5 MAY 1917, Page 12

THE Y.M.C.A. IN AMERICA.

[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Your readers will perhaps be interested to know of a practical step that has been taken in America out of sympathy with Britain and the cause she is so nobly defending. Three weeks ago the International Y.M.C.A., having received permis- sion from your Government to place American representatives in British Army camps, cabled for twenty volunteers and money to support them. The students of Princeton University decided to give all the men and all the money. Seventy-five of our under- graduates and resident graduates offered themselves, and from this number between twenty and thirty have been chosen. Thero are about fifteen hundred students in the University. They have already raised nearly 815,000 to pay the expenses of those who are to go on this mission of Christian mercy and goodwill. In many cases a real sacrifice was involved. I have heard of one youth, for example, who sold all his furniture, except his bed and table, in order to give his quota. It may surprise some of your readers to learn that there are still, in over-rich America, students of this kind,

" Trained up through piety and zeal to prize Spare diet, patient labour, and plain weeds."

Several Professors expect to accompany the band of workers. All will endeavour to be of as much use as possible in entertaining, teaching, and helping in. every way the British soldiers.—I am,