pa., has furnished since March
3,829 soldiers and sailors all its privileges
without cost.
General Pershing has placed the entire
moving picture business in France under
the Association's direction. The bill for
moving picture films, for the army camps,
-will be SI,OOO a day for the million feet
shown.
Philadelphia Central Y. M, C. A. is
lodging 275 drafted and enlisted men be
sides giving them frequent automobile
trips and entertainments, while the swim
ming bath was so packed they had to
swim in relays.
"Red-headed Irishman fires first United
States shell.” —Headline from Hearst’s
Sunday American. Os course, who else
do you think would start a scrap?
. “Every group of men I meet I am im
pressed anew that our men have the
right to know what they are fighting for,
the right to closest sympathy from those
at home, a right to cleanest social sur
roundings in camp and, above all, a right
to the moral and spiritual bracer that
comes with religious help. The Y- M. C.
A. is trying to keep alive before those
minds the supreme fact of Jesus Christ.”
—Dr. James A. Francis.
After service Sunday night, Grace M.
E. Church, Harrisburg, Pa., subscribed
$42,000 for Liberty loan bonds.
wenty-two million American housewives
are to be Hooverized, beginning this week,
and will begin economizing. Meatless
days, wheatless days, and eat-less days,
are to become common.
MR. SCOVELL’S~TALKS
ENTERTAIN SOLDIERS
Vermin in such numbers that one actu
ally gets used to them. Water in trench
es leading to a Y. M- C. A. dugout, where
a meet was held. An aeroplane trip for
several miles for the purpose of enter-
Oct. 31, 1917.
taining an officer and his staff. Reciting
in hospitals, in orphanages, and for
groups of maltreated women huddled to
gether in refugee camps—these are some
of the unusual experiences of Mr. Ben
jamin Scovill, who has lately visited our
Camp and entertained the soldier boys in
every Young Men’s Christian Associa
tion building. He entertained them not by
these gruesome stories, which were only
an incident, in the evening’s program,
but by up-to-date war poems, by stories
and incidents as told in barracks, in
camps, or in the trenches; and by his own
humorous description of his trip from
Canada to the front. One of the most
taking descriptions was that of a Ca
nadian Battalion on its way to Europe.
At Toronto the boys kissed their sweet
hearts good-bye, saying, "Darling. I will
be true to you.” When they left the
first training camp they hade good-bye
to the girls at the station, saying: “Be
sure to write; I will never forget you.”
at the Port of Embarkation, they bade
good-bye to another group of girls with
the same protestation that they could
never forget, but write to them regularly
and be back for them at the end of the
■war. After some training in England,
the same scene occurred and the same
oaths that they would always remember
the little girls to whom they were bidding
such fond farewells. Os course, he ex
cused the American boys by saying that
this will never occur on this side of the
line.
Not only was his humor entertaining to
the boys, but. they gave him their rapt
attention as he described war conditions
in France, the atrocities of the Germans,
the pitiable condition of Belgium, and the
grim determination of the ailied armies.
ALL TELLTHE SAME STORY
The Army Y. M?C. A. “a Har
bor from the Storm”
"The men in charge of the Army Y.
M. C. A.’s are the ideal which every
mother wishes her son to attain.
Straight forward men, crying out for
truth and virtue and in the pursuance
there of defy the world. They have
built their home on a rock. Any weary
traveler who wishes to find a haven
from the raging tempest of life may
do so by stepping into a Y. M. C. A.
The privilege of meeting in a place
where every one may enjoy himself in
a respectful manner; the privilege of
hearing good, moral speeches and see
ing good, moral pictures; the privilege
of obtaining all of the writing material
and envelopes for only the asking, and
of reading the latest periodicals and
newspapers, is only a. little of the work
carried on by this organization. I,
without hesitation, say to the public:
help it for the sake of the soldiers in
the field; help it for the sake of a ten
der, loving mother; help it for God’s
sake.
“PRIVATE A. B. DECOSTREQUE/
“107th Field Artillery,
“Woodlawn, Pa.”
"The joys and benets of the Army
and Navy Y. M. C. A. are great for us
soldier boys. We believe every local
American citizen should boost it.
"Privates:
"JOHN F. SCHNEY,
"WM. C. BOYLE,
“Field Hospital No. 112.”
“The Army Y. M. C. A. is doing a
wonderful work at Camp Hancock.
Words can not express how glad we are
to have their buildings to go to. Sta
tionery, moving pictures, and practical
ly everything for our comfort and
amusement are absolutely free.”
0, FOR A BOOK AND A
SHADY NOOK
We are under obligation to many
friends in Augusta, in Pennsylvania, and
throughout the country for the generous
supply of books in our camp libraries. The
Cranford Club, the First Presbyterian
Church, the Public Schools and Academ
ies, of the City of Augusta, have all un
der the leadership of Mrs. W. C. Kellogg,
donated to the boys in Camp considerable
number of volumes. The Women’s Clubs,
the Red Cross, the Young Men’s Chris
tian Associations of Pennsylvania, have
also been very generous. Now comes a
shipment of 1,000 volumes from the Car
negie Free Library of Atlanta, and 6,000
books are on their way from the Pennsyl
vania section of the American Library
Association, which is in charge of Mr.
Robert P. Bliss, director of the exten
sion department of the Pennsylvania State
Library. A part of this last consignment
has been received and is being passed out
to our buildings as rapidly as possible.
The books are in great demand. If any
soldier has a book which is over due,
kindly return to the Army Y. M. C. A.
Building from which he procured it, so
that some one else may have a chance
to read it.
Scientific Beoks—On Request.
A number of requests have come from
Engineers and others, asking for books
on special subjects. While we have ask
ed our friends for books on higher mathe
matics, physics, engineering, wireless, in
ternal combustion motors, aeroplaning,
and other similar subjects, the most books
we have received to date have been fic
tion.
Now comes the Special Libraries Com
mittee, a sub-committee of the American
Library Association, which offers to send
us such books on loan upon request from
individuals through us. If you have any
special work which you would like to
read, hand the title of book together with
the author’s name, to the nearest Y. M.
C. A. Secretary, who will pass request
through to us to the proper parties. It
is understood that a little later on the
American Library Association will have
a supply of books of all classes at a
central station in each of the thirty-two
camps and cantonments. Meanwhile,
make known your wants.