The Dayton Forum

PAGE TWO

MILLION VISITS MONTHLY TO U.S.O.

Negro Servicemen to Benefit by National War Fund in Combination Drive

More than a million visits a month are made to the 118 U.S.O. clubs by our men in uniform -- to dance, play games, eat, read, write letters, or just to laugh and loaf. And this number includes only those clubs exclusively for Negroes. There is no way of taking count of the thousands more visits that colored servicemen make monthly to clubs in Northern areas which cater to all races.

Thus spoke Henry W. Pope, consultant for Negro services of the United Service Organizations, in connection with the launching of the first drive of the newly formed National War Fund which is getting under way.

"Negro leadership, together with leadership by other groups, is giving its best to the common task of fortifying the heart and soul of men in uniform," continued Mr. Pope. "Together we seek to achieve victory and a lasting peace to follow this global war."

The war agencies participating in the National War Fund includes besides the U.S.O. (United Service Organization), United Seaman's Service, War Prisoners Aid, Russian War Relief, United China Relief, British War Relief Society, Greek War Relief Association, Polish War Relief, French Relief Fund, United Yugoslav Relief Fund, Belgian War Relief Society, United Czechoslovak Relief Fund, Queen Wilhelmina Fund, Norwegian Relief, Refugees Relief Trustees, U.S. Committee for Care of European Children.

Gathering place in all USO clubhouses is the soda fountain. Besides clubhouses outside of Army camps and naval stations the USO, a member agency of the National War Fund, operates mobile units for the boys stationed at remote outposts.