ion. The Red Triangle has always been first in the field, and
has been likened to a tank in its knack of overcoming apparently
insuperable obstacles. The day after the British troops first entered
Bapaume a Y.M.C.A. man appeared leading a packhorse loaded up with
cigarettes, biscuits, and dolly cakes, which he distributed amongst the
troops. He had got a foothold for the Association, and that foothold was
retained until Bapaume was evacuated.

* * * * *

In the British offensive in the early days of August 1918 a noted war
correspondent at the Front wrote:--

'In one part of the line three hours after the
troops reached their final objective they were
eating a hot breakfast as part of the programme of
the day. The familiar, ever-welcome sign of the
"Y.M.C.A." blossomed on a roofless French cafe six
miles within the crumpled German line, before the
tanks had finished chasing the 11th Corps staff
out of Framerville and down the Peronne road.
Food, and even books and papers, were set out
under the Red Triangle for tired and hungry
fighting men as they trooped into the rickety
building to eat and be refreshed in a room
carpeted with German papers.'

* * * * *

What thrilling memories the name of Arras will always conjure up in the
minds of Y.M.C.A. workers who served in that city of ruins! One wrote
home the day after a strong attack by the British on the enemy lines. He
wrote the letter from a dug-out which only the day before was occupied
by the Huns, in which he was carrying on for the Y.M.C.A. So precipitate
was their flight that he partook of the repast served up by German cooks
for German officers. At one time the rival trenches were, in places,
less than ten yards apart! It was here that Sir Douglas Haig personally
complimented the Association on the work its representatives were doing
on the field of battle.

The most memorable motor run we ever had was from Souastre to Arras in
1916. The hut was closed when we reached Souastre in the morning, the
leader having received a letter from the Town Major politely requesting
him to close it from 7.30 A.M. as it was expected that the Huns would
strafe the village at 8 A.M., and again at 4.30, and so it happened.
This seemed strange, as the village had not been strafed of late.