Y.M.C.A. WAR WORK

Evening Star, Issue 16996, 19 March 1919, Page 4

Y.M.C.A. WAR WORK

nr ekgland and francs.

A SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT.

RETURN OF MR Q. w. W. B, HUGHES.

An ‘ interesting narrative on the work carried ont in England and Franco by the Y.M.C.A. was told to a ‘Star’ reporter to-day bv Mr George W. W. B. Hughes, of Dunedin. Mr Hughes left New Zealand nearly two years ago as supervising secretary of the New Zealand,Y.M.C.A. war work, and has just returned. Mr Hughes proceeded from Auckland to Vancouver, and after spending some time in the United States making investigations on behalf of the National Committee of the Y.M.C.A., went to England, and on arrival there took over the supervision of the Y.M.C.A work in England and France. Previous to his going Mr A. Varuov was supervisor in England for about‘eight mouths. Mr Hughes reached England early in July, 1917, and on the Saturday following he had his first experience of a German air raid, when 23 enemy machines flew over London, dropping bombs, and, as is well known, causing many deaths and doing considerable damage to property. This was his first introduction to German warfare by air. The air raid defences of London wore at that time very poor, and the German airmen returned‘to their own country practically unmolested. It was through the outcry mado by tbo people of London that the Defence authorities then undertook miaures to adequately protect the capital. In sneaking of the Y.M.C.A. war woiw, Mr Hushes said that the associations headquarters wore located at Shakoeneare Hut, near the British Museum, and the National Committee were represented in London by Mr W. G. Jamieson as honorary commissioner. Mr Hughes was associated with _Mr W. P. Lascelles as honorary commissioner, and iSIr Aitlmr Lasoolles, who became secretary of the F.M.CAA war worlc in England and France. The work made very rapid progress, and previous to the armistice they had buildings and representatives of the New Zea.laud Y.M.C.‘A. in every New Zealand training camp or hospital* centre in England. There were 10 centres in all. In London, in addition to the Shakespeare Hut, which has always been a centre for New Zealand soldiers, the association have two hotels, the West Central Hotel, on Southampton row, and the Catalpha Hotel, in Torrington square, which are also conducted by the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. as hostels for soldiers.- What led to the undertaking of these additional hotels was the absolute shortage of accommodation provided for soldiers, and. at the urgent request of the New Zealand military authorities and of the general officer commanding the London district, the New Zealand headquarters wero placed in Russell square, and around this centre most of the New Zealand interests in London congregated. It is close handy to the Now Zealand military headquarters in Bloomsbury square, and also to the Shakespeare Hut, the War Contingent, and Salvation Army hostels, and is also the headquarters of the numerous overseas Y.M.C.A, s, including America and Canada, It is the centre of the Y.M.C.A. effort. The problem of Loudon is very difficult, in that there aro so many opportunities for the men to go wrong and lose their officiecy ns soldiers. On, that account it was determined 18 months ago that tho British and all other Y.M.C.A. efforts in London be combined under an organisation known as the International Y.M.C.A. Hospitality League. The function of tho league was really to fill in the leisure time of the soldiers while they were .on leave in London. Tours to many places of historical interest, v-hits to manufactories and places of amusement aro arranged, raid parties rive conducted under tbo leadership of experienced guides. In connection with the work there is what is known as street patrols by the secretaries of the various allied associations. The functions of these patrols is to look after the ir.en should they fall out by the way. When men aro found in an intoxicated condition, without beds, and generally at a loose end, they are taken to hostels and planes of amusement, and arc generally cared for. The reason for so many men finding themselves in such a. condition is that the menace of the .streets of London is very acute, and unless these men aro cared for they are sometimes found 1 in a doped condition, and everything of value taken from them. A very valuable piece of service is lining rendered by tho “ Whisps ” (Women’s International Street Patrol), a, body of women who recognise tho value of a woman’s influence in dealing with the men when found in a helpless condition on the streets. This body of women patrols was raised as the result of the efforts of two New Zealanders (Mrs M'Hngh and Miss A Ballantyne), who, after considerable service in the canter is in tho Now Zealand camps, took up lids special branch of work and developed it into a snlendid success. There arc now about 20 women engaged on this work, and jjrchido representatives of tho vaiiour. Y.M.C.A.s. The Y.M.C.A. have very large and attractive buildings in the Now Zealand camps. At Hornchurch one of tho largest buildings in tho United Kingdom has been built and conducted by the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. It is bore that tho Largo educational scheme in connection with tl>« New Zealand Expeditionary Forces had its inception, Tho New Zealand Y.M.C.A. were the first to commence educational work among the soldiers during the war, and had on the paid staff nine graduates of the Royal College of Arts, of South Kensington. Tho arts and crafts class had been conspicuously successful, and their miccess had led to the introduction of a much enlarged educational scheme, which had been inaugurated in April, 1918. Brigadier-general Richardson, who was always on tho alert for everything which might benefit the New Zealand soldier, was largely responsible for tbo inauguration of this scheme, and many thousands of New Zealand soldiers had received instruction hi over 20 subjects, taught by experts who had been withdrawn from the fighting forces and given this special task. ' The scheme had been a very successful one. THE WORK IN FRANCE.

In France the general direction of the Few Zealand Y.M.C.A. work was given bv Mr Jamas L. Hav. who was the first secretary to leave with tlm New Zealand Forces an active service nearly four vears ago. The Y.M.C.A. war work in Franco had received the commendation of Majorgeneral Russell and the officers and men of the forces. While the troops were trekking to the German border the association secretaries preceded them at the various stopping places, and on their arrival the men were supplied with cocoa, biscuits, cigarettes, etc. Some 16Y.M.C.A. secretaries accompanied the troops to Germany, and made provision for their comfort and amusement. Concert parties, cinema shows, lectures and debates, and other means wore used to bring needed relaxation, to the troops. Ever since the New Zealand soldiers had arrived in France the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. had boon serving them, and previous to that were with the troops in Egypt. There had been five New Zealand secretaries at work with the mounted forces serving "n Palestine. The total number of secretaries serving overseas was 46. The American squadron arrived at Inverness last May 26, ready to begin operations, and 12 days later started on its first mine-planting excursion. On these trips, which lasted from 40 to SO hoars, the squadron was part of the British Grand Fleet, and for protection against submarines and raiding cruisers it was accompanied by British destroyers and battleships or battle cruisers. “ On the second mining excursion,” eaid Captain Belknap, “ the sixth battle squadron was the support. consisting of four American battleships, ■commanded by Rear-Admiral Hugh Rodman, of the United States Navy, in the flagship Mew York. One may imagine with what feelings we saw our own ships file out of Scapa Flow, form line, and slowly disappear in the mist as they swept off to the south-eastward. It will readily bo understood that the way had to bo made smooth for the mine-planters. A single well-placed torpedo or mine, or a few An att)y r {jhellfl- would <aw*vftinla- flnbih

«im vessel, and probably destroy all 10 of them, Bach mine nlantex carried from 24 to 120 tons of high explosive, a total of nearly 800 tons in'the squadron, many femes more than the amount that devastated Halifax. Through the educational and other woxf; ■with which the association have been prominently identified, classes and other agencies of a character-conetruotion qualityhave been arranged. Mr Jas. L. Hay, 0.8. E., succeeds Sir Hughes as supervisor, and associated with him is Mr W. H. George, of Wellington, as lion, commissioner.