e Eagle
and Beaver Huts has been borne by the American and Canadian Y.M.C.A.'s,
respectively. The American and Colonial Associations have taken over a
number of British huts in camps, and in some cases have enlarged them.

[Illustration: THE FIRST Y.M.C.A. OVER THE GERMAN TRENCHES ON THE SOMME
BATTLEFIELD]

[Illustration: THE Y.M.C.A. IN THE ORCHARD AT ALBERT]

CHAPTER III

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

In my opinion nothing can exceed the value of the
work which has been and is being done for H.M.
Forces by the Y.M.C.A. I offer my best wishes for
continued success.--THE RIGHT HON. H. H. ASQUITH,
K.C., M.P.

THE Romance of the Red Triangle is a twenty-four hours a day romance,
for many of its centres never close their doors. When we are comfortably
sleeping at night and in the early hours of the morning, Y.M.C.A.
workers are hard at work on motor patrol conveying leave men from
station to station or hut to hut, and others are on foot meeting the men
and guiding them to their destination. Alighting from the Edinburgh
train at Leeds very early one morning, it was raining and a young
Scottish trooper stepped down to the platform from the adjoining
compartment. We knew we were all right, a room having been retained for
us at the Station Hotel; but what of him? Had he anywhere to go? He
evidently had no plans, but at that moment a gentleman in civilian
attire stepped up to him, and without patronising, and in the most
natural way possible said to him, 'Have you long to wait? Have you
anywhere to go?' The lad replied that he had several hours to wait for
his connection and had nowhere to go. 'Well, come along with me, and I
will see you all right at the Y.M.C.A.' People who do this work or
devote themselves, night after night, to that of the motor patrols don't
often get their photos into the papers, but they are rendering national
service of a high order without fee or reward, and in almost every case,
at the end of a hard day's work.

The International Hospitality League of the Y.M.C.A. is doing similar
work on a very large scale, and in its kiosks and inquiry rooms, not
only in London, but in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and many of our large
provincial centres hundreds of thousands of inquiries are being received
and answered day by day, whilst the street patrol workers have been able
to help very many who have welcomed their assistance.

We know of no more moving sight th