MEN WANTED FOR OVERSEAS Y.M.C.A. WORK

The following appeal comes from the National War Works Council of the Young Men's Christian Association:

"The work of the Y.M.C.A. in the camps and cantonments of this country is familiar. Similar buildings and work of much the same sort is being done by the English for their armies in France and by the American Y.M.C.A. for our troops in France. And at the front the service of the Y.M.C.A. is not confined to these buildings alone but is carried to the very trenches where there are Y.M. C.A. dug-outs in which food and drink are served and as many of the elements of rest and recreation as possible are reproduced. The Y.M.C.A. is for the soldier the immediate representative of home. It offers shelter, comfort, recreation, education, guidance and friendship. It is an ever present manifestation of the ideal. It is a most effective agency for the maintenance of morale among the troops. The French Government now asks that 500 American men be sent to serve as Y.M.C.A. Secretaries with the French troops and the Italian Government have made a similar re- quest for 200 for their troops. The cry from France especially must be heeded. Men familiar with the French tongue are much needed but sympathy, energy, adaptability, culture count even more than language. Anything which we can do in the next few weeks to help strengthen the French Army to meet the almost impossible pressure inevitably coming upon them will be of the utmost importance. As to the qualifications for this service, Dr. John R. Mott states they should be men of resourcefulness, able to deal with new and untried situations. They should be men of executive ability, that is, able to enlist and guide others in work. They should be men of fraternal spirit, able to appreciate sympathetically religions and other points of view quite different from their own and able likewise to work harmoniously in team with others. They should be men of undiscourageable enthusiasm who will be stimulated and not discouraged by difficulties and hardship. We should send only men of Christian character and experience. Above all they should be men who go with a dominant desire and purpose to render the maximum of service. I would not favor sending any man who did not conscientiously believe that he could measure up to these requirements. They should believe with all their souls in the winning of the war. It is further requisite that the men should be from 31 to 50 years of age and should be able to pass a satisfactory medical examination. All men accepted for this work receive before being sent abroad a short course of intensive training in methods of work. Enlistment preferably should be for the period of the war, although shorter enlistment will be considered. The Y.M. C.A. furnishes traveling expenses as may be necessary in each individual case where men are not in position to go without remuneration. Men of German parentage cannot be considered. Men desiring to consider enlistment in this service can communicate with Mr. E. G. Wilson, Secretary, West Side Branch, Y..M.C.A., New York City.