The New York Times/1918/11/11/YMCA in War Spent $54,354,034
Y.M.C.A. IN WAR SPENT $54,354,034
National Council, in Reviewing Finances, Points to Magnitude of its Work in France.
OVERSEAS COST NOW HIGH
Till Last July, Expenditures In This Country Were in Excess of Scattered Task Abroad.
The National War Work Council of the Y.M.C.A. gave out yesterday a financial statement covering its operations from the beginning of the war to July 31, 1918. The statement was issued by George W. Perkins, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and shows that the Y.M.C.A. has handled during the period $54,354,034, of which more than $400,000 represents interest earned on the contributions given to it. In connection with the statement the council said:
"July 31 is the latest date for which figures could be made available from the Paris headquarters, and the operations on this side are given as of the same date for the sake of presenting a complete and uniform picture. On that date the Y.M.C.A. had still on hand a balance in excess of $17,000,000. In the intervening period the demands of the work overseas have grown by leaps and bounds because of the vastly accelerated movement of troops, so that the balance on hand at that date has now been entirely spent and has been succeeded by a deficit. In this intervening period Y.M.C.A. men and women workers have been sent abroad at the rate of very nearly 1,000 a month, and the number of buildings, restaurants, hotels, huts, tents, &c., operated for the A.E.F. in France has increased from 895 to 1,5000.
"On July 31 the expenditures for work in the country were still in excess of the expenditures for work overseas. This situation has now been reversed. Expenditures overseas have grown not merely because of the growth of the army, but because every operation in France costs far more than a similar operation on this side, due to the fact that the men are not gathered there into great cantonments, but are billeted in hundreds of villages and are constantly moving about.
"Up to July 31 approximately 9,500 uniforms had been furnished to workers in the United States, and 7,222 uniforms to the 3,311 secretaries sent overseas. Many of these workers are bearing all of their own expenses, but the majority receive an expense allowance from the Y.M.C.A., which covers their bare necessities, in this case of unmarried workers, and gives to married workers approximately the allowance of a Lieutenant in the army. The statement gives some idea of the scope and magnitude of the work undertaken by the Y.M.C.A. for the soldiers. The association is now one of the largest operators of hotels and restaurants in the world; it is the largest single exhibitor of motion pictures; it has the services of approximately a hundred actresses and actors in its huts in France, and has sent abroad the largest consignments of athletic goods ever placed in the history of organized sport. One single order was placed recently for more than half a million dollars worth of athletic equipment.
"In the period of demobilization the educational work of the 'Y' is counted upon by the military authorities as a factor of vital importance. In preparation for this the 'Y' has recently placed an order for more than $2,000,000 worth of textbooks for France."