diff options
Diffstat (limited to '7811-h/7811-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | 7811-h/7811-h.htm | 15175 |
1 files changed, 15175 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/7811-h/7811-h.htm b/7811-h/7811-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea21b9c --- /dev/null +++ b/7811-h/7811-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15175 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The War Romance of the Salvation Army, by Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} + +.smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: 90%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.right {text-align: right; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.footnote {font-size: 90%; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +sup { vertical-align: top; font-size: 0.6em; } + +p.asterism {text-align: center; + font-size: 150%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +div.fig { display:block; + margin:0 auto; + text-align:center; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Romance of the Salvation Army, by Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The War Romance of the Salvation Army + +Author: Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill + +Release Date: May 19, 2003 [EBook #7811] +[Most recently updated: March 21, 2020] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR ROMANCE OF SALVATION ARMY *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="cover" /> +</div> + +<h1>The War Romance of the Salvation Army</h1> + +<p style="text-align: center;font-variant: small-caps">by</p> + +<h2>Evangeline Booth</h2> + +<h3>Commander-in-Chief,<br /> +The Salvation Army in America</h3> + +<p class="center">and</p> + +<h2>Grace Livingston Hill</h2> + +<h3>Author of “The Enchanted Barn”; “The Best Man”; +“Lo Michael”; “The Red Signal,” <i>etc</i>.</h3> + +<h4>Copyright 1919, by J.B. Lippincott Company</h4> + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#pref01">Foreword</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#pref02">From the Commander’s Own Pen</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#pref03">Preface by the Writer</a><br/><br/></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">Chapter I. The Story</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">Chapter II. The Gondrecourt Area</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">Chapter III. The Toul Sector</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">Chapter IV. The Montdidier SectorThe Montdidier Sector</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">Chapter V. The Toul Sector Again</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">Chapter VI. The Baccarat Sector</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">Chapter VII. The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">Chapter VIII. The Saint Mihiel Drive</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">Chapter IX. The Argonne Drive</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">Chapter X. The Armistice</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">Chapter XI. Homecoming</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">Chapter XII. Letters of Appreciation</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<h2>Illustrations</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus01">General Bramwell Booth.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus02">Commander Evangeline Booth.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus03">Lieutenant Colonel William S. Barker.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus04">“Introduced to French Rain and French Mud.”</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus05">She Called the Little Company of Workers Together and Gave Them a Charge.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus06">The Lassie Who Fried the First Doughnut in France.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus07">“Tin Hat for a Halo! Ah! She Wears It Well!”.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus08">The Patient Officers Who Were Seeing to All These Details Worked Almost Day and Night.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus09">Here During the Day They Worked in Dugouts Far Below the Shell-tortured Earth.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus10">They Came To Get Their Coats Mended and Their Buttons Sewed On.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus11">The Entrance to the Old Wine Cellar in Mandres.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus12">The Salvation Army Was Told that Ansauville Was Too Far Front for Any Women To Be Allowed To Go.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus13">L’Hermitage, Nestled in the Heart of a Deep Woods.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus14">L’Hermitage, Inside the Tent.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus15">“Ma”.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus16">They Had a Pie-baking Contest in Gondrecourt One Day.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus17">A Letter of Inspiration from the Commander.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus18">The Salvation Army Boy Truck Driver.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus19">The Centuries-old Gray Cemetery in Treveray.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus20">Colonel Barker Placing the Commander’s Flowers on Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt’s Grave.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus21">The Salvation Army Boy Who Drove the Famous Doughnut Truck.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus22">Bullionville, Promptly Dubbed by the American Boy “Souptown”.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus23">Here They Found a Whole Little Village of German Dugouts.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus24">The Girls Who Came Down to Help in the St. Mihiel Drive.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus25">The Wrecked House in Neuvilly Where the Lassies Went to Sleep in the Cellar.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus26">The Wrecked Church in Neuvilly Where the Memorable Meeting Was Held.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus27">Right in the Midst of the Busy Hurrying Throng of Union Square.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus28">“Smiling Billy”.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus29">Thomas Estill.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#illus30">The Hut at Camp Lewis.</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus01"></a> +<img src="images/001.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="William Bramwell Booth, General of the Salvation Army" /> +<p class="caption"><b>William Bramwell Booth,<br/>General of the Salvation Army</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus02"></a> +<img src="images/002.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Evangeline Booth, Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation Army in America" /> +<p class="caption"><b>Evangeline Booth,<br/>Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation Army in America</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="pref01"></a>Foreword</h2> + +<p>In presenting the narrative of some of the doings +of the Salvation Army during the world’s great conflict for liberty, +I am but answering the insistent call of a most generous and appreciative +public.</p> + +<p> +When moved to activity by the apparent need, there was never a thought that our +humble services would awaken the widespread admiration that has developed. In +fact, we did not expect anything further than appreciative recognition from +those immediately benefited, and the knowledge that our people have proved so +useful is an abundant compensation for all toil and sacrifice, for +<i>service</i> is our watchword, and there is no reward equal to that of doing +the most good to the most people in the most need. When our National Armies +were being gathered for overseas work, the likelihood of a great need was +self-evident, and the most logical and most natural thing for the Salvation +Army to do was to hold itself in readiness for action. That we were straitened +in our circumstances is well understood, more so by us than by anybody else. +The story as told in these pages is necessarily incomplete, for the obvious +reason that the work is yet in progress. We entered France ahead of our +Expeditionary Forces, and it is my purpose to continue my people’s +ministries until the last of our troops return. At the present moment the +number of our workers overseas equals that of any day yet experienced. +</p> + +<p> +Because of the pressure that this service brings, together with the unmentioned +executive cares incident to the vast work of the Salvation Army in these United +States, I felt compelled to requisition some competent person to aid me in the +literary work associated with the production of a concrete story. In this I was +most fortunate, for a writer of established worth and national fame in the +person of Mrs. Grace Livingston Hill came to my assistance; and having for many +days had the privilege of working with her in the sifting process, gathering +from the mass of matter that had accumulated and which was being daily added +to, with every confidence I am able to commend her patience and toil. How well +she has done her work the book will bear its own testimony. +</p> + +<p>This foreword would be incomplete were I to fail in +acknowledging in a +very definite way the lavish expressions of gratitude +that have abounded +on the part of “The Boys” themselves. +This is our reward, and is a very +great encouragement to us to continue a growing and +more permanent effort +for their welfare, which is comprehended in our plans +for the future. The +official support given has been of the highest and +most generous +character. Marshal Foch himself most kindly cabled +me, and General +Pershing has upon several occasions inspired us with +commendatory words of +the greatest worth.</p> + +<p>Our beloved President has been pleased to reflect +the people’s pleasure +and his own personal gratification upon what the Salvation +Army has +accomplished with the troops, which good-will we shall +ever regard as one +of our greatest honors.</p> + +<p>The lavish eulogy and sincere affection bestowed by +the nation upon the +organization I can only account for by the simple +fact that our +ministering members have been in spirit and reality +with the men.</p> + +<p>True to our first light, first teaching, and first +practices, we have +always put ourselves close beside the man irrespective +of whether his +condition is fair or foul; whether his surroundings +are peaceful or +perilous; whether his prospects are promising or threatening. +As a people +we have felt that to be of true service to others +we must be close enough +to them to lift part of their load and thus carry +out that grand +injunction of the Apostle Paul, “Bear ye one +another’s burdens and so +fulfill the law of Christ.”</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army upon the battlefields of France +has but worked along +the same lines as in the great cities of the nations. +We are, with our +every gift to serve, close up to those in need; and +so, as Lieut.-Colonel +Roosevelt put it, “Whatever the lot of the men, +the Salvation Army is +found with them.”</p> + +<p>We never permit any superiority of position, or breeding, +or even grace to +make a gap between us and any who may be less fortunate. +To help another, +you must be near enough to catch the heart-beat. And +so a large measure of +our success in the war is accounted for by the fact +that we have been with +them. With a hundred thousand Salvationists on all +fronts, and tens and +tens of thousands of Salvationists at their ministering +posts in the +homelands as well as overseas, from the time that +each of the Allied +countries entered the war the Salvation Army has been +with the fighting- +men.</p> + +<p>With them in the thatched cottage on the hillside, +and in the humble +dwelling in the great towns of the homelands, when +they faced the great +ordeal of wishing good-bye to mothers and fathers +and wives and children.</p> + +<p>With them in the blood-soaked furrows of old fields; +with them in the +desolation of No Man’s Land; and with them amid +the indescribable miseries +and gory horrors of the battlefield. With them with +the sweetest ministry, +trained in the art of service, white-souled, brave, +tender-hearted men and +women could render.</p> + +<p>[Evangeline Booth]<br /> +<span class="smallcaps">National Headquarters Salvation Army, New York City</span>.<br /> +April, 1919.</p> + + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="pref02"></a>From the Commander’s Own Pen</h2> + +<p>The war is over. The world’s greatest tragedy +is arrested. The awful pull +at men’s heart-strings relaxed. The inhuman +monster that leapt out of the +darkness and laid blood-hands upon every home of a +peace-blest earth has +been overthrown. Autocracy and diabolical tyranny +lie defeated and crushed +behind the long rows of white crosses that stand like +sign-posts pointing +heavenward, all the way from the English Channel to +the Adriatic, linking +the two by an inseverable chain.</p> + +<p>While the nations were in the throes of the conflict, +I was constrained to +speak and write of the Salvation Army’s activities +in the frightful +struggle. Now that all is over and I reflect upon +the price the nations +have paid I realize much hesitancy in so doing.</p> + +<p>When I think of England-where almost every man you +meet is but a piece of +a man! France—one great graveyard! Its towns and +cities a wilderness of +waste! The allied countries—Italy, and deathless +little Belgium, and +Serbia—well-nigh exterminated in the desperate, gory +struggle! When I +think upon it—the price America has paid! The price +her heroic sons have +paid! They that come down the gangways of the returning +boats on crutches! +They that are carried down on stretchers! They that +sail into New York +Harbor, young and fair, but never again to see the +Statue of Liberty! The +price that dear mothers and fathers have paid! The +price that the tens of +thousands of little children have paid! The price +they that sleep in the +lands they made free have paid! When I think upon +all this, it is with no +little reluctance that I now write of the small part +taken by the +Salvation Army in the world’s titanic sacrifice +for liberty, but which +part we shall ever regard as our life’s crowning +honor.</p> + +<p>Expressions of surprise from officers of all ranks +as well as the private +soldier have vied with those of gratitude concerning +the efficiency of +this service, but no thought of having accomplished +any achievement higher +than their simplest duty is entertained by the Salvationists +themselves; +for uniformly they feel that they have but striven +to measure up to the +high standards of service maintained by the Salvation +Army, which +standards ask of its officers all over the world that +no effort shall be +left unprosecuted, no sacrifice unrendered, which +will help to meet the +<i>need at their door</i>.</p> + +<p>And it is such high standards of devoted service to +our fellow, linked +with the practical nature of the movement’s +operations, the deeply +religious character of its members, its intelligent +system of government, +uniting, and thus augmenting, all its activities; +with the immense +advantage of the military training provided by the +organization, that give +to its officers a potency and adaptability that have +for the greater +period of our brief lifetime made us an influential +factor in seasons of +civic and national disaster.</p> + +<p>When that beautiful city of the Golden Gate, San Francisco, +was laid low +by earthquake and fire, the Salvationists were the +first upon the ground +with blankets, and clothes, and food, gathering frightened +little +children, looking after old age, and rescuing many +from the burning and +falling buildings.</p> + +<p>At the time of the wild rush to the Klondike, the +Salvation Army was, with +its sweet, pure women—the only women amidst tens +of thousands of men— +upon the mountain-side of the Chilcoot Pass saving +the lives of the gold- +seekers, and telling those shattered by disappointment +of treasure that +“doth not perish.”</p> + +<p>At the time of the Jamestown, the Galveston, and the +Dayton floods the +Salvation Army officer, with his boat laden with sandwiches +and warm +wraps, was the first upon the rising waters, ministering +to marooned and +starving families gathered upon the housetops.</p> + +<p>In the direful disaster that swept over the beautiful +city of Halifax, the +Mayor of that city stated: “I do not know what +I should have done the +first two or three days following the explosion, when +everyone was panic- +stricken without the ready, intelligent, and unbroken +day-and-night +efforts of the Salvation Army.”</p> + +<p>On numerous other similar occasions we have relieved +distress and sorrow +by our almost instantaneous service. Hence when our +honored President +decided that our National Emblem, heralder of the +inalienable rights of +man, should cross the seas and wave for the freedom +of the peoples of the +earth, automatically the Salvation Army moved with +it, and our officers +passed to the varying posts of helpfulness which the +emergency demanded.</p> + +<p>Now on all sides I am confronted with the question: +<i>What is the secret +of the Salvation Army’s success in the war?</i></p> + +<p>Permit me to suggests three reasons which, in my judgment, +account for it:</p> + +<p>First, when the war-bolt fell, when the clarion call +sounded, it found +<i>the Salvation Army ready!</i></p> + +<p>Ready not only with our material machinery, but with +that precious piece +of human mechanism which is indispensable to all great +and high +achievement—the right calibre of man, and the right +calibre of woman. Men +and women equipped by a careful training for the work +they would have to +do.</p> + +<p>We were not many in number, I admit. In France our +numbers have been +regrettably few. But this is because I have felt it +was better to fall +short in quantity than to run the risk in falling +short in quality. +Quality is its own multiplication table. Quality without +quantity will +spread, whereas quantity without quality will shrink. +Therefore, I would +not send any officers to France except such as had +been fully equipped in +our training schools.</p> + +<p>Few have even a remote idea of the extensive training +given to all +Salvation Army officers by our military system of +education, covering all +the tactics of that particular warfare to which they +have consecrated +their lives—<i>the service of humanity</i>.</p> + +<p>We have in the Salvation Army thirty-nine Training +Schools in which our +own men and women, both for our missionary and home +fields, receive an +intelligent tuition and practical training in the +minutest details of +their service. They are trained in the finest and +most intricate of all +the arts, the art of dealing ably with human life.</p> + +<p>It is a wonderful art which transfigures a sheet of +cold grey canvas into +a throbbing vitality, and on its inanimate spread +visualizes a living +picture from which one feels they can never turn their +eyes away.</p> + +<p>It is a wonderful art which takes a rugged, knotted +block of marble, +standing upon a coarse wooden bench, and cuts out +of its uncomely +crudeness—as I saw it done—the face of my father, +with its every +feature illumined with prophetic light, so true to +life that I felt that +to my touch it surely must respond.</p> + +<p>But even such arts as these crumble; they are as dust +under our feet +compared with that much greater art, <i>the art +of dealing ably with human +life in all its varying conditions and phases</i>.</p> + +<p>It is in this art that we seek by a most careful culture +and training to +perfect our officers.</p> + +<p>They are trained in those expert measures which enable +them to handle +satisfactorily those that cannot handle themselves, +those that have lost +their grip on things, and that if unaided go down +under the high, rough +tides. Trained to meet emergencies of every character—to +leap into the +breach, to span the gulf, and to do it without waiting +to be told +<i>how</i>.</p> + +<p>Trained to press at every cost for the desired and +decided-upon end.</p> + +<p>Trained to obey orders willingly, and gladly, and +wholly—not in part.</p> + +<p>Trained to give no quarter to the enemy, no matter +what the character, nor +in what form he may present himself, and to never +consider what personal +advantage may be derived.</p> + +<p>Trained in the art of the winsome, attractive coquetries +of the round, +brown doughnut and all its kindred.</p> + +<p>Trained, if needs be, to seal their services with +their life’s blood.</p> + +<p>One of our women officers, on being told by the colonel +of the regiment +she would be killed if she persisted in serving her +doughnuts and cocoa to +the men while under heavy fire, and that she must +get back to safety, +replied: “Colonel, we can die with the men, +but we cannot leave them.”</p> + +<p>When, therefore, I gathered the little companies together +for their last +charge before they sailed for France, I would tell +them that while I was +unable to arm them with many of the advantages of +the more wealthy +denominations; that while I could give them only a +very few assistants +owing to the great demand upon our forces; and that +while I could promise +them nothing beyond their bare expenses, yet I knew +that without fear I +could rely upon them for an unsurpassed devotion to +the God-inspired +standards of the emblem of this, the world’s +greatest Republic, the Stars +and Stripes, now in the van for the freedom of the +peoples of the earth. +That I could rely upon them for unsurpassed devotion +to the brave men who +laid their lives upon the altar of their country’s +protection, and that I +could rely upon them for an unsurpassed devotion to +that other banner, the +Banner of Calvary, the significance of which has not +changed in nineteen +centuries, and by the standards of which, alone, all +the world’s wrongs +can be redressed, and by the standards of which alone +men can be liberated +from all their bondage. And they have not failed.</p> + +<p>A further reason for the success of the Salvation +Army in the war is, +<i>it found us accustomed to hardship</i>.</p> + +<p>We are a people who have thrived on adversity. Opposition, +persecution, +privation, abuse, hunger, cold and want were with +us at the starting-post, +and have journeyed with us all along the course.</p> + +<p>We went to the battlefields <i>no strangers to suffering</i>. +The biting +cold winds that swept the fields of Flanders were +not the first to lash +our faces. The sunless cellars, with their mouldy +walls and water-seeped +floors, where our women sought refuge from shell-fire +through the hours of +the night, contributed no new or untried experience. +In such cellars as +these, in their home cities, under the flicker of +a tallow candle, they +have ministered to the sick and comforted the dying.</p> + +<p>Wet feet, lack of deep, being often without food, +finding things different +from what we had planned, hoped and expected, were +frequent experiences +with us. All such things we Salvationists encounter +in our daily toils for +others amid the indescribable miseries and inestimable +sorrows, the sins +and the tragedies of the underworlds of our great +cities—the +<i>underneath</i> of those great cities which +upon the surface thunder +with enterprise and glitter with brilliance.</p> + +<p>We are not easily affrighted by frowns of fortune. +We do not change our +course because of contrary currents, nor put into +harbor because of head- +winds. Almost all our progress has been made in the +teeth of the storm. We +have always had to “tack,” but as it is +“the set of the sails, and not the +gales” that decides the ports we reach, the +competency of our seamanship +is determined by the fact that we “get there.”</p> + +<p>Our service in France was not, therefore, an experiment, +but an organized, +tested, and proved system. We were enacting no new +rôle. We were all +through the Boer War. Our officers were with the besieged +troops in +Mafeking and Ladysmith. They were with Lord Kitchener +in his victorious +march through Africa. It was this grand soldier who +afterwards wrote to my +father, General William Booth, the Founder of our +movement, saying: “Your +men have given us an example both of how to live as +good soldiers and how +to die as heroes.” And so it was quite natural +that our men and women, +with that fearlessness which characterizes our members, +should take up +positions under fire in France.</p> + +<p>In fact, our officers would have considered themselves +unfaithful to +Salvation Army traditions and history, and untrue +to those who had gone +before, if they had deserted any post, or shirked +any duty, because +cloaked with the shadows of death.</p> + +<p>This explains why their dear forms loomed up in the +fog and the rain, in +the hours of the night, on the roads, under shell +fire, serving coffee and +doughnuts.</p> + +<p>This is how it was they were with them on the long +dreary marches, with a +smile and a song and a word of cheer.</p> + +<p>This is how it is the Salvation Army has no “closing +hours.” “Taps” sound +for us <i>when the need is relieved</i>.</p> + +<p>Three of our women officers in the Toul Sector had +slept for three weeks +in a hay-stack, in an open field, to be near the men +of an ammunition +train taking supplies to the front under cover of +darkness. The boys had +watched their continued, devoted service for them—the +many nights without +sleep—and noticing the shabby uniform of the little +officer in charge, +collected among themselves 1600 francs, and offered +it to her for a new +one, and some other comforts, the spokesman saying: +“This is just to show +you how grateful we are to you.” The officer +was deeply touched, but told +them she could not think of accepting it for herself. +“I am quite +accustomed to hard toils,” she said. “I +have only done what all my +comrades are doing—my duty,” and offered to +compromise by putting the +money into a general fund for the benefit of all—to +buy more doughnuts +and more coffee for the boys.</p> + +<p>Salvation Army teaching and practice is: Choose your +purpose, then set +your face as flint toward that purpose, permitting +no enemy that can +oppose, and no sacrifice that can be asked, to turn +you from it.</p> + +<p>Again, a reason for our success in the war is, <i>our +practical +religion</i>.</p> + +<p>That is, our religion is <i>practicable</i>. +Or, I would rather say, our +Christianity is practicable. Few realize this as the +secret of our +success, and some who do realize it will not admit +it, but this is what it +really is.</p> + +<p>We <i>do</i> worship; both in spirit and form, +in public and in private. +We rely upon prayer as the only line of communication +between the creature +and his Creator, the only wing upon which the soul’s +requirements and +hungerings can be wafted to the Fount of all spiritual +supply. Through our +street, as well as our indoor meetings, perhaps oftener +than any other +people, we come to the masses with the divine benediction +of prayer; and +it would be difficult to find the Salvationist’s +home that does not regard +the family altar as its most precious and priceless +treasure.</p> + +<p>We do preach. We preach God the Creator of earth and +heaven, unerring in +His wisdom, infinite in His love and omnipotent in +His power. We preach +Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, dying +on Calvary for a world’s +transgressions, able to save to the uttermost “all +those who come unto God +by Him.” We preach God the Holy Ghost, sanctifier +and comforter of the +souls of men, making white the life, and kindling +lights in every dark +landing-place. We preach the Bible, authentic in its +statements, +immaculate in its teaching, and glorious in its promises. +We preach grace, +limitless grace, grace enough for all men, and grace +enough for each. We +preach Hell, the irrevocable doom of the soul that +rejects the Saviour. We +preach Heaven, the home of the righteous, the reward +of the good, the +crowning of them that endure to the end.</p> + +<p>Even as we preach, so we practice Christianity. We +reduce theory to +action. We apply faith to deeds. We confess and present +Jesus Christ in +things that can be done. It is this that has carried +our flag into sixty- +three countries and colonies, and despite the bitterest +opposition has +given us the financial support of twenty-one national +governments. It is +this that has brought us up from a little handful +of humble workers to an +organization with 21,000 officers and workers, preaching +the gospel in +thirty-nine tongues. It is this that has multiplied +the one bandsman and a +despised big drum to an army of 27,000 musicians, +and it is this-our +practice of religion-that has placed <i>Christ in +deeds</i>.</p> + +<p> +Arthur E. Copping gives as the reason for the movement’s +success-“the simple, thorough-going, uncompromising, seven-days-a-week +character of its Christianity.” It is this every-day-use religion which +has made us of infinite service in the places of toil, breakage, and suffering; +this every-day-use religion which has made us the only resource for thousands +in misery and vice; this every-day-use religion which has insured our success +to an extent that has induced civic authorities, Judges, Mayors, Governors, and +even National Governments-such as India with its Criminal Tribes-to turn to us +with the problems of the poor and the wicked. +</p> + +<p>While the Salvationist is not of the generally understood +ascetic or +monastic type, yet his spirit and deeds are of the +very essence of +saintliness.</p> + +<p>As man has arrested the lazy cloud sleeping on the +brow of the hill, and +has brought it down to enlighten our darkness, to +carry our mail-bags, to +haul our luggage, and to flash our messages, so, I +would say with all +reverence, that the Salvation Army in a very particular +way has again +brought down Jesus Christ from the high, high thrones, +golden pathways, +and wing-spread angels of Glory, to the common mud +walks of earth, and has +presented Him again in the flesh to a storm-torn world, +touching and +healing the wounds, the bruises, and the bleeding +sores of humanity.</p> + +<p>That was a wonderful sermon Christ preached on the +Mount, but was it more +wonderful than the ministry of the wounded man fallen +by the roadside, or +the drying of the tears from the pale, worn face of +the widow of Nain? Or +more wonderful than when He said, Let them come—let +them come—mothers +and the little children—and blessed them?</p> + +<p>It has only been this same Christ, <i>this Christ +in deeds</i>, when our +women have washed the blood from the faces of the +wounded, and taken the +caked mud from their feet; when under fire, through +the hours of the +night, they have made the doughnuts; when instead +of sleeping they have +written the letters home to soldiers’ loved +ones, when they have lifted +the heavy pails of water and struggled with them over +the shell-wrecked +roads that the dying soldiers might drink; when they +have sewn the torn +uniforms; when they have strewn with the first spring +flowers the graves +of those who died for liberty. Only <i>Christ in +deeds</i> when our men +went unarmed into the horrors of the Argonne Forest +to gather the dying +boys in their arms and to comfort them with love, +human and divine.</p> + +<p>That valiant champion of justice and truth; that faithful, +able and +brilliant defender of American standards, the late +Honorable Theodore +Roosevelt, told me personally a few days before he +went into the hospital +that his son wrote him of how our officer, fifty-three +years of age, +despite his orders, went unarmed over the top, in +the whirl-wind of the +charge, amidst the shriek of shell and tear of shrapnel, +and picked up the +American boy left for dead in No Man’s Land, +carrying him on hie back over +the shell-torn fields to safety.</p> + +<p>It is this <i>Christ in deeds</i> that has made +the doughnut to take the +place of the “cup of cold water” given +in His name. It is this <i>Christ +in deeds</i> that has brought from our humble ranks +the modern Florence +Nightingales and taken to the gory horrors of the +battlefields the white, +uplifting influences of pure womanhood. It is this +<i>Christ in deeds</i> +that made Sir Arthur Stanley say, when thanking our +General for $10,000 +donated for more ambulances: “I thank you for +the money, but much more for +the men; they are quite the best in our service.”</p> + +<p>It is this Christ who has given to our humblest service +a sheen-something +of a glory-which the troops have caught, and which +will make these simple +deeds to hold tenaciously to history, and to outlive +the effacing fingers +of time-even to defy the very dissolution of death.</p> + +<p>As Premier Clemenceau said: “We must love. We +must believe. This is the +secret of life. If we fail to learn this lesson, we +exist without living: +we die in ignorance of the reality of life.”</p> + +<p>A senator, after several months spent in France, stated: +“It is my opinion +that the secret of the success of this organization +is their complete +abandonment to their cause, <i>the service of the +man</i>.”</p> + +<p>Of the many beautiful tributes paid to us by a most +gracious public, and +by the noblest-hearted and most kindly and gallant +army that ever stood up +in uniform, perhaps the most correct is this: <i>Complete +abandonment to +the service of the man</i>.</p> + +<p>This, in large measure, is the cause of our success +all over the world.</p> + +<p>When you come to think of it, the Salvation Army is +a remarkable +arrangement. It is remarkable in its construction. +It is a great empire. +An empire geographically unlike any other. It is an +empire without a +frontier. It is an empire made up of geographical +fragments, parted from +each other by vast stretches of railroad and immense +sweeps of sea. It is +an empire composed of a tangle of races, tongues, +and colors, of types of +civilization and enlightened barbarism such as never +before in all human +history gathered together under one flag.</p> + +<p>It is an army, with its titles rambling into all languages, +a soldiery +spreading over all lands, a banner upon which the +sun never goes down-with +its head in the heart of a cluster of islands set +in the grey, wind-blown +Northern seas, while its territories are scattered +over every sea and +under every sky.</p> + +<p>The world has wondered what has been the controlling +force holding this +strange empire together. What is the electro-magnetism +governing its +furthest atom as though it were at your elbow? What +is the magic sceptre +that compels this diversity of peoples to act as one +man? What is the +master passion uniting these multifarious pulsations +into one heart-beat?</p> + +<p>Has it been a sworn-to signature attached to bond +or paper? No; these can +all too readily be designated “scraps” +and be rent in twain. Has it been +self-interest and worldly fame? No, for all selfish +gain has had to be +sacrificed upon the threshold of the contract. Has +it been the bond of +kinship, or blood, or speech? No, for under this banner +the British master +has become the servant of the Hindoo, and the American +has gone to lay +down his life upon the veldts of Africa. Has it been +the bond of that +almost supernatural force, glorious patriotism? No, +not even this, for +while we “know no man after the flesh,” +we recognize our brother in all +the families of the earth, and our General infused +into the breasts of his +followers the sacred conviction that the Salvationist’s +country is the +world.</p> + +<p>What was it? What is it? Those ties created by a spiritual +ideal. Our love +for God demonstrated by our sacrifice for man.</p> + +<p>My father, in a private audience with the late King Edward, said: “Your +Majesty, some men’s passion is gold; some men’s passion is art; some men’s +passion is fame; my passion is man!”</p> + +<p>This was in our Founder’s breast the white flame +which ignited like sparks +in the hearts of all his followers.</p> + +<p><i>Man is our life’s +passion.</i></p> + +<p>It is for man we have laid our lives upon the altar. +It is for man we have +entered into a contract with our God which signs away +our claim to any and +all selfish ends. It is for man we have sworn to our +own hurt, and—my God +thou knowest-when the hurt came, hard and hot and +fast, it was for man we +held tenaciously to the bargain.</p> + +<p>After the torpedoing of the <i>Aboukir</i> two +sailors found themselves +clinging to a spar which was not sufficiently buoyant +to keep them both +afloat. Harry, a Salvationist, grasped the situation +and said to his mate: +“Tom, for me to die will mean to go home to +mother. I don’t think it’s +quite the same for you, so you hold to the spar and +I will go down; but +promise me if you are picked up you will make my God +your God and my +people your people.” Tom was rescued and told +to a weeping audience in a +Salvation Army hall the act of self-sacrifice which +had saved his life, +and testified to keeping his promise to the boy who +had died for him.</p> + +<p>When the <i>Empress of Ireland</i> went down +with a hundred and thirty +Salvation Army officers on board, one hundred and +nine officers were +drowned, and not one body that was picked up had on +a life-belt. The few +survivors told how the Salvationists, finding there +were not enough life- +preservers for all, took off their own belts and strapped +them upon even +strong men, saying, “I can die better than you +can;” and from the deck of +that sinking boat they flung their battle-cry around +the world— +<i>Others!</i></p> + +<p><i>Man!</i> Sometimes I think God has given us +special eyesight with which +to look upon him, We look through the exterior, look +through the shell, +look through the coat, and find the man. We look through +the ofttimes +repulsive wrappings, through the dark, objectionable +coating collected +upon the downward travel of misspent years, through +the artificial veneer +of empty seeming-through to the <i>man</i>.</p> + +<p>He that was made after God’s image.</p> + +<p>He that is greater than firmaments, greater than suns, +greater than +worlds.</p> + +<p>Man, for whom worlds were created, for whom Heavens +were canopied, for +whom suns were set ablaze. He in whose being there +gleams that immortal +spark we call the soul. And when this war came, it +was natural for us to +look to the man-the man under the shabby clothes, +enlisting in the great +armies of freedom; the man going down the street under +the spick and span +uniform; the man behind the gun, standing in the jaws +of death hurling +back world autocracy; the man, the son of liberty, +discharging his +obligations to them that are bound; the man, each +one of them, although so +young, who when the fates of the world swung in the +balances proved to be +<i>the man of the hour;</i> the man, each one +of them, fighting not only +for today but for tomorrow, and deciding the world’s +future; the man who +gladly died that freedom might not be dead; the man +dear to a hundred +million throbbing hearts; the man God loved so much +that to save him He +gave His only Son to the unparalleled sacrifice of +Calvary, with its +measureless ocean of torment heaving up against His +Heart in one foaming, +wrathful, omnipotent surge.</p> + +<p>Wherein is price? What constitutes cost, when the +question is <i><span class="smallcaps">The Man</span></i>?</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="pref03"></a>Preface by the Writer</h2> + +<p>I wish I could give you a picture of Commander Evangeline +Booth as I saw +her first, who has been the Source, the Inspiration, +the Guide of this +story.</p> + +<p>I went to the first conference about this book in +curiosity and some +doubt, not knowing whether it was my work; not altogether +sure whether I +cared to attempt it. She took my hand and spoke to +me. I looked in her +face and saw the shining glory of her great spirit +through those +wonderful, beautiful, wise, keen eyes, and all doubts +vanished. I studied +the sincerity and beauty of her vivid face as we talked +together, and +heard the thrilling tale she was giving me to tell +because she could not +take the time from living it to write it, and I trembled +lest she would +not find me worthy for so great a task. I knew that +I was being honored +beyond women to have been selected as an instrument +through whom the great +story of the Salvation Army in the War might go forth +to the world. That I +wanted to do it more than any work that had ever come +to my hand, I was +certain at once; and that my whole soul was enmeshed +in the wonder of it. +It gripped me from the start. I was over-joyed to +find that we were in +absolute sympathy from the first.</p> + +<p>One sentence from that earliest talk we had together +stands clear in my +memory, and it has perhaps unconsciously shaped the +theme which I hope +will be found running through all the book:</p> + +<p>“Our people,” said she, flinging out her +hands in a lovely embracing +movement, as if she saw before her at that moment +those devoted workers of +hers who follow where she leads unquestioningly, and +stay not for fire or +foe, or weariness, or peril of any sort:</p> + +<p>“Our people know that Christ is a living presence, +that they can reach out +and feel He is near: that is why they can live so +splendidly and die so +heroically!”</p> + +<p>As she spoke a light shone in her face that reminded +me of the light that +we read was on Moses’ face after he had spent +those days in the mountain +with God; and somewhere back in my soul something +was repeating the words: +“And they took knowledge of them that they had +been with Jesus.”</p> + +<p>That seems to me to be the whole secret of the wonderful +lives and +wonderful work of the Salvation Army. They have become +acquainted with +Jesus Christ, whom to know is life eternal; they feel +His presence +constantly with them and they live their lives “as +seeing Him who is +invisible.” They are a living miracle for the +confounding of all who doubt +that there is a God whom mortals may know face to +face while they are yet +upon the earth.</p> + +<p>The one thing that these people seem to feel is really +worth while is +bringing other people to know their Christ. All other +things in life are +merely subservient to this, or tributary to it. All +their education, +culture and refinement, their amazing organization, +their rare business +ability, are just so many tools that they use for +the uplift of others. In +fact, the word “<span class="smallcaps">others</span>” appears here and +there, printed on small white +cards and tacked up over a desk, or in a hallway near +the elevator, +anywhere, everywhere all over the great building of +the New York +Headquarters, a quiet, unobtrusive, yet startling +reminder of a world of +real things in the midst of the busy rush of life.</p> + +<p>Yet they do not obtrude their religion. Rather it +is a secret joy that +shines unaware through their eyes, and seems to flood +their whole being +with happiness so that others can but see. It is there, +ready, when the +time comes to give comfort, or advice, or to tell +the message of the +gospel in clear ringing sentences in one of their +meetings; but it speaks +as well through a smile, or a ripple of song, or a +bright funny story, or +something good to eat when one is hungry, as it does +through actual +preaching. It is the living Christ, as if He were +on earth again living in +them. And when one comes to know them well one knows +that He is!</p> + +<p>“Go straight for the salvation of souls: never +rest satisfied unless this +end is achieved!” is part of the commission +that the Commander gives to +her envoys. It is worth while stopping to think what +would be the effect +on the world if every one who has named the name of +Christ should accept +that commission and go forth to fulfill it.</p> + +<p>And you who have been accustomed to drop your pennies +in the tambourine of +the Salvation Army lassies at the street corners, +and look upon her as a +representative of a lower class who are doing good +“in their way,” prepare +to realize that you have made a mistake. The Salvation +Army is not an +organization composed of a lot of ignorant, illiterate, +reformed criminals +picked out of the slums. There may be among them many +of that class who by +the army’s efforts have been saved from a life +of sin and shame, and +lifted up to be useful citizens; but great numbers +of them, the leaders +and officers, are refined, educated men and women +who have put Christ and +His Kingdom first in their hearts and lives. Their +young people will +compare in every way with the best of the young people +of any of our +religious denominations.</p> + +<p>After the privilege of close association with them +for some time I have +come to feel that the most noticeable and lovely thing +about the girls is +the way they wear their womanhood, as if it were a +flower, or a rare +jewel. One of these girls, who, by the way, had been +nine months in +France, all of it under shell fire, said to me:</p> + +<p>“I used to wish I had been born a boy, they +are not hampered so much as +women are; but after I went to France and saw what +a good woman meant to +those boys in the trenches I changed my mind, and +I’m glad I was born a +woman. It means a great deal to be a woman.”</p> + +<p>And so there is no coquetry about these girls, no +little personal vanity +such as girls who are thinking of themselves often +have. They take great +care to be neat and sweet and serviceable, but as +they are not thinking of +themselves, but only how they may serve, they are +blest with that +loveliest of all adorning, a meek and quiet spirit +and a joy of living and +content that only forgetfulness of self and communion +with Jesus Christ +can bring.</p> + +<p>I feel as if I would like to thank every one of them, +men and women and +young girls, who have so kindly and generously and +wholeheartedly given me +of their time and experiences and put at my disposal +their correspondence +to enrich this story, and have helped me to go over +the ground of the +great American drives in the war and see what they +saw, hear what they +heard, and feel as they felt. It has been one of the +greatest experiences +of my life.</p> + +<p>And she, their God-given leader, that wonderful woman +whose wise hand +guides every detail of this marvellous organization +in America, and whose +well furnished mind is ever thinking out new ways +to serve her Master, +Christ; what shall I say of her whom I have come to +know and love so well?</p> + +<p>Her exceptional ability as a public speaker is of +the widest fame, while +comparatively few, beyond those of her most trusted +Officers, are brought +into admiring touch with her brilliant executive powers. +All these, +however, unite in most unstinted praise and declare +that functioning in +this sphere, the Commander even excels her platform +triumphs. But one must +know her well and watch her every day to understand +her depth of insight +into character, her wideness of vision, her skill +of making adverse +circumstances serve her ends. Born with an innate +genius for leadership, +swallowed up in her work, wholly consecrated to God +and His service, she +looks upon men, as it were, with the eyes of the God +she loves, and sees +the best in everybody. She sees their faults also, +but she sees the good, +and is able to take that good and put it to account, +while helping them +out of their faults. Those whom she has so helped +would kiss the hem of +her garment as she passes. It is easy to see why she +is a leader of men. +It is easy to see who has made the Army here in America. +It is easy to see +who has inspired the brave men and wonderful women +who went to France and +labored.</p> + +<p>She would not have me say these things of her, for +she is humble, as such +a great leader should be, knowing all her gifts and +attainments to be but +the glory of her Lord; and this is her book. Only +in this chapter can I +speak and say what I will, for it is not my book. +But here, too, I waive +my privilege and bow to my Commander.</p> + +<p>[Grace Livingston Hill]</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h1>The War Romance of the Salvation Army</h1> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a>I.<br/> +</h2> + +<p>Into the heavy shadows that swathe the feet of the +tall buildings in West Fourteenth Street, New York, +late in the evening there slipped a dark form. It +was so carefully wrapped in a black cloak that it was +difficult to tell among the other shadows whether +it was man or woman, and immediately it became a part +of the darkness that hovered close to the entrances +along the way. It slid almost imperceptibly from shadow +to shadow until it crouched flatly against the wall +by the steps of an open door out of which streamed +a wide band of light that flung itself across the +pavement.</p> + +<p>Down the street came two girls in poke bonnets and +hurried in at the open door. The figure drew back +and was motionless as they passed, then with a swift +furtive glance in either direction a head came cautiously +out from the shadow and darted a look after the two +lassies, watched till they were out of sight, and +a form slid into the doorway, winding about the turning +like a serpent, as if the way were well planned, and +slipped out of sight in a dark corner under the stairway.</p> + +<p>Half an hour or perhaps an hour passed, and one or +two hurrying forms came in at the door and sped up +the stairs from some errand of mercy; then the night +watchman came and fastened the door and went away again, +out somewhere through a back room.</p> + +<p>The interloper was instantly on the alert, darting +out of its hiding place, and slipping noiselessly +up the stairs as quietly as the shadow it imitated; +pausing to listen with anxious mien, stepping as a +cloud might have stepped with no creak of stairway +or sound of going at all.</p> + +<p>Up, up, up and up again, it darted, till it came to +the very top, pausing to look sharply at a gleam of +light under a door of some student not yet asleep.</p> + +<p>From under the dark cloak slid a hand with something +in it. Silently it worked, swiftly, pouring a few +drops here, a few drops there, of some colorless, +odorless matter, smearing a spot on the stair railing, +another across from it on the wall, a little on the +floor beyond, a touch on the window seat at the end +of the hall, some more on down the stairs.</p> + +<p>On rubbered feet the fiend crept down; halting, listening, +ever working rapidly, from floor to floor and back +to the entrance way again. At last with a cautious +glance around, a pause to rub a match skilfully over +the woolen cloak, and to light a fuse in a hidden +corner, he vanished out upon the street like the passing +of a wraith, and was gone in the darkness.</p> + +<p>Down in the dark corner the little spark brooded and +smouldered. The watchman passed that way but it gave +no sign. All was still in the great building, as the +smouldering spark crept on and on over its little thread +of existence to the climax.</p> + +<p>But suddenly, it sprang to life! A flame leaped up +like a great tongue licking its lips before the feast +it was about to devour; and then it sprang as if it +were human, to another spot not far away; and then +to another, and on, and on up the stair rail, across +to the wall, leaping, roaring, almost shouting as +if in fiendish glee. It flew to the top of the house +and down again in a leap and the whole building was +enveloped in a sheet of flame!</p> + +<p>Some one gave the cry of <span class="smallcaps">Fire</span>! The night watchman +darted to his box and sent in the alarm. Frightened +girls in night attire crowded to their doors and gasping +fell back for an instant in horror; then bravely obedient +to their training dashed forth into the flame. Young +men on other floors without a thought for themselves +dropped into order automatically and worked like madmen +to save everyone. The fire engines throbbed up almost +immediately, but the building was doomed from the start +and went like tinder. Only the fire drill in which +they had constant almost daily practice saved those +brave girls and boys from an awful death. Out upon +the fire escapes in the bitter winter wind the girls +crept down to safety, and one by one the young men +followed. The young man who was fire sergeant counted +his men and found them all present but one cadet. He +darted back to find him, and that moment with a last +roar of triumph the flames gave a final leap and the +building collapsed, burying in a fiery grave two fine +young heroes. Afterward they said the building had +been “smeared” or it never could have +gone in a breath as it did. The miracle was that no +more lives were lost.</p> + +<p>So that was how the burning of the Salvation Army +Training School occurred.</p> + +<p>The significant fact in the affair was that there +had been sleeping in that building directly over the +place where the fire started several of the lassies +who were to sail for France in a day or two with the +largest party of war workers that had yet been sent +out. Their trunks were packed, and they were all ready +to go. The object was all too evident.</p> + +<p>There was also proof that the intention had been to +destroy as well the great fireproof Salvation Army +National Headquarters building adjoining the Training +School.</p> + +<p>A few days later a detective taking lunch in a small +German restaurant on a side street overheard a conversation:</p> + +<p>“Well, if we can’t burn them out we’ll +blow up the building, and get that damn Commander, +anyhow!”</p> + +<p>Yet when this was told her the Commander declined +the bodyguard offered her by the Civic Authorities, +to go with her even to her country home and protect +her while the war lasted! She is naturally a soldier.</p> + +<p>The Commander had stayed late at the Headquarters +one evening to finish some important bit of work, +and had given orders that she should not be interrupted. +The great building was almost empty save for the night +watchman, the elevator man, and one or two others.</p> + +<p>She was hard at work when her secretary appeared with +an air of reluctance to tell her that the elevator +man said there were three ladies waiting downstairs +to see her on some very important business. He had +told them that she could not be disturbed but they +insisted that they must see her, that she would wish +it if she knew their business. He had come up to find +out what he should answer them.</p> + +<p>The Commander said she knew nothing about them and +could not be interrupted now. They must be told to +come again the next day.</p> + +<p>The elevator man returned in a few minutes to say +that the ladies insisted, and said they had a great +gift for the Salvation Army, but must see the Commander +at once and alone or the gift would be lost.</p> + +<p>Quickly interested the Commander gave orders that +they should be brought up to her office, but just +as they were about to enter, the secretary came in +again with great excitement, begging that she would +not see the visitors, as one of the men from downstairs +had ’phoned up to her that he did not like the +appearance of the strangers; they seemed to be trying +to talk in high strained voices, and they had very +large feet. Maybe they were not women at all.</p> + +<p>The Commander laughed at the idea, but finally yielded +when another of her staff entered and begged her not +to see strangers alone so late at night; and the callers +were informed that they would have to return in the +morning if they wished an interview.</p> + +<p>Immediately they became anything but ladylike in their +manner, declaring that the Salvation Army did not +deserve a gift and should have nothing from them. +The elevator man’s suspicions were aroused. The +ladies were attired in long automobile cloaks, and +close caps with large veils, and he studied them carefully +as he carried them down to the street floor once more, +following them to the outer door. He was surprised +to find that no automobile awaited them outside. As +they turned to walk down the street, he was sure he +caught a glimpse of a trouser leg from beneath one +of the long cloaks, and with a stride he covered the +space between the door and his elevator where was +a telephone, and called up the police station. In a +few moments more the three “ladies” found +themselves in custody, and proved to be three men +well armed.</p> + +<p>But when the Commander was told the truth about them +she surprisingly said: “I’m sorry I didn’t +see them. I’m sure they would have done me no +harm and I might have done them some good.”</p> + +<p>But if she is courageous, she is also wise as a serpent, +and knows when to keep her own counsel.</p> + +<p>During the early days of the war when there were many +important matters to be decided and the Commander +was needed everywhere, she came straight from a conference +in Washington to a large hotel in one of the great +western cities where she had an appointment to speak +that night. At the revolving door of the hotel stood +a portly servitor in house uniform who was most kind +and noticeably attentive to her whenever she entered +or went out, and was constantly giving her some pointed +little attention to draw her notice. Finally, she +stopped for a moment to thank him, and he immediately +became most flattering, telling her he knew all about +the Salvation Army, that he had a brother in its ranks, +was deeply interested in their work in France, and +most proud of what they were doing. He told her he +had lived in Washington and said he supposed she often +went there. She replied pleasantly that she had but +just come from there, but some keen intuition began +to warn this wise-hearted woman and when the next question, +though spoken most casually, was: “Where are +the Salvation Army workers now in France?” she +replied evasively:</p> + +<p>“Oh, wherever they are most needed,” and +passed on with a friend.</p> + +<p>“I believe that man is a spy!” she said +to her friend with conviction in her voice.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” the friend replied; “you +are growing nervous. That man has been in this hotel +for several years.”</p> + +<p>But that very night the man, with five others, was +arrested, and proved to be a spy hunting information +about the location of the American troops in France.</p> + +<p>Now these incidents do not belong in just this spot +in the book, but they are placed here of intention +that the reader may have a certain viewpoint from +which to take the story. For well does the world of +evil realize what a strong force of opponents to their +dark deeds is found in this great Christian organization. +Sometimes one is able the better to judge a man, his +character and strength, when one knows who are his +enemies.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>It was the beginning of the dark days of 1917.</p> + +<p>The Commander sat in her quiet office, that office +through which, except on occasions like this when +she locked the doors for a few minutes’ special +work, there marched an unbroken procession of men and +affairs, affecting both souls and nations.</p> + +<p>Before her on the broad desk lay the notes of a new +address which she was preparing to deliver that evening, +but her eyes were looking out of the wide window, +across the clustering roofs of the great city to the +white horizon line, and afar over the great water +to the terrible scene of the Strife of Nations.</p> + +<p>For a long time her thoughts had been turning that +way, for she had many beloved comrades in that fight, +both warring and ministering to the fighters, and +she had often longed to go herself, had not her work +held her here. But now at last the call had come! +America had entered the great war, and in a few days +her sons would be marching from all over the land +and embarking for over the seas to fling their young +lives into that inferno; and behind them would stalk, +as always in the wake of War, Pain and Sorrow and +Sin! Especially Sin. She shuddered as she thought of +it all. The many subtle temptations to one who is +lonely and in a foreign land.</p> + +<p>Her eyes left the far horizon and hovered over the +huddling roofs that represented so many hundreds of +thousands of homes. So many mothers to give up their +sons; so many wives to be bereft; so many men and boys +to be sent forth to suffer and be tried; so many hearts +already overburdened to be bowed beneath a heavier +load! Oh, her people! Her beloved people, whose sorrows +and burdens and sins she bore in her heart and carried +to the feet of the Master every day! And now this +war!</p> + +<p>And those young men, hardly more than children, some +of them! With her quick insight and deep knowledge +of the world, she visualized the way of fire down +which they must walk, and her soul was stricken with +the thought of it! It was her work and the work of +her chosen Army to help and save, but what could she +do in such a momentous crisis as this? She had no money +for new work. Opportunities had opened up so fast. +The Treasury was already overtaxed with the needs +on this side of the water. There were enterprises +started that could not be given up without losing precious +souls who were on the way toward becoming redeemed +men and women, fit citizens of this world and the +next. There was no surplus, ever! The multifarious +efforts to meet the needs of the poorest of the cities’ +poor, alone, kept everyone on the strain. There seemed +no possibility of doing more. Besides, how could they +spare the workers to meet the new demand without taking +them from places where they were greatly needed at +home? And other perplexities darkened the way. There +were those sitting in high places of authority who +had strongly advised the Salvation Army to remain +at home and go on with their street meetings, telling +them that the battlefield was no place for them, they +would only be in the way. They were not adapted to +a thing like war. But well she knew the capacity of +the Salvation Army to adapt itself to whatever need +or circumstance presented. The same standard they +had borne into the most wretched places of earth in +times of peace would do in times of war.</p> + +<p>Out there across the waters the Salvation Brothers +and Sisters were ministering to the British armies +at the front, and now that the American army was going, +too, duty seemed very clear; the call was most imperative!</p> + +<p>The written pages on her desk loudly demanded attention +and the Commander tried to bring her thoughts back +to them once more, but again and again the call sounded +in her heart.</p> + +<p>She lifted her eyes to the wall across the room from +her desk where hung the life-like portrait of her +Christian-Warrior father, the grand old keen-eyed, +wise-hearted General, founder of the movement. Like +her father she knew they must go. There was no question +about it. No hindrance should stop them. They <span class="smallcaps">must go</span>! The warrior blood ran in her veins. In this the +world’s greatest calamity they must fulfill the +mission for which he lived and died.</p> + +<p>“Go!” Those pictured eyes seemed to speak +to her, just as they used to command her when he was +here: “You must go and bear the standard of the +Cross to the front. Those boys are going over there, +many of them to die, and some are telling them that +if they make the supreme sacrifice in this their country’s +hour of need it will be all right with them when they +go into the world beyond. But when they get over there +under shell fire they will know that it is not so, +and they will need Christ, the only atonement for +sin. You must go and take the Christ to them.”</p> + +<p>Then the Commander bowed her head, accepting the commission; +and there in the quiet room perhaps the Master Himself +stood beside her and gave her his charge—just as +she would later charge those whom she would send across +the water—telling her that He was depending upon the +Salvation Army to bear His standard to the war.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was at this same high conference with her +Lord that she settled it in her heart that Lieutenant-Colonel +William S. Barker was to be the pioneer to blaze the +way for the work in France.</p> + +<p>However that may be he was an out-and-out Salvationist, +of long and varied experience. He was chosen equally +for his proved consecration to service, for his unselfishness, +for his exceptional and remarkable natural courage +by which he was afraid of nothing, and for his unwavering +persistence in plans once made in spite of all difficulties. +The Commander once said of him: “If you want +to see him at his best you must put him face to face +with a stone wall and tell him he must get on the other +side of it. No matter what the cost or toil, whether +hated or loved, he would get there!”</p> + +<p>Thus carefully, prayerfully, were each one of the +other workers selected; each new selection born from +the struggle of her soul in prayer to God that there +might be no mistakes, no unwise choices, no messengers +sent forth who went for their own ends and not for +the glory of God. Here lies the secret which makes +the world wonder to-day why the Salvation Army workers +are called “the real thing” by the soldiers. +They were hand-picked by their leader on the mount, +face to face with God.</p> + +<p>She took no casual comer, even with offers of money +to back them, and there were some of immense wealth +who pleaded to be of the little band. She sent only +those whom she knew and had tried. Many of them had +been born and reared in the Salvation Army, with Christlike +fathers and mothers who had made their homes a little +piece of heaven below. All of them were consecrated, +and none went without the urgent answering call in +their own hearts.</p> + +<p>It was early in June, 1917, when Colonel Barker sailed +to France with his commission to look the field over +and report upon any and every opportunity for the +Salvation Army to serve the American troops.</p> + +<p>In order to pave his way before reaching France, Colonel +Barker secured a letter of introduction from Secretary-to-the-President +Tumulty, to the American Ambassador in France, Honorable +William G. Sharp.</p> + +<p>In connection with this letter a curious and interesting +incident occurred. When Colonel Barker entered the +Secretary’s office, he noticed him sitting at +the other end of the room talking with a gentleman. +He was about to take a seat near the door when Mr. +Tumulty beckoned to him to come to the desk. When +he was seated, without looking directly at the other +gentleman, the Colonel began to state his mission to +Mr. Tumulty. Before he had finished the stranger spoke +up to Mr. Tumulty: “Give the Colonel what he +wants and make it a good one!” And lo! he was +not a stranger, but a man whose reform had made no +small sensation in New York circles several years +before, a former attorney who through his wicked life +had been despaired of and forsaken by his wealthy relatives, +who had sunk to the lowest depths of sin and poverty +and been rescued by the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>Continuing to Mr. Tumulty, he said: “You know +what the Salvation Army has done for me; now do what +you can for the Salvation Army.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Tumulty gave him a most kind letter of introduction +to the American Ambassador.</p> + +<p>On his arrival in Liverpool Colonel Barker availed +himself of the opportunity to see the very splendid +work being done by the Salvation Army with the British +troops, both in France and in England, visiting many +Salvation Army huts and hostels. He also put the Commander’s +plans for France before General Bramwell Booth in +London.</p> + +<p>As early as possible Colonel Barker presented his +letter of introduction to the American Ambassador, +who in turn provided him with a letter of introduction +to General Pershing which insured a cordial reception +by him. Mr. Sharp informed Colonel Barker that he +understood the policy of the American army was to +grant a monopoly of all welfare work to the Y.M.C.A. +He feared the Salvation Army would not be welcome, +but assured him that anything he could properly do +to assist the Salvation Army would be most gladly +done. In this connection he stated that he had known +of and been interested in the work of the Salvation +Army for many years, that several men of his acquaintance +had been converted through their activities and been +reformed from dissolute, worthless characters to kind +husbands and fathers and good business men; and that +he believed in the Salvation Army work as a consequence.</p> + +<p>On many occasions during the subsequent months, Mr. +Sharp was never too busy to see the Salvation Army +representatives, and has rendered valuable assistance +in facilitating the forwarding of additional workers +by his influence with the State Department.</p> + +<p>It appeared that among military officers a kind feeling +existed toward the Salvation Army, though it was generally +thought that there was no opening for their service. +Their conception of the Salvation Army was that of +street corner meetings and public charity. The officers +at that time could not see that the soldiers needed +charity or that they would be interested in religion. +They could see how a reading-room, game-room and entertainments +might be helpful, but anything further than that they +did not consider necessary.</p> + +<p>Colonel Barker presented his letter of introduction +to General Pershing, and on behalf of Commander Booth +offered the services of the Salvation Army in any +form which might be desired.</p> + +<p>General Pershing, who received the Colonel with exceptional +cordiality, suggested that he go out to the camps, +look the field over, and report to him. Calling in +his chief of staff he gave instructions that a side +car should be placed at Colonel Barker’s disposal +to go out to the camps; and also that a letter of +introduction to the General commanding the First Division +should be given to him, asking that everything should +be done to help him.</p> + +<p>The first destination was Gondrecourt, where the First +Division Headquarters was established.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>II.<br/> +The Gondrecourt Area</h2> + +<p>The advance guard of the American Expeditionary Forces +had landed in France, and other detachments were arriving +almost daily. They were received by the French with +open arms and a big parade as soon as they landed. +Flowers were tossed in their path and garlands were +flung about them. They were lauded and praised on +every hand. On the crest of this wave of enthusiasm +they could have swept joyously into battle and never +lost their smiles.</p> + +<p>But instead of going to the front at once they were +billeted in little French villages and introduced +to French rain and French mud.</p> + +<p>When one discovers that the houses are built of stone, +stuck together mainly by this mud of the country, +and remembers how many years they have stood, one +gets a passing idea of the nature of this mud about +which the soldiers have written home so often. It +is more like Portland cement than anything else, and +it is most penetrative and hard to get rid of; it +gets in the hair, down the neck, into the shoes and +it sticks. If the soldier wears hip-boots in the trenches +he must take them off every little while and empty +the mud out of them which somehow manages to get into +even hip-boots. It is said that one reason the soldiers +were obliged to wear the wrapped leggings was, not +that they would keep the water out, but that they +would strain the mud and at least keep the feet comparatively +clean.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> +<a name="illus03"></a> +<img src="images/003.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker Director of War Work in France" /> +<p class="caption"><b>Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker<br/> +Director of War Work in France</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> +<a name="illus04"></a> +<img src="images/004.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="“Introduced to French Rain and French Mud”" /> +<p class="caption"><b>“Introduced to French Rain and French Mud”</b></p> +</div> + +<p>There were sixteen of these camps at this time and +probably twelve or thirteen thousand soldiers were +already established in them.</p> + +<p>There was no great cantonment as at the camps on this +side of the water, nor yet a city of tents, as one +might have expected. The forming of a camp meant the +taking over of all available buildings in the little +French peasant villages. The space was measured up +by the town mayor and the battalion leader and the +proper number of men assigned to each building. In +this way a single division covered a territory of about +thirty kilometers. This system made a camp of any +size available in very short order and also fooled +the Huns, who were on the lookout for American camps.</p> + +<p>These villages were the usual farming villages, typical +of eastern France. They are not like American villages, +but a collection of farm yards, the houses huddled +together years ago for protection against roving bands +of marauders. The farmer, instead of living upon his +land, lives in the village, and there he has his barn +for his cattle, his manure pile is at his front door, +the drainage from it seeps back under the house at +will, his chickens and pigs running around the streets.</p> + +<p>These houses were built some five or eight hundred +years ago, some a thousand or twelve hundred years. +One house in the town aroused much curiosity because +it was called the “new” house. It looked +just like all the others. One who was curious asked +why it should have received this appellative and was +told because it was the last one that was built—only +two hundred and fifty years ago.</p> + +<p>There is a narrow hall or court running through these +houses which is all that separates the family from +the horses and pigs and cows which abide under the +same roof.</p> + +<p>The whole place smells alike. There is no heat anywhere, +save from a fireplace in the kitchen. There is a community +bakehouse.</p> + +<p>The soldiers were quartered in the barns and outhouses, +the officers were quartered in the homes of these +French peasants. There were no comforts for either +soldier or officer. It rained almost continuously and +at night it was cold. No dining-rooms could be provided +where the men could eat and they lined up on the street, +got their chow and ate it standing in the rain or +under whatever cover they could find. Few of them could +understand any French, and all the conditions surrounding +their presence in France were most trying to them. +They were drilled from morning to night. They were +covered with mud. The great fight in which they had +come to participate was still afar off. No wonder +their hearts grew heavy with a great longing for home. +Gloom sat upon their faces and depression grew with +every passing hour.</p> + +<p>Into these villages one after another came the little +military side-car with its pioneer Salvationists, +investigating conditions and inquiring the greatest +immediate need of the men.</p> + +<p>All the soldiers were homesick, and wherever the little +car stopped the Salvation Army uniform attracted immediate +and friendly attention. The boys expressed the liveliest +interest in the possibility of the Salvation Army +being with them in France. These troops composed the +regular army and were old-timers. They showed at once +their respect for and their belief in the Salvation +Army. One poor fellow, when he saw the uniform, exclaimed: +“The Salvation Army! I believe they’ll +be waiting for us when we get to hell to try and save +us!”</p> + +<p>It appeared that the pay of the American soldier was +so much greater than that of the French soldier that +he had too much money at his disposal; and this money +was a menace both to him and to the French population. +If some means could be provided for transferring the +soldier’s money home, it would help out in the +one direction which was most important at that time.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that the French habit of drinking +wine was ever before the American soldier, and with +165 francs a month in his pocket, he became an object +of interest to the French tradespeople, who encouraged +him to spend his money in drink, and who also raised +the price on other commodities to a point where the +French population found it made living for them most +difficult.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army authorities in New York were all +prepared to meet this need. The Organization has one +thousand posts throughout the United States commanded +by officers who would become responsible to get the +soldier’s money to his family or relatives in +the United States. A simple money-order blank issued +in France could be sent to the National Headquarters +of the Salvation Army in New York and from there to +the officer commanding the corps in any part of the +United States, who would deliver the money in person.</p> + +<p>In this way the friends and relatives of the soldier +in France would be comforted in the knowledge that +the Salvation Army was in touch with their boy; and +if need existed in the family at home it would be discovered +through the visit of the Salvation Army officer in +the homeland and immediate steps taken to alleviate +it.</p> + +<p>Perhaps this has done more than anything else to bring +the blessing of parents and relatives upon the organization, +for tens of thousands of dollars that would have been +spent in gambling and drink have been sent home to +widowed mothers and young wives.</p> + +<p>This suggestion appealed very strongly to the military +general, who said that if the Salvation Army got into +operation it could count upon any assistance which +he could give it, and if they conducted meetings he +would see that his regimental band was instructed +to attend these meetings and furnish the music.</p> + +<p>Several chaplains, both Protestant and Catholic, expressed +themselves as being glad to welcome the Salvation +Army among them.</p> + +<p>Among the Regular Army officers there was rather a +pessimistic attitude. It was in nowise hostile, but +rather doubtful.</p> + +<p>One general said that he did not see that the Salvation +Army could do any good. His idea of the Salvation +Army being associated altogether with the slums and +men who were down and out. But on the other hand, he +said that he did not see that the Salvation Army could +do any harm, even if they did not do any good, and +as far as he was concerned he was agreeable to their +coming in to work in the First Division; and he would +so report to General Pershing.</p> + +<p>St. Nazaire, the base, was being used for the reception +of the troops as they reached the shores of France. +Here was a new situation. The men had been cooped +up on transports for several days and on their landing +at St. Nazaire they were placed in a rest camp with +the opportunity to visit the city. Here they were +a prey to immoral women and the officer commanding +the base was greatly concerned about the matter and +eagerly welcomed the idea of having the Salvation +Army establish good women in St. Nazaire who would +cope with the problem.</p> + +<p>The report given to General Pershing resulted in an +official authorization permitting the Salvation Army +to open their work with the American Expeditionary +Forces, and a suggestion that they go at once to the +American Training Area and see what they could do to +alleviate the terrible epidemic of homesickness that +had broken out among the soldiers.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, back in New York, the Commander had +not been idle. Daily before the throne she had laid +the great concerns of her Army, and daily she had +been preparing her first little company of workers +to go when the need should call.</p> + +<p>There was no money as yet, but the Commander was not +to be daunted, and so when the report came from over +the water, she borrowed from the banks twenty-five +thousand dollars.</p> + +<p>She called the little company of pioneer workers together +in a quiet place before they left and gave them such +a charge as would make an angel search his heart. +Before the Most High God she called upon them to tell +her if any of them had in his or her heart any motive +or ambition in going other than to serve the Lord +Christ. She looked down into the eyes of the young +maidens and bade them put utterly away from them the +arts and coquetries of youth, and remember that they +were sent forth to help and save and love the souls +of men as God loved them; and that self must be forgotten, +or their work would be in vain. She commanded them +if even at this last hour any faltered or felt himself +unfit for the God-given task, that he would tell her +even then before it was too late. She begged them to +remember that they held in their hands the honor of +the Salvation Army, and the glory of Jesus Christ +their Saviour as they went out to serve the troops. +They were to be living examples of Christ’s love, +and they were to be willing to lay down their lives +if need be for His sake.</p> + +<p>There were tears in the eyes of some of those strong +men that day as they listened, and the look of exaltation +on the faces of the women was like a reflection from +above. So must have looked the disciples of old when +Jesus gave them the commission to go into all the +world and preach the gospel. They were filled with +His Spirit, and there was a look of utter joy and +self-forgetfulness as they knelt with their leader +to pray, in words which carried them all to the very +feet of God and laid their lives a willing sacrifice +to Him who had done so much for them. Still kneeling, +with bowed heads, they sang, and their words were +but a prayer. It is a way these wonderful people have +of bursting into song upon their knees with their +eyes closed and faces illumined by a light of another +world, their whole souls in the words they are singing—“singing +as unto the Lord!” It reminds one of the days +of old when the children of Israel did everything +with songs and prayers and rejoicing, and the whole +of life was carried on as if in the visible presence +of God, instead of utterly ignoring Him as most of +us do now.</p> + +<p>The song this time was just a few lines of consecration:</p> + + +<p class="poem"> +“Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!<br /> + Saviour Divine, to whom else can I go?<br /> + Thou who hast died, loving me so,<br /> + Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!” +</p> + +<p>The dramatic beauty of the scene, the sweet, holy +abandonment of that prayer-song with its tender, appealing +melody, would have held a throng of thousands in awed +wonder. But there was no audience, unless, perchance, +the angels gathered around the little company, rejoicing +that in this world of sin and war there were these +who had so given themselves to God; but from that +glory-touched room there presently went forth men and +women with the spirit in their hearts that was to +thrill like an electric wire every life with which +it came in contact, and show the whole world what +God can do with lives that are wholly surrendered to +Him.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> +<a name="illus05"></a> +<img src="images/005.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="She called the little company +of workers together and gave them such a charge as would make an angel search his heart" /> +<p class="caption"><b>She called the little company of workers together and gave +them such a charge as would make an angel search his heart</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus06"></a> +<img src="images/006.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The lassie who fried the first doughnut in France" /> +<p class="caption"><b>The lassie who fried the first doughnut in France</b></p> +</div> + +<p>It was a bright, sunny afternoon, August 12th, when +this first party of American Salvation Army workers +set sail for France.</p> + +<p>No doubt there was many a smile of contempt from the +bystanders as they saw the little group of blue uniforms +with the gold-lettered scarlet hatbands, and noticed +the four poke bonnets among the number. What did the +tambourine lassies know of <span class="smallcaps">real</span> warfare? To those who +reckoned the Salvation Army in terms of bands on the +street corner, and shivering forms guarding Christmas +kettles, it must have seemed the utmost audacity for +this “play army” to go to the front.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at Bordeaux on August 21st they +went at once to Paris to be fitted out with French +uniforms, as General Pershing had given them all the +rank of military privates, and ordered that they should +wear the regulation khaki uniforms with the addition +of the red Salvation Army shield on the hats, red +epaulets, and with skirts for the women.</p> + +<p>A cabled message had reached France from the Commander +saying that funds to the extent of twenty-five thousand +dollars had been arranged for, and would be supplied +as needed, and that a party of eleven officers were +being dispatched at once. After that matters began +to move rapidly.</p> + +<p>A portable tent, 25 feet by 100 feet, was purchased +and shipped to Demange;—and a touring car was bought +with part of the money advanced.</p> + +<p>Purchasing an automobile in France is not a matter +merely of money. It is a matter for Governmental sanction, +long delay, red tape—amazing good luck.</p> + +<p>At the start the whole Salvation Army transportation +system consisted of this one first huge limousine, +heartlessly overdriven and overworked. For many weeks +it was Colonel Barker’s office and bedroom. It +carried all of the Salvation Army workers to and from +their stations, hauled all of the supplies on its +roof, inside, on its fenders, and later also on a trailer. +It ran day and night almost without end, two drivers +alternating. It was a sort of super-car, still in +the service, to which Salvationists still refer with +an affectionate amazement when they consider its terrific +accomplishments. It hauled all of the lumber for the +first huts and a not uncommon sight was to see it +tearing along the road at forty miles an hour, loaded +inside and on top with supplies, several passengers +clinging to its fenders, and a load of lumber or trunks +trailing behind. For a long time Colonel Barker had +no home aside from this car. He slept wherever it +happened to be for the night—often in it, while still +driven. One night he and a Salvation Army officer +were lost in a strange woods in the car until four +in the morning. They were without lights and there +were no real roads.</p> + +<p>Later, of course, after long waiting, other trucks +were bought and to-day there are about fifty automobiles +in this service. Chauffeurs had to be developed out +of men who had never driven before. They were even +taken from huts and detailed to this work.</p> + +<p>In this first touring car Colonel Barker with one +of the newly arrived adjutants for driver, started +to Demange.</p> + +<p>Twenty kilometers outside of Paris the car had a breakdown. +The two clambered out and reconnoitered for help. +There was nothing for it but to take the car back +to Paris. A man was found on the road who was willing +to take it in tow, but they had no rope for a tow +line. Over in the field by the roadside the sharp +eyes of the adjutant discovered some old rusty wire. +He pulled it out from the tangle of long grass, and +behold it was a part of old barbed-wire entanglements!</p> + +<p>In great surprise they followed it up behind the camouflage +and found themselves in the old trenches of 1914. +They walked in the trenches and entered some of the +dugouts where the soldiers had lived in the memorable +days of the Marne fight. As they looked a little farther +up the hillside they were startled to see great pieces +of heavy field artillery, their long barrels sticking +out from pits and pointing at them. They went closer +to examine, and found the guns were made of wood painted +black. The barrels were perfectly made, even to the +breech blocks mounted on wheels, the tires of which +were made of tin. They were a perfect imitation of +a heavy ordnance piece in every detail. Curious, wondering +what it could mean, the two explorers looked about +them and saw an old Frenchman coming toward them. +He proved to be the keeper of the place, and he told +them the story. These were the guns that saved Paris +in 1914.</p> + +<p>The Boche had been coming on twenty kilometers one +day, nineteen the next, fourteen the next, and were +daily drawing nearer to the great city. They were +so confident that they had even announced the day they +would sweep through the gates of Paris. The French +had no guns heavy enough to stop that mad rush, and +so they mounted these guns of wood, cut away the woods +all about them and for three hundred meters in front, +and waited with their pitifully thin, ill-equipped +line to defend the trenches.</p> + +<p>Then the German airplanes came and took pictures of +them, and returned to their lines to make plans for +the next day; but when the pictures were developed +and enlarged they saw to their horror that the French +had brought heavy guns to their front and were preparing +to blow them out of France. They decided to delay +their advance and wait until they could bring up artillery +heavier than the French had, and while they waited +the Germans broke into the French wine cellars and +stole the “vin blanche” and “vin +rouge.” The French call this “light” +wine and say it takes the place of water, which is +only fit for washing; but it proved to be too heavy +for the Germans that day. They drank freely, not even +waiting to unseal the bottles of rare old vintage, +but knocked the necks off the bottles against the +stone walls and drank. They were all drunk and in no +condition to conquer France when their artillery came +up, and so the wooden French guns and the French wine +saved Paris.</p> + +<p>When the two men finally arrived in Demange the Military +General greeted them gladly and invited them to dine +with him.</p> + +<p>He had for a cook a famous French chef who provided +delicious meals, but for dessert the chef had attempted +to make an American apple pie, which was a dismal +failure. The colonel said to the general: “Just +wait till our Salvation Army women get here and I +will see that they make you a pie that is a pie.”</p> + +<p>The General and the members of his staff said they +would remember that promise and hold him to it.</p> + +<p>The pleasure which the thought of that pie aroused +furnished a suggestion for work later on.</p> + +<p>Within two or three days the hut had arrived. The +question of a lot upon which to place it was most +important. The billeting officers stated that none +could be had within the town and insisted that the +hut would have to be placed in an inaccessible spot +on the outskirts of the town, but Colonel Barker asked +the General if he would mind his looking about himself +and he readily assented. The indomitable Barker, true +to the “never-say-die” slogan of the Salvation +Army, went out and found a splendid lot on the main +street in the heart of the town, which was being partly +used by its owner as a vegetable garden. He quickly +secured the services of a French interpreter and struck +a bargain with the owner to rent the lot for the sum +of sixteen dollars a year, and on his return with +the information that this lot had been secured the +General was greatly impressed.</p> + +<p>A wire had been sent to Paris instructing the men +of the party to come down immediately. A couple of +tents were secured to provide temporary sleeping accommodation +and the men lined up in the chow line with the doughboys +at meal-time.</p> + +<p>The six Salvationists pulled off their coats at once +and went to work, much to the amusement of a few curious +soldiers who stood idly watching them.</p> + +<p>They discovered right at the start that the building +materials which had been sent ahead of them had been +dumped on the wrong lot, and the first thing they +had to do was to move them all to the proper site. +This was no easy task for men who had but recently +left office chairs and clerical work. Unaccustomed +muscles cried out in protest and weary backs ached +and complained, but the men stubbornly marched back +and forth carrying big timbers, and attracting not +a little attention from soldiers who wondered what +in the world the Salvation Army could be up to over +in France. Some of them were suspicious. Had they +come to try and stuff religion down their throats? +If so, they would soon find out their mistake. So, +half in belligerence, half in amusement, the soldiers +watched their progress. It was a big joke to them, +who had come here for <i>serious</i> business +and longed to be at it.</p> + +<p>Steadily, quietly, the work went on. They laid the +timbers and erected the framework of their hut, keeping +at it when the rain fell and soaked them to the skin. +They were a bit awkward at it at first, perhaps, for +it was new work to them, and they had but few tools. +The hut was twenty-five feet wide and a hundred feet +long. The walls went up presently, and the roof went +on. One or two soldiers were getting interested and +offered to help a bit; but for the most part they +stood apart suspiciously, while the Salvation Army +worked cheerily on and finished the building with their +own hands.</p> + +<p>Colonel Barker meanwhile had gone back to Paris for +supplies and to bring the women overland in the automobile, +because he was somewhat fearful lest they might be +held up if they attempted to go out by train. The idea +of women in the camps was so new to our American soldiers, +and so distasteful to the French, that they presented +quite a problem until their work fully justified their +presence.</p> + +<p>It got about that some real American girls were coming. +The boys began to grow curious. When the big French +limousine carrying them arrived in the camp it was +greeted by some of the soldiers with the greatest enthusiasm +while others looked on in critical silence. But very +soon their influence was felt, for a commanding officer +stated that his men were more contented and more easily +handled since the unprecedented innovation of women +in the camp than they had been within the experience +of the old Regular Army officers. Profanity practically +ceased in the vicinity of the hut and was never indulged +in in the presence of the Salvationists.</p> + +<p>While the hut was being erected meetings were conducted +in the open air which were attended by great throngs, +and after every meeting from one to four or five boys +asked for the privilege of going into the tent at the +back and being prayed with, and many conversions resulted +from these first open-air meetings. Boys walked in +from other camps from a distance as far away as five +miles to attend these meetings and many were converted. +The hut was finally completed and equipped and was +to be formally opened on Sunday evening.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Y.M.C.A. was getting busy also +establishing its work in the camps; therefore, the +Salvation Army tried to place their huts in towns +where the Y. was not operating, so that they might +be able to reach those who had the greatest need of +them.</p> + +<p>Officers had been appointed to take charge of the +Demange hut and immediately further operations in +other towns were being arranged.</p> + +<p>A Y.M.C.A. hut, however, followed quickly on the heels +of the Salvation Army at Demange and the night of +the opening of the Salvation Army hut someone came +to ask if they would come over to the Y. and help in +a meeting. Sure, they would help! So the Staff-Captain +took a cornetist and two of the lassies and went over +to the Y.M.C.A. hut.</p> + +<p>It was early dusk and a crowd was gathered about where +a rope ring fenced off the place in which a boxing +match had been held the day before, across the road +from the hut. The band had been stationed there giving +a concert which was just finished, and the men were +sitting in a circle on the ground about the ring.</p> + +<p>The Salvationists stood at the door of the hut and +looked across to the crowd.</p> + +<p>“How about holding our meeting over there?” +asked the Staff-Captain of the man in charge.</p> + +<p>“All right. Hold it wherever you like.”</p> + +<p>So a few willing hands brought out the piano, and +the four Salvationists made their way across to the +ring. The soldiers raised a loud cheer and hurrah +to see the women stoop and slip under the rope, and +a spirit of sympathy seemed to be established at once.</p> + +<p>There were a thousand men gathered about and the cornet +began where the band had left off, thrilling out between +the roar of guns.</p> + +<p>Up above were the airplanes throbbing back and forth, +and signal lights were flashing. It was a strange +place for a meeting. The men gathered closer to see +what was going on.</p> + +<p>The sound of an old familiar hymn floated out on the +evening, bringing a sudden memory of home and days +when one was a little boy and went to Sunday school; +when there was no war, and no one dreamed that the +sons would have to go forth from their own land to +fight. A sudden hush stole over the men and they sat +enthralled watching the little band of singers in +the changing flicker of light and darkness. Women’s +voices! Young and fresh, too, not old ones. How they +thrilled with the sweetness of it:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Nearer, my God, to Thee,<br /> + Nearer to Thee,<br /> +E’en though it be a cross<br /> + That raiseth me.” +</p> + +<p>A cross! Was it possible that God was leading them +to Him through all this awfulness? But the thought +only hovered above them and hushed their hearts into +attention as they gruffly joined their young voices +in the melody. Another song followed, and a prayer +that seemed to bring the great God right down in their +midst and make Him a beloved comrade. They had not +got over the wonder of it when a new note sounded +on piano and cornet and every voice broke forth in +the words:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound<br /> + And time shall be no more—” +</p> + +<p>How soon would that trumpet sound for many of them! +Time should be no more! What a startling thought!</p> + +<p>Following close upon the song came the sweet voice +of a young girl speaking. They looked up in wonder, +listening with all their souls. It was like having +an angel drop down among them to see her there, and +hear her clear, unafraid voice. The first thing that +struck them was her intense earnestness, as if she +had a message of great moment to bring to them.</p> + +<p>Her words searched their hearts and found out the +weak places; those fears and misgivings that they +had known were there from the beginning, and had been +trying hard to hide from themselves because they saw +no cure for them. With one clear-cut sentence she +tore away all camouflage and set them face to face +with the facts. They were in a desperate strait and +they knew it. Back there in the States they had known +it. Down in the camps they had felt it, and had made +various attempts to find something strong and true +to help them, but no one had seemed to understand. +Even when they went to church there had been so much +talk about the “supreme sacrifice” and +the glory of dying for one’s country, that they +had a vague feeling that even the minister did not +believe in his religion any more. And so they had +whistled and tried to be jolly and forget. They were +all in the same boat, and this was a job that had +to be done, they couldn’t get out of it; best +not think about the future! So they had lulled their +consciences to sleep. But it was there, back in their +minds all the time, a looming big awful question about +the hereafter; and when the great guns boomed afar +as a few were doing tonight and they thought how soon +they might be called to go over the top, they would +have been fools not to have recognized it.</p> + +<p>But here at last was someone else who understood!</p> + +<p>She was telling the old, old story of Jesus and His +love, and every man of them as he listened felt it +was true. It had been like a vague tale of childhood +before; something that one outgrows and smiles at; +but now it suddenly seemed so simple, so perfect, +so fitted to their desperate need. Just the old story +that everybody has sinned, and broken God’s law: +that God in His love provided a way of escape in the +death of His Son Jesus on the Cross, from penalty +for sin for all who would accept it; that He gave +every one of us free wills; and it was up to us whether +we would accept it or not.</p> + +<p>There were men in that company who had come from college +classes where they had been taught the foolishness +of blood atonement, and who had often smiled disdainfully +at the Bible; there were boys from cultured, refined +homes where Jesus Christ had always been ignored; there +were boys who had repudiated the God their mothers +trusted in; and there were boys of lower degree whose +lips were foul with blasphemy and whose hearts were +scarred with sin; but all listened, now, in a new +way. It was somehow different over here, with the +thunder of artillery in the near distance, the hovering +presence of death not far away, the flashing of signal +lights, the hum of the airplanes, the whole background +of war. The message of the gospel took on a reality +it had never worn before. When this simple girl asked +if they would not take Jesus tonight as their Saviour, +there were many who raised their hands in the darkness +and many more hearts were bowed whose owners could +not quite bring themselves to raise their hands.</p> + +<p>Then a lassie’s voice began to sing, all alone:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“I grieved my Lord from day +to day,<br /> +I scorned His love, so full and free,<br /> +And though I wandered far away,<br /> +My Mother’s prayers have followed me.<br /> +I’m coming home, I’m coming home,<br /> +To live my wasted life anew,<br /> +For Mother’s prayers have followed me,<br /> +Have followed me, the whole world through. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“O’er desert wild, o’er mountain high,<br /> +A wanderer I chose to be—-<br /> +A wretched soul condemned to die;<br /> +Still Mother’s prayers have followed me. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“He turned my darkness into light,<br /> +This blessed Christ of Calvary;<br /> +I’ll praise His name both day and night,<br /> +That Mother’s prayers have followed me!<br /> +I’m coming home, I’m coming home—-” +</p> + +<p>Only the last great day will reveal how many hearts +echoed those words; but the voices were all husky +with emotion as they tried to join in the closing +hymn that followed.</p> + +<p>There were those who lingered about the speakers and +wanted to inquire the way of salvation, and some knelt +in a quiet corner and gave themselves to Christ. Over +all of them there was a hushed thoughtfulness. When +the workers started back to their own hut the crowd +went with them, talking eagerly as they went, hovering +about wistfully as if here were the first real thing +they had found since coming away from home.</p> + +<p>Over at the Salvation Army hut another service had +been going forward with equal interest, the dedication +of the new building. The place was crowded to its +utmost capacity, and crowds were standing outside and +peering in at the windows. Some of the French people +of the neighborhood, women and children and old men, +had drifted over, and were listening to the singing +in open-eyed wonderment. Among them one of the Salvation +Army workers had distributed copies of the French +“War Cry” with stories of Christ in their +own language, and it began to dawn upon them that these +people believed in the same Jesus that was worshipped +in their French churches; yet they never had seen +services like these. The joyous music thrilled them.</p> + +<p>Before they slept that night the majority of the soldiers +in that vicinity had lost most of their prejudice +against the little band of unselfish workers that +had dropped so quietly down into their midst. Word +was beginning to filter out from camp to camp that +they were a good sort, that they sold their goods +at cost and a fellow could even “jawbone” +when he was “broke.”</p> + +<p>Salvation Army huts gave the soldiers “jawbone,” +this being the soldier’s name for credit. No +accounts were kept of the amount allowed to each soldier. +When a soldier came to the canteen and asked for “jawbone,” +he was asked how much he had already been allowed. +If the amount owed by him already was large, he was +cautioned not to go too deeply into his next pay check; +but never was a man refused anything within reason. +Frequently one hut would have many thousands of francs +outstanding by the end of a month. But, although there +was no check against them, soldiers always squared +their accounts at pay-day and very little indeed was +lost.</p> + +<p>One man came in and threw 300 francs on the counter, +saying: “I owe you 285 francs. Put the change +in the coffee fund.”</p> + +<p>One Salvation Army Ensign frequently loaned sums of +money out of his own pocket to soldiers, asking that, +when they were in a position to return it, they hand +it in to any Salvation Army hut, saying that it was +for him. He says that he has never lost by doing this.</p> + +<p>One day as he was driving from Havre to Paris he met +six American soldiers whose big truck had broken down. +They asked him where there was a Salvation Army hut; +but there was none in that particular section. They +had no food, no money, and no place to sleep. He handed +them seventy francs and told them to leave it at any +Salvation Army hut for him when they were able. Five +months passed and then the money was turned in to a +Salvation Army hut and forwarded to him. With it was +a note stating that the men had been with the French +troops and had not been able to reach a Salvation +Army establishment. They were very grateful for the +trust reposed in them by the Salvationist. Undoubtedly +there are many such instances.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army officer who with his wife was put +in charge of the hut at Demange, soon became one of +the most popular men in camp. His generous spirit, +no less than his rough-and-ready good nature, manful, +soldier-like disposition, coupled with a sturdy self-respect +and a ready humor, made him blood brother to those +hard-bitten old regulars and National Guardsmen of +the first American Expeditionary Force.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army quickly became popular. Meetings +were held almost every night at that time with an +average attendance of not less than five hundred. +Meetings as a rule were confined to wonderful song +services and brief, snappy talks. At first there were +very few conversions, but there have been more since +the great drives in which the Americans have taken +so large a share. The Masons, the Moose and a Jewish +fraternity used the hut for fraternal gatherings. +Catholic priests held mass in it upon various occasions. +The school for officers and the school for “non-coms” +met in it. The band practiced in it every morning. +Because of its popularity among the men it was known +among the officers as “the soldiers’ hut.” +General Duncan once addressed his staff officers in +it upon some important matters.</p> + +<p>It rained every day for three months. The hut was +on rather low ground and in back of it ran the river, +considerably swollen by the rains. One night the river +rose suddenly, carried away one tent and flooded the +other two and the hut. The Salvation Army men spent +a wild, wet, sleepless night trying to salvage their +scanty personal belongings and their stock of supplies. +When the river retreated it left the hut floor covered +with slimy black mud which the two men had to shovel +out. This was a back-breaking task occupying the +better part of two days.</p> + +<p>The first snow fell on the bitterest night of the +year. It was preceded by the rain and was damp and +heavy. The soldiers suffered terribly, especially +the men on guard duty who had perforce to endure the +full blast of the storm. During the earlier hours +of the night the girls served all comers with steaming +coffee and filled the canteens of the men on guard +(free). When they saw how severe the night would be +they remained up to keep a supply of coffee ready +for the Salvation Army men who went the rounds through +the storm every half hour, serving the sentries with +the warming fluid.</p> + +<p>That first Expeditionary Force wanted for many things, +and endured hardships unthought of by troops arriving +later, after the war industries at home had swung +into full production. It was almost impossible to secure +stoves, and firewood was scarce. For every load that +went to the Salvation Army Hut, men of the American +Expeditionary Force had to do without, and yet wood +was always supplied to the Salvationists (it could +not be bought).</p> + +<p>At St. Joire, the wood pile had entirely given out +and it looked as if there was to be no heat at the +Salvation Army hut that night. The sergeant promised +them half a load, but the wood wagon lost a wheel about +a hundred yards out of town.</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said the sergeant to the +girls, “the boys will see that you get some +to-night.”</p> + +<p> +So he requested every man going up to the Salvation Army hut that evening to +carry a stick of wood with him (“a stick” may weigh anywhere from +10 to 100 pounds). By eight o’clock there was over a wagon load and a +half stacked in back of the hut. +</p> + +<p>Two small stoves cast circles of heat in the big hut +at Demange. Around them the men crowded with their +wet garments steaming so profusely that the hut often +took on the appearance of a steam-room in a Turkish +bath. The rest of the hut was cold; but compared to +the weather outside, it was heaven-like. For all of +its size, the hut was frail, and the winter wind blew +coldly through its many cracks; but compared with the +soldier’s billets, it was a cozy palace. The +Salvationists spent hours each week sitting on the +roof in the driving rain patching leaks with tar-paper +and tacks.</p> + +<p>The life was a hard one for the girls. They nearly +froze during the days, and at nights they usually +shivered themselves to sleep, only sleeping when sheer +exhaustion overcame them. There were no baths at all. +The experience was most trying for women and only +the spirit of the great enterprise in which they were +engaged carried them through the winter. Even soldiers +were at times seen weeping with cold and misery.</p> + +<p>One night the gasoline tank which supplied light to +the hut exploded and set the place on fire. A whole +regiment turned out of their blankets to put out the +blaze. This meant more hours for those in charge repairing +the roof in the snow. They also had to cut all of +the wood for the hut. Later details were supplied +to every hut by the military authorities to cut wood, +sweep and clean up, carry water, <i>etc</i>. Soldiers +used the hut for a mess hall. There was no other place +where they could eat with any degree of comfort.</p> + +<p>By this time the fact that the Salvation Army was +established at Demange was becoming known throughout +the division.</p> + +<p>One of the towns where there had been no arrangements +made for welfare workers at all was Montiers-sur-Saulx, +where the First Ammunition Train was established, +and here the officer temporarily commanding the ammunition +train gave a most hearty welcome to the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>Two large circus tents had been sent on from New York +and one of these was to be erected until a wooden +building could be secured.</p> + +<p>The touring car went back to Demange, picked up a +Staff-Captain, a Captain, five white tents, the largest +one thirty by sixty feet, the others smaller, carried +them across the country and dropped them down at the +roadside of the public square in Montiers.</p> + +<p>There stood the Salvationists in the road wondering +what to do next.</p> + +<p>Then a hearty voice called out: “Are you locating +with us?” and the military officer of the day +advanced to meet them with a hand-shake and many expressions +of his appreciation of the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>“We are going to stay here if you will have +us,” said the Staff-Captain.</p> + +<p>“Have you! Well, I should say we would have +you! Wait a minute and I’ll have a detail put +your baggage under cover for the night. Then we’ll +see about dinner and a billet.”</p> + +<p>Thus auspiciously did the work open in Montiers.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes they were taken to a French café +and a comfortable place found for them to spend the +night.</p> + +<p>Soon after the rising of the sun the next morning +they were up and about hunting a place for the tents +which were to serve for a recreation centre for the +boys. The American Major in charge of the town personally +assisted them to find a good location, and offered +his aid in any way needed.</p> + +<p>Before nightfall the five white tents were up, standing +straight and true with military precision, and the +two officers with just pride in their hard day’s +work, and a secret assurance that it would stand the +hearty approval of the commanding officer whom they +had not as yet met, went off to their suppers, for +which they had a more than usually hearty appetite.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the door of the dining-room swung open and +a gruff voice demanded: “Who put up those tents?” +The Salvation Army Staff-Captain stood forth saluting +respectfully and responded: “I, sir.” “Well,” +said the Colonel, “they look mighty fine up +on that hill—mighty fine! Splendid location for them—splendid! +But the enemy can spot them for a hundred miles, so +I expect you had better get them down or camouflage +them with green boughs and paint by tomorrow night +at the latest. Good evening to you, sir!”</p> + +<p>The Staff-Captain and his helper suddenly lost their +fine appetites and felt very tired. Camouflage! How +did they do that at a moment’s notice? They +left their unfinished dinner and hurried out in search +of help.</p> + +<p>The first soldier the Staff-Captain questioned reassured +him.</p> + +<p>“Aw, that’s dead easy! Go over the hill +into the woods and cut some branches, enough to cover +your tents; or easier yet, get some green and yellow +paint and splash over them. The worse they look the +better they are!”</p> + +<p>So the weary workers hunted the town over for paint, +and found only enough for the big tent, upon which +they worked hard all the next morning. Then they had +to go to the woods for branches for the rest. Scratched +and bleeding and streaked with perspiration and dirt, +they finished their work at last, and the white tents +had disappeared into the green and the yellow and +the brown of the hillside. Their beautiful military +whiteness was gone, but they were hidden safe from +the enemy and the work might now go forward.</p> + +<p>Then the girls arrived and things began to look a +bit more cheerful.</p> + +<p>“But where is the cook stove?” asked one +of the lassies after they had set up their two folding +cots in one of the smaller tents and made themselves +at home.</p> + +<p>Dismay descended upon the face of the weary Staff-Captain.</p> + +<p>“Why,” he answered apologetically, “we +forgot all about that!” and he hurried out to +find a stove.</p> + +<p>A thorough search of the surrounding country, however, +disclosed the fact that there was not a stove nor +a field range to be had—no, not even from the commissary. +There was nothing for it but to set to work and contrive +a fireplace out of field stone and clay, with a bit +of sheet iron for a roof, and two or three lengths +of old sewer pipe carefully wired together for a stovepipe. +It took days of hard work, and it smoked woefully except +when the wind was exactly west, but the girls made +fudge enough on it for the entire personnel of the +Ammunition train to celebrate when it was finished.</p> + +<p>When the girls first arrived in Montiers the Salvation +Army Staff-Captain was rather at a loss to know what +to do with them until the hut was built. They were +invited to chow with the soldiers, and to eat in an +old French barn used as a kitchen, in front of which +the men lined up at the open doorways for mess. It +was a very dirty barn indeed, with heavy cobwebs hanging +in weird festoons from the ceiling and straw and manure +all over the floor; quite too barnlike for a dining-hall +for delicately reared women. The Staff-Captain hesitated +about bringing them there, but the Mess-Sergeant offered +to clean up a corner for them and give them a comfortable +table.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know about bringing my girls +in here with the men,” said the Staff-Captain +still hesitating. “You know the men are pretty +rough in their talk, and they’re always cussing!”</p> + +<p>“Leave that to me!” said the Mess-Sergeant. +“It’ll be all right!”</p> + +<p>There was an old dirty French wagon in the barnyard +where they kept the bread. It was not an inviting +prospect and the Staff-Captain looked about him dubiously +and went away with many misgivings, but there seemed +to be nothing else to be done.</p> + +<p>The boys did their best to fix things up nicely. When +meal time arrived and the girls appeared they found +their table neatly spread with a dish towel for a +tablecloth. It purported to be clean, but there are +degrees of cleanliness in the army and there might +have been a difference of opinion. However, the girls +realized that there had been a strenuous attempt to +do honor to them and they sat down on the coffee kegs +that had been provided <i>en lieu</i> of chairs +with smiling appreciation.</p> + +<p>The Staff-Captain’s anxiety began to relax as +he noticed the quiet respectful attitude of the men +when they passed by the doorway and looked eagerly +over at the corner where the girls were sitting. It +was great to have American women sitting down to dinner +with them, as it were. Not a “cuss word” +broke the harmony of the occasion. The best cuts of +meat, the largest pieces of pie, were given to the +girls, and everybody united to make them feel how +welcome they were.</p> + +<p>Then into the midst of the pleasant scene there entered +one who had been away for a few hours and had not +yet been made acquainted with the new order of things +at chow; and he entered with an oath upon his lips.</p> + +<p>He was a great big fellow, but the strong arm of the +Mess-Sergeant flashed out from the shoulder instantly, +the sturdy fist of the Mess-Sergeant was planted most +unexpectedly in the newcomer’s face, and he found +himself sprawling on the other side of the road with +all his comrades glaring at him in silent wrath. That +was the beginning of a new order of things at the +mess.</p> + +<p>The Colonel in charge of the regiment had gone away, +and the commanding Major, wishing to make things pleasant +for the Salvationists, sent for the Staff-Captain +and invited them all to his mess at the chateau; telling +him that if he needed anything at any time, horses +or supplies, or anything in his power to give, to +let him know at once and it should be supplied.</p> + +<p>The Staff-Captain thanked him, but told him that he +thought they would stay with the boys.</p> + +<p>The boys, of course, heard of this and the Salvation +Army people had another bond between them and the +soldiers. The boys felt that the Salvationists were +their very own. Nothing could have more endeared them +to the boys than to share their life and hardships.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army had not been with the soldiers +many hours before they discovered that the disease +of homesickness which they had been sent to succor +was growing more and more malignant and spreading fast.</p> + +<p>The training under French officers was very severe. +Trench feet with all its attendant suffering was added +to the other discomforts. Was it any wonder that homesickness +seized hold of every soldier there?</p> + +<p>It had been raining steadily for thirty-six days, +making swamps and pools everywhere. Depression like +a great heavy blanket hung over the whole area.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army lassies at Montiers were in consultation. +Their supplies were all gone, and the state of the +roads on account of the rain was such that all transportation +was held up. They had been waiting, hoping against +hope, that a new load of supplies would arrive, but +there seemed no immediate promise of that.</p> + +<p>“We ought to have something more than just chocolate +to sell to the soldiers, anyway,” declared one +lassie, who was a wonderful cook, looking across the +big tent to the drooping shoulders and discouraged +faces of the boys who were hovering about the Victrola, +trying to extract a little comfort from the records. +“We ought to be able to give them some real home +cooking!”</p> + +<p>They all agreed to this, but the difficulties in the +way were great. Flour was obtainable only in small +quantities. Now and then they could get a sack of +flour or a bag of sugar, but not often. Lard also was +a scarce article. Besides, there were no stoves, and +no equipment had as yet been issued for ovens. All +about them were apple orchards and they might have +baked some pies if there had been ovens, but at present +that was out of the question. After a long discussion +one of the girls suggested doughnuts, and even that +had its difficulties, although it really was the only +thing possible at the time. For one thing they had +no rolling-pin and no cake-cutter in the outfit. Nevertheless, +they bravely went to work. The little tent intended +for such things had blown down, so the lassie had to +stand out in the rain to prepare the dough.</p> + +<p>The first doughnuts were patted out, until someone +found an empty grape-juice bottle and used that for +a rolling-pin. As they had no cutter they used a knife, +and twisted them, making them in shape like a cruller. +They were cooked over a wood fire that had to be continually +stuffed with fuel to keep the fat hot enough to fry. +The pan they used was only large enough to cook seven +at once, but that first day they made one hundred and +fifty big fat sugary doughnuts, and when the luscious +fragrance began to float out on the air and word went +forth that they had real “honest-to-goodness” +home doughnuts at the Salvation Army hut, the line +formed away out into the road and stood patiently +for hours in the rain waiting for a taste of the dainties. +As there were eight hundred men in the outfit and only +a hundred and fifty doughnuts that first day, naturally +a good many were disappointed, but those who got them +were appreciative. One boy as he took the first sugary +bite exclaimed: “Gee! If this is war, let it +continue!”</p> + +<p>The next day the girls managed to make three hundred, +but one of them was not satisfied with a doughnut +that had no hole in it, and while she worked she thought, +until a bright idea came to her. The top of the baking-powder +can! Of course! Why hadn’t they thought of that +before? But how could they get the hole? There seemed +nothing just right to cut it. Then, the very next +morning the inside tube to the coffee percolator that +somebody had brought along came loose, and the lassie +stood in triumph with it in her hand, calling to them +all to see what a wonderful hole it would make in +the doughnut. And so the doughnut came into its own, +hole and all.</p> + +<p>That was at Montiers, the home of the doughnut.</p> + +<p>One of the older Salvation Army workers remarked jocularly +that the Salvation Army had to go to France and get +linked up with the doughnut before America recognized +it; but it was the same old Salvation Army and the +same old doughnut that it had always been. He averred +that it wasn’t the doughnut at all that made +the Salvation Army famous, but the wonderful girls +that the Salvation Army brought over there; the girls +that lay awake at night after a long hard day’s +work scheming to make the way of the doughboy easier; +scheming how to take the cold out of the snow and the +wet out of the rain and the stickiness out of the +mud. The girls that prayed over the doughnuts, and +then got the maximum of grace out of the minimum of +grease.</p> + +<p>The young Adjutant lassie who fried the first doughnut +in France says that invariably the boys would begin +to talk about home and mother while they were eating +the doughnuts. Through the hole in the doughnut they +seemed to see their mother’s face, and as the +doughnut disappeared it grew bigger and clearer.</p> + +<p>The young Ensign lassie who had originated and <i>made</i> +the first doughnut in France contrived to make many +pies on a very tiny French stove with an oven only +large enough to hold two pies at a time. Meanwhile, +frying doughnuts on the top of the stove.</p> + +<p>It wasn’t long before the record for the doughnut +makers had been brought up to five thousand a day, +and some of the unresting workers developed “doughnut +wrist” from sticking to the job too long at a +time.</p> + +<p>It was the original thought that pie would be the +greatest attraction, but it was difficult to secure +stoves with ovens adequate for baking pies, and after +the ensign’s experiment with doughnuts it was +found that they could more easily be made and were +quite as acceptable to the American boy.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the pie was coming into its own, back in +Demange also.</p> + +<p>It was only a little stove, and only room to bake +one pie at a time, but it was a savory smell that +floated out on the air, and it was a long line of +hungry soldiers that hurried for their mess kits and +stood hours waiting for more pies to bake; and the +fame of the Salvation Army began to spread far and +wide. Then one day the “Stars and Stripes,” +the organ of the American Army, printed the following +poem about the lassie who labored so far forward that +she had to wear a tin hat:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Home is where the heart is”—<br /> + Thus the poet sang;<br /> +But “home is where the pie is”<br /> + For the doughboy gang!<br /> +Crullers in the craters,<br /> + Pastry in abris—<br /> +This Salvation Army lass<br /> + Sure knows how to please! +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Tin hat for a halo!<br /> + Ah! She wears it well!<br /> +Making pies for homesick lads<br /> + Sure is “beating hell!”<br /> +In a region blasted<br /> + By fire and flame and sword,<br /> +This Salvation Army lass<br /> + Battles for the Lord! +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Call me sacrilegious<br /> + And irreverent, too;<br /> +Pies? They link us up with home<br /> + As naught else can do!<br /> +“Home is, where the heart is”—<br /> + True, the poet sang;<br /> +But “home is where the pie is”—<br /> + To the Yankee gang! +</p> + +<p>It was no easy task to open up a chain of huts, for +there was an amazing variety of details to be attended +to, any one of which might delay the work. A hundred +and one unexpected situations would develop during +the course of a single day which must be dealt with +quickly and intelligently. The fact that the Salvation +Army section of the American Expeditionary Force is +militarized and strictly accountable for all of its +action to the United States military authorities is +complicated in many places by the further fact that +the French civil and military authorities must also +be taken into consideration and consulted at every +step. Nevertheless, in spite of all difficulties the +work went steadily forward. The patient officers who +were seeing to all these details worked almost night +and day to place the huts and workers where they would +do the most good to the greatest number; and steadily +the Salvation Army grew in favor with the soldiers.</p> + +<p>It was extremely difficult to obtain materials for +the erection of huts— in many cases almost impossible. +Once when Colonel Barker found troops moving, he discovered +the village for which they were bound, rushed ahead +in his automobile, and commandeered an old French barracks +which would otherwise have been occupied by the American +soldiers. When the soldiers arrived they were overjoyed +to find the Salvation Army awaiting them with hot +food. They were soaked through by the rain, and never +was hot coffee more welcome. There was a little argument +about the commandeered barracks. It was to have been +used as headquarters, but when the commanding officer +went out into the rain and saw for himself what service +it was performing for his men, and how overjoyed they +were by the entertainment he said: “We’ll +leave it to the men, whether they will be billeted +here or let the Salvation Army have the place.” +The men with one accord voted to give it to the Salvation +Army.</p> + +<p>In one town, after an animated discussion with a crowd +of enlisted men, a sergeant came to the Salvation +Army Major as he worked away with his hammer putting +up a hut and said: “Captain, would it make you +mad if we offered our services to help?”</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus07"></a> +<img src="images/007.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="“Tin hat for a halo! Ah! She wears it well!”" /> +<p class="caption"><b>“Tin hat for a halo!<br/> +Ah! She wears it well!”</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus08"></a> +<img src="images/008.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The patient officers who were seeing to all these details worked out almost day and night" /> +<p class="caption"><b>The patient officers who were seeing to all these details worked out almost day and night</b></p> +</div> + +<p>After that the work went on in record time. In less +than a week the hut was finished and ready for business. +Two self-appointed details of soldiers from the regulars +employed all their spare time in a friendly rivalry +to see which could accomplish the most work. When it +was dedicated the popularity of the hut was well assured. +Later, in another location, a hut 125 feet by 27 feet +was put up with the assistance of soldiers in six +hours and twenty minutes.</p> + +<p>More men and women had arrived from America, and the +work began to assume business-like proportions. There +were huts scattered all through the American training +area.</p> + +<p>As other huts were established the making of pies +and doughnuts became a regular part of the daily routine +of the hut. It was found that a canteen where candy +and articles needed by the soldiers could be obtained +at moderate prices would fill a very pressing need +and this was made a part of their regular operation.</p> + +<p>The purchase of an adequate quantity of supplies was +a great problem. It was necessary to make frequent +trips to Paris, to establish connections with supply +houses there, and to attend to the shipping of the +supplies out to the camps. At first it was impossible +to purchase any quantity of supplies from any house. +The demand for everything was so great that wholesale +dealers were most independent. Three hundred dollars’ +worth of supplies was the most that could be purchased +from any one house, but in course of time, confidence +and friendly relations being established, it became +possible to purchase as much as ten thousand dollars’ +worth at one time from one dealer.</p> + +<p>The first twenty-five thousand dollars, of course, +was soon gone, but another fifty thousand dollars +arrived from Headquarters in New York, and after a +little while another fifty thousand; which hundred +thousand dollars was loaned by General Bramwell Booth +from the International Treasury. The money was not +only borrowed, but the Commander had promised to pay +it back in twelve months (which guarantee it is pleasant +to state was made good long before the promised time), +for the Commander had said: “It is only a question +of our getting to work in France, and the American +public will see that we have all the money we want.”</p> + +<p>So it has proved.</p> + +<p>In the meantime another hut was established at Houdelainecourt.</p> + +<p>The American boys were drilling from early morning +until dark; the weather was wet and cold; the roads +were seas of mud and the German planes came over the +valleys almost nightly to seek out the position of +the American troops and occasionally to drop bombs. +It was necessary that all tents should be camouflaged, +windows darkened so that lights would not show at +night, and every means used to keep the fact of the +Americans’ presence from the German observers +and spies.</p> + +<p>Another party of Salvation Army officers, men and +women, arrived from New York on September 23rd, and +these were quickly sent out to Demange which for the +time being was used as the general base of supplies, +but later a house was secured at Ligny-en-Barrios, +and this was for many months the Headquarters.</p> + +<p>One interesting incident occurred here in connection +with this house. One of its greatest attractions had +been that it was one of the few houses containing +a bathroom, but when the new tenants arrived they found +that the anticipated bathtub had been taken out with +all its fittings and carefully stowed away in the +cellar. It was too precious for the common use of +tenants.</p> + +<p>All Salvation Army graduates from the training school +have a Red Cross diploma, and many are experienced +nurses.</p> + +<p>A Salvation Army woman Envoy sailed for France with +a party of Salvationists about the time that the epidemic +of influenza broke out all over the world. Even before +the steamer reached the quarantine station in New +York harbor a number of cases of Spanish influenza +had developed among the several companies of soldiers +who were aboard, a number of whom were removed from +the ship. So anxious were others of these American +fighting men to reach Prance that they hid away until +the steamer had left port.</p> + +<p>Land was hardly out of sight before more cases of +the disease were reported—so many, in fact, that +special hospital accommodations had to be immediately +arranged. The ship’s captain after consulting +with the American military officers, requested the +Salvation Army Envoy to take entire responsibility +for the hospital, which responsibility, after some +hesitation, she accepted. Under her were two nurses, +three dieticians (Y.M.C.A. and Red Cross), a medical +corps sergeant (U.S.A.), and twenty-four orderlies. +She took charge on the fourth day of a thirteen day +voyage, working in the sick bay from 12 noon to 8 P.M., +and from 12 midnight to 8 A.M. every day. She had +with her a mandolin and a guitar with which, in addition +to her sixteen hours of duty in the sick bay, she +every day spent some time (usually an hour or two) +on deck singing and playing for the soldiers who were +much depressed by the epidemic. To them she was a +very angel of good cheer and comfort.</p> + +<p>Many amusing incidents occurred on the voyage.</p> + +<p>Stormy weather had added to the discomforts of the +trip and most of the passengers suffered from seasickness +during the greater part of the voyage.</p> + +<p>On board there was also a woman of middle age who +could not be persuaded to keep her cabin porthole +closed at night. Again and again a ray of light was +projected through it upon the surface of the water +and the quarter-master, whose duty it was to see +that no lights were shown, was at his wit’s +end. His difficulty was the greater because he could +speak no English, and she no French. Finally, a passenger +took pity on the man, and, as the light was really +a grave danger to the ship’s safety, promised +to speak to the woman, who insisted that she was not +afraid of submarines and that it was foolish to think +they could see her light.</p> + +<p>“Madam,” he said, “the quartermaster +here tells me that the sea in this locality is infested +with flying fish, who, like moths, fly straight for +any light, and he is afraid that if you leave your +porthole open they will dive in upon you during the +night.”</p> + +<p>If he had said that the sea was infested with flying +mice, his statement could not have been more effective. +Thereafter the porthole stayed closed.</p> + +<p>When the first man died on board, the Captain commanding +the soldiers and the ship’s Captain requested +a Salvation Army Adjutant to conduct the funeral service.</p> + +<p>At 4.30 P.M. the ship’s propeller ceased to +turn and the steamer came up into the wind. The United +States destroyer acting as convoy also came to a halt. +The French flag on the steamer and the American flag +on the destroyer were at half-mast. Thirty-two men +from the dead man’s company lined up on the +after-deck. The coffin (a rough pine box), heavily +weighted at one end, lay across the rail over the stern. +Here a chute had been rigged so that the coffin might +not foul the ship’s screws. The flags remained +at half-mast for half an hour. The Salvation Army Adjutant +read the burial service and prayed. Passengers on +the promenade deck looked on. Then a bugler played +taps. Every soldier stood facing the stern with hat +off and held across the breast. As the coffin slipped +down the chute and splashed into the sea a firing +squad fired a single rattling volley. The ship came +about and, with a shudder of starting engines, continued +her voyage, the destroyer doing likewise.</p> + +<p>During the passage the Adjutant conducted six such +funerals, two more being conducted by a Catholic priest. +Four more bodies of men who died as they neared port +were landed and buried ashore.</p> + +<p>In the hospital the Envoy was undoubtedly the means +of saving several lives by her endless toil and by +the encouragement of her cheerful face in that depressing +place. The sick men called her “Mother” +and no mother could have been more tender than she.</p> + +<p>“You look so much like mother,” said one +boy just before he died. “Won’t you please +kiss me?”</p> + +<p>Another lad, with a great, convulsive effort, drew +her hand to his lips and kissed her just as he passed +away.</p> + +<p>All of the American officers and two French officers +attended the funerals in full dress uniform and ten +sailors of the French navy were also present.</p> + +<p>The night before the ship docked at Bordeaux a letter +signed by the Captain of the ship and the American +officers was handed to the Envoy lady. It contained +a warm statement of their appreciation of her service. +Officers of the Aviation Corps who were aboard the +ship arranged a banquet to be held in her honor when +they should reach port; but she told them that she +was under orders even as they were and that she must +report to Paris Headquarters at once. And so the banquet +did not take place.</p> + +<p>As she left the ship, the soldiers were lined up on +the wharf ready to march. When she came down the gangplank +and walked past them to the street, they cheered her +and shouted: “Good-bye, mother! Good luck!”</p> + +<p>As the fame of the doughnuts and pies spread through +the camps a new distress loomed ahead for the Salvation +Army. Where were the flour and the sugar and the lard +and the other ingredients to come from wherewith to +concoct these delicacies for the homesick soldiers?</p> + +<p>It was of no use to go to the French for white flour, +for they did not have it. They had been using war +bread, dark mixtures with barley flour and other things, +for a long time. Besides, the French had a fixed idea +that everyone who came from America was made of money. +Wood was thirty-five dollars a load (about a cord) +and had to be cut and hauled by the purchaser at that. +There was a story current throughout the camps that +some Frenchmen were talking together among themselves, +and one asked the rest where in the world they were +going to get the money to rebuild their towns. “Oh,” +replied another; “haven’t we the only battlefields +in the world? All the Americans will want to come +over after the war to see them and we will charge +them enough for the sight to rebuild our villages!”</p> + +<p>But even at any price the French did not have the +materials to sell. There was only one place where +things of that sort could be had and that was from +the Americans, and the question was, would the commissary +allow them to buy in large enough quantities to be +of any use? The Salvation Army officers as they went +about their work, were puzzling their brains how to +get around the American commissary and get what they +wanted.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the American Army had slipped quietly into +Montiers in the night and been billeted around in +barns and houses and outhouses, and anywhere they +could be stowed, and were keeping out of sight. For +the German High Council had declared: “As soon +as the American Army goes into camp we will blow them +off the map.” Day after day the Germans lay low +and watched. Their airplanes flew over and kept close +guard, but they could find no sign of a camp anywhere. +No tents were in sight, though they searched the landscape +carefully; and day after day, for want of something +better to do they bombarded Bar-lé-Duc. Every day +some new ravishment of the beautiful city was wrought, +new victims buried under ruins, new terror and destruction, +until the whole region was in panic and dismay.</p> + +<p>Now Bar-lé-Duc, as everyone knows, is the home of +the famous Bar-lé-Duc jam that brings such high prices +the world over, and there were great quantities stored +up and waiting to be sold at a high price to Americans +after the war. But when the bombardment continued, +and it became evident that the whole would either +be destroyed or fall into the hands of the Germans, +the owners were frightened. Houses were blown up, burying +whole families. Victims were being taken hourly from +the ruins, injured or dying.</p> + +<p>A Salvation Army Adjutant ran up there one day with +his truck and found an awful state of things. The +whole place was full of refugees, families bereft +of their homes, everybody that could trying to get +out of the city. Just by accident he found out that +the merchants were willing to sell their jam at a +very reasonable price, and so he bought tons and tons +of Bar-lé-Duc jam. That would help out a lot and go +well on bread, for of course there was no butter. +Also it would make wonderful pies and tarts if one +only had the flour and other ingredients.</p> + +<p>As he drove into Montiers he was still thinking about +it, and there on the table in the Salvation Army hut +stood as pretty a chocolate cake as one would care +to see. A bright idea came to the Adjutant:</p> + +<p>“Let me have that cake,” said he to the +lassie who had baked it, “and I’ll take +it to the General and see what I can do.”</p> + +<p>It turned out that the cake was promised, but the +lassie said she would bake another and have it ready +for him on his return trip; so in a few days when +he came back there was the cake.</p> + +<p>Ah! That was a wonderful cake!</p> + +<p>The lassie had baked it in the covers of lard tins, +fourteen inches across and five layers high! There +was a layer of cake, thickly spread with rich chocolate +frosting, another layer of cake, overlaid with the +translucent Bar-lé-Duc jam, a third layer of cake +with chocolate, another layer spread with Bar-lé-Duc +jam, then cake again, the whole covered smoothly over +with thick dark chocolate, top and sides, down to +the very base, without a ripple in it. It was a wonder +of a cake!</p> + +<p>With shining eyes and eager look the Adjutant took +that beautiful cake, took also twelve hundred great +brown sugary doughnuts, and a dozen fragrant apple +pies just out of the oven, stowed them carefully away +in his truck, and rustled off to the Officers’ +Headquarters. Arrived there he took his cake in hand +and asked to see the General. An officer with his +eye on the cake said the General was busy just now +but he would carry the cake to him. But the Adjutant +declined this offer firmly, saying: “The ladies +of Montiers-sur-Saulx sent this cake to the General, +and I must put it into his hands”</p> + +<p>He was finally led to the General’s room and, +uncovering the great cake, he said:</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army ladies of Montiers-sur-Saulx +have sent this cake to you as a sample of what they +will do for the soldiers if we can get flour and sugar +and lard.”</p> + +<p>The General, greatly pleased, took the cake and sent +for a knife, while his officers stood about looking +on with much interest. It appeared as if every one +were to have a taste of the cake. But when the General +had cut a generous slice, held it up, observing its +cunning workmanship, its translucent, delectable interior, +he turned with a gleam in his eye, looked about the +room and said: “Gentlemen, this cake will not +be served till the evening’s mess, and I pity +the gentlemen who do not eat with the officer’s +mess, but they will have to go elsewhere for their +cake.”</p> + +<p>The Adjutant went out with his pies and doughnuts +and distributed them here and there where they would +do the most good, getting on the right side of the +Top Sergeant, for he had discovered some time ago that +even with the General as an ally one must be on the +right side of the “old Sarge” if one wanted +anything. While he was still talking with the officers +he was handed an order from the General that he should +be supplied with all that he needed, and when he finally +came out of Headquarters he found that seven tons +of material were being loaded on his car. After that +the Salvation Army never had any trouble in getting +all the material they needed.</p> + +<p>After the tents in Montiers were all settled and the +work fully started, the Staff-Captain and his helpers +settled down to a pleasant little schedule of sixteen +hours a day work and called it ease; but that was not +to be enjoyed for long. At the end of a week the Salvation +Army Colonel swooped down upon them again with orders +to erect a hut at once as the tents were only a makeshift +and winter was coming on. He brought materials and +selected a site on a desirable corner.</p> + +<p>Now the corner was literally covered with fallen walls +of a former building and wreckage from the last year’s +raid, and the patient workers looked aghast at the +task before them. But the Colonel would listen to no +arguments. “Don’t talk about difficulties,” +he said, brushing aside a plea for another lot, not +quite so desirable perhaps, but much easier to clear. +“Don’t talk about difficulties; get busy +and have the job over with!”</p> + +<p>One big reason why the Salvation Army is able to carry +on the great machinery of its vast organization is +that its people are trained to obey without murmuring. +Cheerfully and laboriously the men set to work. Winter +rains were setting in, with a chill and intensity never +to be forgotten by an American soldier. But wet to +the skin day after day all day long the Salvationists +worked against time, trying to finish the hut before +the snow should arrive. And at last the hut was finished +and ready for occupancy. Such tireless devotion, such +patient, cheerful toil for their sake was not to be +passed by nor forgotten by the soldiers who watched +and helped when they could. Day after day the bonds +between them and the Salvation Army grew stronger. +Here were men who did not have to, and yet who for +the sake of helping them, came and lived under the +same conditions that they did, working even longer +hours than they, eating the same food, enduring the +same privations, and whose only pay was their expenses. +At the first the Salvationists took their places in +the chow line with the rest, then little by little +men near the head of the line would give up their +places to them, quietly stepping to the rear of the +line themselves. Finally, no matter how long the line +was the men with one consent insisted that their unselfish +friends should take the very head of the line whenever +they came and always be served first.</p> + +<p>One day one of the Salvation Army men swathed in a +big raincoat was sitting in a Ford by the roadside +in front of a Salvation Army hut, waiting for his +Colonel, when two soldiers stopped behind him to light +their cigarettes. It was just after sundown, and the +man in the car must have seemed like any soldier to +the two as they chatted.</p> + +<p>“Bunch of grafters, these Y.M.C.A. and Salvation +Army outfits!” grumbled one as he struck a match. +“What good are the ‘Sallies’ in a +soldier camp?”</p> + +<p>“Well, Buddy,” said the other somewhat +excitedly, “there’s a whole lot of us +think the Salvation Army is about it in this man’s +outfit. For a rookie you sure are picking one good +way to make yourself unpopular <i>tout de suite!</i> +Better lay off that kind of talk until you kind of +find out what’s what. I didn’t have much +use for them myself back in the States, but here in +France they’re real folks, believe me!”</p> + +<p>So the feeling had grown everywhere as the huts multiplied. +And the huts proved altogether too small for the religious +meetings, so that as long as the weather permitted +the services had to be held in the open air. It was +no unusual thing to see a thousand men gathered in +the twilight around two or three Salvation Army lassies, +singing in sweet wonderful volume the old, old hymns. +The soldiers were no longer amused spectators, bent +on mischief; they were enthusiastic allies of the +organization that was theirs. The meeting was theirs.</p> + +<p>“We never forced a meeting on them,” said +one of the girls. “We just let it grow. Sometimes +it would begin with popular songs, but before long +the boys would ask for hymns, the old favorites, first +one, then another, always remembering to call for +‘Tell Mother I’ll Be There.’”</p> + +<p>Almost without exception the boys entered heartily +into everything that went on in the organization. +The songs were perhaps at first only a reminder of +home, but soon they came to have a personal significance +to many. The Salvation Army did not hare movies and +theatrical singers as did the other organizations, +but they did not seem to need them. The men liked +the Gospel meetings and came to them better than to +anything else. Often they would come to the hut and +start the singing themselves, which would presently +grow into a meeting of evident intention. The Staff-Captain +did not long have opportunity to enjoy the new hut +which he had labored so hard to finish at Montiers, +for soon orders arrived for him to move on to Houdelainecourt +to help put up the hut there, and leave Montiers in +charge of a Salvation Army Major. The Salvation Army +was with the Eighteenth Infantry at Houdelainecourt.</p> + +<p>It was an old tent that sheltered the canteen, and +it had the reputation of having gone up and down five +times. When first they put it up it blew down. It +was located where two roads met and the winds swept +down in every direction. Then they put it up and took +it down to camouflage it. They got it up again and +had to take it down to camouflage it some more. The +regular division helped with this, and it was some +camouflage when it was done, for the boys had put +their initials all over it, and then, had painted +Christmas trees everywhere, and on the trees they had +put the presents they knew they never would get, and +so in all the richness of its record of homesickness +the old tent went up again. They kept warm here by +means of a candle under an upturned tin pail. The tent +blew down again in a big storm soon after that and +had to be put up once more, and then there came a +big rain and flooded everything in the neighborhood. +It blew down and drowned out the Y.M.C.A. and everything +else, and only the old tent stood for awhile. But +at last the storm was too much for it, too, and it +succumbed again.</p> + +<p>After that the Salvation Army put up a hut for their +work. A number of soldiers assisted. They put up a +stove, brought their piano and phonograph, and made +the place look cheerful. Then they got the regimental +band and had an opening, the first big thing that was +recognized by the military authorities. The Salvation +Army Staff-Captain in charge of that zone took a long +board and set candles on it and put it above the platform +like a big chandelier. The Brigade Commander was there, +and a Captain came to represent the Colonel. A chaplain +spoke. The lassies who took part in the entertainment +were the first girls the soldiers had seen for many +months.</p> + +<p>Long before the hour announced for the service the +soldier boys had crowded the hutment to its greatest +capacity. Game and reading tables had been moved to +the rear and extra benches brought in. The men stood +three deep upon the tables and filled every seat and +every inch of standing room. When there was no more +room on the floor, they climbed to the roof and lined +the rafters. There was no air and the Adjutant came +to say there was too much light, but none of these +things damped the enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>With the aid of the regimental chaplain, the Staff-Captain +had arranged a suitable program for the occasion, +the regimental band furnishing the music.</p> + +<p>When the General entered the hutment all of the men +stood and uncovered and the band stopped abruptly +in the middle of a strain. “That’s the +worst thing I ever did—stopping the music,” +he exclaimed ruefully. He refused to occupy the chair +which had been prepared for him, saying: “No, +I want to stand so that I can look at these men.”</p> + +<p>The records of the work in that hut would be precious +reading for the fathers and mothers of those boys, +for the Fighting Eighteenth Infantry are mostly gone, +having laid their young lives on the altar with so +many others. Here is a bit from one lassie’s +letter, giving a picture of one of her days in the +hut:</p> + +<p>“Well, I must tell you how the days are spent. +We open the hut at 7; it is cleaned by some of the +boys; then at 8 we commence to serve cocoa and coffee +and make pies and doughnuts, cup cakes and fry eggs +and make all kinds of eats until it is all you see. +Well, can you think of two women cooking in one day +2500 doughnuts, 8 dozen cup cakes, 50 pies, 800 pancakes +and 225 gallons of cocoa, and one other girl serving +it? That is a day’s work in my last hut. Then +meeting at night, and it lasts two hours.”</p> + +<p>A lieutenant came into the canteen to buy something +and said to one of the girls: “Will you please +tell me something? Don’t you ever rest?” +That is how both the men and officers appreciated +the work of these tireless girls.</p> + +<p>Men often walked miles to look at an American woman. +Once acquainted with the Salvation Army lassies they +came to them with many and strange requests. Having +picked a quart or so of wild berries and purchased +from a farmer a pint of cream they would come to ask +a girl to make a strawberry shortcake for them. They +would buy a whole dozen of eggs apiece, and having +begged a Salvation Army girl to fry them would eat +the whole dozen at a sitting. They would ask the girls +to write their love letters, or to write assuring +some mother or sweetheart that they were behaving +themselves.</p> + +<p>Soldiers going into action have left thousands of +dollars in cash and in valuables in the care of Salvation +Army officers to be forwarded to persons designated +in case they are killed in action or taken prisoner. +In such cases it is very seldom that a receipt is +given for either money or valuables., so deeply do +the soldiers trust the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>One of the girl Captains wears a plain silver ring, +whose intrinsic value is about thirty cents, but whose +moral value is beyond estimate. The ring is not the +Captain’s. It belongs to a soldier, who, before +the war, had been a hard drinker and had continued +his habits after enlisting. He came under the influence +of the Salvation Army and swore that he would drink +no more. But time after time he fell, each time becoming +more desperate and more discouraged. Each time the +young lassie-Captain dealt with him. After the last +of his failures, while she was encouraging him to make +another try, he detached the ring from the cord from +which it had dangled around his neck and thrust it +at her.</p> + +<p>“It was my mother’s,” he explained. +“If you will wear it for me, I shall always +think of it when the temptation comes to drink, and +the fact that someone really cares enough about my +worthless hide to take all of the trouble you have +taken on my behalf, will help me to resist it.”</p> + +<p>“No one will misunderstand” he cried, +seeing that the lassie was about to decline, “not +even me. I shall tell no one. And it would help.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” agreed the girl, looking +steadily at him for a moment, “but the first +time that you take a drink, off will come the ring! +And you must promise that you will tell me if you +do take that drink.”</p> + +<p>The soldier promised. The lassie still wears the ring. +The soldier is still sober. Also he has written to +his wife for the first time in five years and she +has expressed her delight at the good news.</p> + +<p>On more than one occasion American aviators have flown +from their camps many miles to villages where there +were Salvation lassies and have returned with a load +of doughnuts. On one occasion a bird-man dropped a +note down in front of the hut where two sisters were +stationed, circling around at a low elevation until +certain that the girls had picked up the note, which +stated that he would return the following afternoon +for a mess of doughnuts for his comrades. When he +returned, the doughnuts were ready for him.</p> + +<p>The Adjutant of the aerial forces attached to the +American Fifth Army around Montfaucon on the edge +of the Argonne Forest, before that forest was finally +captured at the point of American bayonets, drove almost +seventy miles to the Salvation Army Headquarters at +Ligny for supplies for his men. He was given an automobile +load of chocolate, candies, cakes, cookies, soap, +toilet articles, and other comforts, without charge. +He said that he <i>knew</i> that the Salvation +Army would have what he wanted.</p> + +<p>The two lassies who were in Bure had a desperate time +of it. Things were most primitive. They had no store, +just an old travelling field range, and for a canteen +one end of Battery F’s kitchen. They were then +attached to the Sixth Field Artillery. This was the +regiment that fired the first shot into Germany.</p> + +<p>The smoke in that kitchen was awful and continuous +from the old field range. The girls often made doughnuts +out-of-doors, and they got chilblains from standing +in the snow. All the company had chilblains, too, +and it was a sorry crowd. Then the girls got the mumps. +It was so cold here, especially at night, they often +had to sleep with their clothes on. There was only +one way they could have meetings in that place and +that was while the men were lined up for chow near +to the canteen. They would start to sing in the gloomy, +cold room, the men and girls all with their overcoats +on, and fingers so cold that they could hardly play +the concertina, for there was no fire in the big room +save from the range at one end where they cooked. +Then the girls would talk to them while they were +eating. Perhaps they did not call these meetings, but +they were a mighty happy time to the men, and they +liked it.</p> + +<p>A minister who had taken six months’ leave of +absence from his church to do Y.M.C.A. work in France +asked one of the boys why he liked the Salvation Army +girls and he said: “Because they always take +time to cheer us up. It’s true they do knock +us mighty hard about our sins, but while it hurts +they always show us a way out.” The minister +told some one that if he had his work to do over again +he would plan it along the lines of the Salvation +Army work.</p> + +<p>You may hear it urged that one reason the boys liked +the Salvation Army people so much was because they +did not preach, but it is not so. They preached early +and often, but the boys liked it because it was done +so simply, so consistently and so unselfishly, that +they did not recognize it as preaching.</p> + +<p>In Menaucourt as Christmas was coming on some United +States officers raised money to give the little refugee +children a Christmas treat. There was to be a tree +with presents, and good things to eat, and an entertainment +with recitations from the children. The school-teacher +was teaching the children their pieces, and there +was a general air of delightful excitement everywhere. +It was expected that the affair was to be held in +the Catholic church at first, but the priest protested +that this was unseemly, so they were at a loss what +to do. The school-house was not large enough.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army Staff-Captain found this out and +suggested to the officers that the Salvation Army +hut was the very place for such a gathering. So the +tree was set up, and the officers went to town and +bought presents and decorations. They covered the old +hut with boughs and flags and transformed it into +a wonderland for the children. The officers were struggling +helplessly with the decorations of the tree when the +Salvation Army man happened in and they asked him to +help.</p> + +<p>“Why, sure!” he said heartily. “That’s +my regular work!” So they eagerly put it into +his hands and departed. The Staff-Captain worked so +hard at it and grew go interested in it that he forgot +to go for his chow at lunch-time, and when supper-time +came the hall was so crowded and there was so much +still to be done that he could not get away to get +his supper. But it was a grand and glorious time. +The place was packed. There were two American Colonels, +a French Colonel, and several French officers. The +soldiers crowded in and they had to send them out again, +poor fellows, to make room for the children, but they +hung around the doors and windows eager to see it +all.</p> + +<p>The regimental band played, there were recitations +in French and a good time generally.</p> + +<p>The seats were facing the canteen where the supplies +were all stocked neatly, boxes of candy and cakes +and good things. The Colonel in charge of the regiment +looked over to them wistfully and said to the Staff-Captain: +“Are you going to sell all those things?” +The Staff-Captain, with quick appreciation, said: +“No, Colonel, Christmas comes but once a year +and there’s a present up there for you.” +And the Colonel seemed as pleased as the children +when the Staff-Captain handed him a big box of candy +all tied up in Christmas ribbons.</p> + +<p>In the huts, phonographs are never silent as long +as there is a single soldier in the place. One night +two of the Salvation Army girls, who slept in the +back room of a certain hut, had closed up for the night +and retired. They were awakened by the sound of the +phonograph, and wondered how anyone got into the hut +and who it might happen to be. They were a little +bit nervous, but went to investigate. They found that +a soldier on guard had raised a window, and although +this did not allow him room to enter the hut, he was +able to reach the table where the phonograph stood. +He had turned the talking machine around so that it +faced the window, and, placing a record in position, +had started it going. He was leaning up against the +outer wall of the hut, smoking a cigarette in the moonlight, +and enjoying his concert. The girls returned to bed +without disturbing the audience.</p> + +<p>One of the most popular French confections sold in +the huts was a variety of biscuits known under the +trade name of “Boudoir Biscuits” One day +a soldier entered a hut and said: “Say, miss, +I want some of them there-them there—Dang me if I +can remember them French names!—them there (suddenly +a great light dawned)—some of them there bedroom cookies.” +And the lassie got what he wanted.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army men who worked among the soldiers +in advanced positions from which all women are barred +are among the heroes of the war. Here during the day +they labored in dugouts far below the shell-tortured +earth, often going out at night to help bring in the +wounded; always in danger from shells and gas; some +with the ammunition trains; others driving supply +trucks; still others attached to units and accompanying +the fighting men wherever they went, even to the active +combat of the firing trench and the attack. These +are unofficial chaplains. Such a one was “La +Petit Major,” as the soldiers called him, because +of his smallness of stature.</p> + +<p>The Little Major commenced his service in the field +with the Twenty-sixth Infantry, First Division, at +Menaucourt. Soon he was transferred to command the +hut at Boviolles. At this place was the battalion of +the Twenty-sixth Infantry, commanded by Major Theodore +Roosevelt. His brother, Captain Archie Roosevelt, +commanded a company in this battalion. He was for +the greater part of the time alone in the work at Boviolles.</p> + +<p>By his consistent life and character and his willingness +to serve both men and officers, he won their esteem.</p> + +<p>When they left the training area for the trenches +the Major was requested to go with them. He turned +the key in the canteen door and went off with them +across France and never came back, establishing himself +in the front-line trenches with the men and acting +as unofficial chaplain to the battalion.</p> + +<p>There is an interesting incident in connection with +his introduction to Major Roosevelt’s notice.</p> + +<p>For some reason the Salvation Army had been made to +feel that they were not welcome with that division. +But the Little Major did not give up like that, and +he lingered about feeling that somehow there was yet +to be a work for him there.</p> + +<p>A young private from a far Western state, a fellow +who, according to all reports, had never been of any +account at home, was convicted of a most horrible +murder and condemned to die by hanging because the +commanding officer said that shooting was too good +for him.</p> + +<p>He accepted his fate with sullen ugliness. He would +not speak to anyone and he was so violent that they +had to put him in chains. No one could do anything +with him. He had to be watched day and night; and it +was awful to see him die this way with his sin unconfessed. +Many attempts were made to break through his silence, +but all to no effect. Several chaplains visited him, +but he would have nothing to do with them.</p> + +<p>On the morning of his execution, to the surprise of +everybody he said that he had heard that there was +a Salvation Army man around, and he would like to +see him. The authorities sent and searched everywhere +for the Little Major, and some thought he must have +left, but they found him at last and he came at once +to the desperate man.</p> + +<p>The criminal sat crouched on his hard bench, chained +hand and foot. He did not look up. He was a dreadful +sight, his brutal face haggard, unshaven, his eyes +bloodshot, his whole appearance almost like some low +animal. Through the shadowy prison darkness the Little +Major crept to those chains, those symbols of the +man’s degradation; and still the man did not +look up.</p> + +<p>“You must be in great trouble, brother. Can +I help you any?” asked the Little Major with +a wonderful Christ-like compassion in his voice.</p> + +<p>The man lifted his bleared eyes under the shock of +unkempt hair, and spoke, startled:</p> + +<p>“You call me brother! You know what I’m +here for and you call me brother! Why?”</p> + +<p>The Little Major’s voice was steady and sweet +as he replied without hesitation:</p> + +<p>“Because I know a great deal about the suffering +of Christ on the Cross, all because He loved you so! +Because I know He said He was wounded for your transgressions, +He was bruised for your iniquities! Because I know +He said, ’Though your sins be as scarlet they +shall be as white as snow, though they be red like +crimson they shall be as wool!’ So why shouldn’t +I call you brother?”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said the man with a groan of agony +and big tears rolling down his face. “Could +I be made a better man?”</p> + +<p>Then they went down on their knees together beside +the hard bench, the man in chains and the man of God, +and the Little Major prayed such a wonderful prayer, +taking the poor soul right to the foot of the Throne; +and in a few minutes the man was confessing his sin +to God. Then he suddenly looked up and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“It’s true, what you said! Christ has +pardoned me! Now I can die like a man!”</p> + +<p>With that great pardon written across his heart he +actually went to his death with a smile upon his face. +When the Chaplain asked him if he had anything to +say he publicly thanked the military authorities and +the Salvation Army for what they had done for him.</p> + +<p>The Colonel, greatly surprised at the change in the +man, sent to find out how it came about and later +sent to thank the Little Major. Two days later Major +Roosevelt came in person to thank him:</p> + +<p>“I knew that someone who knew how to deal with +men had got hold of him,” he said, “but +I almost doubted the evidence of my own eyes when I +saw how cheerfully he went to his death, it all seemed +too wonderful!”</p> + +<p>The little Major was with this battalion in all of +its engagements, and on several occasions went over +the top with the men and devoted himself to first +aid to the wounded and to bringing the men back to +the dressing station on stretchers. Between the times +of active engagements, the Major gave himself to supplying +the needs of the men and made daily trips out of the +trenches to obtain newspapers, writing material, and +to perform errands which they could not do for themselves.</p> + +<p>One of the lieutenants said of him: “He is worth +more than all the chaplains that were ever made in +the United States Army. He will walk miles to get +the most trivial article for either man or officer. +The men know that he loves them or he would not go +into the trenches with them, for he does not have +to go. You can tell the world for me that he is a +real man!”</p> + +<p>One of the fellows said of him he had seen him take +off his shoes and bring away pieces of flesh from +the awful blisters got from much tramping.</p> + +<p>The men soon learned to love their gray haired Salvation +Army comrade. When an enemy attack was to be met with +cold steel he was the first to follow the company +officers “over the top,” to cheer and encourage +the onrushing Americans in the anxious semi-calm which +follows the lifting of a barrage. A non-combatant, +unarmed and fifty-three years of age, he was always +in the van of the fierce onslaught with which our men +repulsed the enemy, ready to pray with the dying or +help bring in the wounded, and always fearless no +matter what the conditions. By his unfearing heroism +as well as his willingness to share the hardships +and dangers of the men, he so won their confidence +that it was frequently said that they would not go +into battle except the Major was with them. The men +would crouch around him with an almost fantastic confidence +that where he was no harm could come. Knowing that +many earnest Christian people were praying for his +safety and having seen how safely he and those with +him had come through dangers, they thought his very +presence was a protection. Who shall say that God +did not stay on the battlefield living and speaking +through the Little Major?</p> + +<p>When the first division was moved from the Montdidier +Sector he travelled with the men as far as they went +by train. When they detrained and marched he marched +with them, carrying his seventy pound pack as any soldier +did. He was by the side of Captain Archie Roosevelt +when he received a very dangerous wound from an exploding +shell, and was in the battle of Cantigny in the Montdidier +Sector, where his company lost only two men killed +and four wounded, while other companies’ losses +were much more severe.</p> + +<p>Protestant, Catholic and Jew were all his friends. +One Catholic boy came crawling along in the waist-deep +trench one day to tell the Major about his spiritual +worries. After a brief talk the Major asked him if +he had his prayer book. The boy said yes. “Then +take it out and read it,” said the Major. “God +is here!” And there in the narrow trench with +lowered heads so that the snipers could not see them, +they knelt together and read from the Catholic prayer +book.</p> + +<p>In one American attack the Little Major followed the +Lieutenant over the top just as the barrage was lifted. +The Lieutenant looking back saw him struggling over +the crest of the parapet, laughed and shouted: “Go +back, Major, you haven’t even a pistol!” +But the Major did not go back. He went with the boys. +“I have no hesitancy in laying down my life,” +he once said, “if it will help or encourage +anyone else to live in a better or cleaner way.”</p> + +<p>He was always striving for the salvation of his boys, +and in his meetings men would push their way to the +front and openly kneel before their comrades registering +their determination to live in accordance with the +teachings of Jesus. One tells of seeing him kneel beside +an empty crate with three soldiers praying for their +souls.</p> + +<p>It was because of all these things that the men believed +in him and in his God. He used to say to the men in +the meetings, “We are not afraid because we +have a sense of the presence of God right here with +us!”</p> + +<p>One night the battalion was “in” after +a heavy day’s work strengthening the defenses +and trying to drain the trenches, and the men were +asleep in the dugouts. The Major lay in his little +chicken-wire bunk, just drowsing off, while the water +seeped and dripped from the earthen roof, and the +rats splashed about on the water covered floor.</p> + +<p>Across from him in a bunk on the other side of the +dugout tossed a boy in his damp blankets who had just +come to the front. He was only eighteen and it was +his first night in the line. It had been a hard day +for him. The shells screamed overhead and finally +one landed close somewhere and rocked the dugout with +its explosion. The old-timers slept undisturbed, but +the boy started up with a scream and a groan, his +nerves a-quiver, and cried out: “Oh, Daddy! +Daddy! Daddy!”</p> + +<p>The Little Major was out and over to him in a flash, +and gathered the boy into his arms, soothing him as +a mother might have done, until he was calmed and +strengthened; and there amid the roaring of guns, the +screaming of shells, the dripping of water and splashing +of rats, the youngest of the battalion found Christ.</p> + +<p>An old soldier came down from the front and a Salvationist +asked him if he knew the Little Major.</p> + +<p>“Well, you just bet I know the Major—sure thing!” +And the Major is always on hand with a laugh and his +fun-making. In the trenches or in the towns, where +the shells are flying, the Little Major is with his +boys. No words of mine could express the admiration +the boys have for him. The boys love him. He calls +them “Buddie.” They salute and are ready +to do or die. The last time I saw him he had hiked +in from the trenches with the boys. He carried a heavy +“war baby” on his back and a tin hat on +his head. He was tired and footsore, but there was +that laugh, and before he got his pack off he jabbed +me in the ribs. “No, sir, we can’t get +along without our Major!” So says “Buddie.”</p> + +<p>A request came from a chaplain to open Salvation +Army work near his division. The Brigade Commander +was most favorable to the suggestion until he learned +that the Salvation Army would have women there and +that religious meetings would be conducted. As this +was explained the General’s manner changed and +he declared he did not know that the work was to be +carried on in this way; that he did not favor the women +in camps, or any religion, but thought it would make +the soldier soft, and the business of the soldier +was to kill, to kill in as brutal a manner as possible; +and to kill as many of the enemy as possible; and +he did not propose to have any work conducted in the +camps or any influence on his soldiers that would +tend to soften them.</p> + +<p>He ordered them, therefore, not to extend the work +of the Salvation Army within his brigade. It was explained +to him that Demange was now within the territory named. +He appeared to be put out that the Salvation Army was +already established in his district, but said that +if they behaved themselves they could go on, but that +they must not extend.</p> + +<p>He reported the matter to the Divisional Headquarters +and an investigation of the Salvation Army activities +was ordered. A major who was a Jew was appointed to +look into the matter. During the next two weeks he +talked with the men and officers and attended Salvation +Army meetings. The leaders, of course, knew nothing +about this, but they could not have planned their +meetings better if they had known. It seemed as though +God was in it all. At the end of two weeks there came +a written communication from the General stating that +after a thorough examination of the Salvation Army +work he withdrew his objections and the Salvation Army +was free to extend operations anywhere within his +brigade.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army hut was a scene of constant activity.</p> + +<p>At one place in a single day there was early mass, +said by the Catholic chaplain, later preaching by +a Protestant chaplain, then a Jewish service, followed +by a company meeting where the use of gas masks was +explained. All this, besides the regular uses of the +hut, which included a library, piano, phonograph, +games, magazines, pies, doughnuts and coffee; the pie +line being followed by a regular Salvation Army meeting +where men raised their hands to be prayed for, and +many found Christ as their Saviour.</p> + +<p>It was in an old French barracks that they located +the Salvation Army canteen in Treveray. One corner +was boarded off for a bedroom for the girls. There +were windows but not of glass, for they would have +soon been shattered, and, too, they would have let +too much light through. They were canvas well camouflaged +with paint so that the enemy shells would not be attracted +at night, and, of course, one could not see through +them.</p> + +<p>Inside the improvised bedroom were three little folding +army cots, a board table, a barrack bag and some boxes. +This was the only place where the girls could be by +themselves. On rainy days the furniture was supplemented +by a dishpan on one cot, a frying-pan on another, and +a lard tin on the third, to catch the drops from the +holes in the roof. The opposite corner of the barracks +was boarded off for a living-room. In this was a field +range and one or two tables and benches.</p> + +<p>The rest of the hut was laid out with square bare +board tables. The canteen was at one end. The piano +was at one side and the graphophone at the other. +Sometimes in places like this, the hut would be too +near the front for it to be thought advisable to have +a piano. It was too liable to be shattered by a chance +shell and the management thought it unwise to put +so much money into what might in a moment be reduced +to worthless splinters. Then the boys would come into +the hut, look around disappointedly and say: “No +piano?”</p> + +<p>The cheerful woman behind the counter would say sympathetically: +“No, boys, no piano. Too many shells around +here for a piano.”</p> + +<p>The boys would droop around silently for a minute +or two and then go off. In a little while back they +would come with grim satisfaction on their faces bearing +a piano.</p> + +<p>“Don’t ask us where we got it,” +they would answer with a twinkle in reply to the pleased +inquiry. “This is war! We salvaged it!”</p> + +<p>Around the room on the tables were plenty of magazines, +books and games. Checkers was a favorite game. No +card playing, no shooting crap. The canteen contained +chocolate, candy, writing materials, postage stamps, +towels, shaving materials, talcum powder, soap, shoestrings, +handkerchiefs in little sealed packets, buttons, cootie +medicine and other like articles. The Salvation Army +did not sell nor give away either tobacco or cigarettes. +In a few cases where such were sent to them for distribution +they were handed over to the doctors for the badly +wounded in the hospitals or the very sick men accustomed +to their use, who were almost insane with their nerves. +They also procured them from the Red Cross for wounded +men, sometimes, who were fretting for them, but they +never were a part of their supplies and far from the +policy of the Salvation Army. Furthermore, the Salvation +Army sent no men to France to work for them who smoked +or used tobacco in any form, or drank intoxicating +liquors. No man can hold a commission in the Salvation +Army and use tobacco! It is a remarkable fact that +the boys themselves did not want the Salvation Army +lassies to deal in cigarettes because they knew it +would be going against their principles to do so.</p> + +<p>Occasionally a stranger would come into the canteen +and ask for a package of cigarettes. Then some soldier +would remark witheringly: “Say, where do you +come from? Don’t you know the Salvation Army +don’t handle tobacco?”</p> + +<p>The men were always deeply grateful to get talcum +powder for use after shaving. It seemed somehow to +help to keep up the morale of the army, that talcum +powder, a little bit of the soothing refinement of +the home that seemed so far away.</p> + +<p>To this hut whenever they were at liberty came Jew +and Gentile, Protestant and Catholic, rich and poor. +War is a great leveler and had swept away all differences. +They were a great brotherhood of Americans now, ready, +if necessary, to die for the right.</p> + +<p>To one of the huts came a request from the chaplain +of a regiment which was about to move from its temporary +billet in the next village. The men had not been so +fortunate as to be stationed at a town where there +was a Salvation Army hut and it had been over four +months since they had tasted anything like cake or +pie. Would the Salvation Army lassies be so good as +to let them have a few doughnuts before they moved +that night? If so the chaplain would call for them +at five o’clock.</p> + +<p>The lassies worked with all their might and fried +thirty-five hundred doughnuts. But something happened +to the ambulance that was to take them to the boys, +and over an hour was lost in repairs. Back at the camp +the boys had given up all hope. They were to march +at eight o’clock and nothing had been heard +of the doughnuts. Suddenly the truck dashed into view, +but the boys eyed it glumly, thinking it was likely +empty after all this time. However, the chaplain held +up both hands full of golden brown beauties, and with +a wild shout of joy the men sprang to “attention” +as the ambulance drew up, and more soldiers crowded +around. The villagers rushed to their doors to see +what could be happening now to those crazy American +soldiers.</p> + +<p>When the chaplain stood up in the car flinging doughnuts +to them and shouting that there were thousands, enough +for everybody, the enthusiasm of the soldiers knew +no bounds. The girls had come along and now they began +to hand out the doughnuts, and the crowd cheered and +shouted as they filed up to receive them. And when +it came time for the girls to return to their own +village the soldiers crowded up once more to say good-bye, +and give them three cheers and a “tiger.”</p> + +<p>These same girls a few days before had fed seven hundred +weary doughboys on their march to the front with coffee, +hot biscuits and jam.</p> + +<p>In one of the Salvation Army huts one night the usual +noisy cheerfulness was in the air, but apart from +the rest sat a boy with a letter open on the table +before him and a dreamy smile of tender memories upon +his face. Nobody noticed that far-away look in his +eyes until the lassie in charge of the hut, standing +in the doorway surveying her noisy family, searched +him out with her discerning eyes, and presently happened +down his way and inquired if he had a letter. The +boy looked up with a wonderful smile such as she had +never seen on his face before, and answered:</p> + +<p>“Yes, it’s from mother!” Then impulsively, +“She’s the nearest thing to God I know!”</p> + +<p>Mother seemed to be the nearest thought to the heart +of the boys over there. They loved the songs best +that spoke about mother. One boy bought a can of beans +at the canteen, and when remonstrated with by the lassie +who sold them, on the ground that he was always complaining +of having to eat so many beans, he replied: “Aw, +well, this is different. These beans are the kind +that mother used to buy.”</p> + +<p>In the dark hours of the early morning a boy who belonged +to the ammunition train sat by one of the little wooden +tables in the hut, just after he had returned from +his first barrage, and pencilled on its top the following +words:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Mother o’ mine, what the words mean to me<br /> + Is more than tongue can say;<br /> +For one view to-night of your loving face,<br /> + What a price I would gladly pay!<br /> +The wonderful face . . .<br /> +. . . smiling still despite loads of care,<br /> + Tis crowned by a silvering sheen.<br /> +Your picture I carry next to my heart;<br /> + With it no harm can befall.<br /> +It has helped me to smile through many a care,<br /> + Since I heeded my country’s call.<br /> +O mother who nursed me as a babe<br /> + And prayed for me as a boy,<br /> +Can I not show, now at man’s estate,<br /> + That you are my pride and joy?<br /> +Good night! God guard you, way over the ocean blue,<br /> +Your boy loves you and his dreams are bright,<br /> + For he’s dreaming of home and you. +</p> + +<p>One of the letters that was written home for “Mother’s +Day” in response to a suggestion on the walls +of the Salvation Army hut was as follows:</p> + +<p>Dearest Little Mother of Mine:</p> + +<p>They started a campaign to write to mother on this +day, and, believe me, I didn’t have to be urged +very hard. If I wrote you every time I think of you +this war would go hang as far as I am concerned, for +I think of you always and there are hundreds of things +that serve as an eternal reminder.</p> + +<p>Near our billet is one lone, scrubby little lilac +bush that has a dozen blossoms, and it doesn’t +take much mental work to connect lilacs with mother. +Then, too, the distant whistle of a train ’way +down the valley reminds me of how you would listen +for the whistle of the Montreal train on Saturday +morning and then fix up a big feed for your boy to +offset a week of boarding-house grub. Those and many +other things remind me many times a day of the one +who bid me good-by with a smile and saved her tears +’till she was home alone; who knit helmets, wristlets +and sweaters to keep out the cold when she should +have been sleeping; who (I’ll bet a hat) didn’t +sleep one of the thirteen nights I was on the ocean, +and who writes me cheerful, newsy letters when all +others fail.</p> + +<p>And I appreciate all those things too, although I’m +not much on showing affection. I haven’t always +been as good to you as I ought, but I’m going +to make up by being the soldier and the man “me +mudder” thinks I am.</p> + +<p>And when I come back home, all full of prunes and +glory, we’re going to have the grandest time +you ever dreamed of. We’ll go joy riding, eat +strawberry shortcake and pumpkin pie, and have all +the lilacs in the U.S.A. Wait till I walk down Main +Street with you on my arm all fixed up in a swell +dress and a new bonnet and me with a span new uniform, +with sergeant-major’s chevrons, about steen +service stripes, a Mex. campaign badge and a Croix +de Guerre (maybe), then you’ll be glad your boy +went to be a soldier.</p> + +<p>I was on the road all of night before last and on +guard last night and I’m a wee bit tired so +I’m making this kinder short; but it’s +a little reminder that the boy who is 5,000 miles +away is thinking, “I love you my ma,” +same as I always did.</p> + +<p>And, by gosh, don’t forget about that pumpkin +pie!</p> + +<p>Good-night, mother of mine; your soldier boy loves +you a whole dollar’s worth.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus09"></a> +<img src="images/009.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="“Here during the day +they worked in dugouts far below the shell-tortured earth”" /> +<p class="caption"><b>“Here during the day they worked in dugouts far +below the shell-tortured earth”</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus10"></a> +<img src="images/010.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="They came to get their coats +mended and their buttons sewed on" /> +<p class="caption"><b>They came to get their coats mended and their buttons +sewed on</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus11"></a> +<img src="images/011.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The Entrance to the Old Wine +Cellar in Mandres." /> +<p class="caption"><b>The Entrance to the Old Wine Cellar in Mandres.</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus12"></a> +<img src="images/012.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The Salvation Army Was Told +that Ansauville Was Too Far Front for Any Women To Be Allowed To Go." /> +<p class="caption"><b>The Salvation Army Was Told that Ansauville Was Too Far +Front for Any Women To Be Allowed To Go.</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus13"></a> +<img src="images/013.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="“L’Hermitage, +nestled in the heart of a deep woods, was no quiet refuge”" /> +<p class="caption"><b>“L’Hermitage, nestled in the heart of a deep +woods, was no quiet refuge”</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus14"></a> +<img src="images/014.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="L’Hermitage, inside +the tent. Several of these boys were killed a few days after the picture was taken" /> +<p class="caption"><b>L’Hermitage, inside the tent. Several of these boys +were killed a few days after the picture was taken</b></p> +</div> + +<p>The Salvation Army hut was home to the boys over there. +They came to it in sorrow or joy. They came to ask +to scrape out the bowl where the cake batter had been +stirred because mother used to let them do it; they +came to get their coats mended and have their buttons +sewed on. Sometimes it seemed to the long-suffering, +smiling woman who sewed them on, as if they just ripped +them off so she could sew them on again; if so, she +did not mind. They came to mourn when they received +no word from home; and when the mail came in and they +were fortunate they came first to the hut waving their +letter to tell of their good luck before they even +opened it to read it. It is remarkable how they pinned +their whole life on what these consecrated American +women said to them over there. It is wonderful how +they opened their hearts to them on religious subjects, +and how they flocked to the religious meetings, seeming +to really be hungry for them.</p> + +<p>Word about these wonderful meetings that the soldiers +were attending in such numbers got to the ears of +another commanding officer, and one day there came +a summons for the Salvation Army Major in charge at +Gondrecourt to appear before him. An officer on a +motor cycle with a side car brought the summons, and +the Major felt that it practically amounted to an arrest. +There was nothing to do but obey, so he climbed into +the side car and was whirled away to Headquarters.</p> + +<p>The Major-General received him at once and in brusque +tones informed him most emphatically:</p> + +<p>“We want you to get out! We don’t want +you nor your meetings! We are here to teach men to +fight and your religion says you must not kill. Look +out there!” pointing through the doorway, “we +have set up dummies and teach our men to run their +bayonets through them. You teach them the opposite +of that. You will unfit my men for warfare!”</p> + +<p>The Salvationist looked through the door at the line +of straw dummies hanging in a row, and then he looked +back and faced the Major-General for a full minute +before he said anything.</p> + +<p>Tall and strong, with soldierly bearing, with ruddy +health in the glow of his cheeks, and fire in his +keen blue eyes, the Salvationist looked steadily at +the Major-General and his indignation grew. Then the +good old Scotch burr on his tongue rolled broadly +out in protest:</p> + +<p>“On my way up here in your automobile”—every +word was slow and calm and deliberate, tinged with +a fine righteous sarcasm—“I saw three men entering +your Guard House who were not capable of directing +their own steps. They had been off on leave down to +the town and had come home drunk. They were going +into the Guard House to sleep it off. When they come +out to-morrow or the next day with their limbs trembling, +and their eyes bloodshot and their heads aching, do +you think they will be fit for warfare?</p> + +<p>“You have men down there in your Guard House +who are loathsome with vile diseases, who are shaken +with self-indulgence, and weakened with all kinds +of excesses. Are they fit for warfare?</p> + +<p>“Now, look at me!”</p> + +<p>He drew himself up in all the strength of his six +feet, broad shoulders, expanded chest, complexion +like a baby, muscles like iron, and compelled the +gaze of the officer.</p> + +<p>“Can you find any man—” The Salvationist +said “mon” and the soft Scotch sound of +it sent a thrill down the Major-General’s back +in spite of his opposition. “Can you find any +mon at fifty-five years who can follow these in your +regiment, who can beat me at any game whatever?”</p> + +<p>The officer looked, and listened, and was ashamed.</p> + +<p>The Major rose in his righteous wrath and spoke mighty +truths clothed in simple words, and as he talked the +tears unbidden rolled down the Major-General’s +face and dropped upon his table.</p> + +<p>“And do you know,” said the Salvationist, +afterward telling a friend in earnest confidence, +“do you <i>know</i>, before I left we <i>had +prayer together!</i> And he became one of the best +friends we have!”</p> + +<p>Before he left, also, the Major-General signed the +authority which gave him charge of the Guard Houses, +so that he might talk to the men or hold meetings +with them whenever he liked. This was the means of +opening up a new avenue of work among the men.</p> + +<p>The Scotch Major had a string of hospitals that he +visited in addition to his other regular duties. He +knew that the men who are gassed lose all their possessions +when their clothes are ripped off from them. So this +Salvationist made a delightful all-the-year-round Santa +Claus out of himself: dressing up in old clothes, +because of the mud and dirt through which he must +pass, he would sling a pack on his back that would +put to shame the one Old Santa used to carry. Shaving +things and soap and toothbrushes, handkerchiefs and +chocolate and writing materials. How they welcomed +him wherever he came! Sick men, Protestants, Jews, +Catholics. He talked and prayed with them all, and +no one turned away from his kindly messages.</p> + +<p>Six miles from Neufchauteul is Bazoilles, a mighty +city of hospital tents and buildings, acres and acres +of them, lying in the valley. Whenever this man heard +the rumbling of guns and knew that something was doing, +he took his pack and started down to go the rounds, +for there were always men there needing him.</p> + +<p>Then he would hold meetings in the wards, blessed +meetings that the wounded men enjoyed and begged for. +They all joined in the singing, even those who could +not sing very well. And once it was a blind boy who +asked them to sing “Lead Kindly Light Amid the +Encircling Gloom, Lead Thou Me On.”</p> + +<p>One Sunday afternoon two Salvation Army lassies had +come with their Major to hold their usual service +in the hospital, but there were so many wounded coming +in and the place was so busy that it seemed as if perhaps +they ought to give up the service. The nurses were +heavy-eyed with fatigue and the doctors were almost +worked to death. But when this was suggested with +one accord both doctors and nurses were against it. +“The boys would miss it so,” they said, +“and we would miss it, too. It rests us to hear +you sing.”</p> + +<p>After the Bible reading and prayer a lassie sang: +“There Is Sunshine in My Heart To-day,” +and then came a talk that spoke of a spiritual sunshine +that would last all the year. The song and talk drifted +out to another little ward where a doctor sat beside +a boy, and both listened. As the physician rose to +go the wounded boy asked if he might write a letter.</p> + +<p>The next day the doctor happened to meet the lassie +who sang and told her he had a letter that had been +handed to him for censorship that he thought she would +like to see. He said the writer had asked him to show +it to her. This was the letter:</p> + +<p>Dear Mother: You will be surprised to hear that I +am in the hospital, but I am getting well quickly +and am having a good time. But best of all, some Salvation +Army people came and sang and talked about sunshine, +and while they were talking the sunshine came in through +my window—not into my room alone, but into my heart +and life as well, where it is going to stay. I know +how happy this will make you.</p> + +<p>The hospital work was a large feature of the service +performed by the Salvation Army. In every area this +testimony comes from both doctors, nurses and wounded +men. Yet it was nothing less than a pleasure for the +workers to serve those patient, cheerful sufferers.</p> + +<p>A lassie entered a ward one day and found the men +with combs and tissue paper performing an orchestra +selection. They apologized for the noise, declaring +that they were all crazy about music and that was the +only way they could get it.</p> + +<p>“How would you like a phonograph?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Boy! If we only had one! I’ll tell +the world we’d like it,” one declared +wistfully.</p> + +<p>The phonograph was soon forthcoming and brought much +pleasure.</p> + +<p>A lassie offered to write a letter for a boy whose +foot had just been amputated and whose right arm was +bound in splints. He accepted her offer eagerly, but +said:</p> + +<p>“But when you write promise me you won’t +tell mother about my foot. She worries! She wouldn’t +understand how well off I really am. Maybe you had +better let me try to write a bit myself for you to +enclose. I guess I could manage that.” So, with +his left hand, he wrote the following:</p> + +<p>Dearest Mother:—I am laid up in the hospital here +with a very badly sprained ankle and some bruises, +and will be here two or three weeks. Do not worry, +I am getting along fine. Your loving Son.</p> + +<p>Two automobiles, an open car and a limousine, were +maintained in Paris for the sole purpose of providing +outings for wounded men who were able to take a little +drive. It was said by the doctors and nurses that nothing +helped a rapid recovery like these little excursions +out into an every-day beautiful world.</p> + +<p>A boy on one of the hospital cots called to a passing +lassie:</p> + +<p>“I am going to die, I know I am, and I’m +a Catholic. Can you pray for me, Salvation Army girl, +like you prayed for that fellow over there?”</p> + +<p>The young lassie assured him that he was not going +to die yet, but she knelt by his cot and prayed for +him, and soothed him into a sleep from which he awoke +refreshed to find that she was right, he was not going +to die yet, but live, perhaps, to be a different lad.</p> + +<p>A sixteen-year-old boy who at the first declaration +of war had run away from home and enlisted was wounded +so badly that he was ordered to go back to the evacuation +hospital. He was determined that he could yet fight, +and was almost crying because he had to leave his +comrades, but on the way back he discovered the entrance +to a German dugout and thought he heard someone down +in there moving.</p> + +<p>“Come out,” he shouted, “or I’ll +throw in a hand grenade!”</p> + +<p>A few minutes later he reached the evacuation hospital +with thirty prisoners of war, his useless arm hanging +by his side. That is the kind of stuff our American +boys are made of, and those are the boys who are praising +the Salvation Army!</p> + +<p>It was sunset at the Gondrecourt Officers’ Training +Camp. On the big parade ground in back of the Salvation +Army huts three companies were lined up for “Colors.” +The sun was sinking into a black mass of storm clouds, +painting the Western sky a dull blood red with here +and there a thread of gleaming gold etched on the +rim of a cloud. Three French children trudged sturdily, +wearily, back from the distant fields where they had +toiled all day. The elder girl pushed a wheelbarrow +heavily laden with plunder from the fields. All bore +farming implements, the size of which dwarfed them +by comparison. They had almost reached the end of the +drill ground when the military band blared out the +opening notes of the “Star Spangled Banner,” +and the flag slipped slowly from its high staff. Instantly +the farming tools were dropped and the three childish +figures swung swiftly to “attention,” +hands raised rigidly to the stiff French salute. So +they stood until the last note had died. Then on they +tramped, their backs all bent and weary, over the +hill and down into the grey, evening-shadowed village +of the valley.</p> + +<p>In a shell-marred little village at the American front, +the Salvation Army once brought the United States +Army to a standstill. Several hundred artillerymen +had gathered for the regular Wednesday night religious +service, held in the hutment, conducted by that organization +at this point, and, in closing, sang vigorously three +verses of “The Star Spangled Banner.” +A Major who was passing came immediately to attention, +his example being followed by all of the men and officers +within hearing, and also by a scattering of French +soldiers who were just emerging from the Catholic +church. By the time the second verse was well under +way three companies of infantry, marching from a rest +camp toward the front, had also come to a rigid salute, +blocking the road to a quartermaster’s supply +train, who had, perforce, to follow suit. The “Star +Spangled Banner” has a deeper meaning to the +man who has done a few turns in the trenches.</p> + +<p>They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day, +where the renowned “Aunt Mary” was located, +with her sweet face and sweeter heart.</p> + +<p>One of the other huts had baked two hundred and thirty-five +pies in a day. The people in Gondrecourt believed +they could do better than that, so they made their +preparations and set to work.</p> + +<p>The soldiers were all interested, of course. Who was +to eat those pies? The more pies the merrier! The +engineers had constructed a rack to hold them, so +that they might be easily counted without confusion. +The soldiers had appointed a committee to do the counting +with a representative from the cooks to be sure that +everything went right. Even the officers and chaplain +took an interest in it.</p> + +<p>This hut was in one of the largest American sectors. +It was so well patronized that they used on an average +fifty gallons of coffee every evening and seventy-five +or more gallons of lemonade every afternoon. You can +imagine the pies and doughnuts that would find a welcome +here. One day they made twenty-seven hundred sugar +cookies, and another day they fried eighteen hundred +and thirty-six doughnuts, at the same time baking cake +and pies; but this time they were going to try to bake +three hundred pies between the rising and setting +of the sun.</p> + +<p>An army field oven only holds nine pies at a time, +so every minute of the day had to be utilized. The +fires were started very early in the morning and everything +was ready for the girls to begin when the sun peeped +over the edge of the great battlefield. They sprang +at their task as though it were a delightful game +of tennis, and not as though they had worked hard +and late on the day before, and the many days before +that.</p> + +<p>It was very hot in the little kitchen as the sun waxed +high. An army range never tries to conserve its heat +for the benefit of the cooks. In fact that kitchen +was often used for a Turkish bath by some poor wet +soldiers who were chilled to the bone.</p> + +<p>But the heat did not delay the workers. They flew +at their task with fingers that seemed to have somehow +borrowed an extra nimbleness. All day long they worked, +and the pies were marshalled out of the oven by nines, +flaky and fragrant and baked just right. The rack grew +fuller and fuller, and the soldiers watched with eager +eyes and watering mouths. Now and then one of the +soldiers’ cooks would put his head in at the +door, ask how the score stood, and shake his head +in wonder. On and on they worked, mixing, rolling, +filling, putting the little twists and cuts on the +upper crust, and slipping in the oven and out again! +Mixing, rolling, filling and baking without any let-up, +until the sun with a twinkle of glowing appreciation +slipped regretfully down behind the hills of France +again as if he were sorry to leave the fun, and the +time was up. The committee gave a last careful glance +over the filled racks and announced the final score, +three hundred and sixteen pies, in shining, delectable +rows!</p> + +<p>By seven o’clock that evening the pie line was +several hundred yards long. It was eleven o’clock +when the last quarter of a pie went over the counter, +with its accompanying mug of coffee. Think what it +was just to have to cut and serve that pie, and make +that coffee, after a long day’s work of baking!</p> + +<p>One of the officers receiving his change after having +paid for his pie looked at it surprisedly:</p> + +<p>“And you mean to tell me that you girls work +so hard for such a small return? I don’t see +where you make any profit at all.”</p> + +<p>“We don’t work for profit, Captain,” +answered the lassie. “I don’t think any +amount of money would persuade us to keep going as +we have to here at times.”</p> + +<p>“You mean you sort of work for the joy of working?” +he asked, puzzled.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what you mean,” responded +the lassie pleasantly, “but when we are tired +we look at the boys drilling in the sun and working +early and late. They are splendid and we feel we must +do our part as unreservedly as they do theirs.”</p> + +<p>“No wonder my men have so many good things to +say about the Salvation Army!” said the Captain, +turning to his companions. But as he went out into +the night his voice floated back in a puzzled sort +of half-conviction, as if he were thinking out something +more than had been spoken:</p> + +<p>“It takes more than patriotism to keep refined +women working like that!”</p> + +<p>These same girls were commissioned also to make frequent +visits to the hospitals and talk with the sick soldiers. +Often they read the Bible to them, and many a man +through these little talks has found the way of eternal +life. This in addition to their other work.</p> + +<p>One night after a meeting in the hut a lad wanted +to come into the room at the back and speak to one +of the women about his soul. They knelt and prayed +together, and the boy when he rose had a light of real +happiness on his face. But suddenly the happiness +faded and he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“But I can’t read!”</p> + +<p>“Read? What do you mean?” asked the lassie.</p> + +<p>“My Bible. Nobody never learned me to read, +and I can’t read my Bible like you said in the +meeting I should.”</p> + +<p>The lassie thought for a minute, and then suggested +that he come to the hut every morning just before +first call and she would teach him a verse of scripture +and read him a chapter. This meant that the lassie +must rise that much earlier, but what of that for +a servant of the King?</p> + +<p>Just a month this program was carried out, and then +came marching orders for the boy, but by this time +he had a rich store of God’s word safe in his +heart from the verses he had memorized. The last night +when he came to say good-bye he said to his teacher:</p> + +<p>“Your kindness has meant a lot of trouble for +you, miss, but for me it has meant life! Before, I +was afraid to fight; but now I don’t even fear +death. I know now that it can only mean a new life. +Thank God for your goodness to me!”</p> + +<p>There was one soldier who went by the name of Scoop. +He had been a reporter back in the States and learned +to love drink. When he joined the army he did not +give up his old habits. Whenever anybody remonstrated +with him he invariably replied gaily, “I’m +out to enjoy life.” On pay-days Scoop celebrated +by drinking more than ever.</p> + +<p>One day he happened into the Salvation Army hut. Whether +the pie or the doughnuts or the homeyness of the place +first attracted him no one knows. He said it was the +pie. Something held him there. He came every night. +The spirit of the Lord that lived and breathed in +those consecrated men and girls began to work in his +heart and conscience, and speak to him of better things +that might even be for him.</p> + +<p>When he felt the desire for drink or gambling coming +on he gave his money to the girls to keep for him.</p> + +<p>On the last pay-day before he was sent to another +location he took a paint-brush and some paint and +made a little sign which he set up in a prominent +place in the hut, his silent testimony to what they +had done for him: “<span class="smallcaps">For the first time on pay-day Scoop is sober</span>!”</p> + +<p>One morning a lassie was frying some doughnuts in +the Gondrecourt hut, another was rolling and cutting, +and both were very busy when a soldier came in with +the mail. The girls went on with their work, though +one could easily see that they were eager for letters. +One was handed to the lassie who was frying the doughnuts. +When she opened it she found it was an official dispatch. +The others saw the change of her expression and asked +what was the matter, but she made no reply while tears +started down her cheeks. She, however, went on frying +doughnuts. The others asked again what was the trouble +and for answer the girl handed them the open dispatch, +which stated briefly that one of her three brothers, +who were all in the service, had been killed in action +on the previous day. The others sympathetically tried +to draw her away from her work, but she said: “No, +nothing will help me to bear my sorrow like doing something +for others.” This is the spirit of the Salvation +Army workers. Personal sorrows, personal feelings, +personal difficulties, hardships, dangers, are not +allowed to interrupt their labors of love. Fortunately, +it was later discovered that this message about her +brother was unfounded.</p> + +<p>A boy told this lassie one day that the next day was +his birthday, and she saw the homesickness and yearning +in his eyes as he spoke. Immediately she told him +she would have a birthday party for him and bake a +cake for it.</p> + +<p>She found some tiny candles in the village and placed +nineteen upon the pretty frosted cake. They had to +use a white bed-quilt for a tablecloth, and none of +the cups and saucers matched, but the table looked +very pretty when it was set, with little white paper +baskets of almonds which the girls had made at each +place, and all the candles lit on the white cake in +the middle. The boy brought three of his comrades, +and there were the Salvation Army Major in charge +and the lassies. They had a beautiful time. Of course +it was quite a little extra work for the lassie, but +when someone asked her why she took so much trouble +she had a faraway look in her eyes, and said she guessed +it was for the sake of the boy’s mother, and +those who heard remembered that her own three brothers +were in United States uniform somewhere facing the +enemy.</p> + +<p>There are several instances in which American soldiers +coming from British and French Sectors, where they +had been brigaded with armies of those nations, have +upon entering a Salvation Army hut for the first time +without noticing the sign over the door started to +talk to the girls in French—very fragmentary French +at that. When they found the girls to be Americans +they were almost beside themselves with mingled feelings +of bashfulness and delight. Most of the soldiers exhibit +the former trait.</p> + +<p>One boy approached one of our men officers.</p> + +<p>“Can them girls speak American?” he asked, +pointing at the girls.</p> + +<p>On being assured that they could, he said: “Will +they mind if I go up and speak to them? I ain’t +talked to an American woman in seven months.”</p> + +<p>Two soldiers were walking along the dusty roadway.</p> + +<p>First soldier: “Let’s go to the Salvation +Army hut.”</p> + +<p>Second soldier: “No, I don’t want to.”</p> + +<p>First soldier: “They’ve got a piano and +a phonograph and lots of records.”</p> + +<p>Second soldier: “No, I don’t want to.”</p> + +<p>First soldier: “They’ve got books and +<i>beaucoup</i> games.”</p> + +<p>Second soldier: “No, I don’t want to.”</p> + +<p>First soldier: “Two American ladies there!”</p> + +<p>Second soldier: “No, I don’t want to.”</p> + +<p>First soldier: “They’ve got swell coffee +and doughnuts!”</p> + +<p>Second soldier (angrily): “No! I said <span class="smallcaps">No</span>!”</p> + +<p>First soldier: “Aw, come on. They got real homemade +pie!”</p> + +<p>Second soldier: “I don’t care!”</p> + +<p>First soldier: “They cut their own wood and +do their own work!”</p> + +<p>Second soldier: “Well, that’s different! +Why didn’t you say that right off, you bonehead? +Come on. Where is it?”</p> + +<p>And they entered the Salvation Army hut smiling.</p> + +<p>One dear Salvation Army lady had a little hand sewing +machine which she took about with her and wherever +she landed she would sit down on an orange crate, +put her machine on another and set up a tailor shop: +sewing up rips; refitting coats that were too large; +letting out a seam that was too tight; and helping +the boys to be tidy and comfortable again. A good +many of our boys lost their coats in the Soissons fight, +and when they got new ones they didn’t always +fit, so this little sewing machine that went to war +came in very handy. Sometimes the owner would rip off +the collar or rip out the sleeves, or almost rip up +the whole coat and with her mouthful of pins skillfully +put it together again until it looked as if it belonged +to the laddie who owned it. Then with some clever chalk +marks replacing the pins she would run it through +her little machine, and off went another boy well-clothed. +One week she altered more than thirty-three coats in +this way. The soldiers called her “mother” +and loved to sit about and talk with her while she +worked.</p> + +<p>The men went in battalions to the Lunéville Sector +for Trench Training facing the enemy. Of course, the +Salvation Army sent a detachment also.</p> + +<p>Over here they had to give up huts. No huts at all +were allowed so near the front. No light of fire or +even stove, no lights of any kind or everything would +be destroyed by shell fire at once. An order went out +that all huts near the front must be under ground. +Yet neither did this daunt the faithful men and women +whom God Himself had sent to help those boys at the +front.</p> + +<p>The work was extended to other camps in the Gondrecourt +area and finally the time came for the troops to move +up to the front to occupy part of a sector.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>III.<br/> +The Toul Sector</h2> + +<p>Headquarters of the First Division were established +at Menil-la-Tour and that of the First Brigade at +Ansauville. Information came on leaving the Gondrecourt +Area, that the district would be abandoned to the French, +so the wooden hut at Montiers was moved and set up +again at Sanzey, which then became the Headquarters +of the First Ammunition Train. Huts were established +at Menil-la-Tour and other points in the Toul Sector.</p> + +<p>It took three days to erect the hut at Sanzey, but +within an hour the field range was set up, and a piece +of tarpaulin stretched over it to keep the rain off +the girls and the doughnuts.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour the girls stood there making doughnuts, +and hour after hour the line moved slowly along waiting +patiently for doughnuts. The Adjutant went away a +little while and returned to find some of the same +boys standing in line as when he left. Some had been +standing five hours! It was the only pastime they +had, just as soon as they were off duty, to line up +again for doughnuts.</p> + +<p>The hut at Sanzey was used mostly by men of an Ammunition +Train. As in other places where the Salvation Army +huts catered to the American troops, an all-night +service of hot coffee or chocolate and doughnuts or +cookies was provided for the men as they returned +from their dangerous nightly trips to the front. When +men were killed their comrades usually brought them +back and laid them in this hut until they could be +buried. One night a man was killed and brought back +in this fashion. The chaplain was holding a service +over his body in the hut. The Salvation Army man was +talking to the man who had been the dead lad’s +“buddie.” “I wish it was me instead +of him, Cap,” said this soldier, “he was +his mother’s oldest son and she will take it +hard.”</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army was told that Ansauville was too +far front for any women to be allowed to go. They +felt, however, that it was advisable for women to +be there and determined to bring it about if possible. +On scouting the town there was found no suitable place +in any of the buildings except one that was occupied +as the General’s garage. The Salvation Army +was not permitted to erect any additional buildings +as it was feared they would attract the fire of the +Germans, for Ansauville was well within the range +of the German guns.</p> + +<p>After deciding that the General’s garage was +the only logical place for them the Salvation Army +representative called upon the General, who asked +him where he would propose establishing a hut. The +Salvationist told him the only suitable place in the +town was that used by him as a garage. He immediately +gave most gracious and courteous consent and ordered +his aide to find another garage.</p> + +<p>The place in question was an old frame barn with a +lofty roof which had already been partly shot away +and was open to the sky. They were not permitted to +repair the roof because the German airplane observers +would notice it and know that some activity was going +on there which would call for renewed shell fire. +However, the top of one of the circus tents was easily +run up in the barn so as to form a ceiling.</p> + +<p>Ansauville was between Mandres and Menil-la-Tour, +not far from advanced positions in the Toul Sector. +Five hundred French soldiers had been severely gassed +there the night before the Staff-Captain and his helper +arrived, and every day people were killed on the streets +by falling shells. There was not a house in the village +that had not suffered in some way from shell fire; +very few had a door or a window left, and many were +utterly demolished.</p> + +<p>Approaching the town the roads were camouflaged with +burlap curtains hanging on wires every little way, +so that it was impossible to see down the streets +very far in either direction. There were signs here +and there: “<span class="smallcaps">Attention! The enemy sees you</span>!”</p> + +<p>About midnight the Staff-Captain and his officer arrived +and after some difficulty found the old barn that +the Colonel had told them was to be their hut, but +to their dismay there were half a dozen cars parked +inside, including the Commanding General’s, +and it looked as if it were being used for the Staff +Garage. Looking up they could see the stars peeping +through the shell holes in the tiled roof. It was +the first time either of them had been in a shelled +town and the experience was somewhat awe-inspiring. +Moreover they were both hungry and sleepy and the situation +was by no means a cheerful one. They had a large tent +and a load of supplies with them and were at a loss +where to bestow them.</p> + +<p>In the midst of their perturbation a courier arrived +with a side car and dismounted. He stumbled in on +them and peered at them through the darkness.</p> + +<p>“As I live, it’s the Salvation Army!” +he cried joyfully, shaking hands with both of them +at once. “All of the boys have been asking when +you were coming. Are you looking for a place to chow +and sleep? There’s no place in town for a billet, +but we have a kitchen down the street. We can give +you some chow, and it’s warm there. You can +roll up in your blankets and sleep by the stove till +morning. Come with me.”</p> + +<p>The cook awakened them in the morning with his clatter +of pots and pans in preparation for breakfast. They +arose and began to roll up their blanket packs.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry about getting up yet,” +said the chief cook kindly. “Sleep a little +longer. You are not in my way.” But the two men +thanked him and declined to rest longer.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going to chow?” asked the +chief cook.</p> + +<p>The Salvationists allowed that they didn’t know.</p> + +<p>“Well, you boys line up with this outfit, see?” +insisted the chief cook. “We eat three times +a day and you’re welcome to everything we have!”</p> + +<p>This settled the question of board, and after a good +breakfast the two started out to report to the General +in command.</p> + +<p>He greeted them most kindly and made them feel welcome +at once.</p> + +<p>When they asked about the barn he smiled pleasantly:</p> + +<p>“That Colonel of yours is a fine fellow,” +he said. “He told me that there was only one +place in this town that would do for your hut and that +was my garage. He said he was afraid he would have +to ask me to move my car. Just as though my car were +of more importance than the souls of my men! Gentlemen, +you can have anything you want that is mine to give. +The barn is yours! And if there’s anything I +can do, command me!”</p> + +<p>It was a very dirty stable and needed a deal of cleaning, +but the strong workers bent to their task with willing +hands, and soon had it in fine order. There was no +possibility of mending the roof, but they camouflaged +the old tent top and ran it up inside, and it kept +the rain and snow off beautifully. Of course, it was +no protection against shells, but when they commenced +to arrive everybody departed in a hurry to the nearby +dugouts, returning quietly when the firing had ceased. +The nights were so cold that they had to sleep with +all their clothes on, even their overcoats. Often +in the mornings their shoes were frozen too stiff to +put on until they were thawed over a candle. One soldier +broke his shoe in two trying to bend it one morning. +Sometimes the men would sleep with their shoes inside +their shirts to keep the damp leather from freezing. +Two yards from the stove the milk froze!</p> + +<p>A field range had been secured and the chimney extended +up from the roof for a distance of forty or fifty +feet. It smoked terribly, but on this range was cooked +many a savory meal and tens of thousands of doughnuts.</p> + +<p>Among the doughboys who loved to help around the Salvation +Army hut was a quiet fellow who never talked much +about himself, yet everybody liked him and trusted +him. No one knew much about him, or where he came from, +and he never told about his folks at home as some +did. But he used to come in from the trenches during +the day and do anything he could to be useful around +the hut, which was run by two sisters. Even when he +had to stand watch at night he would come back in +the daytime and help. They could not persuade him +to sleep when he ought. Other fellows came and went, +talked about their troubles and their joys, got their +bit of sympathy or cheer and went their way, but this +fellow came every day and worked silently, always +on the job. They made him their chief doughnut dipper +and he seemed to love the work and did it well.</p> + +<p>Then one day his company moved, and he came no more. +The girls often asked if anyone knew anything about +him, but no one did. Once in a while a brief note +would come from him up at the front in the trenches +a few miles to the north, but never more than a word +of greeting.</p> + +<p>One morning the girls were making doughnuts, hard +at work, and suddenly the former chief doughnut dipper +stumbled into the hut. He looked tired and dusty and +it was evident by the way he walked that he was footsore.</p> + +<p>“Gee! It’s good to see you,” he +said, sinking down in his old place by the stove.</p> + +<p>They gave him a cup of steaming coffee and all the +doughnuts he could eat and waited for his story, but +he did not begin.</p> + +<p>“Well, how are you?” asked one of the +girls, hoping to start him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, all right, thanks,” he said meekly.</p> + +<p>“Where is your company?”</p> + +<p>“Up the line in some woods.”</p> + +<p>“How far is it?”</p> + +<p>“About ten miles.”</p> + +<p>The girls felt they were not getting on very fast +in acquiring information.</p> + +<p>“Did you walk all that way in the dust and sun?”</p> + +<p>“Most of it. Sometimes I was in the fields.”</p> + +<p>“Were you on watch last night?”</p> + +<p>“Ye-ah.”</p> + +<p>“Then you didn’t have any sleep?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Why did you come over here then?”</p> + +<p>“I wanted to see you.” There was a sound +of a deep hunger in his voice.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’re awfully glad to see you, +surely. Is there anything we can do for you?”</p> + +<p> +“No, Just let me look at you”—there was frank honesty in his +eyes, a deep undertone of reverence in his voice, not even a hint of gallantry +or flattery, only a loyal homage. +</p> + +<p>“Just let me look at you—and——” he +hesitated.</p> + +<p>“And what?” +</p> + +<p> +“And cook some doughnuts.”</p> + +<p>“Why, of course!” said the girls cheerily, +“but you must lie down and sleep awhile first. +We’ll fix a place for you.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to lie down,” said +the soldier determinedly, “I don’t want +to waste the time.”</p> + +<p>“But it wouldn’t be wasted. You need the +sleep.”</p> + +<p>“No, that isn’t what I need. I want to +look at you,” he reiterated. “I’ve +got a wife and a little baby at home, and I love them. +I like to be here because seeing you takes me back +to them. This morning I knew I ought to sleep, but +I just couldn’t go over the top tonight without +seeing you again. That’s why I want to see you +and fry a few doughnuts for you. It takes me back +to them.”</p> + +<p>He finished with a far-away look in his eyes. He was +not thinking what impression his words would make, +his thoughts were with his wife and little baby.</p> + +<p>He worked around for a couple of hours, saying very +little, but seeming quite content. Then he looked +at his watch and said it was time to go, as it was +quite a walk back to his company. Just so quietly he +took his leave and went out to take his chance with +Death.</p> + +<p>The two girls thought much about him that night as +they went about their work, and later lay down and +tried to sleep, and their prayers went up for the +faithful soul who was doing his duty out there under +fire, and for the anxious wife and little one who +waited to know the outcome. Sleep did not come soon +to their eyes, as they lay in the darkness and prayed.</p> + +<p>“The next day about noon as the girls were dipping +doughnuts the chief doughnut dipper stumbled once +more into the hut, tired, dirty, dusty and worn, but +with his eyes sparkling:</p> + +<p>“Just thought I ought to come back and tell +you I’m all right,” he said. “I +was afraid you’d be worried. My wife and baby +would, anyway.”</p> + +<p>The girls received him with exultant smiles. “You +go out there under the trees and go to sleep!” +they ordered him.</p> + +<p>“All right, I will,” he said. “I +feel like sleeping now. Say, you don’t think +I’m crazy, do you? I just had to see you! It +took me back to them!”</p> + +<p>It was one of those chill rainy nights which have +caused the winter of 1917-1918 to be remembered with +shudders by the men of the earlier American Expeditionary +Forces. A large part of the American forces were billeted +in the weathered, age-old little villages of the Gondrecourt +area. They slept in barns, haylofts, cowsheds and even +in pig sties. The roads were mere ditches running +knee deep in sticky, clogging mud. Shoes, soaked through +from the muddy road, froze as the men slept and in +the morning had to be thawed out over a candle before +they could be drawn on. Frequently men were late at +roll-call simply because their shoes were frozen so +stiff that they were unable to don them, and their +leggings so icy that they could not be wound. After +sundown there were no lights, because lights invited +air-raids and might well expose the position of troops +to the enemy observers. Only in towns where there were +Salvation Army or Y.M.C.A. huts could men find any +artificial warmth, during the day or night, and only +in these places were there any lights after nightfall. +Such huts afforded absolutely the only available recreation +facilities. But in countless villages where Americans +were billeted there was not even this small comfort +to be had.</p> + +<p>On this particular night, in such a village, an eighteen-year-old +boy sat in the orderly room of a regimental headquarters, +which was housed in a once pretentious but now sadly +decrepit house. Rain leaked through the tiled roof +and dribbled down into the room. Windows were long +ago shattered and through cracks in the rude board +barricades which had replaced the glass a rising wind +was driving the rain. The boy sat at a rough wooden +table waiting orders. Two weeks previously a letter +had come, saying that his mother was seriously ill. +Since that he had had no further word. He was desperately +homesick. There had been as yet none of the danger +and none of the thrill which seems to settle a man +down, to the serious business of war.</p> + +<p>A passing soldier had just told him that in a village +some twelve kilometers distant two Salvation Army +women were operating a hut. He longed desperately +for the comfort of a woman of his own people and, +sitting in the drafty, damp room, he wished that these +two Salvationists were not so far away—that he could +talk with them and confide in them. At last the wish +grew so strong that he could no longer resist it.</p> + +<p>He got up quietly, and silently slipped out into the +rainy night. The darkness was so thick that he could +not see objects six feet away. Walking through the +mud was out of the question. He stumbled down, the +street, once falling headlong into a muddy puddle, +finally reaching the horse-lines, where, saying that +he had an errand for the Colonel, he saddled a horse +and slopped off into the night.</p> + +<p>For a while he kept to the road, his horse occasionally +taking fright, as a truck passed clanking slowly in +the opposite direction, or a staff car turned out +to pass him like a fleeting, ghostly shadow. By following +the trees which lined the road at regular intervals +he was fairly sure to keep the road. He was very tired +and soon began to feel sleepy, but the driving storm, +which by this time had assumed the proportions of a +tempest, stung him to wakefulness. Once, at a cross-roads +a Military Police stopped and questioned him and gave +him directions upon his saying that he was carrying +dispatches.</p> + +<p>He went on. He dozed, only to be sharply awakened +by a truck which almost ran him down. He must be more +careful, he thought to himself, feeling utterly alone +and miserable. But in spite of his resolution his eyes +soon closed again. He was awakened, this time by his +horse stumbling over some unseen obstacle. He could +see nothing in any direction. The blackness and rain +shut him in like a fog. He turned at right angles to +find the trees which lined the road, but there were +no trees. He swung his horse around and went in the +other direction, but he found no trees—only an impenetrable +darkness which pressed in upon him with a heaviness +which might almost have been weighed. He was lost—utterly +lost.</p> + +<p>He guided his steed in futile circles, hoping to regain +the road, but all to no avail. Fear of the night fell +upon him. He was wet to the skin and chilled to the +bone. He shivered with cold and with fright. Dropping +from his horse he pulled from his pocket an electric +flashlight and began throwing its slender beam in +widening arcs over the ground. The light revealed +a stubble field. Surely there must be a path which +would lead to the road, thought the boy. Backward +and forward over the field he waved the light. His +hands trembled so that he could not hold the switch +steady, and the lamp blinked on and off.</p> + +<p>On the storm-swept, night-hidden hillside which overhung +the field was established an anti-aircraft battery.</p> + +<p>The sound detectors had just registered the intermittent +hum of an enemy plane. It was unusual that an enemy +aviator should fight his way over the lines in the +face of such a storm, but such things had occurred +before and the Captain in charge of the battery searched +the tempestuous skies for the intruder, waiting for +the sound to grow until he should know that the searchlights +had at least a chance of locating the venturesome plane +instead of merely giving away their position.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, cutting the night in the field below, a +tiny ray of light cut the darkness, sweeping back +and forward, flashing on and off. For a moment the +officer watched it, then, with a muttered curse, he +raced down the hillside followed by one of his men. +The noise of the storm hid their approach. The boy +collapsed into a trembling heap, as the officer grasped +him and wrested the flash-light from his chilled fingers. +He made no protest as they led him down into a dark, +deserted village. He followed his captors into a candle-lighted +room where sat a staff officer.</p> + +<p>Briefly the Captain explained the situation.</p> + +<p>“Caught him in the act of signaling to an enemy +plane, sir,” he said.</p> + +<p>The boy was too cold to venture a protest.</p> + +<p>“Bring him to me again in the morning,” +said the Colonel, shrugging his shoulders. “Hold +on, though! What are you going to do with him? He will +die unless you get him warmed up.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t know what to do with him, sir, +unless I take him down to the Salvation Army... they +have a fire there.”</p> + +<p>“Very good, Captain, see that he is properly +guarded and if they will have him, leave him there +for the night.” And so it came to pass that the +boy reached his destination. It was past closing time—long +past; but the motherly Salvationist in charge knew +just what to do. Within ten minutes, wrapped in a +warm blanket, the boy sat with his feet in a pan of +hot water, with the Salvation Army woman feeding him +steaming lemonade. Between gulps, he told his story +and was comforted. Soon he was snugly tucked into +an army cot, and still grasping the Salvationist’s +hand, was sleeping peacefully.</p> + +<p>The next day a little investigation assured the Colonel +that the boy’s story was a true one, and with +a reprimand for leaving his post without orders he +was allowed to return. The delay, however, had absented +him, of course, from morning roll-call, and he was +sentenced to thirty days repairing wire on the front-line +trenches, which was often equivalent to a death sentence, +for as many men were shot during the performance of +this duty as came in safely.</p> + +<p>He had done fifteen days of his time at this sentence +when the Salvation Army woman from the Ansauville +hut which the boy had visited that rainy night happened +over to his Officers’ Headquarters, and by chance +learned of his unhappy fate. It took but a few words +from her to his commanding officer to set matters +right; his sentence was revoked, and he was pardoned.</p> + +<p>Ansauville was a point of peculiar importance in that +all the troops passing into or out from the sector +stopped there. It was here that cocoa and coffee were +first provided for the troops. Afterwards it came to +be the habit to serve them with the doughnuts and +pie. It was when the Twenty-sixth Division came into +the line. They had marched for hours and had been +without any warm meal for a long time. Detachments +of them reached Ansauville at night, wet and cold, +too late to secure supper that night, and hearing +they were coming, the lassies put on great boilers +of coffee and cocoa, and as the men arrived they were +given to them freely.</p> + +<p>A hut was established at Mandres. This was some distance +in advance of Ansauville and lay in the valley. At +first a wooden building was secured. It had nothing +but a dirt floor but lumber was hauled from Newchateau +by truck—a distance of sixty miles, and the place +was made comfortable.</p> + +<p>For some little time the boys enjoyed this hut, but +on one occasion the Germans sent over a heavy barrage; +they hit the hut, destroying one end of it, scattering +the supplies, ruining the victrola, and after that +the military authorities ordered that the men should +not assemble in such numbers.</p> + +<p>When this order was given, the Salvation Army had +no intention of discontinuing work at Mandres and +so found a cellar under a partially destroyed building. +This cellar was vaulted and had been used for storing +wine. It was wet and in bad condition, but with some +labor it was made fit to receive the men; and tables +and benches were placed there, the canteen established +and a range set up. It was at this place that a very +wonderful work was carried on. The Salvation Army +Ensign who had charge, for a time, scoured the country +for miles around to purchase eggs, which he transferred +to his hut in an old baby carriage. The eggs were supplied +to the men at cost and they fried them themselves +on the range, which was close at hand. This was considered +by the military authorities too far front for women +to come and only men were allowed here.</p> + +<p>The Ensign also mixed batter for pan cakes and established +quite a reputation as a pan-cake maker. Here was a +place where the soldiers felt at home. They could +come in at any time and on the fire cook what they +pleased.</p> + +<p>They could purchase at the canteen such articles as +were for sale and it was home to them. Very wonderful +meetings were held in this spot and many men found +Christ at the penitent-form, which was an old bench +placed in front of the canteen.</p> + +<p>On the wharf in New York when the soldiers were returning +home some soldiers were talking about the Salvation +Army. “Did you ever go to one of their meetings?” +asked one. “I sure did!” answered a big +fine fellow—a college man, by the way, from one of +the well known New England universities. “I +sure did!—and it was the most impressive service I +ever attended. It was down in an old wine cellar, +and the house over it <i>wasn’t</i> because +it had been blown away. The meeting was led by a little +Swede, and he gave a very impressive address, and followed +it by a wonderful prayer. And it wasn’t because +it was so learned either, for the man was no college +chap, but it stirred me deeply. I used to be a good +deal of a barbarian before I went to France, but that +meeting made a big change in me. Things are going +to be different now.</p> + +<p>“The place was lit by a candle or two and the +guns were roaring overhead, but the room was packed +and a great many men stood up for prayers. Oh, I’ll +never forget that meeting!”</p> + +<p>That meeting was in the old wine cellar in Mandres.</p> + +<p>The town of Mandres was shelled daily and it was an +exceptional day that passed without from one to ten +men being killed as a result of this shelling.</p> + +<p>Here are some extracts from letters written by the +Ensign from the old wine cellar in Mandres:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“Somewhere in France,”<br /> +May 15, 1918. +</p> + +<p>I am still busy in my old wine-cellar in France. I +must give you an idea of my daily routine: Get up +early and, go to my cellar. Get wood and make fire; +go for some water to put on stove. Take my mess kit, +helmet, gas mask and cane, walk about one block to +the part of the church standing by the artillery kitchen +and get my hand-out mess, go back to my cellar and +have my breakfast, see to the fire, fuel, clean and +light the lamps, dip and carry out some water and +mud (but have now found a place to drain off the water +by cutting through the heavy stone wall and digging +a ditch underneath). I dig whenever I have time. Then +the boys begin to come in—some right from the trenches, +others who are resting up after a siege in the trenches. +They are all covered with mud when they come in and +have to talk, stand and even sleep in mud. Then I +must have the cocoa and coffee ready and serve also +the candy, figs, nuts, gum, chocolate, shaving-sticks, +razors, watches, knives, gun oil, paper, envelopes, +<i>etc</i>. I mostly wear my rubber boots and stand +in a little boot “slouched” down so I can +stand straight. Almost every evening we have a little +“sing-song” or regular service, and on +Sunday two or three services.</p> + +<p>Our wine-cellar is supposed to be bomb-proof. First +the roof, the ceiling, the floor, then the three-feet +stone and concrete under the floor and along the wine-cellar. +I am all alone for all this business. Sometimes the +boys help me to cut wood and keep the fire and carry +water, but the companies are changed so often that +they go and come every five days, and when they come +from the trenches they are so tired and sleepy they +need all the rest they can get. Yesterday I had to +change the stove and stovepipes because it smoked +so bad that it almost smoked us out. So I had to run +through the ruins and find old stovepipes. I could +not find enough elbows, so I had to make some with +the help of an old knife. We ran the pipes through +the low window bars and up the side of the house to +the top, and plastered up poor joints with mud, but +it burns better and does not smoke. The boys claim +I make the best coffee they have had in France, and +also cocoa. I am glad I know something of cooking. +You see, they don’t permit girls so near the +trenches and in the shell fire.</p> + +<p>My dear Major:</p> + +<p>Grace, love and peace unto you! Many thanks for the +beautiful letter I received from you full of love, +Christian admonition and encouragement. Such letters +are much Appreciated over here.</p> + +<p>I have been very busy. The last week, in addition +to running the ordinary business, I have used the +pick and shovel and wheelbarrow in lowering our wine-cellar +floor (now used as a Salvation Army rest room), so +we can walk straight in. I have also done some white-washing +to brighten things up and have some flowers in bowls, +large French wine bottles and big brass shells, which +makes a great improvement. I now expect to pick up +pieces and erect a range, so we can cook and make +things faster. I secured two hams and am having them +cooked, and expect to serve ham sandwiches by Decoration +Day, two days hence, when there is to be a great time +in decorating the graves of our heroes. I am also +trying to get some lemons so that I can make lemonade +for the boys besides the coffee and cocoa. You can +get an idea of the immensity of our business when I +tell you I got 999.25 francs worth of butter-scotch +candy alone with the last lot of goods, besides a +dozen other kinds of candy, nuts, toilet articles, +<i>etc</i>., and this will be sold and given out in +a very few days.</p> + +<p>We had very good meetings last Sunday. I spoke at +night. A glorious time we had, indeed. Praise God +for the opportunity of working among the New England +braves!</p> + +<p>At Menil-la-Tours the French forbade any huts at +all to be put up at first, but finally they gave permission +for one hut. The Staff-Captain wanted to put up two, +but as that wasn’t allowed he got around the +order by building five rooms on each side of the one +big hut and so had plenty of room. It is pretty hard +to get ahead of a Salvation Army worker when he has +a purpose in view. Not that they are stubborn, simply +that they know how to accomplish their purpose in +the nicest way possible and please everybody.</p> + +<p>There were some American railroad engineers here, +working all night taking stuff to the front. They +came over and asked if they could help out, and so +instead of taking their day for sleep they spent most +of it putting tar paper on the roof of the Salvation +Army hut.</p> + +<p>It was in this place that there seemed to be a strong +prejudice among some of the soldiers against the Salvation +Army for some reason. The soldiers stood about swearing +at the Staff-Captain and his helper as they worked, +and saying the most abusive and contemptible things +to them. At last the Staff-Captain turned about and, +looking at them, in the kindliest way said:</p> + +<p>“See here, boys, did you ever know anything +about the Salvation Army before?”</p> + +<p>They admitted that they had not.</p> + +<p>“Well, now, just wait a little while. Give us +fair play and see if we are like what you say we are. +Wait until we get our hut done and get started, and +then if you don’t like us you can say so.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s fair, Dad,” spoke +up one soldier, and after that there was no more trouble, +and it wasn’t long before the soldiers were giving +the most generous praise to the Salvation Army on +every side.</p> + +<p>L’Hermitage, nestled in the heart of a deep +woods, was no quiet refuge from the noise of battle +and the troubles of a war-weary world, as one might +suppose. It was surrounded by swamps everywhere. And +it had been raining, of course. It always seems to +have been raining in France during this war. There +were duck boards over the swampy ground, and a single +mis-step might send one prone in the ooze up to the +elbows.</p> + +<p>It was a very dangerous place, also.</p> + +<p>There was a large ammunition dump in the town, and +besides that there was a great balloon located there +which the Boche planes were always trying to get. +It was the nearest to the front of any of our balloons +and, of course, was a great target for the enemy. +There was a lot of heavy coast artillery there, also, +and there were monster shell holes big enough to hold +a good audience.</p> + +<p>At last one day the enemy did get the ammunition dump, +and report after report rent the air as first one +shell and then another would burst and go up in flame. +It was fourteen hours going off and the military officer +ordered the girls to their billets until it should +be over. It was like this: First a couple of shells +would explode, then there would be a second’s +quiet and a keg of powder would flare; then some boxes +of ammunition would go off; then some more shells. +It was a terrible pandemonium of sound. Thirty miles +away in Gondrecourt they saw the fire and heard the +terrific explosions.</p> + +<p>The Zone Major and one of his helpers had been to +Nancy for a truck load of eggs and were just unloading +when the explosions began. Together they were carefully +lifting out a crate containing a hundred dozen eggs +when the mammoth détonations began that rocked the +earth beneath them and threatened to shake them from +their feet. They staggered and tottered but they held +onto the eggs. One of the sayings of Commander Eva +Booth is, “Choose your purpose and let no whirlwind +that sweeps, no enemy that confronts you, no wave +that engulfs you, no peril that affrights you, turn +you from it.” The Zone Major and his helper had +chosen the purpose of landing those eggs safely, and +eggs at five francs a dozen are not to be lightly +dropped, so they staggered but they held onto the eggs.</p> + +<p>The girls in the canteen went quietly about their +work until ordered to safety; but over in Sanzey and +Menil-la-Tour their friends watched and waited anxiously +to hear what had been their fate.</p> + +<p>The General who was in charge of the Twenty-sixth +Division was exceedingly kind to the Salvation Army +girls. He acted like a father toward them: giving +up his own billet for their use; sending an escort +to take them to it through the woods and swamps and +dangers when their work at the canteen was over for +a brief respite; setting a sentry to guard them and +to give a gas alarm when it became necessary; and +doing everything in his power for their comfort and +safety.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>IV.<br/> +The Montdidier Sector</h2> + +<p>Spring came on even in shell-torn France, lovely like +the miracle it always is. Bare trees in a day were +arrayed in wondrous green. A camouflage of beauty +spread itself upon the valleys and over the hillsides +like a garment sewn with colored broidery of blossoms. +Great scarlet poppies flamed from ruined homes as +if the blood that had been spilt were resurrected +in a glorious color that would seek to hide the misery +and sorrow and touch with new loveliness the war-scarred +place. Little birds sent forth their flutey voices +where mortals must be hushed for fear of enemies.</p> + +<p>The British had been driven back by the Huns until +they admitted that their backs were against the wall, +and it was an anxious time. Daily the enemy drew nearer +to Paris.</p> + +<p>When the great offensive was started by the Germans +in March, 1918, and American troops were sent up to +help the British and French, the Division was located +at Montdidier. Under the rules for the conduct of war, +they were not permitted to know where they were destined +to go, and so the Salvation Army could not secure +that information. They knew it was to be north of +Paris, but where, was the problem.</p> + +<p>The French were opposed to any relief organizations +going into the Sector, and rules and regulations were +made which were calculated to discourage or to keep +them out altogether.</p> + +<p>It was urgent that the Salvation Army should be there +at the earliest possible moment and as they could +not secure permits, especially for the women, they +decided to get there without permits,</p> + +<p>The first contingent was put into a big Army truck, +the cover was put down and they were started on the +road, to a point from which they hoped to secure information +of the movements of their outfit. From place to place +this truck proceeded until, finally, detachments of +the troops were located in the vicinity of Gisors. +Contact was immediately established. The girls were +received with the greatest joy and portable tents were +set up. It seemed as if every man in the Division +must come to say how glad he was to see them back. +The men decided that if it was in their power they +would never again allow the Salvation Army to be separated +from them. A few days later when the Division was +ordered to move they took these same lassies with +them riding in army trucks. The troops were on their +way to the front and seldom remained more than three +days in one place, and frequently only one day. On +arrival at the stopping-place, fifteen or twenty of +the boys would immediately proceed to erect the tent +and within an hour or two a comfortable place would +be in operation, a field range set up, the phonograph +going, and the boys had a home.</p> + +<p>At Courcelles the Salvation Army set up a tent, started +a canteen, and had it going four days in charge of +two sisters just come from the States. Then one morning +they woke up and found their outfit gone, they knew +not where, and they had to pick up and go after them. +An all-day journey took them to Froissy, where they +found their special outfit.</p> + +<p>There was no place for a tent at Froissy, but there +was an old dance hall, where they had their canteen. +The Division stayed there five weeks-under a roar +of guns. But in spite of this there were wonderful +meetings every night in Froissy.</p> + +<p>This work was exceedingly trying on the girls. Permits +were never secured for any of the Salvation Army workers +in this Sector. They were applied for regularly through +the French Army. About three months after application +was made, they were all received back with the statement +from the French that, seeing the workers were already +there, it was not now necessary that permits should +be issued. It must be reported that the French Army +was opposed to the presence of women in any of the +camps of the soldiers. This prejudice existed for +a long time, but it was finally broken down because +of the good work done by Salvation Army women, which +came to be fully recognized by the French Army.</p> + +<p>The work in the Montdidier Sector was particularly +hard. Permanent buildings could not be established. +The best that could be done was to erect portable +tents, which were about twenty feet wide and fifty-seven +feet long. Huts were established in partially destroyed +buildings or houses or stores that had been vacated +by their owners, and on the extreme front canteens +were established in dugouts and cellars and the entire +district was under bombardment from the German guns +as well as from the airplane bombs. The Salvation +Army had no place there that was not under bombardment +continually. The huts were frequently shelled and there +was imminent danger for a long time that the German +Army would break through, which, of course, added +to the strain.</p> + +<p>The Zone Major went back and forth bringing more men +and more lassies and more supplies from the Base at +Paris to the front, and many a new worker almost lost +his life in a baptism of fire on his way to his post +of duty for the first time. But all these men and +women, as a soldier said, were made of some fine high +stuff that never faltered at danger or fatigue or +hardship.</p> + +<p>They rode over shell-gashed roads in the blackest +midnight in a little dilapidated Ford; made wild dashes +when they came to a road upon which the enemy’s +fire was concentrated, looking back sometimes to see +a geyser of flame leap up from a bend around which +they had just whirled. Shells would rain in the fields +on either side of them; cars would leap by them in +the dark, coming perilously close and swerving away +just in time; and still they went bravely on to their +posts.</p> + +<p>Everything would be blackest darkness and they would +think they were stealing along finely, when all of +a sudden an incendiary bomb would burst and flare +up like a house-on-fire lighting up the whole country +for miles about, and there you were in plain sight +of the enemy! And you couldn’t turn back nor +hesitate a second or you would be caught by the ever +watchful foe! You had to go straight ahead in all that +blare of light!</p> + +<p>The S. A. Adjutant’s headquarters were fifty +feet below the ground; sometimes the earth would rock +with the explosives. Two of the dugouts were burrowed +almost beneath the trenches and S. A. Officers here +looked after the needs of the men who were actually +engaged in fighting. Every night the shattered villages +were raked and torn above them. Such dugouts could +only be left at night or when the firing ceased. The +two men who operated these lived a nerve-racking existence. +Of course, all pies and doughnuts for these places +had to be prepared far to the rear, and no fire could +be built as near to the front as this. It was no easy +task to bring the supplies back and forth. It was +almost always done at the risk of life.</p> + +<p>The Staff-Captain and the Adjutant were speeding over +a shell-swept road one cold, black, wet night at reckless +speed without a light, their hearts filled with anxiety, +for a rumor had reached them that two Salvation Army +lassies had been killed by shell fire. The night was +full of the sound of war, the distant rumble of the +heavy guns, the nervous stutter of machine guns, the +tearing screech of a barrage high above the road.</p> + +<p>Suddenly in front of them yawned a black gulf. The +Adjutant jammed on his brakes, but it was too late. +The game little Ford sailed right into a big shell +hole, and settled down three feet below the road right +side up but tightly wedged in. The two travelers climbed +out and reconnoitered but found the situation hopeless. +There had been many sleepless nights before this one, +and the men, weary beyond endurance, rolled up in their +blankets, climbed into the car, and went to sleep, +regardless of the guns that thundered all about them.</p> + +<p>They were just lost to the land of reality when a +soldier roused them summarily, saying:</p> + +<p>“This is a heck of a place for the Salvation +Army to go to sleep! If you don’t mind I’ll +just pick your old bus out of here and send you on +your way before it’s light enough for Fritzy +to spot you and send a calling card.”</p> + +<p>He was grinning at them cheerfully and they roused +to the occasion.</p> + +<p>“How are you going to do it?” asked the +Adjutant, who, by the way, was Smiling Billy, the +same one the soldiers called “one game little +guy.” “It will take a three-ton truck +to get us out of this hole!”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t got a truck but I guess we +can turn the trick all right!” said the soldier.</p> + +<p>He disappeared into the darkness above the crater +and in a moment reappeared with ten more dark forms +following him, and another soldier who patrolled the +rim of the crater on horseback.</p> + +<p>“How do you like ’em?” he chuckled +to the Salvation Army men, as he turned his flashlight +on the ten and showed them to be big German prisoners +of war. Under his direction they soon had the little +Ford pushed and shouldered into the road once more. +In a little while the Salvationists reached their +destination and found to their relief that the rumor +about the lassies was untrue.</p> + +<p>At Mesnil-St.-Firmin one of the lassies, a young woman +well known in New York society circles, but a loyal +Salvationist and in France from the start, drove a +little flivver carrying supplies for several nights, +accompanied only by a young boy detailed from the Army. +Every mile of the way was dark and perilous, but there +was no one else to do the work, so she did it.</p> + +<p>Here they were under shell fire every night. The girls +slept in an old wine cellar, the only comparatively +safe place to be found. It was damp, with a fearful +odor they will never forget—moreover, it was already +inhabited by rats. They frequently had to retire to +the cellar during gas attacks, and stay for hours, +sometimes having only time to seize an overcoat and +throw it over their night-clothes. They were here through +ten counter-attacks and when Cantigny was taken.</p> + +<p>There seemed to be big movements among the Germans +one day. They were bringing up reinforcements, and +a large attack was expected. The airplanes were dropping +bombs freely everywhere and it looked as if there would +not be one brick left on the top of another in a few +hours. Then the military authorities ordered the two +girls to leave town. When the boys heard that the +hut was being shelled and the girls were ordered to +leave they poured in to tell them how much they would +miss them. They well knew from experience that their +staunch hardworking little friends would not have +left them if they could have helped it. Also, they +dreaded to lose these consecrated young women from +their midst. They had a feeling that their presence +brought the presence of the great God, with His protection, +and in this they had come to trust in their hour of +danger. Often the boys would openly speak of this, +owning that they attributed their safety to the presence +of their Christian friends.</p> + +<p>One young officer from the officers’ mess where +the girls had dined once at their invitation, brought +them boxes of candy, and in presenting them said:</p> + +<p>“Gee! We shall miss you like the devil!”</p> + +<p>The lassie twinkled up in a merry smile and answered: +“That sure is some comparison!” The officer +blushed as red as a peony and tried to apologize:</p> + +<p>“Well, now, you know what I mean. I don’t +know just how to say how much we shall miss you!”</p> + +<p>They left at midnight on foot accompanied by one of +the Salvation Army men workers who had been badly +gassed and needed to get back of the lines and have +some treatment. It was brilliant moonlight as they +hiked it down the road, the airplanes were whizzing +over their heads and the anti-aircraft guns piling +into them. They started for La Folie, the Headquarters +of the Staff-Captain of that zone, but they lost their +way and got far out of the track, arriving at last +at Breteuil. Coming to the woods a Military Police +stationed at the crossroads told them:</p> + +<p>“You can’t go into Breteuil because they +have been shelling it for twenty minutes. Right over +there beyond where you are standing a bomb dropped +a few minutes ago and killed or wounded seven fellows. +The ambulance just took them away.”</p> + +<p>However, as they did not know where else to go they +went into Breteuil, and found the village deserted +of all but French and American Military Police. They +tried to get directions, and at last found a French +mule team to take them to La Folie, where they finally +arrived at four o’clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>The next day they went on to Tartigny, where they +were to be located for a time.</p> + +<p>One of the lassies left her sister with the canteen +one day and started out with another Officer to the +Divisional Gas Officer to get a new gas mask, for +something had happened to hers. As they reached a crossroads +a boy on a wheel called out: “Oh, they’re +shelling the road! Pull into the village quick!”</p> + +<p>When they arrived in the village there was a great +shell just fallen in the very centre of the town. +The girl thought of her sister all alone in the canteen, +for the shells were falling everywhere now, and they +started to take a short cut back to Tartigny, but +the Military Police stopped them, saying they couldn’t +go on that road in the daytime as it was under observation, +so they had to go back by the road they had come. The +canteen was at the gateway of a chateau, and when +they reached there they saw the shells falling in +the chateau yard and through the glass roof of the +canteen. It was a trying time for the two brave girls.</p> + +<p>They had been invited out to dinner that evening at +the Officers’ Mess. As a rule, they did not +go much among the officers, but this was a special +invitation. The shells had been falling all the afternoon, +but they were quite accustomed to shells and that +did not stop the festivities. During the dinner the +soldier boys sang and played on guitars and banjos. +But when the dinner was over they asked the girls +to sing.</p> + +<p>It was very still in the mess hall as the two lovely +lassies took their guitars and began to sing. There +was something so strong and sweet and pure in the +glance of their blue eyes, the set of their firm little +chins, so pleasant and wholesome and merry in the +very curve of their lips, that the men were hushed +with respect and admiration before this highest of +all types of womanhood.</p> + +<p>It was a song written by their Commander that the +girls had chosen, with a sweet, touching melody, and +the singers made every word clear and distinct:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Bowed beneath the garden shades,<br /> +Where the Eastern—sunlight fades,<br /> +Through a sea of griefs He wades,<br /> + And prays in agony.<br /> +His sweat is of blood,<br /> +His tears like a flood<br /> + For a lost world flow down.<br /> +I never knew such tears could be—<br /> + Those tears He wept for me!<br /> +<br /> +Hung upon a rugged tree<br /> +On the hill of Calvary,<br /> +Jesus suffered, death, to be<br /> + The Saviour of mankind.<br /> +His brow pierced by thorn,<br /> +His hands and feet torn,<br /> + With broken heart He died.<br /> +I never knew such pain could be,<br /> + This pain He bore for me! +</p> + +<p>Suddenly crashing into the midst of the melody came +a great shell, exploding just outside the door and +causing everyone at the table to spring to his feet. +The singers stopped for a second, wavered, as the +reverberation of the shock died away, and then went +on with their song; and the officers, abashed, wondering, +dropped back into their seats marvelling at the calmness +of these frail women in the face of death. Surely +they had something that other women did not have to +enable them to sing so unconcernedly in such a time +as this!</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Love which conquered o’er death’s sting,<br /> +Love which has immortal wing,<br /> +Love which is the only thing<br /> + My broken heart to heal.<br /> +It burst through the grave,<br /> +It brought grace to save,<br /> + It opened Heaven’s gate.<br /> +I never knew such love could be—<br /> + This love He gave to me! +</p> + +<p>It needs some special experience to appreciate what +Salvation Army lassies really are, and what they have +done. They are not just any good sort of girl picked +up here and there who are willing to go and like the +excitement of the experience; neither are they common +illiterate girls who merely have ordinary good sense +and a will to work. The majority of them in France +are fine, well-bred, carefully reared daughters of +Christian fathers and mothers who have taught them +that the home is a little bit of heaven on earth, +and a woman God’s means of drawing man nearer +to Him. They have been especially trained from childhood +to forget self and to live for others. The great slogan +of the Salvation Army is “Others.” Did +you ever stop to think how that would take the coquetry +out of a girl’s eyes, and leave the sweet simplicity +of the natural unspoiled soul? We have come to associate +such a look with a plain, homely face, a dull complexion, +careless, severe hair-dressing and unbeautiful clothes. +Why?</p> + +<p>Righteousness from babyhood has given to these girls +delicate beautiful features, clear complexions that +neither faded nor had to be renewed in the thick of +battle, eyes that seemed flecked with divine lights +and could dance with mirth on occasion or soften exquisitely +in sympathy, furtive dimples that twinkled out now +and then; hands that were shapely and did not seem +made for toil. Yet for all that they toiled night and +day for the soldiers. They were educated, refined, +cultured, could talk easily and well on almost any +subject you would mention. They never appeared to force +their religious views to the front, yet all the while +it was perfectly evident that their religion was the +main object of their lives; that this was the secret +source of strength, the great reason for their deep +joy, and abiding calm in the face of calamities; that +this was the one great purpose in life which overtopped +and conquered all other desires. And if you would +break through their sweet reserve and ask them they +would tell you that Jesus and the winning of souls +to Him was their one and only ambition.</p> + +<p>And yet they have not let these great things keep +them from the pleasant little details of life. Even +in the olive drab flannel shirt and serge skirt of +their uniform, or in their trim serge coats, the exact +counterpart of the soldier boy’s, except for +its scarlet epaulets, and the little close trench +hat with its scarlet shield and silver lettering, they +are beautiful and womanly. Catch them with the coat +off and a great khaki apron enveloping the rest of +their uniform, and you never saw lovelier women. No +wonder the boys loved to see them working about the +hut, loved to carry water and pick up the dishes for +washing, and peel apples, and scrape out the bowl +after the cake batter had been turned into the pans. +No wonder they came to these girls with their troubles, +or a button that needed sewing on, and rushed to them +first with the glad news that a letter had come from +home even before they had opened it. These girls were +real women, the kind of woman God meant us all to be +when He made the first one; the kind of woman who +is a real helpmeet for all the men with whom she comes +in contact, whether father, brother, friend or lover, +or merely an acquaintance. There is a fragrance of +spirit that breathes in the very being, the curve +of the cheek, the glance of the eye, the grace of +a movement, the floating of a sunny strand of hair +in the light, the curve of the firm red lips that +one knows at a glance will have no compromise with +evil. This is what these girls have.</p> + +<p>You may call it what you will, but as I think of them +I am again reminded of that verse in the Bible about +those brave and wonderful disciples: “And they +took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.”</p> + +<p>Two of the Salvation Army men went back to Mesnil-St.-Firmin +the day after the lassies had been obliged to leave, +to get some of their belongings which they had not +been able to take with them, and one of them, a Salvation +Army Major, stayed to keep the place open for the boys. +He was the only Salvation Army man who is entitled +to wear a wound stripe. By his devotion to duty, self-sacrifice, +and contempt of danger, he won the confidence of the +men wherever he was. He chiefly worked alone and operated +a canteen usually in a dugout at the front.</p> + +<p>On one occasion a soldier was badly wounded at the +door of a hut, by an exploding gas-shell. He fell +into the dugout and while the Major worked over him, +the Major himself was gassed and had to be removed +to the rear and undergo hospital treatment. For this +service he was awarded a wound stripe. During the +St. Mihiel offensive he was appointed in the Toul +Sector and followed up the advancing soldiers, and +later was active in the Argonne. He is essentially +a front-line man and always takes the greatest satisfaction +in being in the place of most danger.</p> + +<p>The following is a brief excerpt from his diary when +he manned the dugout hut in Coullemelle:</p> + +<p class="right"> +May 12</p> + +<p>“Arrived in Coullemelle Sunday night, May 12. +Was busy with my work by mid-day, Monday, 13. After +cleaning our dugout, gave medicine to sick man, who +refused to sleep in my bed because he was not fit. +However, I made him feel fine, helped. I had a long +talk with the boys.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday, 14:</i> Shell struck opposite to +dugout and sent tiles down steps. The Captain of E +Battery visited me to-day, and then I visited the +Battery and had chow with them. Airplane fight: while +batteries were roaring, the Germans came down in flames.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday, 15:</i> No coming to dugout in +the day-time on account of shelling. I did good business +in the evening and also had long services by request +of the boys. Received a letter from B—— here to-day, +I slept good.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday, 16:</i> I visited army, the officers +and men of F Battery. Their chow kitchen is in a bad +place, all men coming down sick. I had an arrangement +with the doughboys that they might come in my dugout +any hour in the night, whenever they wanted. I visited +infantry officers to-day, Capt. Cribbs and Capt. Crisp. +I had a lovely talk with them. I offered to go to +the trenches with my goods, but Capt. Cribbs said I +would just be killed without doing what he knew I +wanted to do, namely, serve the boys with food and +encourage them.</p> + +<p><i>Friday, 17:</i> I was startled by a fearful +barrage at four o’clock when I got up, washed +my clothes: was visited by the Y.M.C.A. Secretary: +was shelled from five o’clock till ten o’clock. +I went for chow and found shell ball gone through +kitchen. High explosive, black smoke shells bursting +intermittently, tiles fell into my dugout. I took pick +shovel in with me; my kitten ran away but came back. +A three-legged cat came to the ruined home where I +am; its leg evidently had been cut off by shrapnel. +Great air fight all day. Incendiary shells were fired +into the town and burnt for a long time. I visited +Battery F, and gave the fellows medicine. To-day both +officers and men were in the gun pits and I with them, +while they were deviling with Fritzy. Big business +in evening with long service, gave out Testaments + and held service in dugout; got a Frenchman to interpret +the scripture to his comrades. Bequests for prayer. +Doughboys came in 12:30, through a barrage, and got +sixty-five bars of chocolate, others got biscuits. +I am very, very tired; artillery is roaring as I go +to sleep.</p> + +<p><i>Saturday, 18:</i> Capt. Cribbs came down to +dugout and said he was worried to death over me (thought +I was killed). I assured him I was all 0. K., and +that it was their end of the town that needed looking +after. He laughed and enjoyed it. My supplies are +kept up by the courage and devotion of the Staff-Captain +and Billy, who, taking their lives in their hands, +bring the Ford with supplies along the shell-torn road +at great peril. Capt. Corliss also came.</p> + +<p>During the day, the officer of Battery F wanted the +Victrola and got the use of it in their dugout for +three days. In the meantime I had furnished Battery +D the use of the Victrola and the day I made the promise, +I found the boys without chow for twelve hours. When +about to serve it, the town was gassed and their food +with it and no one was permitted to touch a thing, +they were blessing the Kaiser as only soldiers can +under such circumstances. When I arrived among them, +after finding out the way of things, I suggested to +the officers that I should be permitted to supply +them with such food as I had. They assured me it would +be a mighty good thing for them if I would, and I +took four boxes of biscuits and six pots of jam and +other things to their trench in the rear of their batteries— +they surely thought I was an angel and I left them +pretty happy. This was all done under fire and at +great risk. I chowed with Battery E and saw shell +hole through building which was new since my last visit—boys +offer to teach me how to work gun, their spirit is +wonderful under the terrific strain which they labor. +I visited ruined church and went inside; here were +some graves of the French soldiers, some of the bodies +being exposed. Could not stay very long. Overtook +soldier-boy limping, got him to stay awhile and gave +him hot chocolate; persuaded him to let his limb be +seen to, which he did, and was sent to hospital. I +visited hospital corps-fellows and arranged that +in case of gas, they would visit and rouse me at night. +They are fine fellows. Doughboys bought lots of goods +and blessed the Salvation Army a thousand times. These +lads come in from the trenches and have some hair-raising +stories to tell.</p> + +<p><i>Sunday, 19:</i> Quiet till the afternoon when +a gas barrage started. I was driven out of my dugout. +I had a narrow escape, while reaching the hospital +corps dugout. Lieut. Roolan (since promoted), of the +Fifth Field Artillery, was there for two hours and +half. 480 shells, I was informed, came down, averaging +up three and four per minute. All night, from 6 o’clock +to 3 A.M., 3000 shells are sent into the town. I slept +in the Headquarters Signal Corps dugout with my gas +mask on all night.</p> + +<p><i>Monday, 20:</i> Visited Y.M.C.A. and found +their dugout had been struck and the Secretary’s +eyes were gassed after a man took his place. I saw +Colonel Crane to try and get out of my dugout and get +the one he had left. He gave me permission, assuring +me that it was not a very good one at that. I took +my Victrola with two of the battery boys from F Battery. +I carried the records and they the Victrola. We dodged +the shelling all the way and I had the pleasure of +hearing the “Swanee River” song at the +same time as the firing of the big guns much to the +enjoyment of the boys. I understand that General Summerall +visited and heard the Victrola soon after I had taken +it to the boys. I placed about fifty books among officers +of the Hospital Corps, Infantry officers, Battery officers. +They were highly appreciated. I slept with Signal +Corps boys again as Fritzy decided to continue the +bombardment of the town which he did from 5.30 P.M. +to 5.30 A.M. I slept with mask on and had no ill effects +of the gas at all so far; but about five o’clock +a terrific crash just outside of my dugout followed +by a man shouting as he rushed down the dugout steps, +“Oh, God, get me to the doctor right away.” +That shell nearly got me. I was only eight feet from +it. I sprung up and rushed him from the dugout over +to the hospital. I had to chase around from one dugout +to another and finally landed my man (his name was +Harry), who was taken to the hospital.</p> + +<p><i>Tuesday, 21:</i> After taking the man to the +doctor, I went to my own place and found a nine-inch +gas shrapnel shell had burst 15 or 20 feet from my +dugout, about fifteen holes were torn through the door, +the top of the shell lay six feet from the top of +the steps, pieces of the shell were scattered down +the steps, and my dugout to the gas curtain, was full +of gas. If Staff-Captain and Billy had been visiting +me that night, the shell would have hit the Ford right +in the center. Fierce bombardment all the day. Houses +were struck on the entire street from end to end. Shells +fell in the yard, one struck the corner of the house. +The soldiers next door have gone, and my place can +only be opened in the evenings. Things are pretty +hot, I started out visiting the batteries to-day, but +was driven back and could get out only by the back +entrance to the yard. I am told by a soldier of the +Intelligence Dept., that their bombardment is what +is known as a “Million-Dollar Barrage,” +and that all were fortunate to have passed through +it, he also told me the number and nature of the shells. +I served hot chocolate this Tuesday night and noticed +that my hands were very red.</p> + +<p><i>Wednesday, 22:</i> I visited the Battery in +their trenches again and took them food. My eyes are +affected by the gas, and I got treatment at the Evacuating +Hospital. Some shells come very close to my dugout—to-day +thirty feet, fifty feet and twenty feet. I gather up +a box full of remnants. I find I am gassed by a contact +with the poor fellow coming in whom I took to the +doctor. I get treatment two or three times for my eyes +and throat. My hands begin to crack and smart. The +flesh comes off from my neck and other parts of my +body. I had a fine meeting with boys in dugout and +am again visited by the doughboys and officers. I visit +the ruined church area again and get a few relics.</p> + +<p><i>Thursday, 23:</i> My eyes are very red and +becoming painful and also my throat and nose, <i>etc</i>. +I plan to move my dugout and pack up accordingly. +Things are quieter today; had services again in the +evening. French schoolmaster among the number, six +requests for prayer.</p> + +<p><i>Friday, 24:</i> Am all ready to move to a +new dugout when Staff-Captain arrives and tells me +I am ordered out by the military.”</p> + +<p>Here is the Military Order received by the Staff-Captain:</p> + +<p>“To Major Coe,</p> + +<p>“Salvation Army:</p> + +<p>“(1) Major Wilson, Chief G1, directs that the +Salvation Army evacuate ‘Coullemelle’ +as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>“(2) He desires that they leave to-night if +possible.</p> + +<p>“(3) This message was received by me from the +office of G1.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“L. <span class="smallcaps">Johnson</span>,<br /> +“1st Lieut., F. A.”</p> + +<p>Orders also arrived soon for the removal of the Salvation +Army workers in Broyes:</p> + +<p class="right"> +“Headquarters, +1st Division, G-1.<br /> +“American Expeditionary Forces,<br /> +“June 3, 1919.</p> + +<p>“Memorandum: To Mr. L. A. Coe, Salvation Army, +La Folie.</p> + +<p>“The hut, which it is understood the Salvation +Army is operating in Broyes, will, for military reasons, +be removed from there as soon as practicable.</p> + +<p>“It is contrary to the desire of the Commanding +General that women workers be employed in huts or +canteens east of the line Mory-Chepoix-Tartigny, and +if any are now so located they are to ’be removed.</p> + +<p>“The operations of technical services, Red Cross, +Y.M.C.A., and other similar agencies is a function +of this section of the General Staff and all questions +pertaining to your movements and location of huts should +in the future be referred to G.-1.</p> + +<p>“By command of Major General Bullard.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“G. K Wilson,<br /> +“Major, General +Staff,<br /> +“A. C. of S., G.-1.”</p> + +<p>In Tartigny they found a house with five rooms, one +of them very large. The billeting officer turned this +over to the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>There was plenty of space and the girls might have +a room to themselves here, instead of just curtaining +off a corner of a tent or making a partition of supply +boxes in one end of the hut as they often had to do. +There was also plenty of furniture in the house, and +they were allowed to go around the village and get +chairs and tables or anything they wanted to fix up +their canteen. The girls had great fun selecting easy-chairs +and desks and anything they desired from the deserted +houses, and before long the result was a wonderfully +comfortable, cozy, home-like room.</p> + +<p>“Gee! This is just like heaven, coming in here!” +one of the boys said when he first saw it.</p> + +<p>Just outside Tartigny there was a large ammunition +dump, piles of shells and boxes of other ammunition. +It was under the trees and well camouflaged, but night +after night the enemy airplanes kept trying to get +it. The girls used to sit in the windows and watch +the airplane battles. They would stay until an airplane +got over the house and then they would run to the +cellar. They came so close one night that pieces of +shell from the anti-aircraft guns fell over the house.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the airplanes would come in the daytime, +and the girls got into the habit of running out into +the street to watch them. But at this the boys protested.</p> + +<p>“Don’t do that, you will get hit!” +they begged. And one day the nose of an unexploded +shell fell in the street just outside the door. After +that they were more careful.</p> + +<p>In this town one afternoon a whole truck-load of oranges +arrived, being three hundred crates, four hundred +oranges to a crate, for the canteen, and they were +all gone by four o’clock!</p> + +<p>The Headquarters of the Division Commander were in +a beautiful old stone chateau of a peculiar color +that seemed to be invisible to the airplanes. There +were woods all around it and the house was never shelled. +It was filled with rare old tapestries and beautiful +furniture.</p> + +<p>The Count who owned the chateau asked the Major General +to get some furniture that belonged to him out of +the village that was being shelled. Later the Count +asked the General if he ever got that furniture. The +General asked his Colonel, “What did you do with +that furniture?” “Oh,” the Colonel +said, “it’s down there all right!” +“And where is the piano?” “Oh, I +gave that to the Salvation Army.”</p> + +<p>In this area it was one lassie’s first bombardment; +it came suddenly and without warning. The soldiers +in the hut decamped without ceremony for the safety +of their dugouts. One soldier who had been detailed +to help the lassie, shouted: “Come on! Follow +me to your dugout!” Without further talk he +turned and started for cover. The girl had been baking. +A tray full of luscious lemon cream pies stood on +the table. She did not want to leave those pies to +the tender mercies of a shell. Also she had some new +boots standing beneath the table, and she was not +going to lose those. Without stopping to think, she +seized the shoes in one hand and the tray in the other +and rushed after the soldier. A little gully had to +be crossed on the way to the dugout and the only bridge +was a twelve-inch plank. The soldier crossed in safety +and turned to look after the girl. Just as she reached +the middle of the plank a shell burst not far away. +The lassie was so startled that she nearly lost her +balance, swaying first one way and then the other. +In an attempt to stop the tray of pies from slipping, +she almost lost the shoes, and in recovering the shoes, +the pies just escaped sliding overboard into the thick +mud below.</p> + +<p>The soldier registered deep agitation.</p> + +<p>“Drop the shoes!” he shouted. “I +can clean the shoes, but for heaven’s sake don’t +drop them pies!” And the lassie obeyed meekly.</p> + +<p>In the little town of Bonnet where the rest room was +located in an old barn connected with a Catholic convent, +one Salvation Army Envoy and his wife from Texas began +their work. They soon became known to the soldiers +familiarly as “Pa” and “Ma.”</p> + +<p>It was in this old barn that the tent top, later made +famous at Ansauville, was first used. Stoves were +almost impossible to obtain at that time, but “Ma” +was determined that she would bake pies for the men, +so the Envoy constructed an oven out of two tin cake +boxes and using a small two-burner gasoline stove, +“Ma” baked biscuits and pies that made +her name famous. Through her great motherly heart and +her willingness to serve the boys at all times, under +all circumstances, she won their confidence and love. +One soldier said he would walk five miles any day to +look into “Ma’s” gray eyes.</p> + +<p>From Bonnet they were transferred to command a hut +at Ansauville, but “Ma” could never rest +so long as there was a soldier to be served in any +way. She worked early and late, and she made each +individual soldier who came to the hut her special +charge as if he were her own son. She could not sleep +when they were going over the top unless she prayed +with each one before he went.</p> + +<p>The meetings which she and her husband held were full +of life and power and were never neglected, no matter +how hard the strain might be from other lines of service.</p> + +<p>It was not long before “Ma’s” strength +gave out and it was necessary to move her to a quieter +place. She was transferred to Houdelainecourt. She +would not go until they carried her away.</p> + +<p>Houdelainecourt at this time was on the main road +travelled by trucks, taking supplies by train from +the railroad at Gondrecourt to the front. Truck drivers +invariably made it a point to stop at “Ma’s” +hut and here they were always sure to receive a welcome +and the most delicious doughnuts and pies and hot +biscuit which loving hands could make.</p> + +<p>Not satisfied with this service alone, she undertook +to fry pancakes for the officers’ breakfast. +It was through these kindly services, ungrudgingly +done, at any time of the day or night, that her name +was established as one of the most potent factors +in contributing to the comfort and welfare of the +men, and there was no hole or tear of the men’s +clothes that “Ma” could not mend.</p> + +<p>A short time after the pie contest over at Gondrecourt, +“Ma” and one of her lassie helpers set +out to break the record of 316 pies as a day’s +work. Their oven would hold but six pies at a time; +their hut had but just been opened and all their equipment +had not yet arrived, so they were short a rolling +pin, which had to be carved from a broken wagon-shaft +with a jack-knife before they could begin; but they +achieved the baking of 324 pies between 6 A.M. and +6 P.M. that day. It is fair to state for the sake +of the doubter, however, that the pie fillers, both +pumpkin and apple, were all prepared and piping hot +on the stove ready to be poured into the pastry as +it was put into the oven, which, of course, helped +a good deal.</p> + +<p>A sign was put out announcing that pie would be served +at seven o’clock, but the lines formed long +before that.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus15"></a> +<img src="images/015.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="“Ma”" /> +<p class="caption"><b>“Ma”</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus16"></a> +<img src="images/016.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="“They had a pie-baking +contest in Gondrecourt one day”—the renowned “Aunt Mary” +in the right-hand corner" /> +<p class="caption"><b>“They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one +day”—the renowned “Aunt Mary” in the right-hand corner</b></p> +</div> + +<p>The pies were unusually large and cut into fifths, +but even at that they were much larger pieces than +are usually served at the ordinary restaurant.</p> + +<p>By half-past eight some men were falling in for a +second helping, but “Ma” had been watching +long a little company of men off to one side who hovered +about yet never dropped into line themselves, and made +up her mind that these were some of those who perhaps +sent much of their money home and found it a long +time between pay-days. Casting her kindly eye comprehendingly +toward these men she mounted a chair and requested:</p> + +<p>“All of the men who have already had pie, please +step out of the line; and all of those boys who want +coffee and pie but have no money, step into line and +get some, <i>anyhow!</i>”</p> + +<p>She gave the boys one of her beautiful motherly smiles +and that made them feel they had all got home, and +they hesitated no longer. “Ma,” however, +was more deeply interested in her meetings than in +mere pie. The Sunday before this contest over five +hundred soldiers had attended the evening meeting, +and almost as many had been present at the morning +service. Also, there had been twenty-eight members +added to her Bible class. Though the hut was a large +one it had been crowded to its utmost capacity in the +evening, with men packed into the open doorways and +windows on either side, and forty of the men who announced +their determination to follow Christ that night could +not get inside to come forward. More than a dozen +gave personal testimony of what Christ had done for +them. One notable testimony was as follows:</p> + +<p>“I used to be a hard guy fellers,” he +said, “and maybe I had some good reasons when +I used to say that nothing was ever going to scare +me, but when we lay out there with a six-hour barrage +busting right in front of us and ‘arrivals’ +busting all around us, I did a whole lot of thinking. +It seemed as though every shell had my number on it! +And when we went over and ran square into their barrage, +I’ll admit I was scared yellow and was darned +afraid I was going to show it! We were under a barrage +for ten hours. A shell buried me under about a foot +of earth, and for the first time I can remember, while +my bunkie was digging me out, I prayed to God. And +I want to say that I believe He answered my prayer, +and that is the only reason I came out uninjured. +I promised if I got out I’d call for a new deal, +and I want to say that I’m going to keep that +promise!”</p> + +<p>A boy who had been converted in one of the meetings +a few nights before came into the hut and sought her +out. He told her he was going over the top that night, +and he had something he wanted to confess before he +went. He had told a lie and he had felt terrible remorse +about it ever since he was converted. He had treated +his mother badly, and gone and enlisted, saying he +was eighteen when he was only sixteen. “Now,” +said he with relief after he had told the story, “that’s +all clear. And say, if I’m killed, will you +go through my pockets and find my Testament and send +it to mother? And will you tell my mother all about +it and tell her it is all right with me now? Tell +mother I went over the top a Christian. You’ll +know what to say to her to help her bear up.”</p> + +<p>She promised and the boy went away content. That night +he was killed, and, true to her promise, she went +through his pockets when he was brought back, and +found the little Testament close over his heart; and +in it a verse was marked for his mother:</p> + +<p>“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth +us from all sin.”</p> + +<p>During the early days of the Salvation Army work in +France, while the work was still under inspection +as to its influence on the men, and one Colonel had +sent a Captain around to the meetings to report upon +them to him, “Ma’s” was one of the +meetings to which the Captain came.</p> + +<p>She did not know that she was under suspicion, but +that night she spoke on obedience and discipline, +taking as her text: “Take heed to the law,” +and urging the men to obey both moral and military +laws so that they might be better men and better soldiers. +The Captain reported on her sermon and said that he +wished the regiment had a Salvation Army chaplain for +every company.</p> + +<p>The hospital visitation work was started by “Ma” +in the Paris hospitals while she was in that city +for several months regaining her strength after a +physical break-down at the front. She was idolized +by the wounded. If she walked along any hospital passageway +or through any ward, a crowd of men were sure to call +her by name. They knew her as “Ma,” and +frequently, overworked nurses have called up the Paris +Salvation Army Headquarters asking if Ma could not +find time to come down and sit with a dying boy who +was calling for her. She observed their birthdays with +books and other small presents, wrote to their mothers, +wives and sweethearts, and performed a multitude of +invaluable, precious little services of love. For +weeks after she left Paris, returning to the front, +the wounded called for her. She is one of the outstanding +figures of the Salvation Army’s work with the +American Expeditionary Forces in France. She is indelibly +enshrined in the hearts of hundreds of American soldiers.</p> + +<p>A Salvation Army lassie bent over the bed of a wounded +boy recently arrived in the Paris hospital from the +front, and gave him an orange and a little sack of +candy.</p> + +<p>“I know the Salvation Army,” he said with +a faint smile, “I knew I should find you here.”</p> + +<p>She asked him his division and he told her he belonged +to one that had been coöperating with the French.</p> + +<p>“But how can that be?” she asked in surprise, +“we have never worked with your division. How +do you know about us?”</p> + +<p>“I only saw the Salvation Army once,” +he replied, “but I’ll never forget it. +It was when I came back to consciousness in the Dressing +Station at Cheppy, and the first thing I saw was a +Salvation Army girl bending over me washing the blood +and dirt off my face with cold water. She looked like +an angel and she was that to me. She gave me a drink +of cold lemonade when I was burning up with fever, +and she lifted my head to pour it between my lips +when I had not strength to move myself. No, I shall +not forget!”</p> + +<p>One bright young fellow with a bandaged eye turned +a cheerful grin toward the Salvation Army visitor +as she said with compassion: “Son, I’m +sorry you’ve lost your eye.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s nothing,” was the gay +reply, “I can see everything out of the other +eye. I’ve got seven holes in me, too, but believe +me I’m not going home for the loss of an eye +and seven holes! I’ll get out yet and get into +the fight!”</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army officer and his wife who were stationed +at Bonvillers visited every man in the local hospital +every day, sleeping every night in the open fields. +As they are quite elderly, this was no little hardship, +especially in rainy weather.</p> + +<p>Five lassies stationed at Noyers St. Martin were for +several weeks forced by the nightly shelling and air-raids +to take their blankets out into the fields at night +and sleep under the stars. One of these girls was called +“Sunshine” because of her smile.</p> + +<p>On the eve of Decoration Day a military Colonel visited +her in the hut. He seemed rather depressed, perhaps +by the ceremonies of the day, and said that he had +come to be cheered up. In parting he said, “Little +girl, you had better get out of town early to-night; +I feel as though something is going to happen.” +Less than an hour later, while the girls were just +preparing for the night in a field half a mile distant, +an aerial bomb dropped by an aviator on the house +in which he was billeted killed him and two other +Captains who were sitting with him at the time. He +had been a great friend of the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>Out in a little village in Indiana there grew a fair +young flower of a girl. Her mother was a dear Christian +woman and she was brought up in her mother’s +church, which she loved. When she was only twelve years +old she had a remarkable and thorough old-fashioned +conversion, giving herself with all her childish heart +to the Saviour. She feels that she had a kind of vision +at that time of what the Lord wanted her to be, a call +to do some special work for Christ out in the world, +helping people who did not know Him, people who were +sick and poor and sorrowful. She did not tell her +vision to anyone. She did not even know that anywhere +in the world were any people doing the kind of work +she felt she would like to do, and God had called +her to do. She was shy about it and kept her thoughts +much to herself. She loved her own church, and its +services, but somehow that did not quite satisfy her.</p> + +<p>One day when she was about fourteen years old the +Salvation Army came to the town where she lived and +opened work, holding its meetings in a large hall +or armory. With her young companions she attended these +meetings and was filled with a longing to be one of +these earnest Christian workers.</p> + +<p>Her mother, accustomed to a quiet conventional church +and its way of doing Christian work, was horrified; +and in alarm sent her away to visit her uncle, who +was a Baptist minister. The daughter, dutiful and sweet, +went willingly away, although she had many a longing +for these new friends of hers who seemed to her to +have found the way of working for God that had been +her own heart’s desire for so long.</p> + +<p>Meantime her gay young brother, curious to know what +had so stirred his bright sister, went to the Salvation +Army meetings to find out, and was attracted himself. +He went again and found Jesus Christ, and himself +joined the Salvation Army. The mother in this case +did not object, perhaps because she felt that a boy +needed more safeguards than a girl, perhaps because +the life of publicity would not trouble her so much +in connection with her son as with her daughter.</p> + +<p>The daughter after several months away from home returned, +only to find her longing to join the Salvation Army +stronger. But quietly and sweetly she submitted to +her mother’s wish and remained at home for some +years, like her Master before her, who went down to +His home in Nazareth and was subject to His father +and mother; showing by her gentle submission and her +lovely life that she really had the spirit of God in +her heart and was not merely led away by her enthusiasm +for something new and strange.</p> + +<p>When she was twenty her mother withdrew her objections, +and the daughter became a Salvationist, her mother +coming to feel thoroughly in sympathy with her during +the remaining years she lived.</p> + +<p>This is the story of one of the Salvation Army lassies +who has been giving herself to the work in the huts +over in France. She is still young and lovely, and +there is something about her delicate features and +slender grace that makes one think of a young saint. +No wonder the soldiers almost worshipped her! No wonder +these lassies were as safe over there ten miles from +any other woman or any other civilian alone among ten +thousand soldiers, as if they had been in their own +homes. They breathed the spirit of God as they worked, +as well as when they sang and prayed. To such a girl +a man may open his heart and find true help and strength.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus17"></a> +<img src="images/017.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="A letter of inspiration from +the commander" /> +<p class="caption"><b>A letter of inspiration from the commander</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus18"></a> +<img src="images/018.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The Salvation Army boy truck +driver who calmly went to sleep in his truck in a shell hole under fire" /> +<p class="caption"><b>The Salvation Army boy truck driver who calmly went to +sleep in his truck in a shell hole under fire</b></p> +</div> + +<p>It was no uncommon thing for our boys who were so +afraid of anything like religion or anything personal +over here, to talk to these lassies about their souls, +to ask them what certain verses in the Bible meant, +and to kneel with them in some quiet corner behind +the chocolate boxes and be prayed with, yes, and <i>pray!</i> +It is because these girls have let the Christ into +their lives so completely that He lives and speaks +through them, and the boys cannot help but recognize +it.</p> + +<p>Not every boy who was in a Salvation hut meeting has +given himself to Christ, of course, but every one +of them recognizes this wonderful something in these +girls. Ask them. They will tell you “She is the +real thing!” They won’t tell you more +than that, perhaps, unless they have really grown +in the Christian life, but they mean that they have +recognized in her spirit a likeness to the spirit of +Christ.</p> + +<p>Now and then, of course, there was a thick-headed +one who took some minutes to recognize holiness. Such +would enter a hut with an oath upon his lips, or an +unclean story, and straightway all the men who were +sitting at the tables writing or standing about the +room would come to attention with one of those little +noisy silences that mean, so much; pencils would click +down on the table like a challenge, and the newcomer +would look up to find the cold glances of his fellows +upon him.</p> + +<p>The boys who frequented the huts broke the habit of +swearing and telling unclean stories, and officers +began to realize that their men were better in their +work because of this holy influence that was being +thrown about them. One officer said his men worked +better, and kept their engines oiled up so they wouldn’t +be delayed on the road, that they might get back to +the hut early in the evening. The picture of a girl +stirring chocolate kept the light of hope going in +the heart of many a homesick lad.</p> + +<p>One ignorant and exceedingly “fresh” youth, +once walked boldly into a hut, it is said, and jauntily +addressed the lassie behind the counter as “Dearie.” +The sweet blue eyes of the lassie grew suddenly cold +with aloofness, and she looked up at the newcomer +without her usual smile, saying distinctly: <i>“What +did you say?</i>”</p> + +<p>The soldier stared, and grew red and unhappy:</p> + +<p>“Oh! I beg your pardon!” he said, and +got himself out of the way as soon as possible. These +lassies needed no chaperon. They were young saints +to the boys they served, and they had a cordon of +ten thousand faithful soldiers drawn about them night +and day. As a military Colonel said, the Salvation +Army lassie was the only woman in France who was safe +unchaperoned.</p> + +<p>When this lassie from Indiana came back on a short +furlough after fifteen months in France with the troops, +and went to her home for a brief visit, the Mayor +gave the home town a holiday, had out the band and +waited at the depot in his own limousine for four +hours that he might not miss greeting her and doing +her honor.</p> + +<p>Here is the poem which Pte. Joseph T. Lopes wrote +about “Those Salvation Army Folks” after +the Montdidier attack:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Somewhere in France, not far from the foe,<br /> +There’s a body of workers whose name we all know;<br /> +Who not only at home give their lives to make right,<br /> +But are now here beside us, fighting our fight.<br /> +What care they for rest when our boys at the front,<br /> +Who, fighting for freedom, are bearing the brunt,<br /> +And so, just at dawn, when the caissons come home,<br /> +With the boys tired out and chilled to the bone,<br /> +The Salvation Army with its brave little crew,<br /> +Are waiting with doughnuts and hot coffee, too.<br /> +When dangers and toiling are o’er for awhile,<br /> +In their dugouts we find comfort and welcome their smile.<br /> +There’s a spirit of home, so we go there each night,<br /> +And the thinking of home makes us sit down and write,<br /> +So we tell of these folks to our loved ones with pride,<br /> +And are thanking the Lord to have them on our side. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>V.<br/> +The Toul Sector Again</h2> + +<p>When the German offensive was definitely checked in +the Montdidier Sector, the First Division was transferred +back to the Toul Sector and the Salvation Army moved +with it. They had in the meantime maintained all the +huts which had been established originally, and with +the return of the First Division, they established +additional huts between Font and Nancy. When the St. +Mihiel drive came off, they followed the advancing +troops, establishing huts in the devastated villages, +keeping in as close contact with the extreme front +as was possible, serving the troops day and night, +always aiming to be at the point where the need was +the greatest, and where they could be of the greatest +service.</p> + +<p>The first Americans to pay the supreme sacrifice in +the cause of liberty were buried in the Toul Sector.</p> + +<p>As it drew near to Decoration Day there came a message +from over the sea from the Commander to her faithful +band of workers, saying that she was sending American +flags, one for every American soldier’s grave, +and that she wanted the graves cared for and decorated; +and at all the various locations of Salvation Army +workers they prepared to do her bidding.</p> + +<p>The day before the thirtieth of May they took time +from their other duties to clear away the mud, dead +grass and fallen leaves from the graves, and heap +up the mounds where they had been washed flat by the +rains, making each one smooth, regular and tidy. At +the head of each grave was a simple wooden cross bearing +the name of the soldier who lay there, his rank, his +regiment and the date of his death. Into the back of +each cross they drove a staple for a flag, and they +swept and garnished the place as best they could.</p> + +<p>One Salvation Army woman writing home told of the +plans they had made in Treveray for Decoration Day; +how Commander Booth was sending enough American flags +to decorate every American grave in France, and how +they meant to gather flowers and put with the flags, +and have a little service of prayer over the graves.</p> + +<p>In the gray old French cemetery of Treveray five American +boys lay buried. The flowers upon their graves were +dry and dead, for their regiments had moved on and +left them. The graves had been neglected and only the +guarding wooden crosses remained above the rough earth +to show that someone had cared and had stopped to +put a mark above the places where they lay. It was +these graves the Salvation Army woman now proposed +to decorate on Memorial Day.</p> + +<p>The letter went to the Captain for censorship, and +soon the Salvation Army woman had a call from him.</p> + +<p>“I understand by one of your letters that you +are thinking of decorating the American graves,” +he said. “We would like to help in that, if you +don’t mind. I would like the company all to be +present.”</p> + +<p>The day before Memorial Day this woman with two of +the lassies from the hut went to the cemetery and +prepared for the morrow.</p> + +<p>In the morning they gathered great armfuls of crimson +poppies from the fields, creamy snowballs from neglected +gardens, and blue bachelor buttons from the hillsides, +which they arranged in bouquets of red, white and blue +for the graves. They had no vases in which to place +the flowers but they used the apple tins in which +the apples for their pies had been canned.</p> + +<p>The centuries-old gray cemetery nestled in a curve +of the road between wheat fields on every side. A +gray, moss-covered, lichen-hung wall surrounded it. +The five American graves were under the shadow of the +Western wall, and the sun was slowly sinking in his +glory as the company of soldiers escorted the women +into the cemetery. They passed between the ponderous +old gray stones, and beaded wreaths of the French graves; +and the officers and men lined up facing the five +graves. The women placed the tricolored flowers in +the cans prepared for them, and planted the flags +beside them. Then the elder woman, who had sons of +her own, stepped out and saluted the military commanding +officer: “Colonel” said she, “with +your permission we would like to follow our custom +and offer a prayer for the bereaved.” Instantly +permission was given and every head was uncovered +as the Salvationist poured out her heart in prayer +to the Everlasting Father, commending the dead into +His tender Keeping, and pleading for the sorrow-stricken +friends across the sea, until the soldiers’ tears +fell unchecked as they stood with rifles stiffly in +front of them listening to the quiet voice of the +woman as she prayed. God seemed Himself to come down, +and the living boys standing over their five dead comrades +could not help but be enfolded in His love, and feel +the sense of His presence. They knew that they, too, +might soon be sleeping even as these at their feet. +It seemed but a step to the other life. When the prayer +was finished a firing squad fired five volleys over +the graves, and then the bugler played the taps and +the little service was over. The lassies lingered to +take pictures of the graves and that night they wrote +letters describing the ceremony, to be sent with the +photographs to the War Department at Washington with +the request that they be forwarded to the nearest +relatives of the five men buried at Treveray.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus19"></a> +<img src="images/019.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The centuries-old gray +cemetery in Treveray" /> +<p class="caption"><b>The centuries-old gray cemetery in Treveray</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus20"></a> +<img src="images/020.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Colonel Barker placing the +commander’s flowers on Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt’s grave" /> +<p class="caption"><b>Colonel Barker placing the commander’s flowers on +Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt’s grave</b></p> +</div> + +<p>There were exercises at Menil-la-Tour and here they +had built a simple platform in the centre of the ground +and erected a flagpole at one corner.</p> + +<p>When the morning came two regimental bands took up +their positions in opposite corners of the cemetery +and began to play. The French populace had turned +out en masse. They took up their stand just outside +the little cemetery, next to them the soldiers were +lined up, then the Red Cross, then the Y.M.C.A. Beyond, +a little hill rose sloping gently to the sky line, +and over it a mile away was the German front, with +the shells coming over all the time.</p> + +<p>It was an impressive scene as all stood with bared +heads just outside the little enclosure where eighty-one +wooden crosses marked the going of as many brave spirits +who had walked so blithely into the crisis and given +their young lives.</p> + +<p>Some French officers had brought a large, beautiful +wreath to do honor to the American heroes, and this +was placed at the foot of the great central flagpole.</p> + +<p>The bands played, and they all sang. It was announced +that but for the thoughtfulness and kindness of Commander +Evangeline Booth in sending over flags those graves +would have gone undecorated that day.</p> + +<p>The Commanding General then came to the front and +behind him walked the Salvation Army lassies bearing +the flags in their arms.</p> + +<p>Down the long row of graves he passed. He would take +a flag from one of the girls, slip it in the staple +back of the cross, stand a moment at salute, then +pass on to the next. It was very still that May morning, +broken only by the awesome boom of battle just over +the hill, but to that sound all had grown accustomed. +The people stood with that hush of sorrow over them +which only the majesty of death can bring to the hearts +of a crowd, and there were tears in many eyes and +on the faces of rough soldiers standing there to honor +their comrades who had been called upon to give their +lives to the great cause of freedom.</p> + +<p>A little breeze was blowing and into the solemn stillness +there stole a new sound, the silken ripple of the +flags as one by one they were set fluttering from +the crosses, like a soft, growing, triumphant chorus +of those to come whose lives were to be made safe +because these had died. As if the flag would waft +back to the Homeland, and the stricken mothers and +fathers, sisters and sweethearts, some idea of the +greatness of the cause in which they died to comfort +them in their sorrow.</p> + +<p>Out through each line the General passed, placing +the flags and solemnly saluting, till eighty graves +had been decorated and there was only one left; but +there was no flag for the eighty-first grave! Somehow, +although they thought they had brought several more +than were needed, they were one short. But the General +stood and saluted the grave as he had the others, +and later the flag was brought and put in place, so +that every American grave in the Toul Sector that +day had its flag fluttering from its cross.</p> + +<p>Then the General and the soldiers saluted the large +flag. It was an impressive moment with the deep thunder +of the guns just over the hill reminding of more battle +and more lives to be laid down.</p> + +<p>The General then addressed the soldiers, and facing +toward the West and pointing he said:</p> + +<p>“Out there in that direction is Washington and +the President, and all the people of the United States, +who are looking to you to set the world free from +tyranny. Over there are the mothers who have bade you +good-bye with tears and sent you forth, and are waiting +at home and praying for you, trusting in you. Out +there are the fathers and the sisters and the sweethearts +you have left behind, all depending on you to do your +best for the Right. Now,” said he in a clear +ringing voice, “turn and salute America!” +And they all turned and saluted toward the West, while +the band played softly “My Country ’Tis +of Thee!”</p> + +<p>It was a wonderful, beautiful, solemn sight, every +man standing and saluting while the flags fluttered +softly on the breeze.</p> + +<p>Behind the little French Catholic church in the village +of Bonvilliers there was quite a large field which +had been turned over to the Americans for a cemetery. +The Military Major had caused an arch to be made over +the gateway inscribed with the words: “<span class="smallcaps">National Cemetery of the American Expeditionary Forces</span>.” +There were over two hundred graves inside the cemetery.</p> + +<p>On Decoration Day the Regimental Band led a parade +through the village streets to the graveyard, the +French women in black and little French children, +with wreaths made of wonderful beaded flowers cunningly +constructed from beads strung on fine wires, marching +in the parade. Arrived at the cemetery they all stood +drawn up in line while the Military Major gave a beautiful +address, first in French and then in English. He then +told the French children and women to take their places +one at each grave, and lay down their tributes of +flowers for the Americans. Following this the Salvation +Army placed flags on each on behalf of the mothers +of the boys who were lying there.</p> + +<p>It was noon-day. The sun was very bright and every +white cross bearing the name of the fallen glittered +in the sun. Even the worst little hovel over in France +is smothered in a garden and bright with myriads of +flowers, so everything was gay with blossoms and everybody +had brought as many as could be carried.</p> + +<p>Over in one corner of the cemetery were two German +graves, and one of the lassies of that organization +which proclaims salvation for all men went and laid +some blossoms there also.</p> + +<p>At La Folie one of the Salvation Army lassies going +across the fields on some errand of mercy found three +American graves undecorated and bare on Memorial Day, +and turning aside from the road she gathered great +armfuls of scarlet poppies from the fields and came +and laid them on the three mounds, then knelt and +prayed for the friends of the boys whose bodies were +lying there.</p> + +<p>The whole world was startled and saddened when the +news came that Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt had been +shot down in his airplane in action and fallen within +the enemy’s lines.</p> + +<p>He was crudely buried by the Germans where he fell, +near Chambray, and a rude cross set up to mark the +place. All around were pieces of his airplane shattered +on the ground and left as they had fallen.</p> + +<p>When the spot fell into the hands of the Allies, the +grave was cared for by the Salvation Army; a new white +cross set up beside the old one, and gentle hands +smoothed the mound and made it shapely. On Decoration +Day Colonel Barker placed upon this grave the beautiful +flowers arranged for by cable by Commander Booth.</p> + +<p>The girls went down to decorate the two hundred American +graves at Mandres, and even while they bent over the +flaming blossoms and laid them on the mounds an air +battle was going on over their heads. Close at hand +was the American artillery being moved to the front +on a little narrow-gauge railroad that ran near to +the graveyard, and the Germans were firing and trying +to get them.</p> + +<p>But the girls went steadily on with their work, scattering +flowers and setting flags until their service of love +was over. Then they stood aside for the prayer and +a song. One of the Salvation Army Captains with a fine +voice began to sing:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +My loved ones in the Homeland<br /> + Are waiting me to come,<br /> +Where neither death nor sorrow<br /> + Invades their holy home;<br /> +O dear, dear native country!<br /> + O rest and peace above!<br /> +Christ, bring us all to the Homeland<br /> + Of Thy redeeming love. +</p> + +<p>Into the midst of the song came the engine on the +little narrow track straight toward where he stood, +and he had to step aside onto a pile of dirt to finish +his song.</p> + +<p>That same Captain went on ahead to the Home Land not +long after when the epidemic of influenza swept over +the world; and he was given the honor of a military +funeral.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>VI.<br/> +The Baccarat Sector</h2> + +<p>Baccarat was the Zone Headquarters for that Sector.</p> + +<p>Down the Main street there hung a sign on an old house +labeled “<span class="smallcaps">Modern Bar</span>.”</p> + +<p>Inside everything was all torn up. It had never been +opened since the battles of 1914. The Germans had +lived there and everything was in an awful condition. +One wonders how they endured themselves. The Military +detailed two men for two days to spade up and carry +away the filth from the bedrooms, and it took two +women an entire week all but one day, scrubbing all +day long until their shoulders ached, to scrub the +place clean. But they got it clean. They were the +kind of women that did not give up even when a thing +seemed an impossibility. This was the sort of thing +they were up against continually. They could have no +meetings that week because they had to scrub and make +the place fit for a Salvation Army hut.</p> + +<p>Two of the lassies were awakened early one bright +morning by the sound of an axe ringing rhythmically +on wood, just back of their canteen. It was a cheerful +sound to wake to, for the girls had been through a +long wearing day and night, and they knew when they +went to sleep that the wood was almost gone. It was +always so pleasant to have someone offer to cut it +for them, for they never liked to have to ask help +of the soldiers if they could possibly avoid it. But +there was so much else to be done besides cutting +wood. Not that they could not do that, too, when the +need offered. The sisters looked sleepily at one another, +thinking simultaneously of the poor homesick doughboy +who had told them the day before that chopping wood +for them made him think of home and mother and that +was why he liked to do it. Of course, it was he hard +at work for them before they were up, and they smiled +contentedly, with a lifted prayer for the poor fellow. +They knew he had received no mail for four months +and that only a few days before he had read in a paper +sent to one of his pals of the death of his sister. +Of course, his heart was breaking, for he knew what +his widowed mother was suffering. They knew that his +salvation from homesickness just now lay in giving +him something to do, so they lingered a little just +to give him the chance, and planned how they would +let him help with the doughnuts, and fix the benches, +later, when the wood was cut.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the girls were ready for the day’s +work and went around to the kitchen, where the sound +of the ringing axe was still heard in steady strokes. +But when they rounded the corner of the kitchen and +greeted the wood-chopper cheerily, he looked up, and +lo! it was not the homesick doughboy as they had supposed, +but the Colonel of the regiment himself who smiled +half apologetically at them, saying he liked his new +job; and when they invited him to breakfast he accepted +the invitation with alacrity.</p> + +<p>After breakfast the girls went to work making pies. +There had been no oven in the little French town in +which they were stationed, and so baking had been +impossible, but the boys kept talking and talking about +pies until one day a Lieutenant found an old French +stove in some ruins. They had to half bury it in the +earth to make it strong enough for use, but managed +to make it work at last, and though much hampered +by the limitations of the small oven, they baked enough +to give all the boys a taste of pie once a week or +so. Pie day was so welcomed that it almost made a riot, +so many boys wanted a slice.</p> + +<p>They were having a meeting one night at Baccarat. +There was a great deal of noise going on outside the +dugout. The shells were falling around rather indiscriminately, +but it takes more than shell fire to stop a Salvation +Army meeting at the front. There is only one thing +that will stop it, and that is a sudden troop movement. +It is the same way with baseball, for the week before +this meeting two regimental baseball teams played +seven innings of air-tight ball while the shells were +falling not three hundred yards away at the roadside +edge of their ball-ground. During the seven innings +only eight hits were allowed by the two pitchers. The +score was close and when at the end of the seventh +a shell exploded within fifty yards of the diamond +and an officer shouted: “Game called on account +of shell fire!” there was considerable dissatisfaction +expressed because the game was not allowed to continue. +It is with the same spirit that the men attend their +religious meetings. They come because they want-to +and they won’t let anything interfere with it.</p> + +<p>But on this particular night the meeting was in full +force, and so were the shells. It had been a meeting +in which the men had taken part, led by one of the +women whose leadership was unquestioned among them, +a personal testimony meeting in which several soldiers +and an officer had spoken of what Christ had done +for them. Then there was a solo by one of the lassies, +and the Adjutant opened his Bible and began to read. +He took as his text Isaiah 55:1. “Ho, every +one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he +that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat.”</p> + +<p>Those boys knew what it was to be thirsty, terrible +thirst! They had come back from the lines sometimes +their tongues parched and their whole bodies feverish +with thirst and there was nothing to be had to drink +until the Salvation Army people had appeared with +good cold lemonade; and when they had no money they +had given it to them just the same. Oh, they knew what +that verse meant and their attention was held at once +as the speaker went on to show plainly how Jesus Christ +would give the water of life just as freely to those +who were thirsty for it. And they were thirsty! They +did not wish to conceal how thirsty they were for +the living water.</p> + +<p>Just in the midst of the talk the lights went out. +Many a church under like conditions would have had +a panic in no time, but this crowded audience sat +perfectly quiet, listening as the speaker went on, +quoting his Bible from memory where he could not read.</p> + +<p>Over there in the corner on a bench sat the lassies, +the women who had been serving them all through the +hard days, as quiet and calm in the darkness as though +they sat in a cushioned pew in some well-lit church +in New York. It was as if the guns were like annoying +little insects that were outside a screen, and now +and then slipped in, so little attention did the audience +pay to them. When all those who wished to accept this +wonderful invitation were asked to come forward, seven +men arose and stumbled through the darkness. The light +from a bursting shell revealed for an instant the +forms of these men as they knelt at the rough bench +in front, one of them with his steel helmet hanging +from his arm as he prayed aloud for his own salvation. +No one who was in that meeting that night could doubt +but that Jesus Christ Himself was there, and that those +men all felt His presence.</p> + +<p>In Bertrichamps the Salvation Army was given a large +glass factory for a canteen. It made a beautiful place, +and there was room to take care of eight hundred men +at a time. This building was also used by the Y. M. +C. A. as well as the Jews and the Catholics for their +services, there being no other suitable place in town. +But everybody worked together, and got along harmoniously.</p> + +<p>Here there were some wonderful meetings, and it was +great to hear the boys singing “When The Roll +Is Called Up Yonder, I’ll Be There.” Perhaps +if some of the half-hearted Christians at home could +have caught the echo of that song sung with such earnestness +by those boyish voices they would have had a revelation. +It seemed as if the earth-film were more than half +torn away from their young, wise eyes over there; and +they found that earthly standards and earthly false-whisperings +did not fit. They felt the spirit of the hour, they +felt the spirit of the place, and of the people who +were serving them patiently day by day; who didn’t +have to stay there and work; who might have kept in +back of the lines and worked and sent things up now +and then; but who chose to stay close with them and +share their hardships. They felt that something more +than just love to their fellow-men had instigated +such unselfishness. They knew it was something they +needed to help them through what was before them. They +reached hungrily after the Christ and they found Him.</p> + +<p>Then they testified in the meetings. Often as many +as twelve or more before an audience of five hundred +would get up and tell what Jesus had become to them. +In one meeting in this glass factory two hundred soldiers +pledged to serve the Lord, to read their Bibles, and +to pray.</p> + +<p>There were in this place some Christian boys who came +from families where they had been accustomed to family +worship, and who now that they were far away from +it, looked back with longing to the days when it had +been a part of every day. Things look different over +there with the sound of battle close at hand, and +customs that had been, a part of every-day life at +home became very dear, perhaps dearer than they had +ever seemed before. They found out that the Salvation +Army people had prayers every night after they closed +the canteen at half-past nine and went to their rooms +in a house not far away, and so they begged that they +might share the worship with them. So every night +they took home fifteen or twenty men to the living-room +of the house where they stayed just as many as they +could crowd in, and there they would have a little +Bible reading and prayer together. The Father only +knows how many souls were strengthened and how many +feet kept from falling because of those brief moments +of worship with these faithful men and women of God.</p> + +<p>“Oh, if you only knew what it means to us!” +one of the men tried to tell them one day.</p> + +<p>Sometimes men who said they hadn’t prayed nor +read their Bibles for years would be found in little +groups openly reading a testament to each other.</p> + +<p>When the girls opened their shutters in the morning +they could look out over the spot in No Man’s +Land which was the scene of such frightful German +atrocities in 1914.</p> + +<p>Our field artillery, stationed in the woods, sent +over to the Salvation Army to know if they wouldn’t +come over and cook something for them, they were starving +for some home cooking. So two of the women put on their +steel helmets and their gas masks, for the Boche planes +were flying everywhere, and went over across No Man’s +Land to see if there was a place where they could +open up a hut. They were walking along quietly, talking, +and had not noticed the German plane that approached. +They were so accustomed to seeing them by twos and +threes that a single one did not attract their attention. +Suddenly almost over their heads the Boche dropped +a shell, trying to get them. But it was a dud and did +not explode. Two American soldiers came tearing over, +crying: “Girls! Are you hurt?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” said one of them brightly. “The +Lord wouldn’t let that fellow get us.”</p> + +<p>The soldiers used strong language as they looked after +the fast-vanishing plane, but then they glanced back +at the women again with something unspoken in their +eyes. They believed, those boys, they really did, that +God protected those women; and they used to beg them +to remain with their regiment when they were going +near the front, because they wanted their prayers +as a protection. Some of the regiments openly said +they thought those girls’ prayers had saved +their lives.</p> + +<p>That Boche plane, however, had not far to go. Before +it reached Baccarat the Americans trained their guns +on it and brought it down in flames.</p> + +<p>The house occupied by the Salvation Army girls as +a billet had a sad story connected with it. When the +Germans had come the father was soon killed and four +German officers had taken possession of the place for +their Headquarters. They also took possession of the +two little girls of the family, nine and fourteen +years of age, to wait upon them. And the first command +that was given these children was that they should +wait upon the men nude! The youngest child was not +old enough to understand what this meant, but the +older one was in terror, and they begged and cried +and pleaded but all to no purpose. The officer was +inexorable. He told them that if they did not obey +they would be shot.</p> + +<p>The poor old grandfather and grandmother, too feeble +to do anything, and powerless, of course, to aid, +could only endure in agony. The grandmother, telling +the Salvation Army women the story afterward, pointed +with trembling lingers and streaming eyes to the two +little graves in the yard and said: “Oh, it +would have been so much better if he had shot them! +They lie out there as the result of their infamous +and inhuman treatment.”</p> + +<p>Some most amusing incidents came to the knowledge +of the Salvation Army workers.</p> + +<p>An old French woman, over eighty years of age, lived +in one of the stricken villages on the Vosges front. +Her home had been several times struck by shells and +was frequently the target for enemy bombing squadrons. +All through the war she refused to leave the home in +which she had lived from earliest childhood.</p> + +<p>“It is not the guns, nor the bombs which can +frighten me,” she told a Salvation Army lassie +who was billeted with her for a time, “but I +am very much afraid of the submarines.”</p> + +<p>The village was several hundred miles inland.</p> + +<p>The activity was all at night, for no one dared be +seen about in the daytime. It must be a very urgent +duty that would call men forth into full view of the +enemy. But as soon, as the dark came on the men would +crawl into the trenches, stick their rifles between +the sandbags and get ready for work.</p> + +<p>It seemed to be always raining. They said that when +it wasn’t actually raining it was either clearing +off or just getting ready to rain again. Twenty minutes +in the trenches and a man was all over mud, wet, cold, +slippery mud. In his hair, down his neck, in his boots, +everywhere.</p> + +<p>Through the trenches just behind the standing place +ran a deeper trench or drain to carry the water away, +and this was covered over with a rough board called +a duck-board. Underneath this duck-board ran a continual +stream of water. A man would go along the trench in +a hurry, make a misstep on one end of the duck-board +and down he would go in mud and freezing water to +the waist. In these cold, wet garments he must stay +all night. The tension was very great.</p> + +<p>As the soldiers had to work in the night, so the Salvation +Army men and women worked in the night to serve them.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army men would visit the sentries and +bring them coffee and doughnuts prepared in the dugouts +by the girls. It was exceedingly dangerous work. They +would crawl through the connecting trenches, which +were not more than three feet deep, and one must stoop +to be safe, and get to the front-line trenches with +their cans of coffee. They would touch a fellow on +the shoulder, fill his mug with coffee, and slip him +some doughnuts. At such times the things were always +given, not sold. They did not dare even to whisper, +for the enemy listening posts were close at hand and +the slightest breath might give away their position. +The sermon would be a pat of encouragement on a man’s +shoulder, then pass on to the next.</p> + +<p>One morning at three o’clock a Salvationist +carried a second supply of hot coffee to the battery +positions. One gunner with tense, strained face eyed +his full coffee mug with satisfaction and said with +a sigh: “Good! That is all I wanted. I can keep +going until morning now!”</p> + +<p>When the men were lined up for a raid there would +be a prayer-meeting in the dugout, thirty inside and +as many as could crowded around the door. Just a prayer +and singing. Then the boys would go to the girls and +leave their little trinkets or letters, and say: “I’m +going over the top, Sister. If I don’t come +back—if I’m kicked off—you tell mother. You +will know what to say to her to help her bear up.”</p> + +<p>Three-quarters of an hour later what was left of them +would return and the girls would be ready with hot +coffee and doughnuts. It was heart-breaking, back-aching, +wonderful work, work fit for angels to do, and these +girls did it with all their souls.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you tired? Aren’t you afraid?” +asked someone of a lassie who had been working hard +for forty consecutive hours, aiding the doctors in +caring for the wounded, and in a lull had found time +to mix up and fry a batch of doughnuts in a corner +from which the roof had been completely blown by shells.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no! It’s great!” she replied +eagerly. “I’m the luckiest girl in the +world.”</p> + +<p>By this time the Salvation Army had acquired many +great three-ton trucks, and the drivers of those risked +their lives daily to carry supplies to the dugouts +and huts that were taking care of the men at the front.</p> + +<p>There were signs all over everywhere: “<span class="smallcaps">Attention! +The Enemy Sees You</span>!” Trucks were not allowed +to go in daytime except in case of great emergency. +Sometimes in urgent cases day-passes would be given +with the order: “If you have to go, go like +the devil!”</p> + +<p>The enemy always had the range on the road where the +trucks had to pass, and especially in exposed places +and on cross-roads a man had no chance if he paused. +Once he had been sighted by the enemy he was done for. +A man driving on a hasty errand once dropped his crank, +and stopped his truck, to pick it up. Even as he stooped +to take it a shell struck his truck and smashed it +to bits.</p> + +<p>Most of the travelling had to be done at night. Silently, +without a light over roads as dark as pitch, where +the only possible guide was the faint line above where +the trees parted and showed the sky; over rough, muddy +roads, filled with shell-holes, the trucks went nightly. +Just fall in line, keep to the right, and whistle +softly when something got in the way. No claxon horns +could be used, for that was the gas alarm. A man could +not even wear a radiolight watch on his wrist or a +driver smoke a cigarette.</p> + +<p>One very dark night a truck came through with a man +sitting away out on the radiator watching the road +and telling the driver where to go. The only light +would be from shells exploding or occasional signal +lights for a moment.</p> + +<p>To get supplies from where they were to where they +were needed was an urgent necessity which often arose +with but momentary warning—frequently with no warning +at all. The American front was a matter not of miles, +but of hundreds of miles, and the call for supplies +might come from any point along that front. Sometimes +the call meant the immediate shipment of tons of blankets, +oranges, lemons, sugar, flour for doughnuts, lard, +chocolate and other materials, to a point 200 miles +distant. At times a railroad may supply a part of +the route, but always there is a long, dangerous truck +haul, and usually the entire route must be covered +by truck.</p> + +<p>During the winter there were many thrills added to +the already strenuous task of the Salvation Army truck +drivers. One of them driving late at night in a snowstorm, +mistook a river for the road for which he was searching, +and turned from the real road to the snow-covered surface +of the river, which he followed for some little distance +before discovering his mistake. Fortunately, the ice +was solid and the truck unloaded-an unusual combination.</p> + +<p>Another missed the road and drove into a field, where +his wheels bogged down. His fellow-traveller, driving +a Ford, went for help, leaving him with his truck, +for if it had been left unguarded it would have soon +been stripped of every movable part by passing truck +drivers. Here he remained for almost forty-eight hours, +during which time there was considerable shelling.</p> + +<p>A Catholic Chaplain told the Salvation Army Staff-Captain +that he thought the reason the Salvation Army was +so popular with his men was because the Salvation +Army kept its promises to the men.</p> + +<p>When the Salvation Army officer went to open work +in the town of Baccarat it was so crowded that he +was unable to secure accommodations. He was having +dinner in the cafe, but could get no bread because +he had no bread tickets, The local K. of C. man, observing +his difficulty, supplied tickets, and, finding that +he had no place to sleep, offered to share his own +meagre accommodations. For several nights he shared +his bed with him and the Salvation Army officer was +greatly assisted by him in many ways. The Salvation +Army is popular not alone among the soldiers.</p> + +<p>While the offensive was on in Argonne and north of +Verdun, those who were in the huts in the old training +area, which were then used as rest buildings, decided +to do something for the boys, and on one occasion they +fried fourteen thousand doughnuts and took them to +the boys at the front. They traveled in the trucks, +and distributed the doughnuts to the boys as they +came from the trenches and sent others into the trenches.</p> + +<p>By the time they were through, the day was far spent +and it was necessary for them to find some place to +stay over night. Verdun was the only large city anywhere +near but it had either been largely destroyed or the +civil population had long since abandoned it and there +was no place available.</p> + +<p>Underneath the trenches, however, there had been constructed +in ancient times, underground passages. There are +fifty miles of these underground galleries honeycombed +beneath the city, sufficiently large to shelter the +entire population. There are cross sections of galleries, +between the longer passage ways, and winding stairways +here and there. Air is supplied by a system of pumps. +There are theatres and a church, also. The Army protecting +Verdun had occupied these underground passages.</p> + +<p>When the officer commanding the French troops learned +that the Salvation Army girls were obliged to stay +over night, he arranged for their accommodation in +the underground passage and here they rested in perfect +security with such comforts as cots and blankets could +insure.</p> + +<p>It was said that they were the only women ever permitted +to remain in these underground passages.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>VII.<br/> +The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive</h2> + +<p>When the trouble at Seicheprey broke out the Germans +began shelling Beaumont and Mandres, and things took +on a very serious look for the Salvation Army. Then +the Military Colonel gave an order for the girls to +leave Ansauville, and loading them up on a truck he +sent them to Menil-la-Tour. They never allowed girls +again in that town until after the St. Mihiel drive.</p> + +<p>That was a wild ride in the night for those girls +sitting in an army truck, jolted over shell holes +with the roar of battle all about them; the blackness +of night on every side, shells bursting often near +them, yet they were as calm as if nothing were the +matter; finally the car got stuck under range of the +enemy’s fire, but they never flinched and they +sat quietly in the car in a most dangerous position +for twenty minutes while the Colonel and the Captain +were out locating a dugout. Plucky little girls!</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army Staff-Captain of that zone went +back in the morning to Ansauville to get the girls’ +personal belongings, and when he entered the canteen +he stood still and looked about him with horror and +thankfulness as he realized the narrow escape those +girls had had. The windows and roof were full of shell +holes. Shrapnel had penetrated everywhere. He went +about to examine and took pieces of shrapnel out of +the flour and sugar and coffee which had gone straight +through the tin containers. The vanilla bottles were +broken and there was shrapnel in the vanilla, shrapnel +was embedded in the wooden tops of the tables, and +in the walls.</p> + +<p>He went to the billet where two of the girls had slept. +Opposite their bed on the other side of the room was +a window and over the bed was a large picture. A shell +had passed through the window and smashed the picture, +shattering the glass in fragments all over the bed. +Another shell had entered the window, passed over +the pillows of the bed and gone out through the wall +by the bed. It would have gone through the temples +of any sleeper in that bed. After this they kept men +in Ansauville instead of girls.</p> + +<p>The next day the girls opened up the canteen at Menilla-Tour +as calmly as if nothing had happened the day before.</p> + +<p>The boys were going down to Nevillers to rest, and +while they rested the girls cooked good things for +them and used that sweet God-given influence that +makes a little piece of home and heaven wherever it +is found.</p> + +<p>The girls did not get much rest, but then they had +not come to France to rest, as they often told people +who were always urging them to save themselves. They +did get one bit of luxury in the shape of passes down +to Beauvais. There it was possible to get a bath and +the girls had not been able to have that from the +first of April to the first of July. They had to stand +in line with the officers, it is true, to take their +turn at the public bath houses, but it was a real +delight to have plenty of water for once, for their +appointments at the front had been most restricted +and water a scarce commodity. Sometimes it had been +difficult to get enough water for the cooking and +the girls had been obliged to use cold cream to wash +their faces for several days at a time. Of course, +it was an impossibility for them to do any laundry +work for themselves, as there was neither time nor +place nor facilities. Their laundry was always carried +by courier to some near-by city and brought back to +them in a few days.</p> + +<p>The Zone Major had supper with the Colonel, who told +him that none of the organizations would be allowed +on the drive. The Zone Major asked if they might be +allowed to go as far as Crepy. The Colonel much excited +said: “Man, don’t you know that town is +being shelled every night?” The next morning +a party of sixteen Salvation Army men and women started +out in the truck for Crepy. It was a beautiful day +and they rode all day long. At nightfall they reached +the village of Crepy where they were welcomed eagerly. +The Zone Major had to leave and go back and wanted +them all to stay there, but they were unwilling to +do so because their own outfit was going over the +top that night and they wanted to be with them before +they left. They started from Crepy about five o’clock +and got lost in the woods, but finally, after wandering +about for some hours, landed in Roy St. Nicholas where +was the outfit to which one of the girls belonged.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army boys had just pulled in with another +truck and were getting ready for the night, for they +always slept in their trucks. The girls decided to +sit down in the road until the billeting officer arrived, +but time passed and no billeting officer came. They +were growing very weary, so they got into the Colonel’s +car, which stood at the roadside, and went to sleep. +A little later the billeting officer appeared with +many apologies and offered to take them to the billet +that had been set aside for them. They took their +rolls of blankets, and climbed sleepily out of the +car, following him two blocks down the street to an +old building. But when they reached there they found +that some French officers had taken possession and +were fast asleep, so they went back to the car and +slept till morning. At daylight they went down to +a brook to wash but found that the soldiers were there +ahead of them, and they had to go back and be content +with freshening up with cold cream. Thus did these +lassies, accustomed to daintiness in their daily lives, +accommodate themselves to the necessities of war, +as easily and cheerfully as the soldier boys themselves.</p> + +<p>That day the rest of the outfits arrived, and they +all pulled into Morte Fontaine.</p> + +<p>Morte Fontaine was well named because there was no +water in the town fit to use.</p> + +<p>The girls felt they were needed nearer the front, +so they went to Major Peabody and asked permission.</p> + +<p>“I should say not!” he replied vigorously +with yet a twinkle of admiration for the brave lassies. +“But you can take anything you want in this town.”</p> + +<p>So the girls went out and found an old building. It +was very dirty but they went cheerfully to work, cleaned +it up, and started their canteen.</p> + +<p>There was a hospital in the town; they knew that by +the many ambulances that were continually going back +and forth; so they offered their services to the doctors, +which were eagerly accepted. After that they took turns +staying in the canteen and going to the hospital.</p> + +<p>The hospital was fearfully crowded, though it was +in no measure the fault of the hospital authorities, +for they were doing their best, working with all their +might; but it had not been expected that there would +be so many wounded at this point and they had not +adequate accommodations. Many of the wounded boys +were lying on the ground in the sun, covered with blood +and flies, and parched with thirst and fever. There +were not enough ambulances to carry them further back +to the base hospitals.</p> + +<p>The girls stretched pieces of canvas over the heads +of the poor boys to keep off the sun; they got water +and washed away the blood; and they sent one of their +indefatigable truck drivers after some water to make +lemonade. The little Adjutant twinkled his nice brown +eyes and set his firm merry lips when they told him +to get the water, in that place of no water, but he +took his little Ford car and whirled away without a +word, and presently he returned with a barrel of ice-cold +water from a spring he had found two miles away. How +the girls rejoiced that it was ice cold! And then +they started making lemonade. They had known that the +Adjutant would find water somewhere. He was the man +the doughboys called “one game little guy,” +because he was so fearless in going into No Man’s +Land after the wounded, so indefatigable in accomplishing +his purpose against all odds, so forgetful of self.</p> + +<p>They had but one crate of lemons, one crate of oranges +and one bag of sugar when they began making lemonade, +but before they needed more it arrived just on the +minute. It was almost like a miracle. For a whole car +load of oranges and lemons had been shipped to Beauvais +and arrived a day too late—after the troops had gone. +They were of no use there, so the Zone Major had them +shipped at once to the railhead at Crepy, and got a +special permit to go over with trucks and take them +up to Morte Fontaine.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army never does things by halves. Colonel +Barker sent to Paris to get some mosquito netting +to keep the flies off those soldiers, and failing +to find any in the whole city he bought $10,000 worth +of white net, such as is used for ladies’ collars +and dresses—ten thousand yards at a dollar a yard—and +sent it down to the hospital where it was used over +the wounded men, sometimes over a wounded arm or leg +or head, sometimes over a whole man, sometimes stretched +as netting in the windows. And no ten thousand dollars +was ever better spent, for the flies occasioned indescribable +suffering as well as the peril of infection.</p> + +<p>Wonderful relief and comfort all these things brought +to those poor boys lying there in agony and fever. +How delicious were the cooling drinks to their parched +lips! The doctors afterward said that it was the cool +drinks those girls gave to the men that saved many +a life that day.</p> + +<p>There were some poor fellows hurt in the abdomen who +were not allowed to drink even a drop and who begged +for it so piteously. For these the girls did all in +their power. They bathed their faces and hands and +dipping gauze in lemonade they moistened their lips +with it.</p> + +<p>The other day, after the war was over and a ship came +sailing into New York harbor, one of these same fellows +standing on the deck looked down at the wharf and +saw one of these same girls standing there to welcome +him. As soon as he was free to leave the ship he rushed +down to find her, and gripping her hand eagerly he +cried out so all around could hear: “You saved +my life that day. Oh, but I’m glad to see you! +The doctor said it was that cold lemonade you gave +me that kept me from dying of fever!”</p> + +<p>In one base hospital lay a boy wounded at Chateau-Thierry. +Of course, when wounded, he lost all his possessions, +including a Testament which he very much treasured. +The Salvation Army supplied him with another, but it +did not comfort him as the old one had done. He said +that it could never be the same as the one he had +carried for so long. He worried so much about his +Testament, that one of the lassies finally attempted +to recover it, and, after much trouble, succeeded +through the Bureau of Effects. The little book, which +the soldier had always carried with him, was blood-soaked +and mud-stained; but it was an unmistakable aid in +the lad’s recovery.</p> + +<p>But the honor of those days in Morte Fontaine was +not all due to the Salvation Army lassies. The Salvation +Army truck drivers were real heroes. They came with +their ambulances and their trucks and they carried +the poor wounded fellows back to the base hospitals. +The hospitals were full everywhere near there, and +sometimes they would go from one to another and have +to drive miles, and even go from one town to another +to find a place where there was room to receive the +men they carried. Then back they would come for another +load. They worked thus for three days and five nights +steadily, before they slept, and some of them stripped +to the waist and bared their breasts to the sharp +night wind so that the cold air would keep them awake +to the task of driving their cars through the black +night with its precious load of human lives. They +had no opportunity for rest of any kind, no chance +to shave or wash or sleep, and they were a haggard +and worn looking set of men when it was over.</p> + +<p>While all this was going on the Zone Major kept out +of sight of the Colonel who had told him he couldn’t +go out on that drive; but two days later he saw his +familiar car coming down the road and the Colonel seemed +greatly agitated. He was shaking his fist in front +of him.</p> + +<p>The Zone Major pondered whether he would not better +drive right on without stopping to talk, but he reflected +that he would have to take his punishment some time +and he might as well get it over with, so when the +Colonel’s car drew near he stopped. The Colonel +got out and the Zone Major got out, and it was apparent +that the Colonel was very angry. He forgot entirely +that the Zone Major was a Salvationist and he swore +roundly: “I’m out with you for life” +declared the Colonel angrily. “The General’s +upset and I’m upset.”</p> + +<p>“Why, what’s the matter, Colonel?” +asked the Zone Major innocently.</p> + +<p>“Matter enough! You had no business to bring +those girls up here!”</p> + +<p>The Colonel said more to the same effect, and then +got into his car and drove off. The Zone Major wisely +kept out of his way; but a few days later met him +again and this time the Colonel was smiling:</p> + +<p>“Dog-gone you, Major, where’ve you been +keeping yourself? Why haven’t you been around?” +and he put out his hand affably.</p> + +<p>“Why, I didn’t want to see a man who bawled +me out in the public highway that way,” said +the Zone Major.</p> + +<p>“Well, Major, you had no business to bring those +girls up here and you know it!” said the Colonel +rousing to the old subject again.</p> + +<p>“Why not, Colonel, didn’t they do fine?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, they did,” said the Colonel with +tears springing suddenly into his eyes and a huskiness +into his voice, “but, Major, think what if we’d +lost one of them!”</p> + +<p>“Colonel,” said the Zone Major gently, +“my girls are soldiers. They come up here to +share the dangers with the soldiers, and as long as +they can be of service they feel this is the place +for them.”</p> + +<p>The Colonel struggled with his emotion for a moment +and then said gruffly: “Had anything to eat? +Stop and take a bite with me.” And they sat down +under the trees and had supper together.</p> + +<p>It was at this town that the girls slept in a German-dug +cave, in which our boys had captured seven hundred +Germans, the commanding officer of whom said that +according to his rank in Germany he ought to have a +car to take him to the rear. However, he was compelled +to leg it at the point of an American bayonet in the +hands of an American doughboy. The cave was of chalk +rock made to store casks of wine.</p> + +<p>The airplanes were bad in this place. One speaks of +airplanes in such a connection in the same way one +used to mention mosquitoes at certain Jersey seashore +resorts. But they were particularly bad at Morte Fontaine, +and Major Peabody ordered the canteen to be moved out +of the village to the cave. More Salvation Army girls +came to look after the canteen leaving the first girls +free for longer hours at the hospital.</p> + +<p>One beautiful moonlight night the girls had just started +out from the hospital to go to their cave when they +heard a German airplane, the irregular chug, chug +of its engine distinguishing it unmistakably from the +smooth whirr of the Allies’ planes. The girls +looked up and almost over their heads was an enemy +plane, so low that they could see the insignia on +his machine, and see the man in the car. He seemed +to be looking down at them. In sudden panic they fled +to a nearby tree and hid close under its branches. +Standing there they saw the enemy make a low dip over +the hospital tents, drop a bomb in the kitchen end +just where they had been working five minutes before, +and slide up again through the silvery air, curve +away and dive down once more.</p> + +<p>The scene was bright as day for the moon was full +and very clear that night, and the roads stretched +out in every direction like white ribbons. One block +away the girls could see a regiment of Scotch soldiers, +the famous Highland Regiment called “The Ladies +From Hell,” marching up to the front that night, +and singing bravely as they marched, their skirling +Scotch songs accompanied by a bagpipe. And even as +they listened with bated breath and straining eyes +the airplane dipped and dropped another bomb right +into the midst of the brave men, killing thirty of +them, and slid up and away before it could be stopped. +These were the scenes to which they grew daily accustomed +as they plied their angel mission, and daily saw themselves +preserved as by a miracle from constant peril.</p> + +<p>We had about eight or ten German prisoners here, who +were employed as litter bearers, and very good workers +they were, tickled to death to be there instead of +over on their own side fighting. Most of the prisoners, +except some of the German officers, seemed glad to +be taken.</p> + +<p>These German prisoners were sitting in a row on the +ground outside the hospital one day when the Salvation +Army girls and men were picking over a crate of oranges. +The Germans sat watching them with longing eyes.</p> + +<p>“Let’s give them each one,” proposed +one of the girls.</p> + +<p>“No! Give them a punch in the nose!” said +the boys.</p> + +<p>The girls said nothing more and went on working. Presently +they stepped away for a few minutes and when they +came back the Germans sat there contentedly eating +oranges. Questioningly the girls looked at their male +coworkers and with lifted brows asked: “What +does this mean?”</p> + +<p>“Aw, well! The poor sneaks looked so longingly!” +said one of the boys, grinning sheepishly.</p> + +<p>There in the hospital the girls came into contact +with the splendid spirit of the American soldier boys, +“Don’t help me, help that fellow over there +who is suffering!” was heard over and over again +when they went to bring comfort to some wounded boy.</p> + +<p>When the supplies in the canteen would run out, and +the last doughnut would be handed with the words: +“That’s the last,” the boy to whom +it was given would say: “Don’t give it +to me, give it to Harry. I don’t want it.”</p> + +<p>It was during that drive and there was a farewell +meeting at one of the Salvation Army huts that night +for the boys who were going up to the trenches. It +was a beautiful and touching meeting as always on such +occasions. Starting with singing whatever the boys +picked out, it dropped quickly into the old hymns +that the boys loved and then to a simple earnest prayer, +setting forth the desperate case of those who were +going out to fight, and appealing to the everlasting +Saviour for forgiveness and refuge. They lingered +long about the fair young girl who was leading them, +listening to her earnest, plain words of instruction +how to turn to the Saviour of the world in their need, +how to repent of their sins and take Christ for their +Saviour and Sanctifier. No man who was in that meeting +would dare plead ignorance of the way to be saved. +Many signified their desire to give their lives into +the keeping of Christ before they went to the front. +The meeting broke up reluctantly and the men drifted +out and away, expecting soon to be called to go. But +something happened that they did not go that night. +Meantime, a company had just returned from the front, +weary, hungry, worn and bleeding, with their nerves +unstrung, and their spirits desperate from the tumult +and horror of the hours they had just passed in battle. +They needed cheering and soothing back to normal. +The girls were preparing to do this with a bright, +cheery entertainment, when a deputation of boys from +the night before returned. There was a wistful gleam +in the eyes of the young Jew who was spokesman for +the group as he approached the lassie who had led +the meeting.</p> + +<p>“Say, Cap, you see we didn’t go up.”</p> + +<p>“I see,” she smiled happily.</p> + +<p>“Say, Cap, won’t you have another farewell +meeting to-night?” he asked with an appealing +glance in his dark eyes.</p> + +<p>“Son, we’ve arranged something else just +now for the fellows who are coming back,” she +said gently, for she hated to refuse such a request.</p> + +<p>“Oh, say, Cap, you can have that later, can’t +you? We want another meeting now.”</p> + +<p>There was something so pleading in his voice and eyes, +so hungry in the look of the waiting group, that the +young Captain could not deny him. She looked at him +hesitatingly, and then said:</p> + +<p>“All right. Go out and tell the boys.”</p> + +<p>He hurried out and soon the company came crowding +in. That hour the very Lord came down and communed +with them as they sang and knelt to pray, and not +a heart but was melted and tender as they went out +when it was over in the solemn darkness of the early +morning. A little later the order came and they “went +over.”</p> + +<p>It was a sharp, fierce fight, and the young Jew was +mortally wounded. Some comrades found him as he lay +white and helpless on the ground, and bending over +saw that he had not long to stay. They tried to lift +him and bear him back, but he would not let them. +He knew it was useless.</p> + +<p>They asked him if he had any message. He nodded. Yes, +he wanted to send a message to the Salvation Army +girls. It was this:</p> + +<p>“Tell the girls I’ve gone West; for I +will be by the time you tell them; and tell them it’s +all right for at that second meeting I accepted Christ +and I die resting on the same Saviour that is theirs.”</p> + +<p>One of our wonderful boys out on the drive had his +hand blown off and didn’t realize it. His chum +tried to drag him back and told him his hand was gone.</p> + +<p>“That’s nothing!” he cried. “Tie +it up!”</p> + +<p>But they forced him back lest he would bleed to death. +In the hospital they told him that now he might go +home.</p> + +<p>“Go home!” he cried. “Go home for +the loss of a left hand! I’m not left-handed. +Maybe I can’t carry a gun, but I can throw hand +grenades!”</p> + +<p>He went to the Major and the Major said also that +he must go home.</p> + +<p>The boy looked him straight in the eye:</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, Major, saying I won’t. But +<i>I won’t let go your coat</i> till you +say I can stay,” and finally the Major had to +give in and let him stay. He could not resist such +pleading.</p> + +<p>One poor fellow, wounded in his abdomen, was lying +on a litter in a most uncomfortable position suffering +awful pain. The lassie came near and asked if she +could do anything for him. He told her he wanted to +lie on his stomach, but the doctor, when she asked +him, said “No” very shortly and told her +he must lie on his back. She stooped and turned him +so that his position was more comfortable, put his +gas mask under his head, rolled his blanket so as +to support his shoulders better, and turned to go to +another, and the poor suffering lad opened his eyes, +held out his hand and smiled as she went away.</p> + +<p>The doctors said to the girls: “It is wonderful +to have you around.”</p> + +<p>The Red Cross men and their rolling kitchens came +to the front, but no women. Somehow in pain and sickness +no hand can sooth like a woman’s. Perhaps God +meant it to be so. Here at Morte Fontaine was the first +time a woman had ever worked in a field hospital.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army women worked all that drive.</p> + +<p>It was a sad time, though, for the division went in +to stay until they lost forty-five hundred men, but +it stayed two days after reaching that figure and +lost about seventy-five thousand.</p> + +<p>The doctor in charge of the evacuation hospital at +Crepy spoke of the effect of the Salvation Army girls, +not alone upon the wounded, but also upon the medical-surgical +staff and the men of the hospital corps who acted +as nurses in that advanced position. “Before +they came,” he said, “we were overwrought, +everyone seemed at the breaking point, what with the +nervous tension and danger. But the very sight of women +working calmly had a soothing effect on everyone.”</p> + +<p>When the drive was over orders came to leave. The +following is the official notice to the Salvation +Army officers:</p> + +<p>G-1 Headquarters, 1st Division, American Expeditionary +Forces, July 26, 1918.</p> + +<p><i>Memorandum.</i></p> + +<p>To Directors, Y.M.C.A., Red Cross, Salvation Army +Services, 1st Division.</p> + +<p>1. This division moves by rail to destination unknown +beginning at 6.00 A.M., July 28th. Motor organizations +of the Division move overland. Your motorized units +will accompany the advanced section of the Division +Supply Train, and will form a part of that train.</p> + +<p>2. Time of departure and routes to be taken will be +announced later.</p> + +<p>3. Secretaries attached to units may accompany units, +if it is so desired.</p> + +<p>By command of Major-General Summerall.</p> + +<p class="right"> +P. E. Peabody,<br /> +Captain, Infantry,<br /> +G-1</p> + +<p>Copies:<br /> +YMCA<br /> +Red Cross<br /> +Salvation Army<br /> +G-3<br /> +C. of S.<br /> +File</p> + +<p>The girls stowed themselves and their belongings into +the big truck. Just as they were about to start they +saw some infantry coming, seven men whom they knew, +but in such a plight! They were unshaven, with white, +sunken faces, and great dark hollows under their eyes. +They were simply “all in,” and could hardly +walk.</p> + +<p>Without an instant’s hesitation the girls made +a place for those poor, tired, dirty men in the truck, +and the invitation was gratefully accepted.</p> + +<p>There were more poor forlorn fellows coming along +the road. They kept meeting them every little way, +but they had no room to take in any more so they piled +oranges in the back end of the truck and gave them +to all the boys they passed who were walking.</p> + +<p>Now the girls were on their way to Senlis, where they +had planned to take dinner at a hotel in which they +had dined before. It was one of the few buildings +remaining in the town for the Germans, when they left +Senlis, had set it on fire and destroyed nearly everything. +But as the girls neared the town they began to think +about the boys asleep in the back of the truck, who +probably hadn’t had a square meal for a week, +and they decided to take them with them. So they woke +them up when they arrived at the hotel. Oh, but those +seven dirty, unshaven soldiers were embarrassed with +the invitation to dinner! At first they declined, but +the girls insisted, and they found a place to wash +and tidy up themselves a bit. In a few minutes into +the big dining-room filled with French soldiers and +a goodly sprinkling of French officers, marched those +two girls, followed by their seven big unshaven soldiers +with their white faces and hollow eyes, sat proudly +down at a table in the very centre and ordered a big +dinner. That is the kind of girls Salvation Army lassies +are. Never ashamed to do a big right thing.</p> + +<p>After the dinner they took the boys to their divisional +headquarters, where they found their outfit.</p> + +<p>They went on their way from Senlis to Dam-Martin to +stay for a week back of the lines for rest.</p> + +<p>There was a big French cantonment building here built +for moving pictures, which was given to them for a +canteen, and they set up their stove and went to work +making doughnuts, and doing all the helpful things +they could find to do for the boys who were soon to +go to the front again.</p> + +<p>Then orders came to move back to the Toul Sector.</p> + +<p>Those were wonderful moonlight nights at Saizerais, +but the Boche airplanes nearly pestered the life out +of everybody.</p> + +<p>“Gee!” said one of the boys, “if +anybody ever says ’beautiful moonlight nights’ +to me when I get home I don’t know what I’ll +do to ’em!”</p> + +<p>The boys were at the front, but not fighting as yet. +Occasional shells would burst about their hut here +and there, but the girls were not much bothered by +them. The thing that bothered them most was an old +“Vin” shop across the street that served +its wine on little tables set out in front on the +sidewalk. They could not help seeing that many of the +boys were beginning to drink. Poor souls! The water +was bad and scarce, sometimes poisoned, and their +hearts were sick for something, and this was all that +presented itself. It was not much wonder. But when +the girls discovered the state of things they sent +off three or four boys with a twenty-gallon tank to +scout for some water. They found it after much search +and filled the big tank full of delicious lemonade, +telling the boys to help themselves.</p> + +<p>All the time they were in that town, which was something +like a week, the girls kept that tank full of lemonade +close by the door. They must have made seventy-five +or a hundred gallons of lemonade every day, and they +had to squeeze all the lemons by hand, too! They told +the boys: “When you feel thirsty just come here +and get lemonade as often as you want it!” No +wonder they almost worship those girls. And they had +the pleasure of seeing the trade of the little wine +shop decidedly decrease.</p> + +<p>However near the front you may go you will always +find what is known over there in common parlance as +a “hole in the wall” where “vin blanche” +and “vin rouge” and all kinds of light +wines can be had. And, of course, many soldiers would +drink it. The Salvation Army tried to supply a great +need by having carloads of lemons sent to the front +and making and distributing lemonade freely.</p> + +<p>One cannot realize the extent of this proposition +without counting up all the lemons and sugar that +would be required, and remembering that supplies were +obtained only by keeping in constant touch with the +Headquarters of that zone and always sending word +immediately when any need was discovered. There is +nothing slow about the Salvation Army and they are +not troubled with too much red tape. If necessity presents +itself they will even on occasion cut what they have +to help someone.</p> + +<p>The airplanes visited them every night that week, +and sometimes they did not think it worth while to +go to bed at all; they had to run to the safety trenches +so often. It was just a little bit of a village with +dugouts out on the edge.</p> + +<p>One night they had gone to bed and a terrific explosion +occurred which rocked the little house where they +were. They thought of course the bomb had fallen in +the village, but they found it was quite outside. It +had made such a big hole in the ground that you could +put a whole truck into it.</p> + +<p>The trenches in which they hid were covered over with +boards and sand, and were not bomb proof, but they +were proof against pieces of shell and shrapnel.</p> + +<p>It was a very busy time for the girls because so many +different outfits were passing and repassing that +they had to work from morning early till late at night.</p> + +<p>At Bullionville the hut was in a building that bore +the marks of much shelling. The American boys promptly +dubbed the place “Souptown.”</p> + +<p>The Division moved to Vaucouleurs for rest and replacements. +At Vaucouleurs there was a great big hut with a piano, +a victrola, and a cookstove.</p> + +<p>They started the canteen, made doughnuts and pies, +and gave entertainments.</p> + +<p>But best of all, there were wonderful meetings and +numbers of conversions, often twenty and twenty-five +at a time giving themselves to Christ. The boys would +get up and testify of their changed feelings and of +what Christ now meant to them, and the others respected +them the more for it.</p> + +<p>They stayed here two weeks and everybody knew they +were getting ready for a big drive. It was a solemn +time for the boys and they seemed to draw nearer to +the Salvation Army people and long to get the secret +of their brave, unselfish lives, and that light in +their eyes that defied danger and death. In the distance +you could hear the artillery, and the night before +they left, all night long, there was the tramp, tramp, +tramp of feet, the boys “going up.”</p> + +<p>The next day the girls followed in a truck, stopping +a few days at Pagny-sur-Meuse for rest.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a>VIII.<br/> +The Saint Mihiel Drive</h2> + +<p>The hut in Raulecourt was an old French barracks. +Outside in the yard was an old French anti-aircraft +gun and a mesh of barbed wire entanglement. The woods +all around was filled with our guns. To the left was +the enemy’s third line trench. Three-quarters +of the time the Boche were trying to clean us up. +Less than two miles ahead were our own front line trenches.</p> + +<p>The field range was outside in the back yard.</p> + +<p>One hot day in July a Salvation Army woman stood at +the range frying doughnuts from eleven in the morning +until six at night without resting, and scarcely stopping +for a bite to eat. She fried seventeen hundred doughnuts, +and was away from the stove only twice for a few minutes. +She claims, however, that she is not the champion +doughnut fryer. The champion fried twenty-three hundred +in a day.</p> + +<p>One day a soldier watching her tired face as she stood +at the range lifting out doughnuts and plopping more +uncooked ones into the fat, protested.</p> + +<p>“Say, you’re awfully tired turning over +doughnuts. Let me help you. You go inside and rest +a while. I’m sure I can do that.”</p> + +<p>She was tired and the boy looked eager, so she decided +to accept his offer. He was very insistent that she +go away and rest, so she slipped in behind a screen +to lie down, but peeped out to watch how he was getting +on. She saw him turn over the first doughnuts all right +and drain them, but he almost burned his fingers trying +to eat one before it was fairly out of the fat; and +then she understood why he had been so anxious for +her to “<i>go away</i>” and rest.</p> + +<p>Often the boys would come to the lassies and say: +“Say, Cap, I can help you. Loan me an apron.” +And soon they would be all flour from their chin to +their toes.</p> + +<p>They would come about four o’clock to find out +what time the doughnuts would be ready for serving, +and the girls usually said six o’clock so that +they would be able to fry enough to supply all the +regiment. But the men would start to line up at half-past +four, knowing that they could not be served until +six, so eager were they for these delicacies. When +six o’clock came each man would get three doughnuts +and a cup of delicious coffee or chocolate. A great +many doughnut cutters were worn out as the days went +by and the boys frequently had to get a new cutter +made. Sometimes they would take the top of quite a +large-sized can or anything tin that they could lay +hands on from which to make it. One boy found the +top of an extra large sized baking powder tin and took +it to have a smaller cutter soldered in the centre. +Sometimes they used the top of the shaving soap box +for this. When he got back to the hut the cook exclaimed +in dismay: “Why, but it’s too big!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s all right,” said the +doughboy nonchalantly.</p> + +<p>“That’ll be all the better for us. We’ll +get more doughnut. You always give us three anyway, +you know. The size don’t count.”</p> + +<p>They were always scheming to get more pie and more +doughnuts and would stand in line for hours for a +second helping. One day the Salvation Army woman grew +indignant over a noticeably red-headed boy who had +had three helpings and was lining up for a fourth. +She stood majestically at the head of the line and +pointed straight at him: “You! With the red head +down there! Get out of the line!”</p> + +<p>“She’s got my number all right!” +said the red-headed one, grinning sheepishly as he +dropped back.</p> + +<p>The town of Raulecourt was often shelled, but one +morning just before daybreak the enemy started in +to shell it in earnest. Word came that the girls had +better leave as it was very dangerous to remain, but +the girls thought otherwise and refused to leave. +One might have thought they considered that they were +real soldiers, and the fate of the day depended upon +them. And perhaps more depended upon them than they +knew. However that was they stayed, having been through +such experiences before. For the older woman, however, +it was a first experience. She took it calmly enough, +going about her business as if she, too, were an old +soldier.</p> + +<p>On the evening of June 14th they made fudge for the +boys who were going to leave that night for the front +lines.</p> + +<p>For several hours the tables in the hut were filled +with men writing letters to loved ones at home, and +the women and girls had sheets of paper filled with +addresses to which they had promised to write if the +boys did not come back.</p> + +<p>At last one of the men got up with his finished letter +and quietly removed the phonograph and a few of its +devotees who were not going up to the front yet, placing +them outside at a safe distance from the hut. A soldier +followed, carrying an armful of records, and the hut +was cleared for the men who were “going in” +that night.</p> + +<p>For a little while they ate fudge and then they sang +hymns for another half hour, and had a prayer. It +was a very quiet little meeting. Not much said. Everyone +knew how solemn the occasion was. Everyone felt it +might be his last among them. It was as if the brooding +Christ had made Himself felt in every heart. Each +boy felt like crying out for some strong arm to lean +upon in this his sore need. Each gave himself with +all his heart to the quiet reaching up to God. It +was as if the eating of that fudge had been a solemn +sacrament in which their souls were brought near to +God and to the dear ones they might never see on this +earth again. If any one had come to them then and +suggested the Philosophy of Nietzsche it would have +found little favor. They knew, here, in the face of +death, that the Death of Jesus on the Cross was a +soul satisfying creed. Those who had accepted Him +were suddenly taken within the veil where they saw +no longer through a glass darkly, but with a face-to-face +sense of His presence. They had dropped away their +self assurance with which they had either conquered +or ignored everything so far in life, and had become +as little children, ready to trust in the Everlasting +Father, without whom they had suddenly discovered +they could not tread the ways of Death.</p> + +<p>Then came the call to march, and with a last prayer +the boys filed silently out into the night and fell +into line. A few minutes later the steady tramp of +their feet could be heard as they went down the street +that led to the front.</p> + +<p>Later in the night, quite near to morning, there came +a terrific shock of artillery fire that heralded a +German raid. The fragile army cots rocked like cradles +in the hut, dishes rolled and danced on the shelves +and tables, and were dashed to fragments on the floor. +Shells wailed and screamed overhead; and our guns +began, until it seemed that all the sounds of the +universe had broken forth. In the midst of it all the +gas alarm sounded, the great electric horns screeching +wildly above the babel of sound. The women hurried +into their gas masks, a bit flustered perhaps, but +bearing their excitement quietly and helping each other +until all were safely breathing behind their masks.</p> + +<p>The next day several times officers came to the hut +and begged the women to leave and go to a place of +greater safety, but they decided not to go unless +they were ordered away. On June 19th one of them wrote +in her diary: “Shells are still flying all about +us, but our work is here and we must stay. God will +protect us.” Once when things grew quiet for +a little while she went to the edge of the village +and watched the shells falling on Boucq, where one +of her friends was stationed, and declared: “It +looks awfully bad, almost as bad as it sounds.”</p> + +<p>The next morning as the firing gradually died away, +Salvation Army people hurried up to Raulecourt from +near-by huts to find out how these brave women were, +and rejoiced unspeakably that every one was safe and +well.</p> + +<p>That night there was another wonderful meeting with +the boys who were going to the front, and after it +the weary workers slept soundly the whole night through, +quietly and undisturbed, the first time for a week.</p> + +<p>It was a bright, beautiful Sunday morning, June 23, +1918, when a little party of Salvationists from Raulecourt +started down into the trenches. The muddy, dirty, +unpleasant trenches! Sometimes with their two feet +firmly planted on the duck-board, sometimes in the +mud! Such mud! If you got both feet on it at once +you were sure you were planted and would soon begin +to grow!</p> + +<p>As soon as they reached the trenches they were told: +“Keep your heads down, ladies, the snipers are +all around!” It was an intense moment as they +crept into the narrow housings where the men had to +spend so much time. But it was wonderful to watch +the glad light that came into the men’s eyes +as they saw the women.</p> + +<p>“Here’s a real, honest-to-goodness American +woman in the trenches!” exclaimed a homesick +lad as they came around a turn.</p> + +<p>“Yes, your mother couldn’t come to-day,” +said the motherly Salvationist, smiling a greeting, +“so I’ve come in her place.”</p> + +<p>“All right!” said he, entering into the +game. “This is Broadway and that’s Forty-second +Street. Sit down.”</p> + +<p>Of course there was nothing to sit down on in the +trenches. But he hunted about till he found a chow +can and turned it up for a seat, and they had a pleasant +talk.</p> + +<p>“Just wait,” he said. “I’ll +show you a picture of the dearest little girl a fellow +ever married and the darlingest little kid ever a man +was father to!” He fumbled in his breast pocket +right over his heart and brought out two photographs.</p> + +<p>“I’d give my right arm to see them this +minute, but for all that,” he went on, “I +wouldn’t leave till we’ve fought this thing +through to Berlin and given them a dose of what they +gave little Belgium!”</p> + +<p>They went up and down the trenches, pausing at the +entrances to dugouts to smile and talk with the men. +Once, where a grassy ridge hid the trench from the +enemy snipers, they were permitted to peep over, but +there was no look of war in the grassy, placid meadow +full of flowers that men called “No Man’s +Land.” It seemed hard to believe, that sunny, +flower-starred morning, that Sin and Hate had the +upper hand and Death was abroad stalking near in the +sunlight.</p> + +<p>It was a twelve-mile walk through the trenches and +back to the hut, and when they returned they found +the men were already gathering for the evening meeting.</p> + +<p>That night, at the close of a heart-searching talk, +eighty-five men arose to their feet in token that +they would turn from the ways of sin and accept Christ +as their Saviour, and many more raised their hands +for prayers. One of the women of this party in her +three months in France saw more than five hundred +men give themselves to Christ and promise to serve +Him the rest of their lives.</p> + +<p>A little Adjutant lassie who was stationed at Boucq +went away from the town for a few hours on Saturday, +and when she returned the next day she found the whole +place deserted. A big barrage had been put over in +the little, quiet village while she was away and the +entire inhabitants had taken refuge in the General’s +dugout. Her husband, who had brought her back, insisted +that she should return to the Zone Headquarters at +Ligny-en-Barrios, where he was in charge, and persuaded +her to start with him, but when they reached Menil-la-Tour +and found that the division Chaplain was returning +to Boucq she persuaded her husband that she must return +with the Chaplain to her post of duty.</p> + +<p>That night she and the other girls slept outside the +dugout in little tents to leave more room in the dugout +for the French women with their little babies. At +half-past three in the morning the Germans started +their shelling once more. After two hours, things +quieted down somewhat and the girls went to the hut +and prepared a large urn of coffee and two big batches +of hot biscuits. While they were in the midst of breakfast +there was another barrage. All day they were thus +moving backward and forward between the hut and the +dugout, not knowing when another barrage would arrive. +The Germans were continually trying to get the chateau +where the General had his headquarters. One shell +struck a house where seven boys were quartered, wounding +them all and killing one of them. Things got so bad +that the Divisional Headquarters had to leave; the +General sent his car and transferred the girls with +all their things to Trondes. This was back of a hill +near Boucq. They arrived at three in the afternoon, +put up their stove and began to bake. By five they +were serving cake they had baked. The boys said: “What! +Cake already?” The soldiers put up the hut and +had it finished in six hours.</p> + +<p>While all this was going on the Salvation Army friends +over at Raulecourt had been watching the shells falling +on Boueq, and been much troubled about them.</p> + +<p>These were stirring times. No one had leisure to wonder +what had become of his brother, for all were working +with all their might to the one great end.</p> + +<p>Up north of Beaumont two aviators were caught by the +enemy’s fire and forced to land close to the +enemy nests. Instead of surrendering the Americans +used the guns on their planes and held off the Germans +until darkness fell, when they managed to escape and +reach the American lines. This was only one of many +individual feats of heroism that helped to turn the +tide of battle. The courage and determination, one +might say the enthusiasm, of the Americans knew no +bounds. It awed and overpowered the enemy by its very +eagerness. The Americans were having all they could +do to keep up with the enemy. The artillerymen captured +great numbers of enemy cannon, ammunition, food and +other supplies, which the trucks gathered up and carried +far to the front, where they were ready for the doughboys +when they arrived. One of the greatest feats of engineering +ever accomplished by the American Army was the bridging +of the Meuse, in the region of Stenay, under terrible +shell fire, using in the work of building the pontoons +the Boche boats and materials captured during the fighting +at Chateau-Thierry and which had been brought from +Germany for the Kaiser’s Paris offensive in +July. The Meuse had been flooded until it was a mile +wide, yet there was more than enough material to bridge +it.</p> + +<p>As the Americans advanced, village after village was +set free which had been robbed and pillaged by the +Germans while under their domination. The Yankee trucks +as they returned brought the women and children back +from out of the range of shell fire, and they were +filled with wonder as they heard the strange language +on the tongues of their rescuers. They knew it was +not the German, but they had many of them never seen +an American before. The Germans had told them that +Americans were wild and barbarous people. Yet these +men gathered the little hungry children into their +arms and shared their rations with them. There were +three dirty, hungry little children, all under ten +years of age, Yvonne, Louisette and Jeane, whose father +was a sailor stationed at Marseilles. Yvonne was only +four years of age, and she told the soldiers she had +never seen her father. They climbed into the big truck +and sat looking with wonder at the kindly men who +filled their hands with food and asked them many questions. +By and by, they comprehended that these big, smiling, +cheerful men were going to take the whole family to +their father. What wonder, what joy shone in their +eager young eyes!</p> + +<p>Strange and sad and wonderful sights there were to +see as the soldiers went forward.</p> + +<p>A pioneer unit was rushed ahead with orders to conduct +its own campaign and choose its own front, only so +that contact was established with the enemy, and to +this unit was attached a certain little group of Salvation +Army people. Three lassies, doing their best to keep +pace with their own people, reached a battered little +town about four o’clock in the morning, after +a hard, exciting ride.</p> + +<p>The supply train had already put up the tent for them, +and they were ordered to unfold their cots and get +to sleep as soon as possible. But instead of obeying +orders these indomitable girls set to work making +doughnuts and before nine o’clock in the morning +they had made and were serving two thousand doughnuts, +with the accompanying hot chocolate.</p> + +<p>The shells were whistling overhead, and the doughboys +dropped into nearby shell holes when they heard them +coming, but the lassies paid no heed and made doughnuts +all the morning, under constant bombardment.</p> + +<p>Bouconville was a little village between Raulecourt +and the trenches. In it there was left no civilian +nor any whole house. Nothing but shot-down houses, +dugouts and camouflages, Y.M.C.A., Salvation Army and +enlisted men.</p> + +<p>Dead Man’s Curve was between Mandres and Beaumont. +The enemy’s eye was always upon it and had its +range.</p> + +<p>Before the St. Mihiel drive one could go to Bouconville +or Raulecourt only at night. As soon as it was dark +the supply outfits on the trucks would be lined up +awaiting the word from the Military Police to go.</p> + +<p>Everyone had to travel a hundred yards apart. Only +three men would be allowed to go at once, so dangerous +was the trip.</p> + +<p>Out of the night would come a voice:</p> + +<p>“Halt! Who goes there? Advance and give the +countersign.”</p> + +<p>Every man was regarded as an enemy and spy until he +was proven otherwise. And the countersign had to be +given mighty quick, too. So the men were warned when +they were sent out to be ready with the countersign +and not to hesitate, for some had been slow to respond +and had been promptly shot. The ride through the night +in the dark without lights, without sound, over rough, +shell-plowed roads had plenty of excitement.</p> + +<p>Bouconville for seven months could never be entered +by day. The dugout wall of the hut was filled with +sandbags to keep it up. It was at Bouconville, in +the Salvation Army hut, that the raids on the enemy +were organized, the men were gathered together and +instructed, and trench knives given out; and here +was where they weeded out any who were afraid they +might sneeze or cough and so give warning to the enemy.</p> + +<p>Not until after the St. Mihiel drive when Montsec +was behind the line instead of in front did they dare +enter Bouconville by day.</p> + +<p>Passing through Mandres, it was necessary to go to +Beaumont, around Dead Man’s Curve and then to +Rambucourt, and proceed to Bouconville. Here the Salvation +Army had an outpost in a partially destroyed residence. +The hut consisted of the three ground floor rooms, +the canteen being placed in the middle. The sleeping +quarters were in a dugout just at the rear of these +buildings. It was in the building adjoining this hut +that three men were killed one day by an exploding +shell, and gas alarms were so frequent in the night +that it was very difficult for the Salvation Army people +to secure sufficient rest as on the sounding of every +gas alarm it was necessary to rise and put on the +gas mask and keep it on until the “alerte” +was removed. This always occurred several times during +the night.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> +<img src="images/021.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Map" /> +</div> + +<p>It was just outside of Bouconville that the famous +doughnut truck experience occurred. The supply truck, +driven by two young Salvation Army men, one a mere +boy, was making its rounds of the huts with supplies +and in order to reach Raulecourt, the boy who was +driving decided to take the shortest road, which, +by the way, was under complete observation of the +Germans located at Montsec. The truck had already been +shelled on its way to Bouconville, several shells +landing at the edge of the road within a few feet +of it. They had not noticed the first shell, for shells +were a somewhat common thing, and the old truck made +so much noise that they had not heard it coming, but +when the second one fell so close one of the boys +said: “Say, they must be shooting at <i>us!</i>” +as though that were something unexpected.</p> + +<p>They stepped on the accelerator and the truck shot +forward madly and tore into the town with shells breaking +about it. Having escaped thus far they were ready +to take another chance on the short cut to Raulecourt.</p> + +<p>They proceeded without mishaps for some distance. +Just outside of Bouconville was a large shell hole +in the road and in trying to avoid this the wheels +of the truck slipped into the ditch, and the driver +found he was stuck. It was impossible to get out under +his own power. While working with the truck, the Germans +began to shell him again. At first the two boys paid +little heed to it, but when more began to come they +knew it was time to leave. They threw themselves into +a communicating trench, which was really no more than +a ditch, and wiggled their way up the bank until they +were able to drop into the main trenches, where they +found safety in a dugout.</p> + +<p>The Germans meantime were shelling the truck furiously, +the shells dropping all around on either side, but +not actually hitting it. This was about two o’clock +in the afternoon.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:45%;"> +<a name="illus21"></a> +<img src="images/022.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="“It was just outside +of Bouconville that the famous doughnut truck experience occurred”—and +this is the Salvation Army boy who drove it" /> +<p class="caption"><b>“It was just outside of Bouconville that the famous +doughnut truck experience occurred”—and this is the Salvation Army +boy who drove it</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus22"></a> +<img src="images/023.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Bullionville, promptly +dubbed by the American boys “Souptown”" /> +<p class="caption"><b>Bullionville, promptly dubbed by the American boys +“Souptown”</b></p> +</div> + +<p>At Headquarters they were becoming anxious about the +non-appearance of the truck and started out in the +touring car to locate it. Commencing at Jouey-les-Côtés +they went from there to Boucq and Raulecourt, which +were the last places the truck was to visit. Not hearing +of it at Raulecourt, the search was continued out +to Bouconville, again, by a short road. Montsec was +in full view. There were fresh shell holes all along +the road since the night before. Things began to look +serious.</p> + +<p>A short distance ahead was an army truck, and even +as they got abreast of it a shell went over it exploding +about twenty-five feet away, and one hit the side +of the road just behind them. It seemed wise to put +on all speed.</p> + +<p>But when they reached Bouconville and found that the +truck they had passed was the Salvation Army truck, +they were unwilling to leave it to the tender mercies +of the enemy as everybody advised. That truck cost +fifty-five hundred dollars, and they did not want +to lose it.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark a detail of soldiers volunteered +to go with the Salvation Army officers to attempt +to get it out, but the Germans heard them and started +their shelling furiously once more, so that they had +to retreat for a time; but later, they returned and +worked all night trying to jack it up and get a foundation +that would permit of hauling it out. Every little +while all night the Germans shelled them. About half-past +four in the morning it grew light enough for the enemy +to see, and the top was taken off the truck so that +it would not be so good a mark.</p> + +<p>That day they went back to Headquarters and secured +permission for an ammunition truck to come down and +give them a tow, as no driver was permitted out on +that road without a special permit from Headquarters. +The journey back was filled with perils from gas shells, +especially around Dead Man’s Curve, but they +escaped unhurt. That night they attached a tow line +to the front of the truck, started the engine quietly, +and waited until the assisting truck came along out +of the darkness. They then attached their line without +stopping the other truck and with the aid of its own +power the old doughnut truck was jerked out of the +ditch at last and sent on its way. In spite of the +many shells for which it had been a target it was +uninjured save that it needed a new top. The knowledge +that the truck was stuck in the ditch and was being +shelled aroused great excitement among all the troops +in the Toul Sector and it was thereafter an object +of considerable interest. Newspaper correspondents +telegraphed reports of it around the world.</p> + +<p>In most of the huts and dugouts Salvation Army workers +subsist entirely upon Army chow. At Bouconville the +chow was frequently supplemented by fresh fish. The +dugout here was very close to the trenches, less than +five minutes’ walk. Just behind the trenches +to the left was a small lake. When there was sufficient +artillery fire to mask their attack, soldiers would +toss a hand grenade into this lake, thus stunning hundreds +of fish which would float to the surface, where they +were gathered in by the sackful. The Salvation Army +dugout was never without its share of the spoils.</p> + +<p>Before the soldiers began to think, as they do now, +that being detailed to the Salvation Army hut was +a privilege, an Army officer sent one of his soldiers, +who seemed to be in danger of developing a yellow streak, +to sweep the hut and light the fires for the lassies. +“You are only fit to wash dishes, and hang on +to a woman’s skirts,” he told the soldier +in informing him that he was detailed. That night +the village was bombed. The boy, who was really frightened, +watched the two girls, being too proud to run for +shelter while they were so calm. He trembled and shook +while they sat quietly listening to the swish of falling +bombs and the crash of anti-aircraft guns. In spite +of his fright, he was so ashamed of his fears that +he forced himself to stand in the street and watch +the progress of the raid. The next day he reported +to his Captain that he had vanquished his yellow streak +and wanted a chance to demonstrate what he said. The +demonstration was ample. The example of these brave +lassies had somehow strengthened his spirit.</p> + +<p>Back of Raulecourt the woods were full of heavy artillery. +Raulecourt was the first town back of the front lines. +The men were relieved every eight days and passed +through here to other places to rest.</p> + +<p>The military authorities sent word to the Salvation +Army hut one day that fifty Frenchmen would be going +through from the trenches at five o’clock in +the morning who would have had no opportunity to get +anything to eat.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army people went to work and baked up +a lot of biscuits and doughnuts and cakes, and got +hot coffee ready. The Red Cross canteen was better +situated to serve the men and had more conveniences, +so they took the things over there, and the Red Cross +supplied hot chocolate, and when the men came they +were well served. This is a sample of the spirit of +cooperation which prevailed. One Sunday night they +were just starting the evening service when word came +from the military authorities that there were a hundred +men coming through the town who were hungry and ought +to be fed. They must be out of the town by nine-thirty +as they were going over the top that night. Could +the Salvation Army do anything?</p> + +<p>The woman officer who was in charge was perplexed. +She had nothing cooked ready to eat, the fire was +out, her detailed helpers all gone, and she was just +beginning a meeting and hated to disappoint the men +already gathered, but she told the messenger that +if she might have a couple of soldiers to help her +she would do what she could. The soldiers were supplied +and the fire was started. At ten minutes to nine the +meeting was closed and the earnest young preacher +went to work making biscuits and chocolate with the +help of her two soldier boys. By ten o’clock +all the men were fed and gone. That is the way the +Salvation Army does things. They never say “I +can’t.” They always <span class="smallcaps">can</span>.</p> + +<p>In Raulecourt there were several pro-Germans. The +authorities allowed them to stay there to save the +town. The Salvation Army people were warned that there +were spies in the town and that they must on no account +give out information. Just before the St. Mihiel drive +a special warning was given, all civilians were ordered +to leave town, and a Military Police knocked at the +door and informed the woman in the hut that she must +be careful what she said to anybody with the rank +of a second lieutenant, as word had gone out there +was a spy dressed in the uniform of an American second +lieutenant.</p> + +<p>That night at eleven o’clock the young woman +was just about to retire when there came a knock at +the canteen door. She happened to be alone in the +building at the time and when she opened the door and +found several strange officers standing outside she +was a little frightened. Nor did it dispel her fears +to have them begin to ask questions:</p> + +<p>“Madam, how many troops are in this town? Where +are they? Where can we get any billets?”</p> + +<p>To all these questions she replied that she could +not tell or did not know and advised them to get in +touch with the town Major. The visitors grew impatient. +Then three more men knocked at the door, also in uniform, +and began to ask questions. When they could get no +information one of them exclaimed indignantly:</p> + +<p>“Well, I should like to know what kind of a +town this is, anyway? I tried to find out something +from a Military Police outside and he took me for a +<span class="smallcaps">spy</span>! Madam, we are from Field Hospital Number 12, and +we want to find a place to rest.”</p> + +<p>Then the frightened young woman became convinced that +her visitors were not spies; all the same, they were +not going to leave her any the wiser for any information +she would give.</p> + +<p>Several times men would come to the town and find +no place to sleep. On such occasions the Salvation +Army hut was turned over to them and they would sleep +on the floor.</p> + +<p>The St. Mihiel drive came on and the hut was turned +over to the hospital. The supplies were taken to a +dugout and the canteen kept up there. Then the military +authorities insisted that the girls should leave town, +but the girls refused to go, begging, “Don’t +drive us away. We know we shall be needed!” +The Staff-Captain came down and took some of the girls +away, but left two in the canteen, and others in the +hospital.</p> + +<p>It rained for two weeks in Roulecourt. The soldiers +slept in little dog tents in the woods.</p> + +<p>The meetings held the boys at the throne of God each +night, they were the power behind the doughnut, and +the boys recognized it.</p> + +<p>“One hesitated to ask them if they wanted prayers +because we knew they did,” said one sweet woman +back from the front, speaking about the time of the +St. Mihiel drive. “We couldn’t say how +many knelt at the altar because they all knelt. Some +of them would walk five miles to attend a meeting.”</p> + +<p>It poured torrents the night of the drive and nearly +drowned out the soldiers in their little tents.</p> + +<p>They came into the hut to shake hands and say goodbye +to the girls; to leave their little trinklets and +ask for prayers; and they had their meeting as always +before a drive.</p> + +<p>But this was an even more solemn time than usual, +for the boys were going up to a point where the French +had suffered the fearful loss of thirty thousand men +trying to hold Mt. Sec for fifteen minutes. They did +not expect to come back. They left sealed packages +to be forwarded if they did not return.</p> + +<p>One boy came to one of the Salvation Army men Officers +and said: “Pray for me. I have given my heart +to Jesus.”</p> + +<p>Another, a Sergeant, who had lived a hard life, came +to the Salvation Army Adjutant and said: “When +I go back, if I ever go, I’m going to serve the +Lord.”</p> + +<p>After the meeting the girls closed the canteen and +on the way to their room they passed a little sort +of shed or barn. The door was standing open and a +light streaming out, and there on a little straw pallet +lay a soldier boy rolled up in his blanket reading +his Testament. The girls breathed a prayer for the +lad as they passed by and their hearts were lifted +up with gladness to think how many of the American +boys, fully two-thirds of them, carried their Testaments +in the pockets over their hearts; yes, and read them, +too, quite openly.</p> + +<p>Two young Captains came one night to say good-bye +to the girls before going up the line. The girls told +them they would be praying for them and the elder +of the two, a doctor, said how much he appreciated +that, and then told them how he had promised his wife +he would read a chapter in his Testament every day, +and how he had never failed to keep his promise since +he left home.</p> + +<p>Then up spoke the other man:</p> + +<p>“Well, I got converted one night on the road. +The shells were falling pretty thick and I thought +I would never reach my destination and I just promised +the Lord if He would let me get safely there I would +never fail to read a chapter, and I never have failed +yet!” This young man seemed to think that—the +whole plan of redemption was comprised in reading his +Bible, but if he kept his promise the Spirit would +guide him.</p> + +<p>On the way back to the hut one morning the girls picked +marguerites and forget-me-nots and put them in a vase +on the table in the hut, making it look like a little +oasis in a desert, and no doubt, many a soldier looked +long at those blossoms who never thought he cared about +flowers before.</p> + +<p>Within thirty-six hours after the first gun was fired +in the St. Mihiel drive seven Salvation Army huts +were established on the territory.</p> + +<p>Three days before the drive opened twenty Salvation +Army girls reached Raulecourt, which was a little +village half a mile from Montsec. They had been travelling +for hours and hours and were very weary.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army hut had been turned over to the +hospital, so they found another old building.</p> + +<p>That night there was a gas alarm sounded and everybody +came running out with their gas masks on. The officer +who had them in charge was much worried about his +lassies because some of them had a great deal of hair, +and he was afraid that the heavy coils at the back +of their heads would prevent the masks from fitting +tightly and let in the deadly gas, but the lassies +were level-headed girls, and they came calmly out with +their masks on tight and their hair in long braids +down their backs, much to the relief of their officer.</p> + +<p>It had been raining for days and the men were wet +to the skin, and many of them had no way to get dry +except to roll up in their blankets and let the heat +of their body dry their clothes while they slept. It +was a great comfort to have the Salvation Army hut +where they could go and get warm and dry once in awhile.</p> + +<p>The night of the St. Mihiel drive was the blackest +night ever seen. It was so dark that one could positively +see nothing a foot ahead of him. The Salvation Army +lassies stood in the door of the canteen and listened. +All day long the heavy artillery had been going by, +and now that night had come there was a sound of feet, +tramping, tramping, thousands of feet, through the +mud and slush as the soldiers went to the front. In +groups they were singing softly as they went by. The +first bunch were singing “Mother Machree.”</p> + +<p class="poem"> +There’s a spot in me heart that no colleen may own,<br /> +There’s a depth in me soul never sounded or known;<br /> +There’s a place in me memory, me life, that you fill,<br /> +No other can take it, no one ever will;<br /> +Sure, I love the dear silver that shines in your hair,<br /> +And the brow that’s all furrowed and wrinkled with care.<br /> +I kiss the dear fingers, so toil-worn for me;<br /> + O, God bless you and keep you!<br /> + Mother Machree! +</p> + +<p>The simple pathos of the voices, many of them tramping +forward to their death, and thinking of mother, brought +the tears to the eyes of the girls who had been mothers +and sisters, as well as they could, to these boys +during the days of their waiting.</p> + +<p>Then the song would die slowly away and another group +would come by singing: “Tell mother I’ll +be there!” Always the thought of mother. A little +interval and the jolly swing of “Pack up your +troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile!” +came floating by, and then sweetly, solemnly, through +the chill of the darkness, with a thrill in the words, +came another group of voices:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Abide with me; fast falls the eventide,<br /> +The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!’ +</p> + +<p>There had been rumors that Montsec was mined and that +as soon as a foot was set upon it it would blow up.</p> + +<p>The girls went and lay down on their cots and tried +to sleep, praying in their hearts for the boys who +had gone forth to fight. But they could not sleep. +It was as though they had all the burden of all the +mothers and wives and sisters of those boys upon them, +as they lay there, the only women within miles, the +only women so close to the lines.</p> + +<p>About half-past one a big naval gun went off. It was +as though all the noises of the earth were let loose +about them. They could lie still no longer. They got +up, put on their rain-coats, rubber boots, steel helmets, +took their gas masks and went out in the fields where +they could see. Soon the barrage was started. Darkness +took on a rosy hue from shells bursting. First a shell +fell on Montsec. Then one landed in the ammunition +dump just back of it and blew it up, making it look +like a huge crater of a volcano. It seemed as if the +universe were on fire. The noise was terrific. The +whole heavens were lit up from end to end. The beauty +and the horror of it were indescribable.</p> + +<p>At five o’clock they went sadly back to the +hut.</p> + +<p>The hospital tents had been put up in the dark and +now stood ready for the wounded who were expected +momentarily. The girls took off their rain-coats and +reported for duty. It was expected there would be many +wounded. The minutes passed and still no wounded arrived. +Day broke and only a few wounded men had been brought +in. It was reported that the roads were so bad that +the ambulances were slow in getting there. With sad +hearts the workers waited, but the hours passed and +still only a straggling few arrived, and most of those +were merely sick from explosives. There were almost +no wounded! Only ninety in all.</p> + +<p>Then at last there came one bearing a message. There +<i>were</i> no wounded! The Germans had been +taken so by surprise, the victory had been so complete +at that point, that the boys had simply leaped over +all barriers and gone on to pursue the enemy. Quickly +packing up seven outfits a little company of workers +started after their divisions on trucks over ground +that twenty-four hours before had been occupied by +the Germans, on roads that were checkered with many +shell holes which American road makers were busily +filling up and bridging as they passed.</p> + +<p>One of the Salvation Army truck drivers asked a negro +road mender what he thought of his job. He looked +up with a pearly smile and a gleam of his eyes and +replied: “Boss, I’se doin’ mah best +to make de world safe foh Democrats!”</p> + +<p>They had to stop frequently to remove the bodies of +dead horses from the way so recently had that place +been shelled. They passed through grim skeletons of +villages shattered and torn by shell fire; between +tangles of rusty barbed wire that marked the front +line trenches. Then on into territory that had long +been held by the Huns. More than half of the villages +they passed were partially burned by the retreating +enemy. All along the way the pitiful villagers, free +at last, came out to greet them with shouts of welcome, +calling “Bonnes Americaines! Bonnes Americaines!” +Some flung their arms about the Salvation Army lassies +in their joy. Some of the villagers had not even known +that the Americans were in the war until they saw +them.</p> + +<p>In the village of Nonsard a little way beyond Mt. +Sec they found a building that twenty-four hours before +had been a German canteen. Above the entrance was +the sign “<span class="smallcaps">Kamerad</span>, tritt’ ein.”</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army people stepped in and took possession, +finding everything ready for their use. They even +found a lard can full of lard and after a chemist +had analyzed it to make sure it was not poisoned they +fried doughnuts with it. In one wall was a great shell +hole, and the village was still under shell fire as +they unloaded their truck and got to work. One lassie +set the water to heat for hot chocolate, while another +requisitioned a soldier to knock the head off a barrel +of flour and was soon up to her elbows mixing the +dough for doughnuts. Before the first doughnut was +out of the hot fat several hundred soldiers were waiting +in long, patient, ever-growing lines for free doughnuts +and chocolate. These things were always served free +after the men had been over the top.</p> + +<p>The lassies had had no sleep for thirty-six hours, +but they never thought of stopping until everybody +was served. In that one day their three tons of supplies +entirely gave out.</p> + +<p>The Red Cross was there with their rolling kitchen. +They had plenty of bread but nothing to put on it. +The Salvation Army had no stove on which to cook anything, +but they had quantities of jam and potted meats. They +turned over ten cases of jam, some of the cases containing +as many as four hundred small jars, to the Red Cross, +who served it on hot biscuits. Some one put up a sign: +“<span class="smallcaps">This jam furnished by the Salvation Army</span>!” +and the soldiers passed the word along the line: “The +finest sandwich in the world, Red Cross and Salvation +Army!” The first day two Salvation Army girls +served more than ten thousand soldiers in their canteen. +They did not even stop to eat. The Red Cross brought +them over hot chocolate as they worked.</p> + +<p>Evening brought enemy airplanes, but the lassies did +not stop for that and soon their own aerial forces +drove the enemy back.</p> + +<p>That night the girls slept in a dirty German dugout, +and they did not dare to clean up the place, or even +so much as to move any of the <i>débris</i> of +papers and old tin and pasteboard cracker boxes, or +cans that were strewn around the place until the engineer +experts came to examine things, lest it might be mined +and everything be blown up. The girls set up their +cots in the clearest place they could find, and went +to sleep. One of the women, however, who had just +arrived, had lost her cot, and being very weary crawled +into a sort of berth dug by the Germans in the wall, +where some German had slept. She found out from bitter +experience what cooties are like.</p> + +<p>The next morning they were hard at work again as early +as seven o’clock. Two long lines of soldiers +were already patiently waiting to be served. The girls +wondered whether they might not have been there all +night. This continued all day long.</p> + +<p>“We had to keep on a perpetual grin,” +said one of the lassies, “so that each soldier +would think he had a smile all his own. We always gave +everything with a smile.” Yet they were not smiles +of coquetry. One had but to see the beautiful earnest +faces of those girls to know that nothing unholy or +selfish entered into their service. It was more like +the smile that an angel might give.</p> + +<p>Here is one of the many popular songs that have been +written on the subject which shows how the soldiers +felt:</p> + +<p class="center"> +Salvation Lassie of Mine +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“They say it’s in Heaven that all angels dwell,<br /> + But I’ve come to learn they’re on earth just as well;<br /> +And how would I know that the like could be so,<br /> + If I hadn’t found one down here below? +</p> + +<p class="center"> +C<small>HORUS</small>. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +A sweet little Angel that went o’er the sea,<br /> + With the emblem of God in her hand;<br /> + A wonderful Angel who brought there to me<br /> + The sweet of a war-furrowed land.<br /> +The crown on her head was a ribbon of red,<br /> + A symbol of all that’s divine;<br /> +Though she called each a brother she’s more like a mother,<br /> + Salvation Lassie of Mine. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Perhaps in the future I’ll meet her again,<br /> + In that world where no one knows sorrow or pain;<br /> +And when that time comes and the last word is said,<br /> + Then place on my bosom her band of red.” +</p> + +<p class="right"> +<i>By “Jack” Caddigan and “Chick” Stoy.</i> +</p> + +<p>That day a shell fell on the dugout where they had +slept the night before, and a little later one dropped +next door to the canteen; another took seven men from +the signal corps right in the street near by, and the +girls were ordered out of the village because it was +no longer safe for them.</p> + +<p>One of the boys had been up on a pole putting up wires +for the signal corps. These boys often had to work +as now under shell fire in daytime because it was +necessary to have telephone connections complete at +once. A shell struck him as he worked and he fell +in front of the canteen. They had just carried him +away to the ambulance when his chum and comrade came +running up. A pool of blood lay on the floor in front +of the canteen, and he stood and gazed with anguish +in his face. Suddenly he stooped and patted the blood +tenderly murmuring, “My Buddy! My Buddy!” +Then like a flash he was off, up the pole where his +comrade had been killed to finish his work. That is +the kind of brave boys these girls were serving.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a>IX.<br/> +The Argonne Drive</h2> + +<p>That night they slept in the woods on litters, and +the next day they went on farther into the woods, +twelve kilometres beyond what had been German front.</p> + +<p>Here they found a whole little village of German dugouts +in the form of log cabin bungalows in the woods. It +was a beautifully laid out little village, each bungalow +complete, with running water and electric lights and +all conveniences. There were a dance hall, a billiard +room, and several pianos in the woods. There were +also fine vegetable gardens and rabbit hutches full +of rabbits, for the Germans had been obliged to leave +too hastily to take anything with them.</p> + +<p>The boys were hungry, some of them half starved for +something different from the hard fare they could +take with them over the top, and they made rabbit +stews and cooked the vegetables and had a fine time.</p> + +<p>The girls up at the front had no time for making doughnuts, +so the girls back of the lines made 8000 doughnuts +and sent them up by trucks for distribution. They +also distributed oranges to the soldiers.</p> + +<p>News came to the girls after they had been for a week +in Nonsard that they were to make a long move.</p> + +<p>Back to Verdun they went and stopped just long enough +to look at the city. They were much impressed with +St. Margaret’s school for young ladies, and +a wonderful old cathedral standing on the hill with +a wall surrounding it. Just the face of the building +was left, all the rest shot away, and through the +concrete walls were holes, with guns bristling from +every one.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus23"></a> +<img src="images/024.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Here they found a whole little village of German dugouts" /> +<p class="caption"><b>Here they found a whole little village of German dugouts</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus24"></a> +<img src="images/025.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The girls who came down to help in the St. Mihiel drive" /> +<p class="caption"><b>The girls who came down to help in the St. Mihiel drive</b></p> +</div> + +<p>They did not linger long for duty called them forward +on their journey. At dusk they stopped in a little +village, bought some stuff, and asked a French woman +to cook it for them. They inquired for a place in which +to wash and were given a bar of soap and directed +to the village pump up the street. After supper they +went on their way to Benoitvaux. Here they found difficulty +in getting quarters, but at last an old French woman +agreed to let them sleep in her kitchen and for a +couple of days they were quartered with her. The word +went forth that there were two American girls there +and people were most curious to see them. One afternoon +two French soldiers came to the kitchen to visit them. +It was raining, as usual, and the girls had stayed +in because there was really nothing to call them out. +The soldiers sat for some time talking. They had heard +that America was a wild place with <i>beaucoup</i> +Indians who wore scalps in their belts, and they wanted +to know if the girls were not afraid. It was a bit +difficult conversing, but the girls got out their +French dictionary and managed to convey a little idea +of the true America to the strangers. At last one of +the soldiers in quite a matter of fact tone informed +one of the girls that he was pleased with her and +loved her very much. This put a hasty close to the +conversation, the lassie informing him with much dignity +that men did not talk in that way to girls they had +just met in America and that she did not like it. +Whereupon the girls withdrew to the other end of the +kitchen and turned their backs on their callers, busying +themselves with some reading, and the crest-fallen +gallants presently left.</p> + +<p>They only had a canteen here one day when they were +called to go on to Neuvilly.</p> + +<p>When the offensive was extended to the Argonne the +Salvation Army followed along, keeping in touch with +the troops so that they felt that the Salvation Army +was ever with them, sharing their hardships and dangers, +and always ready to serve them.</p> + +<p>Just before a drive, close to the front, there are +always blockades of trucks going either way.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army truck filled with the workers on +their way to Neuvilly one dark night was caught in +such a blockade. They crawled along making only about +a mile an hour and stopping every few minutes until +there was a chance to go on again. At last the wait +grew longer and longer, the mud grew deeper, and the +truck was having such a hard time that the little +company of travellers decided to abandon it to the +side of the road till morning and get out and walk +to Neuvilly. There was a field hospital there and +they felt sure they could be of use; and anyway, it +was better than sitting in the truck all night. They +were then about eight kilometers from the front. So +they all got off and walked. But when they reached +the place, found the hospital, and essayed to go in, +the mud was so deep that they were stuck and unable +to move forward. Some soldiers had to rescue them +and carry them to the hospital on litters.</p> + +<p>Their help was accepted gladly, and they went to work +at once. There were many shell-shocked boys coming +in who needed soothing and comforting, and a woman’s +hand so near the front was gratefully appreciated.</p> + +<p>When at last there was a lull in the stream of wounded +men the girls went to find a place to sleep for a +little while. It was early morning, and sad sights +met their eyes as they hurried down what had once been +a pleasant village street. Destruction and desolation +everywhere. The house that had been selected for a +Salvation Army canteen was nearly all gone. One end +was comparatively intact, with the floor still remaining, +and this was to be for the canteen. The rest of the +building was a series of shell holes surrounding a +cellar from which the floor had been shot away.</p> + +<p>The women reconnoitred and finally decided to unfold +their cots and try to get a wink of sleep down in +that cellar. It did not take them long to get settled. +The cots were brought down and placed quickly among +the fallen rafters, stone and tiling. Part of the +walls that were standing leaned in at a perilous slant, +threatening to fall at the slightest wind, but the +lassies took off their shoes, rolled up in their blankets, +and were at once oblivious to all about them, for +they had been travelling all the day before and had +worked hard all night.</p> + +<p>One hour later, still early in the morning, they were +awakened by the arrival of the truck and the thumping +of boxes, tables and supplies as the Salvation Army +truck drivers unloaded and set up the paraphernalia +of the canteen. The girls opened their eyes and looked +about them, and there all around the building were +American soldiers, a head in every shell hole, watching +them sleep. There was something thrilling in the silent +audience looking down with holy eyes—yes, I said +holy eyes!—for whatever the American soldier may +be in his daily life he had nothing in his eyes but +holy reverence for these women of God who were working +night and day for him. There was something touching, +too, in their attitude, for perhaps each one was thinking +of his mother or sister at home as he looked down on +these weary girls, rolled up in the brown blankets, +with their neat little brown shoes in couples under +their cots, nothing visible above the blankets but +their pretty rumpled brown hair.</p> + +<p>The women did not waste much more time in sleeping. +They arose at once and got busy. There were five tables +in the canteen above and already from each one there +stretched a long line of men waiting silently, patiently +for the time to arrive when there would be something +good to eat. The girls had no more sleep that day, +and there simply was no seclusion to be had anywhere. +Everything was shell-riddled.</p> + +<p>When night came on the question of beds arose again. +The cellar seemed hardly possible, and the military +officers considered the question.</p> + +<p>Across the road from the most ruined end of the canteen +building stood an old church. All of its north wall +was gone save a supporting column in the middle, all +the north roof gone. There were holes in all the other +walls, and all the windows were gone. The floor was +covered with <i>débris</i> and wreckage. It had +been used all day for an evacuation hospital.</p> + +<p>Just over the altar was a wonderful picture of the +Christ ascending to heaven. It was still uninjured +save for a shot through the heart.</p> + +<p>The military officer stood on the steps of this ruined +church, and, looking around in perplexity, remarked:</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess this is the wholest place in +town.” Then stepping inside he glanced about +and pointed:</p> + +<p>“And this is the most secluded spot here!”</p> + +<p>The seclusion was a pillar! But the girls were glad +to get even that for there was no other place, and +they were very weary. So they set up their little +cots, and prepared to roll themselves in their blankets +for a well-earned rest.</p> + +<p>The boys had built a small bonfire on the stone floor +against a piece of one wall that was still standing, +and now they sent a deputation to know if the girls +would bring their guitars over and have a little music. +The boys, of course, had no idea that the girls had +not slept for more than twenty-four hours, and the +girls never told them. They never even cast one wistful +glance toward their waiting cots, but smilingly assented, +and went and got their instruments.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus25"></a> +<img src="images/026.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The wrecked house in +Neuvilly where the lassies went to sleep in the cellar and woke up to find the +soldiers watching them." /> +<p class="caption"><b>The wrecked house in Neuvilly where the lassies went to +sleep in the cellar and woke up to find the soldiers watching them.</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus26"></a> +<img src="images/027.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The wrecked church in +Neuvilly where the memorable meeting was held." /> +<p class="caption"><b>The wrecked church in Neuvilly where the memorable +meeting was held.</b></p> +</div> + +<p>Beneath the picture of the Christ, in front of the +altar a few men were at work in an improvised office +with four candles burning around them. In the rear +of the church Lt.-Col. Frederick R. Fitzpatrick of +the One Hundred and Tenth Ammunition Train had his +office, and there another candle was burning. Some +wounded men lay on stretchers in the shadowed northwest +corner, and around the little fire the five Salvation +Army lassies sat among two hundred soldiers. They +sang at first the popular songs that everybody knew: +“The Long, Long Trail,” “Keep the +Home Fires Burning,” “Pack Up Your Troubles +in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile! Smile! Smile!” +and “Keep Your Head Down, Fritzie Boy!”</p> + +<p>By and by some one called for a hymn, and then other +hymns followed: “Jesus Lover of My Soul,” +“When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” and, +as always, the old favorite, “Tell Mother I’ll +Be There!”</p> + +<p>They sang for at least an hour and a half, and then +they did not want to stop. Oh, but it was a great +sound that rolled through the old broken walls of +the church and floated out into the night! One of the +lassies said she would not change crowds with the +biggest choir in New York.</p> + +<p>Then they asked the girls to sing and the room was +very still as two sweet voices thrilled out in a tender +melody, speaking every word distinctly:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Beautiful Jesus, Bright Star of earth!<br /> +Loving and tender from moment of birth,<br /> +Beautiful Jesus, though lowly Thy lot,<br /> +Born in a manger, so rude was Thy cot! +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Beautiful Jesus, gentle and mild,<br /> +Light for the sinner in ways dark and wild,<br /> +Beautiful Jesus, O save such just now,<br /> +As at Thy feet they in penitence bow! +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!<br /> +Fairest of thousands and Pearl of great price!<br /> +Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!<br /> +Gladly we welcome Thee, Beautiful Christ! +</p> + +<p>Before they had finished many eyes had turned instinctively +toward the picture in the weirdly flickering light.</p> + +<p>Then the young Captain-lassie asked her sister to +read the Ninety-first Psalm, “He that dwelleth +in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under +the shadow of the Almighty,” and she told them +that was a promise for those who trusted in God, and +she wished they would think about it while they were +going to sleep.</p> + +<p>“This evening has made me think so much of home,” +she said thoughtfully, drooping her lashes and then +raising them with a sweeping glance that included +the whole group, while the firelight flickered up and +lit her lovely serious face, and touched her hair +with lights of gold, “I suppose it has made +every one else feel that way,” she went on; “I +mean especially the evenings at home when the family +gathered in the parlor, with one at the piano and +brothers with their horns, and the rest with some kind +of instrument, and we had a good ‘sing;’ +and afterward father took the Bible and read the evening +chapter, and then we had family prayers and kissed +Mamma and Papa good night and went to bed. I shouldn’t +wonder if many of you used to have homes like that?”</p> + +<p>The lassie raised her eyes again and looked on them. +Many of the men nodded. It was beautiful to see the +look that came into their faces at these recollections.</p> + +<p>“And you used to have family prayers, too, didn’t +you?” she asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>They nodded once more but some of them turned their +faces away from the light quickly and brushed the +back of their hands across their eyes.</p> + +<p>“To-night has been a family gathering,” +she went on, “We girls are little sisters to +all you big brothers, and we have had a delightful +time with just the family, and the evening chapter +has been read, and now I think it would not be complete +if we did not have the family prayers before we separate +and go to sleep.”</p> + +<p>Down went the heads in response, with reverent mien, +and the place was very still while the lassie prayed. +Afterward the boys joined their gruff voices, husky +now with emotion, into the universal prayer with which +she closed: “Our Father which are in heaven——”</p> + +<p>They were all sorts and conditions of men gathered +around the little fire in that old shell-torn church +in Neuvilly that night. To quote from a letter written +by a military officer, Lt-Col. Frederick R. Fitzpatrick, +to his wife:</p> + +<p>“There was the lad who was willing but not +strong enough for field work, who was in the rear +with the office; the walking wounded who had stopped +for something to eat; the big, strong mule skinner +who could throw a mule down or lift a case of ammunition, +who was rough in appearance and speech and who would +deny that the moisture in his eye was anything but +the effects of the cold. There were the men who had +been facing death a thousand times an hour for the +last three days, who had not had a wash or a chance +to take off their shoes and had been lying in mud in +shell holes —men who looked as though they were chilled +through and through; men on their way to the front, +well knowing all the hardships and dangers which were +ahead of them, but who were worried only about the +delay in the traffic; doctors who had been working +for three days without rest; men off ammunition and +ration trucks, who had been at the wheel so long that +they had forgotten whether it was three or four days +and nights; wounded on their stretchers enjoying a +smoke. And as I stepped in the door there were the +feminine voices singing the good old tunes we all know +so well, and not a sound in the church but as an accompaniment +the distant booming of big guns, the rattle of small +arms, the whirl of air craft, the passing of the ever-present +column of trucks with rations and ammunition going +up, and the wounded coming back; the shouted directions +of the traffic police, the sound of the ammunition +dump just outside the door and the rattle of the kitchens +which surround the church, and which are working twenty-four +hours a day.</p> + +<p>There was the crowd of men, each uncovered, giving +absolute undivided attention to the good, brave girls +who were not making a meeting of it; it was just a +meeting which grew—men who in their minds were back +with mother and sister. The girls sang the good old +songs, and then one of them offered a short prayer, +in which all the men joined in spirit, and as I tip-toed +out of the church it seemed to me that the four candles +at the altar did not give all the light that was shown +on the picture of Christ our Saviour. Every man in +the building that night was in the very presence of +God. It was not a religious meeting; it was a meeting +full of religion. And it was a picture that will ever +stand fresh in my memory and which will be an inspiration +in time of doubt. There was nothing there but the +real things, absolutely no sham of any kind. Oh, it +was wonderful! I hope you can get just a little idea +of what it was. I wish you would keep this letter. +I want to be able to read it in future years.”</p> + +<p>In what remained of another village not far distant +from Neuvilly, the lassies had a tent erected. The +rain was endless—a driving drizzle which quickly +soaked through everything but the staunchest raincoats +in a very few moments. The ground was so thickly covered +by shell craters that they could find no clear space +wide enough for the tent. It so happened that almost +in the centre of the tent there was a big shell crater. +In this the girls lighted a fire. All through the +night, and through nights to follow, wounded men limping +back through the rain and mud to the dressing stations +came in to warm themselves around the fire in the shell +hole, and to drink of the coffee prepared by the girls. +As they sat around the blazing wood, the fire cast +strange shadows on the bleached brown canvas of the +tent. In spite of their wounds, they were very cheerful, + singing as lightly as though they were safe at home.</p> + +<p>Everybody had worked hard at Neuvilly, but they felt +they must get to their own outfit as soon as possible +at the Field Hospital up in Cheppy where the wounded +were coming in droves and the boys were pouring in +from the front half-starved, having been fighting +all night with nothing to eat except reserve rations. +Some had been longer with only such rations as they +took from their dead comrades. The need was most urgent, +but the puzzle was how to get there. The roads had +been shelled and ploughed by explosives until there +was no possible semblance of a way, and there were +no conveyances to be had. The Zone Major had gone back +for supplies, telling the girls to get the first conveyance +possible going up the road. That was enough for the +girls. “We’ve <i>got</i> to get there” +they said, and when they said that one knew they would. +They searched diligently and at last found a way. +One girl rode on a reel cart, one on a mule team and +one went with an old wagon. They went over roads that +had to be made ahead of them by the engineers, and +late in the night, bruised and sore from head to foot, +they arrived at their destination.</p> + +<p>The next morning they reported at the hospital for +work and the Major in charge said: “I never +was so glad to see anybody in my life!”</p> + +<p>They went straight to work and served coffee and sandwiches +to the poor half-starved men. The Red Cross men were +there, also, with sandwiches, hot chocolate and candy.</p> + +<p>The wounded men continued to pour in, later to be +evacuated to the base hospital; they kept coming and +coming, a thousand men where two hundred had been +expected. There was plenty to be done. The girls were +put in charge of different wards. They were under +shell fire continually, but they were too busy to +think of that as they hurried about ministering to +the brave soldiers, who gave never a groan from their +white lips no matter what they suffered.</p> + +<p>The girls worked about eighteen hours a day, and slept +from about one or two at night to five or six in the +morning. The hospital was in front of the artillery +and every shell that went over to Germany passed over +their heads. When they had been there five days under +continual shell fire from the enemy the General gave +orders that they <i>must</i> leave, that it was +no fit place for women so near to the front.</p> + +<p>When the Salvation Army Zone Major brought this order +to the girls rebellion shone in their eyes and they +declared they would not leave! They knew they were +needed there, and there they would stay! The Zone Major +surveyed them with intense satisfaction. He turned +on his heel and went back to the General:</p> + +<p>“General,” he said, with a twinkle, “my +girls say they won’t go.”</p> + +<p>The General’s face softened, and the twinkle +flashed across to his eyes, with something like a +tear behind its fire. Somehow he didn’t look +like a Commanding Officer who had just been defied. +A wonderful light broke over his face and he said:</p> + +<p>“Well, if the Salvation Army wants to stay let +them stay!” And so they stayed.</p> + +<p>It was in a German-dug cave that they had their headquarters, +cut out of the side of a hill and opening into the +hospital yard. It was a work of art, that cave. There +was a passage-way a hundred feet long with avenues +each side and places for cots, room enough to accommodate +a hundred men.</p> + +<p>The German airplanes came in droves. When the bugle +sounded every one must get under cover. There must +be nobody in sight for the Germans were out to get +individuals, and even one person was not too insignificant +for them to waste their ammunition upon. They had +a mistaken idea, perhaps, that this sort of thing +destroyed our morale. The tents, of course, were no +protection against shells and bombs, and presently +the Boche began to shell the town in good earnest, +especially at night. Gas alarms, also, would sound +out in the middle of the night and everybody would +have to rush out and put on their gas masks. They +would not last long at a time, of course, but it broke +up any rest that might have been had, and it was only +too evident that the enemy was trying to get the range +on the hospital.</p> + +<p>One morning, standing by the window making cocoa for +the boys, one of the lassies saw an eight-inch shell +land between the hospital tents, ten feet in front +of the window, and only five feet from the door of +the place where the severely wounded were lying. These +shells always kill at two hundred feet. All that saved +them was that the shell buried itself deep in the +soft earth and was a dud.</p> + +<p>The shells were coming every twenty minutes and there +was no time to lose for now the enemy had their range. +At once all hands got busy and began to evacuate the +wounded men into the Salvation Army cave. The cave +would accommodate seventy men, but they managed to +get a hundred men inside, most of them on litters. +They were all safe and the girls heard the whistle +of the next shell and made haste toward safety themselves. +But someone had carelessly dropped a whole outfit +of blankets and things across the passageway of the +dugout and the first woman to enter fell across it, +shutting out the other two. Before anything could be +done the next shell struck the doorway, partly burying +the fallen young woman. Inside the dugout rocks came +down on some of the men on litters, and anxious hands +extricated the lassie from the <i>débris</i> that +had fallen upon her, and lifted her tenderly. She +was pretty badly bruised and lamed, besides being +wounded on her leg, but the brave young woman would +not claim her wound, nor let it become known to the +military authorities lest they would forbid the girls +to stay at the front any longer. So for three weeks +she patiently limped about and worked with the rest, +quietly bearing her pain, and would not go to the +hospital. One lassie outside was struck on the helmet +by a piece of falling rock. If she had not had on her +helmet she would have been killed.</p> + +<p>The shelling continued for six hours.</p> + +<p>The hospital was all the time filled with wounded +men and there was plenty to be done twenty-four hours +out of every day. The women moved about among the +men as if they were their own brothers.</p> + +<p>A poor shell-shocked boy lay on his cot talking wildly +in delirium, living over the battle again, charging +his men, ordering them to advance.</p> + +<p>“Company H. Advance! See that hill over there? +It’s full of Germans, but <i>we’ve got +to take it</i>!”</p> + +<p>Then he turned over and began to sob and cry, “Oh +God! Oh God!”</p> + +<p>A lassie went to him and soothed him, talking to him +gently about home, asking him questions about his +mother, until he grew calm and began to answer her, +and rested back quite rationally. The stretcher-bearers +came to take him to another hospital, and he started +up, put out his hand and cried: “Oh, nurse! +I’ve got to get back to my men! <i>I’m +the only one left</i>!”</p> + +<p>Thus the heart-breaking scenes were multiplied.</p> + +<p>One boy came back to the hospital in the Argonne badly +wounded. He called the lassie to him one day as she +passed through the ward, and motioned her to lean +down so he could talk to her. He said he knew he was +hard hit and he wanted to tell her something.</p> + +<p>“I was wounded, lying on the ground over there +in No Man’s Land,” he went on. “It +was all dark and I was waiting for someone to come +along and help me. I thought it was all up with me +and while I was lying there I felt something. I can’t +explain it, but I knew it was there and I saw my mother +and I prayed. Then my Buddy came along and I asked +him if he could baptize me. He said he wasn’t +very good himself but he guessed the heavenly Father +would understand. So he stooped down and got some muddy +water out of a shell hole close by and put it on my +forehead, and prayed; and now I know it’s all +right. I wanted you to know.”</p> + +<p>Often the boys, just before they went over the top, +would come to these girls and say:</p> + +<p>“We’re going up there, now. You pray for +us, won’t you?”</p> + +<p>One day some boys came to the hut when there were +not many about and asked the girls if they might talk +with them. These boys were going over the top that +night.</p> + +<p>“We fellows want to ask you something,” +they said. “Some of the chaplains have been +telling us that if we go over there and die for liberty +that it’ll be all right with us afterward. But +we don’t believe that dope and we want to know +the truth. Do you mean to tell me that if a man has +lived like the devil he’s going to be saved +just because he got killed fighting? Why, some of +us fellows didn’t even go of our own accord. +We were drafted. And do you mean to tell me that counts +just the same? We want to know the truth!”</p> + +<p>And then the girls had their opportunity to point +the way to Jesus and speak of repentance, salvation +from sin, and faith in the Saviour of the world.</p> + +<p>A lassie was stooping over one young boy lying on +a cot, washing his face and trying to make him more +comfortable, and she noticed a hole in his breast +pocket. Stooping closer she examined it and found it +was a piece of high explosive shell that had gone +through the cloth of his pocket and was embedded in +his Testament, which he, like many of the boys, always +kept in his breast pocket.</p> + +<p>Another boy lay on a cot biting his lips to bear the +agony of pain, and she asked him what was the matter, +was the wound in his leg so bad? He nodded without +opening his eyes. She went to ask the doctor if the +boy couldn’t have some morphine to dull the +pain. The Sergeant in charge came over and looked +at him, examined the bandage on the boy’s leg +and then exclaimed: “Who bandaged this leg?”</p> + +<p>“I did” said the boy weakly, “I +did the best I could.”</p> + +<p>The poor fellow had bandaged his own leg and then +walked to the hospital. The bandage had looked all +right and no one had examined it until then, but the +Sergeant found that it was so tight that it had stopped +the circulation. He took off the bandage and made +him comfortable, and the agony left him. In a little +while the Salvation Army lassie passed that way again +and found the boy with a little book open, reading.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” she asked, looking at the +book.</p> + +<p>“My Testament,” he answered with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Are you a Christian?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” he said with another smile +that meant volumes.</p> + +<p>It grew dark in the tent for they dared not have lights +on account of the enemy always watching, but stooping +near a little later she could see that his lips were +murmuring in prayer. There was an angelic smile on +his white, dead face in the morning when they came +to take him away.</p> + +<p>There was a funeral every day in that place. A hundred +boys were buried that week. Always the girls sang +at the graves, and prayed. There would be just the +grave digger, a few people, and some of the boys. Off +to one side the Germans were buried. When the simple +services over our own dead were complete one of the +girls would say: “Now, friends, let us go and +say a prayer beside our enemy’s graves. They +are some mother’s boys, and some woman is waiting +for them to come home!”</p> + +<p>And then the prayers would be said once more, and +another song sung.</p> + +<p>Those were solemn, sorrowful times, death and destruction +on every side. The fighting was everywhere. United +States anti-aircraft guns firing at German planes; +Germans firing at us; air fights in the sky above.</p> + +<p>And in the midst of it all the boys had meetings every +night on log piles out in the open. These meetings +would begin with popular songs, but the boys would +soon ask for the hymns and the meetings would work +themselves out without any apparent leading up to +it. The boys wanted it. They wanted to hear about +religious things. They hungered for it. So they were +held at the throne of God each night by the wonderful +men and girls who had learned to know human hearts, +and had attained such skill in leading them to the +Christ for whom they lived.</p> + +<p>It was not alone the doughnut that bound the hearts +of the boys to the Salvation Army in France, it was +what was behind the doughnut; and here, in these wonderful +God-led meetings they found the secret of it all. Many +of them came and told the girls they did not believe +in the so-called “trench religion” and +wanted to know the truth from them. And those girls +told them the way of eternal life in a simple, beautiful +way, not mincing matters, nor ignoring their sins +and unworthiness, but pointing the way to the Christ +who died to save them from sin, and who even now was +waiting in silent Presence to offer them Himself. +Great numbers of the men accepted Christ, and pledged +themselves to live or die for Him whatever came to +them.</p> + +<p>How close the Salvation Army people had grown to the +hearts and lives of the men was shown by the fact +that when they came back from the fight they would +always come to them as if they had come to report at +home:</p> + +<p>“We’ve escaped!” they would say. +“We don’t know how it is, but we think +it’s because you girls were praying for us, and +the folks at home were praying, too!”</p> + +<p>There were three cardinal principles which were deemed +necessary to success in this work. The first and most +important depended upon winning the confidence of +the boys. This was a prime requisite in any work with +the boys, especially by a religious organization.</p> + +<p><i>The first quality</i> looked for in a person +professing religion is always consistency. It was +felt that if the boys saw that the Salvation Army +was consistent, that it stood only for those things +in France which it was known to stand for in the United +States, that the first step would be established in +winning the confidence of the boy. It was therefore +determined that the Salvation Army would not, under +any circumstances, compromise, and that it should +stand out in its religious work and adhere to its +teachings as firmly and as vigorously as it was known +to do at home.</p> + +<p>A stand upon the tobacco question was, therefore, +highly important. Other organizations were encouraging +the use of tobacco but those who had come in contact +with the Salvation Army at home knew that it had always +discouraged its use, and although the officers had +to go against the judgment of many high military authorities +who thought they should handle it, they decided that +the Salvation Army would not handle tobacco and that +no one wearing its uniform should use it. The consistency +of the Salvation Army and the careful conduct of its +workers won the esteem of the boys.</p> + +<p><i>The second requisite</i> was that the Salvation +Army should be willing to share their hardships. To +accomplish this, it was made a rule that Salvation +Army workers should not mess with the officers but +should draw their rations at the soldiers’ mess, +also that they should not associate with the officers +more than was absolutely necessary and that in the +huts. It was neither possible nor desirable that officers +should be kept out of the huts, but as far as possible +soldiers were made to feel that the Salvation Army +was in France to serve them and not for its own pleasure +or convenience.</p> + +<p><i>The third requisite</i> was that the Salvation +Army should be willing to share their dangers and +this was proved to them when they went to the trenches—the +Salvation Army moved to the trenches with them and +established huts and outposts as close to the front +line as was permitted.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a>X.<br/> +The Armistice</h2> + +<p>After the Armistice was signed, on November 11th, +it was a great question what disposition would be +made of the troops. It was concluded that they would +be sent home as rapidly as possible and that the three +ports—Brest, St. Nazaire and Bordeaux—would be used +for that purpose. Immediately arrangements were made +for the opening of Salvation Army work at the base +ports with a view to letting the boys have a last sight +of the Salvation Army as they left the shores of France. +The Salvation Army had served them in the training +area and at the front and were still serving them as +they left the shores of the old world and it would +meet them again when they arrived on the shores of +the home-land. In this way the contact of the Salvation +Army would be continuous, so that when they returned, +it would be able to reach their hearts and affect +their lives with the Gospel of Christ.</p> + +<p>The problem of buildings was, of course, the first +one and a very difficult one. To secure buildings +of adequate size, which could be constructed in a +short space of time, was almost out of the question, +but it occurred to the officers that the aviation +section would be demobilizing and that they had brought +over portable steel buildings, for use as hangars. +The matter was taken up at once with the military +authorities and twenty of these steel buildings were +secured—each of them sixty-six feet wide by one hundred +feet long. It was planned to place eight of them at +Bordeaux, six at St. Nazaire and six at Brest. By placing +two of them end to end it was possible to secure one +auditorium sixty-six feet wide by two hundred feet +long—capable of seating three thousand men. Adjoining +that could be another building sixty-six feet by one +hundred feet, to be used for canteen and rest room.</p> + +<p>It was planned to proceed with a religious campaign +at these Base Ports, holding Salvation meetings in +these extensive departments.</p> + +<p>When the Army of Occupation was started for Germany, +two Salvation Army trucks were assigned to go along +with the Army. Whenever the Army of Occupation stopped +for a space of two or three days, places were secured +where doughnuts could be fried, pies made, and at all +times hot coffee and chocolate were available for +the men.</p> + +<p>When the American soldiers marched through the villages +of Alsace-Lorraine the Salvationists marched with +them. At Esch and Luxemburg they were in all the rejoicing +and triumph of the parade, bringing succor and comfort +wherever they could find an opportunity.</p> + +<p>When the men arrived at Coblenz the Salvation Army +was there before them, and on their crossing the Rhine, +arrangements had been made for the location of the +Salvation Army work at the principal points in the +Rhine-head. They are now conducting Salvation Army +operations with the Army of Occupation.</p> + +<p>One of the occasions when President Wilson clapped +for the Salvation Army was at the inauguration of +the Soldiers’ Association in Paris. The Y had +invited all the other organizations to be present. +The meeting was held in the Palais de Glace, which +seats about ten thousand people.</p> + +<p>President and Mrs. Wilson were present, accompanied +by many prominent American officials. Representatives +of the various War Work Organizations spoke.</p> + +<p>The Salvationist who had been selected to represent +the Army at this meeting had been in the United States +Navy for twelve years and was a chaplain.</p> + +<p>When he was called upon to speak the boys with one +accord as if by preconcerted action arose to their +feet and gave him an ovation. Of course, it was not +given to the man but to the uniform.</p> + +<p>A soldier of the Rainbow Division sitting next to +one of the Salvation Army workers over there, kept +telling him what the boys thought of the Salvation +Army, and when the cheering began he poked the Salvationist +in the ribs and whispered joyously:</p> + +<p>“I told you! I told you! We’ve just been +waiting for eight months to pull this off! Now, you +see!”</p> + +<p>The speaker when given opportunity did not attempt +to make a great speech. He told in simple, vivid sentences +of the services of the Salvation Army just back of +the trenches under fire; and President Wilson sat listening +and applauding with the rest.</p> + +<p>The chaplain paid a tribute to President Wilson, finishing +with these words:</p> + +<p>“President Wilson was not man-elected, but God-selected!”</p> + +<h3>Chaplains.</h3> + +<p>For some little time after the War started it was +a question as to whether the Salvation Army was entitled +to any representation in the realm of Chaplaincies +of the United States forces. During the progress of +the consideration Adjutant Harry Kline secured an +appointment with the Nebraska National Guard, and +his regiment being made a part of the National Army, +he was received as an officer of the same and thus +became our first Army Chaplain.</p> + +<p>The War Office decided favorably with regard to the +question of our general representation, and shortly +thereafter Adjutant John Allan, of Bowery fame, was +given a first lieutenancy and then followed, in the +order given, Captain Ernest Holz, Adjutant Ryan and +Captain Norman Marshall.</p> + +<p>The exceptional service that these men have rendered +is of sufficient importance to have a much wider notice +than where only the barest of reference is possible. +Shortly after arrival in France Chaplain Allan was +being very favorably noticed because of the character +of the work which he was doing, and it was gratifying +to learn that this confidence was reflected in his +appointment as Senior Chaplain of his regiment and +his assignment to special service where probity and +wisdom were essential. Shortly thereafter he was taken +to the Army Headquarters, where up to the present +time he is most highly esteemed as a co-laborer with +Bishop Brent, the Chaplain-General of the overseas +forces.</p> + +<p>Typical of the enthusiasm of each of the five men +appointed as Chaplains, the following story is told +of First Lieutenant Ernest Holz, who was inducted +into his office as Senior Chaplain of his regiment +right at the commencement of his career.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the year, when Chaplain Holz knew +his Salvation Army comrades would, as usual, be engaged +in special revival work, he thought it would be a +worthy thing to time a similar effort among the men +of his regiment. Approaching the Colonel, he found +him in hearty agreement concerning the effort, and +so securing the assistance of his fellow chaplains +they arranged for a series of meetings nightly for +one week, with the result that two hundred of the +men of the regiment confessed Christ and practically +all of them were deeply interested.</p> + +<p>The effort was wholly directed to the uplift of the +men and God commanded His blessing in a most gratifying +manner.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a>XI.<br/> +Homecoming</h2> + +<p>The boat docked that morning, and one soldier at least, +as he stood on the deck and watched the shores of +his native land draw nearer, felt mingling with the +thrill of joy at his return a vague uneasiness. He +was coming back, it is true, but it had been a long +time and a lot of things had happened. For one thing +he had lost his foot. That in itself was a pretty +stiff proposition. For another thing he was not wearing +any decorations save the wound stripes on his sleeve. +Those would have been enough, and more than enough, +for his mother if she were alive, but she had gone +away from earth during his absence, and the girl he +had kissed good-bye and promised great things was +peculiar. The question was, would she stand for that +amputated foot? He didn’t like to think it of +her, but he found he wasn’t sure. Perhaps, if +there had been a croix de guerre! He had promised +her to win that and no end of other honors, when he +went away so buoyant and hopeful; but almost on his +first day of real battle he had been hurt and tossed +aside like a derelict, to languish in a hospital, with +no more hope of winning anything. And now he had come +home with one foot gone, and no distinction!</p> + +<p>He hadn’t told the girl yet about the foot. +He didn’t know as he should. He felt lonely +and desolate in spite of his joy at getting back to +“God’s Country.” He frowned at the +hazy outline of the great city from which tall buildings +were beginning to differentiate themselves as they +drew nearer. There was New York. He meant to see New +York, of course. He was a Westerner and had never +had an opportunity to go about the metropolis of his +own country. Of course, he would see it all. Perhaps, +after he was demobilized he would stay there. Maybe +he wouldn’t send word he had come back. Let +them think he was killed or taken prisoner, or missing, +or anything they liked. There were things to do in +New York. There were places where he would be welcome +even with one foot gone and no cross of war. Thus +he mused as the boat drew nearer the shore and the +great city loomed close at hand. Then, suddenly, just +as the boat was touching the pier and a long murmur +of joy went up from the wanderers on board, his eyes +dropped idly to the dock and there in her trim little +overseas uniform, with the sunlight glancing from +the silver letters on the scarlet shield of her trench +cap and the smile radiating from her sweet face, stood +the very same Salvation Army lassie who had bent over +him as he lay on the ground just back of the trenches +waiting to be put in the ambulance and taken to the +hospital after he had been wounded. He could feel again +the throbbing pain in his leg, the sickening pain of +his head as he lay in the hot sun, with the flies +swarming everywhere, the horrible din of battle all +about, and his tongue parched and swollen with fever +from lying all night in pain on the wet ground of +No Man’s Land. She had laid a soft little hand +on his hot forehead, bathed his face, and brought him +a cold drink of lemonade. If he lived to be a hundred +years old he would never taste anything so good as +that lemonade had been. Afterward the doctor said +it was the good cold drink that day that saved the +lives of those fever patients who had lain so long +without attention. Oh, he would never forget the Salvation +lassie! And there she was alive and at home! She hadn’t +been killed as the fellows had been afraid she would. +She had come through it all and here she was always +ahead and waiting to welcome a fellow home. It brought +the tears smarting to his eyes to think about it, +and he leaned over the rail of the ship and yelled +himself hoarse with the rest over her, forgetting +all about his lost foot. It was hours before they +were off the ship. All the red tape necessary for the +movement of such a company of men had to be unwound +and wound up again smoothly, and the time stretched +out interminably; but somehow it did not seem so hard +to wait now, for there was someone down there on the +dock that he could speak to, and perhaps—just perhaps—he +would tell her of his dilemma about his girl. Somehow +he felt that she would understand.</p> + +<p>He watched eagerly when he was finally lined up on +the wharf waiting for roll-call, for he was sure she +would come; and she did, swinging down the line with +her arms full of chocolate, handing out telegraph blanks +and postal cards, real postal cards with a stamp on +them that could be mailed anywhere. He gripped one +in his big, rough hand as if it were a life preserver. +A real, honest-to-goodness postal card! My it was good +to see the old red and white stamp again! And he spoke +impulsively:</p> + +<p>“You’re the girl that saved my life out +there in the field, don’t you remember? With +the lemonade!” Her face lit up. She had recognized +him and somehow cleared one hand of chocolate and +telegrams to grasp his with a hearty welcome: “I’m +so glad you came through all right!” her cheery +voice said.</p> + +<p>All right! <i>All right!</i> Did she call it +all right? He looked down at his one foot with a dubious +frown. She was quick to see. She understood.</p> + +<p>“Oh, but that’s nothing!” she said, +and somehow her voice put new heart into him. “Your +folks will be so glad to have you home you’ll +forget all about it. Come, aren’t you going +to send them a telegram?” And she held out the +yellow blank.</p> + +<p>But still he hesitated.</p> + +<p> +“I don’t know,” he said, looking down at his foot again. +“Mother’s gone, and——” +</p> + +<p>Instantly her quick sympathy enveloped his sore soul, +and he felt that just the inflection of her voice +was like balm when she said: “I’m so sorry!” +Then she added:</p> + +<p>“But isn’t there somebody else? I’m +sure there was. I’m sure you told me about a +girl I was to write to if you didn’t come through. +Aren’t you going to let her know? Of course +you are.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” said the boy. “I +don’t think I am. Maybe I’ll never go +back now. You see, I’m not what I was when I +went away.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” said the lassie with that +cheerful assurance that had carried her through shell +fire and made her merit the pet name of “Sunshine” +that the boys had given her in the trenches. “Why, +that wouldn’t be fair to her. Of course, you’re +going to let her know right away. Leave it to me. +Here, give me her address!”</p> + +<p>Quick as a flash she had the address and was off to +a telephone booth. This was no message that could +wait to go back to headquarters. It must go at once.</p> + +<p>He saw her again before he left the wharf. She gave +him a card with two addresses written on it:</p> + +<p>“This first is where you can drop in and rest +when you are tired,” she explained. “It’s +just one of our huts; the other is where you can find +a good bed when you are in the city.”</p> + +<p>Then she was off with a smile down the line, giving +out more telegraph blanks and scattering sunshine +wherever she went. He glanced back as he left the +pier and saw her still floating eagerly here and there +like a little sister looking after more real brothers.</p> + +<p>The next day, when he was free and on a few days leave +from camp, he started out with his crutch to see the +city, but the thought of her kept him from some of +the places where his feet might have strayed. Yet she +had not said a word of warning. Her smile and the +look in her eyes had placed perfect confidence in +him, and he could remember the prayer she had uttered +in a low tone back there at the dressing station behind +the trenches in the ear of a companion who was not +going to live to get to the Base Hospital, and who +had begged her to pray with him before he went. Somehow +it lingered with him all day and changed his ideas +of what he wanted to see in New York.</p> + +<p>But it was a long hard tramp he had set for himself +to see the town with that one foot. He hadn’t +much money for cars, even if he had known which cars +to take, so he hobbled along and saw what he could. +He was all alone, for the fellows he started with +went so fast and wanted to do so many things that +he could not do, that he had made an excuse to shake +them off. They were kind. They would not have left +him if they had known; but he wasn’t going to +begin his new life having everybody put out on his +account, so he was alone. And it was toward evening. +He was very tired. It seemed to him that he couldn’t +go another block. If only there were a place somewhere +where he could sit down a little while and rest; even +a doorstep would do if there were only one near at +hand. Of course, there were saloons, and there would +always be soldiers in them. He would likely be treated, +and there would be good cheer, and a chance to forget +for a little while; but somehow the thought of that +Salvation lassie and the cheery way she had made him +send that telegram kept him back. When a girl with +painted cheeks stopped and smiled in his face he passed +her by, and half wondered why he did it. He must go +somewhere presently and get a bite to eat, but it +couldn’t be much for he wanted to save money +enough and hunt up that lodging house where there +were nice beds. How much he wanted that bed!</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus27"></a> +<img src="images/028.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Right in the midst of the +busy hurrying throng of Union Square" /> +<p class="caption"><b>Right in the midst of the busy hurrying throng of Union +Square</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus28"></a> +<img src="images/029.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="“Smiling Billy” +“One Game Little Guy”" /> +<p class="caption"><b>“Smiling Billy”<br/>“One Game Little +Guy”</b></p> +</div> + +<p>It was quite dark now. The lights were lit everywhere. +He was coming to a great thoroughfare. He judged by +his slight knowledge of the city that it might be +Broadway. There would likely be a restaurant somewhere +near. He hurried on and turned into the crowded street. +How cold it was! The wind cut him like a knife. He +had been a fool to come off alone like this! Just +out of the hospital, too. Perhaps he would get sick +and have to go to another hospital. He shivered and +stopped to pull his collar up closer around his neck. +Then suddenly he stood still and stared with a dazed, +bewildered expression, straight ahead of him. Was he +getting a bit leary? He passed his hand over his eyes +and looked again. Yes, there it was! Right in the +midst of the busy, hurrying throng of Union Square! +He made sure it was Union Square, for he looked up +at the street sign to be certain it wasn’t Willow +Vale—or Heaven—right there where streets met and +crossed, and cars and trolleys and trucks whirled, +and people passed in throngs all day, just across +the narrow road, stood the loveliest, most perfect +little white clapboard cottage that ever was built +on this earth, with porches all around and a big tree +growing up through the roof of one porch. It stood +out against the night like a wonderful mirage, like +a heavenly dove descended into the turmoil of the +pit, like home and mother in the midst of a rushing +pitiless world. He could have cried real tears of +wonder and joy as he stood there, gazing. He felt as +though he were one of those motion pictures in which +a lone Klondiker sits by his campfire cooking a can +of salmon or baked beans, and up above him on the screen +in one corner appears the Christmas tree where his +wife and baby at home are celebrating and missing +him. It seemed just as unreal as that to see that +little beautiful home cottage set down in the midst +of the city.</p> + +<p>The windows were all lit up with a warm, rosy light +and there were curtains at the windows, rosy pink +curtains like the ones they used to have at the house +where his girl lived, long ago before the War spoiled +him. He stood and continued to gaze until a lot of +cash-boys, let loose from the toil of the day, rushed +by and almost knocked his crutch from under him. Then +he determined to get nearer this wonder. Carefully +watching his opportunity he hobbled across the street +and went slowly around the building. Yes, it was real. +Some public building, of course, but how wonderful +to have it look so like a home! Why had they done it?</p> + +<p>Then he came around toward the side, and there in +plain letters was a sign: “<span class="smallcaps">Soldiers and Sailors in Uniform Welcome</span>.” What? Was it possible? +Then he might go in? What kind of a place could it +be?</p> + +<p>He raised his eyes a little and there, slung out above +the neatly shingled porch, like any sign, swung an +immense fat brown doughnut a foot and a half in diameter, +with the sugar apparently still sticking to it, and +inside the rough hole sat a big white coffee cup. His +heart leaped up and something suddenly gave him an +idea. He fumbled in his pocket, brought out a card, +saw that this was the Salvation Army hut, and almost +shouted with joy. He lost no time in hurrying around +to the door and stepping inside.</p> + +<p>There revealed before him was a great cozy room, with +many easy-chairs and tables, a piano at which a young +soldier sat playing ragtime, and at the farther end +a long white counter on which shone two bright steaming +urns that sent forth a delicious odor of coffee. Through +an open door behind the counter he caught a glimpse +of two Salvation Army lassies busy with some cups +and plates, and a third enveloped in a white apron +was up to her elbows in flour, mixing something in +a yellow bowl. By one of the little tables two soldier +boys were eating doughnuts and coffee, and at another +table a sailor sat writing a letter. It was all so +cozy and homelike that it took his breath away and +he stood there blinking at the lights that flooded +the rooms from graceful white bowl-like globes that +hung suspended from the ceiling by brass chains. He +saw that the rosy light outside had come from soft +pink silk sash curtains that covered the lower part +of the windows, and there were inner draperies of +some heavier flowered material that made the whole +thing look real and substantial. The willow chairs +had cushions of the same flowered stuff. The walls +were a soft pearly gray below and creamy white above, +set off by bands of dark wood, and a dark floor with +rush mats strewn about. He looked around slowly, taking +in every detail almost painfully. It was such a contrast +to the noisy, rushing street, a contrast to the hospital, +and the trenches and all the life with which he had +been familiar during the past few dreadful months. +It made him think of home and mother. He began to be +afraid he was going to cry like a great big baby, +and he looked around nervously for a place to get +out of sight. He saw a fellow going upstairs and at +a distance he followed him. Up there was another bright, +quiet room, curtained and cushioned like the other, +with more easy willow chairs, round willow tables, +and desks over by the wall where one might write. The +soldier who had come up ahead of him was already settled +writing now at a desk in the far corner. There were +bookcases between the windows with new beautifully +bound books in them, and there were magazines scattered +around, and no rules that one must not spit on the +floor, or put their feet in the chairs, or anything +of the sort. Only, of course, no one would ever dream +of doing anything like that in such a place. How beautiful +it was, and how quiet and peaceful! He sank into a +chair and looked about him. What rest!</p> + +<p>And now there were real tears in his eyes which he +hastened to brush roughly away, for someone was coming +toward him and a hand was on his shoulder. A man’s +voice, kindly, pleasant, brotherly, spoke:</p> + +<p>“All in, are you, my boy? Well, you just sit +and rest yourself awhile. What do you think of our +hut? Good place to rest? Well, that’s what we +want it to be to you, Home. Just drop in here whenever +you’re in town and want a place to rest or write, +or a bite of something homelike to eat.”</p> + +<p>He looked up to the broad shoulders in their well-fitting +dark blue uniform, and into the kindly face of the +gray-haired Colonel of the Salvation Army who happened +to step in for a minute on business and had read the +look on the lonesome boy’s face just in time +to give a word of cheer. He could have thrown his +arms around the man’s neck and kissed him if +he only hadn’t been too shy. But in spite of +the shyness he found himself talking with this fine +strong man and telling him some of his disappointments +and perplexities, and when the older man left him he +was strengthened in spirit from the brief conversation. +Somehow it didn’t look quite so black a prospect +to have but one foot.</p> + +<p>He read a magazine for a little while and then, drawn +by the delicious odors, he went downstairs and had +some coffee and doughnuts. He saw while he was eating +that the front porch opened out of the big lower room +and was all enclosed in glass and heated with radiators. +A lot of fellows were sitting around there in easy-chairs, +smoking, talking, one or two sleeping in their chairs +or reading papers. It had a dim, quiet light, a good +place to rest and think. He was more and more filled +with wonder. Why did they do it? Not for money, for +they charged hardly enough to pay for the materials +in the food they sold, and he knew by experience that +when one had no money one could buy of them just the +same if one were in need.</p> + +<p>Later in the evening he took out the little card again +and looked up the other address. He wanted one of +those clean, sweet beds that he had been hearing about, +that one could get for only a quarter a night, with +all the shower-bath you wanted thrown in. So he went +out again and found his way down to Forty-first Street.</p> + +<p>There was something homelike about the very atmosphere +as he entered the little office room and looked about +him. Beyond, through an open door he could see a great +red brick fireplace with a fire blazing cheerfully +and a few fellows sitting about reading and playing +checkers. Everybody looked as if they felt at home.</p> + +<p>When he signed his name in the big register book the +young woman behind the desk who wore an overseas uniform +glanced at his signature and then looked up as if +she were welcoming an old friend:</p> + +<p>“There’s a telegram here for you,” +she said pleasantly. “It came last night and +we tried to locate you at the camp but did not succeed. +One of our girls went over to camp this afternoon, +but they said you were gone on a furlough, so we hoped +you would turn up.”</p> + +<p>She handed over the telegram and he took it in wonder. +Who would send him a telegram? And here of all places! +Why, how would anybody know he would be here? He was +so excited his crutch trembled under his arm as he +tore open the envelope and read:</p> + +<p class="letter"> +“Dear Billy (It was a regular letter!):<br/> +    “I am leaving to-night for New York. Will meet +you at Salvation Hostel day after to-morrow morning. +What is a foot more or less? Can’t I be hands +and feet for you the rest of your life? I’m +proud, proud, proud of you!</p> + +<p class="right"> +Signed +“Jean”</p> + +<p>He found great tears coming into his eyes and his +throat was full of them, too. It didn’t matter +if that Salvation Army lassie behind the counter did +see them roll down his cheeks. He didn’t care. +She would understand anyway, and he laughed out loud +in his joy and relief, the first joy, the first relief +since he was hurt!</p> + +<p>Some one else was coming in the door, another fellow +maybe, but the lassie opened a door in the desk and +drew him behind the counter in a shaded corner where +no one would notice and brought him a cup of tea, which +she said was all they had around to eat just then. +She didn’t pay any attention to him till he +got his equilibrium again.</p> + +<p>She was the kind of woman one feels is a natural-born +mother. In fact, the fellows were always asking her +wistfully: “May we call you Mother?” Young +enough to understand and enter into their joys and +sorrows, yet old enough to be wise and sweet and true. +She mothered every boy that came.</p> + +<p>A sailor boy once asked if he might bring his girl +to see her. He said he wanted her to see her so she +could tell his mother about her.</p> + +<p>“But can’t you tell her about your girl?” +she asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, but I want you to tell her.” +he said. “You see, whatever you say mother’ll +know is true.”</p> + +<p>So presently she turned to this lonely boy and took +him upstairs through the pleasant upper room with +its piano and games, its sun parlor over the street, +lined with trailing ferns, with cheery canaries in +swinging tasseled cages, who looked fully as happy +and at home as did the soldier boys who were sitting +about comfortably reading. She found him a room with +only one other bunk in it. Nice white beds with springs +like air and mattresses like down. She showed him +where the shower-baths were, and with a kindly good-night +left him. He almost wanted to ask her to kiss him +good-night, so much like his own mother she seemed.</p> + +<p>Before he got into that white bed he knelt beside +it, all clean and comfortable and happy like a little +child that had wandered a long way from home and got +back again, and he told God he was sorry and ashamed +for all the way he had doubted, and sinned, and he +wanted to live a new life and be good. Then he lay +down to sleep. To-morrow morning Jean would be there. +And she didn’t mind about the foot! She didn’t +mind! How wonderful!</p> + +<p>And then he had a belated memory of the little Salvation +Army lassie on the wharf who had brought all this +about, and he closed his eyes and murmured out loud +to the clean, white walls: “God bless her! Oh, +God bless her!”</p> + +<p>This is only one of the many stories that might be +told about the boys who have been helped by the various +activities of the Salvation Army, both at home and +abroad.</p> + +<p>It would be well worth one’s while to visit +their Brooklyn Hospital and their New York Hospital +and all their other wonderful institutions. In several +of them are many little children, some mere infants, +belonging to soldiers and sailors away in the war. +In some instances the mother is dead, or has to work. +If she so desires she is given work in the institution, +which is like a real home, and allowed to be with her +child and care for it. Where both mother and father +are dead the child remains for six years or until +a home elsewhere is provided for it. Here the little +ones are well cared for, not in the ordinary sense +of an institution, but as a child would be cared for +in a home, with beauty and love, and pleasure mingling +with the food and shelter and raiment that is usually +supplied in an institution. These children are prettily, +though simply, dressed and not in uniform; with dainty +bits of color in hair ribbon, collar, necktie or frock; +the babies have wee pink and blue wool caps and sacks +like any beloved little mites, they ride around on +Kiddie Cars, play with doll houses and have a fine +Kindergarten teacher to guide their young minds, and +the best of hospital service when they are ailing. +But that is another story, and there are yet many of +them. If everybody could see the beautiful life-size +painting of Christ blessing the little children which +is painted right on the very wall and blended into +the tinting, they could better comprehend the spirit +which pervades this lovely home.</p> + +<p>The New York Hospital, which has just been rebuilt +and refurnished with all the latest appliances, is +in charge of a devoted woman physician, who has given +her life to healing, and has at the head of its Board +one of the most noted surgeons in the city, who gives +his services free, and boasts that he enjoys it best +of all his work. Here those of small means or of no +means at all, especially those belonging to soldiers +and sailors, may find healing of the wisest and most +expert kind, in cheery, airy, sanitary and beautiful +rooms. But here, too, to understand, one must see. +Just a peep into one of those dainty white rooms would +rest a poor sick soul; just a glance at the room full +of tiny white basket cribs with dainty blue satin-bound +blankets—real wool blankets—and white spreads, would +convince one.</p> + +<p>And what one sees in New York in the line of such +activities is duplicated in most of the other large +cities of the United States.</p> + +<p>Not the least of the Salvation Army service for the +returning soldiers is the work that is done on the +docks by the lassies meeting returning troop ships. +They send telegrams free, not C.O.D., for them, give +the men stamped postal cards, hunt up relatives, answer +questions, and give them chocolate while they wait +for the inevitable roll call before they can entrain. +Often these girls will sit up half the night after +having met boats nearly all day, to get the telegrams +all off that night. It is interesting to note that +on one single day, April 20th, 1919, the Salvation +Army Headquarters in New York sent 2900 such free telegrams +for returning soldiers.</p> + +<p>The other day the father of a soldier came to Headquarters +with an anxious face, after a certain unit from overseas +had returned. It was the unit in which his boy had +gone to France, but he had written saying he was in +the hospital without stating what was the matter or +how serious his wound. No further word had been received +and the father and mother were frenzied with grief. +They had tried in every way to get information but +could find out nothing. The Salvation Army went to +work on the telephone and in a short time were able +to locate the missing boy in a Casual Company soon +to return, and to report to his anxious father that +he was recovering rapidly.</p> + +<p>Another soldier arrived in New York and sent a Salvation +Army telegram to his father and mother in California +who had previously received notification that he was +dead. A telegram came back to the Salvation Army almost +at once from the West stating this fact and begging +some one to go to the camp where the boy’s Casual +Company was located and find out if he were really +living. One of the girls from the office went over +to the Debarkation Hospital immediately and saw the +boy, and was able to telegraph to his parents that +he was perfectly recovered and only awaiting transportation +to California. He was overjoyed to see someone who +had heard from his parents.</p> + +<p>A portion of one troop ship had been reserved for +soldiers having influenza. These men were kept on +board long after all the others had left the ship. +A Salvation Army worker seeing them with the white +masks over their faces went on board and served them +with chocolate, distributing post cards and telegraph +blanks. When she was leaving the ship a Captain said +to her rather brusquely: “Don’t you realize +that you have done a foolish thing? Those men have +influenza and your serving them might mean your death!”</p> + +<p>Looking up into the man’s eyes the Salvationist +said: “I am ready to die if God sees fit to +call me.”</p> + +<p>The officer laughed and told her that was the first +time in his life he had known anyone to say they were +ready to die and would willingly expose themselves +to such a contagious disease.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you ready to die?” asked +the girl. “Certainly not,” replied the +Captain. “Sometimes I think I am hardly fit to +live, much less die.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you realize that there is a Power +which can enable you to live in such a way as to make +you ready to die?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I don’t bother about going +to church, in fact, I don’t bother about religion +at all, although I must say once or twice when I was +up the line over there I wished I did know something +about religion, that is, the kind that makes a fellow +feel good about dying; but I don’t want to go +to church and go through all that business.”</p> + +<p>“It is possible to accept Christ here and now +on this very spot—on this ship—if you’ll only +believe,” said the girl wistfully.</p> + +<p>The Captain could not help being interested and thoughtful. +When she left, after a little more talk he put out +his hand and said:</p> + +<p>“Thank you. You’ve done me more good than +any sermon could have done me, and believe me, I am +going to pray and trust God to help me live a different +life.”</p> + +<p>Sad things are seen on the docks at times when the +ships come into port, and the boys are coming home.</p> + +<p>A soldier in a basket, with both arms and both legs +gone and only one eye, was being carried tenderly +along.</p> + +<p>“Why do you let him live?” asked one pityingly +of the Commanding Officer.</p> + +<p>The gruff, kindly voice replied:</p> + +<p>“You don’t know what life is. We don’t +live through our arms and legs. We live through our +hearts.”</p> + +<p>Some of our boys have learned out there amid shell +fire to live through their hearts.</p> + +<p>One of these lying on a litter greeted the lassie +from Indiana, just come back to New York from France +to meet the boys when they landed:</p> + +<p>“Hello, Sister! <i>You here?</i>”</p> + +<p>Her eyes filled with tears as she recognized one of +her old friends of the trenches, and noticed how helpless +he was now, he who had been the strongest of the strong. +She murmured sympathetically some words of attempted +cheer:</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s all right, Sister,” +he said, “I know they got me pretty hard, but +I don’t mind that. I’m not going to feel +bad about it. I got something better than arms and +legs over in one of your little huts in France. I +found Jesus, and I’m going to live for Him. I +wanted you to know.”</p> + +<p>A few days later she was talking with another boy +just landed. She asked him how it seemed to be home +again, and to her surprise he turned a sorrowful face +to her:</p> + +<p>“It’s the greatest disappointment of my +life,” he said sadly, “the folks here +don’t understand. They all want to make me forget, +and I don’t want to forget what I learned out +there. I saw life in a different way and I knew I +had wasted all the years. I want to live differently +now, and mother and her friends are just getting up +dances and theatre parties for me to help me to forget. +They don’t understand.”</p> + +<p>Forty miles west of Chicago is Camp Grant and there +the Salvation Army has put up a hut just outside of +the camp.</p> + +<p>During the days when the boys were being sent to France, +and were under quarantine, unable to go out, no one +was allowed to come in and there was great distress. +Mothers and sisters and friends could get no opportunity +to see them for farewells.</p> + +<p>The Salvation officer in charge suggested to the military +authorities that the Salvation Army hut be the clearing +place for relatives, and that he would come in his +machine and bring the boys to the hut, taking them +back again afterwards, that they might have a few +hours with their friends before leaving for France.</p> + +<p>This offer was readily accepted by the authorities, +and so it was made possible for hundreds and hundreds +of mothers to get a last talk with their boys before +they left, some of them forever.</p> + +<p>One day a young man came to the Salvation Army officer +and told him that his regiment was to depart that +night and that he was in great distress about his +wife who on her way to see him had been caught in a +railroad wreck, and later taken on her way by a rescue +train. “I think she is in Rockford somewhere,” +he said anxiously, “but I don’t know where, +and I have to leave in three hours!”</p> + +<p>The Ensign was ready with his help at once. He took +the young soldier in his car to Rockford, seven miles +away, and they went from hotel to hotel seeking in +vain for any trace of the wife. Then suddenly as they +were driving along the street wondering what to try +next the young soldier exclaimed: “There she +is!” And there she was, walking along the street!</p> + +<p>The two had a blessed two hours together before the +soldier had to leave. But it was all in the day’s +work for the Salvation Army man, for his main object +in life is to help someone, and he never minds how +much he puts himself out. It is always reward enough +for him to have succeeded in bringing comfort to another.</p> + +<p>One of the Salvation Army Ensigns who was assigned +to work at Camp Grant hut had been an all-round athlete +before he joined the Salvation Army, a boxer and wrestler +of no mean order.</p> + +<p>The fame of the Ensign went abroad and the doctor +at the Base Hospital asked him to take charge of athletics +in the hospital. He was also appointed regularly as +chaplain in the hospital. Every day he drilled the +five hundred women nurses in gymnastics, and put the +men attendants and as many of the patients as were +able through a set of exercises. Thus mingling his +religion with his athletics he became a great power +among the men in the hospital.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army asked the hospital if there was +anything they could do for the wounded men. The reply +was, that there were eighty wards and not a graphophone +in one of them, nothing to amuse the boys. The need +was promptly filled by the Salvation Army which supplied +a number of graphophones and a piano. Then, discovering +that the nurses who were getting only a very small +cash allowance out of which they had to furnish their +uniforms, were short of shoes, the indefatigable good +Samaritan produced a thousand dollars to buy new shoes +for them. The Salvation Army has always been doing +things like that.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army built many huts, locating them +wherever there was need among the camps. They have +a hut at Camp Grant, one at Camp Funston, one at Camp +Travis, San Antonio, one at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, +one at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, one at Camp Cody, Deming, +New Mexico, one at Camp Lewis, Tacoma, a Soldiers’ +Club at Des Moines, a Soldiers’ Club with Sitting +Room, Dining Room, and rooms for a hundred soldiers +just opened at Chicago. There is a charge of twenty-five +cents a night and twenty-five cents a meal for such +as have money. No charge for those who have no money. +There is such a Soldiers’ Club at St. Louis, +Kansas City, St. Paul and Minneapolis. All of these +places at the camps have accommodations for women +relatives to visit the soldiers, and all of the rooms +are always full to the limit.</p> + +<p>In Des Moines the Army has an interesting institution +which grew out of a great need.</p> + +<p>The Federal authorities have placed a Woman’s +Protective Agency in all Camp towns. At Des Moines +the woman representative of the Federal Government +sent word to the Salvation Army that she wished they +would help her. She said she had found so many young +girls between the ages of fourteen and sixteen who +were being led into an immoral life through the soldiers, +and she wished the Salvation Army would open a home +to take care of such girls.</p> + +<p>With their usual swiftness to come to the rescue the +Salvation Army opened such a home. The Brigadier up +in Chicago gave up his valued private secretary, a +lovely young girl only twenty-four years old, to be +at the head of this home. It may seem a pretty big +undertaking for so young a girl, but these Salvation +Army girls are brought up to be wonderfully wise and +sweet beyond others, and if you could look into her +beautiful eyes you would have an understanding of +the consecration and strength of character that has +made it possible for her to do this work with marvellous +success, and reach the hearts and turn the lives of +these many young girls who have come under her influence +in this way. In her work she deals with the individual, +always giving immediate relief for any need, always +pointing the way straight and direct to a better life. +The young girls are kept in the home for a week or +more until some near relative can be sent for, or +longer, until a home and work can be found for them. +Every case is dealt with on its own merits; and many +young girls have had their feet set upon the right +road, and a new purpose in life given to them with +new ideals, from the young Christian girl whom they +easily love and trust.</p> + +<p>So great has been the success of the Salvation Army +hut and women’s hostel at Camp Lewis that the +United States Government has asked the Salvation Army +to put up a hundred thousand dollar hotel at that camp +which is located twenty miles out of Tacoma. The Salvation +Army hut at this place was recently inspected by Secretary +of War Baker and Chief of Staff who highly complimented +the Salvationists on the good work being done.</p> + +<p>A Christmas box was sent by the Salvation Army to +each soldier in every camp and hospital throughout +the West. Each box contained an orange, an apple, +two pounds of nuts, one pound of raisins, one pound +of salted peanuts, one package of figs, two handkerchiefs +in sealed packets, one book of stamps, a package of +writing paper, a New Testament, and a Christmas letter +from the Commissioner at Headquarters in Chicago.</p> + +<p>No Officer in the Salvation Army has been more successful +in ingenious efforts to further all activities connected +with the work than Commissioner Estill in command +of the Western forces. He is an indefatigable and +tireless worker, is greatly beloved, and his efforts +have met with exceptional success.</p> + +<p>It was a new manager who had taken hold of the affairs +of the Salvation Army Hostel in a certain city that +morning and was establishing family prayers. A visitor, +waiting to see someone, sat in an alcove listening.</p> + +<p>There in the long beautiful living-room of the Hostel +sat a little audience, two black women-the cooks-several +women in neat aprons and caps as if they had come +in from their work, a soldier who had been reading +the morning paper and who quietly laid it aside when +the Bible reading began, a sailor who tiptoed up the +two low steps from the café beyond the living-room +where he had been having his morning coffee and doughnuts—the +young clerk from behind the office desk. They all +sat quiet, respectful, as if accorded a sudden, unexpected +privilege.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> +<a name="illus29"></a> +<img src="images/030.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Thomas Estill +Commissioner of the Western Forces" /> +<p class="caption"><b>Thomas Estill<br/>Commissioner of the Western Forces</b></p> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<a name="illus30"></a> +<img src="images/031.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="The hut at Camp Lewis" /> +<p class="caption"><b>The hut at Camp Lewis</b></p> +</div> + +<p>The reading was a few well-chosen verses about Moses +in the mount of vision and somehow seemed to have +a strange quieting influence and carried a weight +of reality read thus in the beginning of a busy day’s +work.</p> + +<p>The reader closed the book and quite familiarly, not +at all pompously, he said with a pleasant smile that +this was a lesson for all of them. Each one should +have his vision for the day. The cook should have a +vision as she made the doughnuts—and he called her +by her name—to make them just as well as they could +be made; and the women who made the beds should have +a vision of how they could make the beds smooth and +soft and fine to rest weary comers; and those who +cleaned must have a vision to make the house quite +pure and sweet so that it would be a home for the boys +who came there; the clerk at the desk should have +a vision to make the boys comfortable and give them +a welcome; and everyone should have a vision of how +to do his work in the best way, so that all who came +there for a day or a night or longer should have a +vision when they left that God was ruling in that +place and that everything was being done for His praise.</p> + +<p>Just a few simple words bringing the little family +of workers into touch with the Divine and giving them +a glimpse of the great plan of laboring with God where +no work is menial, and nothing too small to be worth +doing for the love of Christ. Then the little company +dropped upon their knees, and the earnest voice took +up a prayer which was more an intimate word with a +trusted beloved Companion; and they all arose to go +about that work of theirs with new zest and—a vision!</p> + +<p>In her alcove out of sight the visitor found refreshment +for her own soul, and a vision also.</p> + +<p>This is the secret of this wonderful work that these +people do in France, in the cities, everywhere; they +have a vision! They have been upon the Mountain with +God and they have not forgotten the injunction:</p> + +<p>“See that thou do all things according to the +pattern given thee in the Mount”</p> + +<p>But the stories multiply and my space is drawing to +a close. I am minded to say reverently in words of +old:</p> + +<p>“And there are also many other things which +these disciples of Jesus did, the which if they should +be written every one, I suppose that even the world +itself could not contain the books that should be written;” +but are they not graven in the hearts of men who found +the Christ on the battlefield or the hospital cot, +or in the dim candle-lit hut, through these dear followers +of His?</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap12"></a>XII.<br/> +Letters of Appreciation</h2> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Miss Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>You may be sure that your telegram of November fifteenth +warmed my heart and brought me very real cheer and +encouragement. It is a message of just the sort that +one needs in these trying times, and I hope that you +will express to your associates my profound appreciation +and my entire confidence in their loyalty, their patriotism, +and their enthusiasm for the great work they are doing.</p> + +<p>Cordially and sincerely yours,<br /> +Woodrow Wilson.<br /> +Nov. 30,1917.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Miss Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>I am very much interested to hear of the campaign +the Salvation Army has undertaken for money to sustain +its war activities, and want to take the opportunity +to express my admiration for the work that it has done +and my sincere hope that it may be fully sustained.</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Woodrow Wilson</span>.<br /> +The President of the United States of America.</p> + +<p>Commander Evangeline Booth,<br /> +Paris, 7 April, 1919.<br /> +122 W. 14th Street, New York, U.S.A.</p> + +<p>I am very much interested to know that the Salvation +Army is about to enter into a campaign for a sustaining +fund.</p> + +<p>I feel that the Salvation Army needs no commendation +from me. The love and gratitude it has elicited from +the troops is a sufficient evidence of the work it +has done and I feel that I should not so much commend +as congratulate it.</p> + +<p>Cordially and sincerely yours,<br /> +Woodrow Wilson.</p> + +<p>British Delegation, Paris, 8th April, 1919.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Dear Madam</span>:</p> + +<p>I have very great pleasure in sending you this letter +to say how highly I think of the great work which +has been done by the Salvation Army amongst the Allied +Armies in France and the other theatres of war. From +all sides I hear the most glowing accounts of the +way in which your people have added to the comfort +and welfare of our soldiers. To me it has always been +a great joy to think how much the sufferings and hardships +endured by our troops in all parts of the world have +been lessened by the self-sacrifice and devotion shown +to them by that excellent organization, the Salvation +Army.</p> + +<p>Yours faithfully,<br /> +W. Lloyd George.</p> + +<p>General J. J. Pershing, France.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army of America will never cease to +hail you with devoted affection and admiration for +your valiant leadership of your valiant army. You +have rushed the advent of the world’s greatest +peace, and all men honor you. To God be all the glory!</p> + +<p>Commander Evangeline Booth.</p> + +<p>Commander Evangeline Booth, New York City.</p> + +<p>“Many thanks for your cordial cable. The American +Expeditionary Forces thank you for all your noble +work that the Salvation Army has done for them from +the beginning.”</p> + +<p>General Pershing.</p> + +<p>With deep feeling of gratitude for the enormous contribution +which the Salvation Army has made to the moral and +physical welfare of this expedition all ranks join +me in sending heartiest Christmas greetings and cordial +best wishes for the New Year.</p> + +<p>(Signed) Pershing.</p> + +<p>Salvation, New York.<br /> +Paris, April 22, 1919.</p> + +<p>The following cable received, Colonel William S. Barker, +Director of the Salvation Army, Paris: My dear Colonel +Barker—I wish to express to you my sincere appreciation, +and that of all members of the American Expeditionary +Forces, for the splendid services rendered by the Salvation +Army to the American Army in France. You first submitted +your plans to me in the summer of 1917, and before +the end of that year you had a number of Huts in operation +in the Training Area of the First Division, and a group +of devoted men and women who laid the foundation for +the affectionate regard in which the workers of your +organization have always been held by the American +soldiers. The outstanding features of the work of the +Salvation Army have been its disposition to push its +activities as far as possible to the Front, and the +trained and experienced character of its workers whose +one thought was the well-being of its soldiers they +came to serve. While the maintenance of these standards +has necessarily kept your work within narrow bounds +as compared to some of the other welfare agencies, +it has resulted in a degree of excellence and self-sacrifice +in the work performed which has been second to none. +It has endeared your organization and its individual +men and women workers to all those Divisions and other +units to which they have been attached and has published +their good name to every part of the American Expeditionary +forces. Please accept this letter as a personal message +to each one of your workers. Very sincerely,</p> + +<p>John J. Pershing.</p> + +<p>Marshal Foch, Paris, France:</p> + +<p>Your brilliant armies, under blessing of God, have +triumphed. The Salvation Army of America exults with +war-worn but invincible France. We must consolidate +for God of Peace all the good your valor has secured. +Commander Evangeline Booth.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:70%;"> +<img src="images/032.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Western Union cablegram" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +WESTERN UNION<br /> +ANGLO-AMERICAN DIRECT UNITED STATES<br /> +CABLEGRAM<br /> +34 Broadway N.Y.<br /> +Received at 16 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK</p> + +<p>193 F8 PZ FRANCE 31</p> + +<p class="center"> +EVANGELINE BOOTH<br /> +COMMANDER SALVATION ARMY<br /> +IN AMERICA NEW YORK</p> + +<p class="letter"> +TRÈS TOUCHÉ DU SENTIMENT ÉLEVÉ QUI A INSPIRÉ VOTRE<br /> +TÉLÉGRAMME JE VOUS ADRESSE AINSI QU’À VOS ADHÉRENTS +MES<br /> +SINCÈRES REMERCIEMENTS</p> + +<p class="right"> +MARECHAL FOCH</p> + +<p>I am deeply touched by the high sentiment which inspired +your cablegram, and I tender you and your adherents +sincere thanks.</p> + +<p class="center"> +MARSHAL FOCH</p> + +<p>Letter from Sir Douglas Haig</p> + +<p>Just before leaving London on Thursday for his provincial +campaigns,<br /> +General Booth received the following letter from Field +Marshal Sir Douglas<br /> +Haig. The generous tribute will be read with intense +satisfaction by<br /> +Salvationists the world over:</p> + +<p>General Headquarters, British Armies in France.<br /> +March 27, 1918.</p> + +<p>I am glad to have the opportunity of congratulating +the Salvation Army on the service which its representatives +have rendered during the past year to the British +Armies in France.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army workers have shown themselves to +be of the right sort and I value their presence here +as being one of the best influences on the moral and +spiritual welfare of the troops at the bases. The inestimable +value of these influences is realized when the morale +of the troops is afterwards put to the test at the +front.</p> + +<p>The huts which the Salvation Army has staffed have +besides been an addition to the comfort of the soldiers +which has been greatly appreciated.</p> + +<p>I shall be glad if you will convey the thanks of all +ranks of the British Expeditionary Forces in France +to the Salvation Army for its continued good work.</p> + +<p>D. Haig, Field Marshal,<br /> +Commanding British Armies in France.</p> + +<p>The Following Message from Marshal Joffre:</p> + +<p>Miss Evangeline Booth,<br /> +Apr. 9, 1919.<br /> +New York City.</p> + +<p>“President Wilson has said that the work of +the Salvation Army on the Franco-American front needs +no praise in view of the magnificent results obtained +and remains only to be admired and congratulated. I +cannot do better than to use the same words which +I am sure express the sentiments of all French soldiers. +“J. Joffre.”</p> + +<p>From Field Marshal Viscount French.</p> + +<p>“Of all the organizations that have come into +existence during the past fifty years none has done +finer work or achieved better results in all parts +of the Empire than the Salvation Army. In particular, +its activities have been of the very greatest benefit +to the soldiers in this war.”</p> + +<p>June 16, 1918.</p> + +<p>Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, writing from Oyster Bay, +Long Island, under date of April 11, 1918, has the +following to say to the War Work Executive of the +Salvation Army:</p> + +<p>“I was greatly interested in your letter quoting +the letter from my son now with Pershing in France. +His testimony as to the admirable work done by the +Salvation Army agrees with all my own observations +as to what the Salvation Army has done in war and +in peace. You have had to enlarge enormously your +program and readjust your work in order to meet the +need of the vast number of soldiers and sailors serving +our country overseas; and you must have funds to help +you. I am informed that over 40,000 Salvationists +are in the ranks of the Allied armies. I can myself +bear testimony to the fact that you have a practical +social service, combined with practical religion, +that appeals to multitudes of men who are not reached +by the regular churches; and I know that you were able +to put your organization to work in France before +the end of the first month of the World War. I am +glad to learn that you do not duplicate or parallel +the work done by any other organization, and that +you are in constant touch with the War Work Councils +of such organizations as the Y. M. C. A. and the Bed +Cross. I happen to know that you are now maintaining +and operating 168 huts behind the lines in France, +together with 70 hostels, and that you have furnished +46 ambulances, manned and officered by Salvationists. +I am particularly interested to learn that 6000 women +are knitting under the direction of the Salvation +Army, and with materials furnished by this organization +here in America, in order to turn out garments and +useful articles for the soldiers at the Front.</p> + +<p>“Faithfully yours,</p> + +<p>“(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt.”</p> + +<p>April 21st, 1919.</p> + +<p>Commander Evangeline Booth,<br /> +120 West 14th Street, New York, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Dear Commander Booth:</p> + +<p>I have known the Salvation Army from its beginning.</p> + +<p>The mother of the Salvation Army was Mrs. Catherine +Booth, and her common sense and Christian spirit laid +the foundations; while her husband, General William +Booth, in his impressive frame, fertility of ideas, +and invincible spirit of evangelism always seemed +to me as if he were closely related to St. Peter, +the fisherman—the man of ideas and many questions, +of the Lord’s family.</p> + +<p>General William Booth was of a discipleship that kept +him always on the “long, long trail” with +a self-sacrificing spirit, but with a cheerfulness +that heard the nightingales in the early mornings that +awakened him to duty and service. He was never tired. +The Salvation Army under the present leadership of +your brother, Bramwell Booth, has “carried on” +along the same roads, and with the same methods, as +the great General who has passed into the Beyond.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army has been itself true to the spirit +of its mighty originator during the present war. No +work was too hard; no day was long enough; no duty +too simple, no self-denial was too great.</p> + +<p>Prom my personal knowledge, the Salvation Army workers +were consecrated to their work. Just as the brave +boys who carried the Flag, they were soldiers fighting +a battle, to find comforts, and a song to put music +into the hearts of the noble fellows that now lie +sleeping on the ridges of the Marne, with their graves +unmarked save with a cross.</p> + +<p>The sleepless vigilance of the Salvation Army extended +from their kitchens where they cooked for the boys, +to the hospitals where they prayed with them to the +last hour when life ended in a silence, the stillest +of all slumbers.</p> + +<p>The Armies of every country in which they labored +have a record of their faithfulness and devotion which +will be sealed in the hearts of the many thousands +they helped in the days of the struggle for peace.</p> + +<p>The question is, what can we do now to perpetuate +the Salvation Army and its work, and my reply is, +that there is nothing they ask or want that should +be refused to them. They are worthy; they are competent; +they can be trusted with responsibility; and their +splendid leader seems to have almost a miraculous +power for management in the work which her father +committed to her so far as America is concerned.</p> + +<p>Very sincerely yours,</p> + +<p>(Signed) John Wanamaker.</p> + +<p>Cardinal’s Residence, 408 Charles Street, Baltimore.<br /> +April 16, 1919.</p> + +<p>Hon. Charles S. Whitman, New York City.</p> + +<p>Honorable and Dear Sir:</p> + +<p>I have been asked by the local Commander of the Salvation +Army to address a word to you as the National Chairman +of the Campaign about to be launched in behalf of +the above named organization. This I am happy to do, +and for the reason that, along with my fellow American +citizens, I rejoice in the splendid service which +the Salvation Army rendered our Soldier and Sailor +Boys during the war. Every returning trooper is a willing +witness to the efficient and generous work of the +Salvation Army both at the Front, and in the camps +at home. I am also the more happy to commend this +organization because it is free from sectarian bias. +The man in need of help is the object of their effort, +with never a question of his creed or color.</p> + +<p>I trust, therefore, your efforts to raise $13,000,000 +for the Salvation<br /> +Army will meet with a hearty response from our generous +American public.</p> + +<p>Faithfully yours,<br /> +James, Cardinal, Gibbons.</p> + +<p>Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the United States +of America.</p> + +<p>Paris, April 7th, 1919.</p> + +<p>My Dear Commander Booth:</p> + +<p>Those of us who have been fortunate enough to see +something of the work of the Salvation Army with the +American troops have been made proud by the devotion +and self-sacrifice of the workers connected with your +organization.</p> + +<p>I congratulate you and, through you, your associates, +and I wish you the best of fortune in the continuance +of your splendid work.</p> + +<p>Very sincerely yours,<br /> +L. M. House.</p> + +<p>Commander Evangeline Booth, Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>Evangeline Booth,<br /> +Salvation Army Headquarters, New York.</p> + +<p>I have seen the work of the Salvation Army in France +and consider it very helpful and valuable. I trust +you will be able to secure the means not only for +its maintenance but for the enlargement of its scope. +It is a good work and should be encouraged.</p> + +<p>Leonard Wood.<br /> +Camp Funston, Kansas.</p> + +<p>Brigadier-General Duncan wrote to Colonel Barker the<br /> +following letter:</p> + +<p>December 7, 1917.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army in this its first experience with +our troops has stepped very closely into the hearts +of the men. Your huts have been open to them at all +times. They have been cordially received in a homelike +atmosphere and many needs provided in religious teachings. +Your efforts have the honest support of our chaplains. +I have talked with many of our soldiers who are warm +in their praise and satisfaction in what is being +done for them. For myself I feel that the Salvation +Army has a real place for its activities with our +Army in France and I offer you and your workers, men +and women, good wishes and thanks for what you have +done and are doing for our men.</p> + +<p>G. B. Duncan, Brigadier-General.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army is doing a great work in France +and every soldier bears testimony to the fact.</p> + +<p>Omar Bundy, Major-General.</p> + +<p>Headquarters First Division,<br /> +American Expeditionary Forces.</p> + +<p>France, September 15, 1918.</p> + +<p>From: Chief of Staff.</p> + +<p>To: Major L. Allison Coe, Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>Subject: Service in Operation against St. Mihiel Salient.</p> + +<p>1. The Division Commander desires me to express to +you his appreciation of the particularly valuable +service that the Salvation Army, through you and your +assistants, has rendered the Division during the recent +operation against the St. Mihiel salient.</p> + +<p>2. You have furnished aid and comfort to the American +soldier throughout the trying experiences of the last +few days, and in accomplishing this worthy mission +have spared yourself in nothing.</p> + +<p>3. The Division Commander wishes me to thank you for +the Division and for himself.</p> + +<p>CK/T. Campbell King, Chief of Staff.</p> + +<p>CABLEGRAM.</p> + +<p>Paris, December 17,1917.</p> + +<p>Commander Miss E, Booth, 120 W. 14th St., New York.</p> + +<p>I am glad to be able to express my appreciation of +the work done by the Salvation Army in the way of +providing for the comfort and welfare of the Command. +I think the efforts of the Salvation Army are admirable +and deserving of appreciation and commendation, and +I consider the effort is made without advertisement +and that it reaches and is appreciated by those for +whom it is most needed.</p> + +<p>L. P. <span class="smallcaps">Murphy</span>, Lieut.-Colonel of Cavalry.</p> + +<p>CABLEGRAM.</p> + +<p>Paris, December 17,1917.</p> + +<p>Commander Miss E. Booth,<br /> +120 W. 14th Street, New York City.</p> + +<p>I wish to express my most sincere appreciation of +the work of your organization with my regiment. Your +Officer has done everything that could be expected +of any organization in carrying on his work with the +soldiers of this command, and has surpassed any such +expectations. He has assisted the soldiers in every +way possible and has gained their hearty good will. +He has also shown himself willing and anxious to carry +out regulations and orders affecting his organization. +As a matter of fact, all the officers and soldiers +of this command are most enthusiastic about the help +of the Salvation Army, and you can hear nothing but +praise for its work. The work of your organization, +both religious and material, has been wholesome and +dignified, and I desire you to know that it is appreciated.</p> + +<p>J. L. <span class="smallcaps">Hines</span>,<br /> +Colonel, Sixteenth Infantry.</p> + +<p>In sending a contribution toward the expenses of the +War Work, Colonel<br /> +George B. McClellan wrote:</p> + +<p>Treasurer, Salvation Army, July 24, 1918.<br /> +120 West 14th Street, New York City.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Dear Sir</span>:</p> + +<p>All the Officers I have talked with who have been +in the trenches have enthusiastically praised the +work the Salvation Army is doing at the front. They +are agreed that for coolness under fire, cheerfulness +under the most adverse conditions, kindness, helpfulness +and real efficiency, your workers are unsurpassed.</p> + +<p>Will you accept the enclosed check as my modest contribution +to your War<br /> +Fund, and believe me to be</p> + +<p>Yours very truly,<br /> +<span class="smallcaps">Geo. B. McClelland</span> Lt.-Col. Ord. Dept., N. A.</p> + +<p>CABLEGRAM.</p> + +<p>Paris, December 17,1917.</p> + +<p>Commander Miss B. Booth,<br /> +120 West 14th Street, New York City, N. Y.</p> + +<p>I have carefully observed the work of the Salvation +Army from their first arrival in Training Area First +Division American Expeditionary Force to date. The +work they have done for the enlisted men of the Division +and the places of amusement and recreation that they +have provided for them, are of the highest order. +I unhesitatingly state that, in my opinion, the Salvation +Army has done more for the enlisted men of the First +Division than any other organization or society operating +in France.</p> + +<p>F. G. <span class="smallcaps">Lawton</span>,<br /> +Colonel, Infantry, National Army.</p> + +<p>To <span class="smallcaps">Whom It May Concern</span>:</p> + +<p>The work of the Salvation Army as illustrated by the +work of Major S. H. Atkins is duplicated by no one. +He has been Chaplain and more besides. He has the +confidence of officers and men. Major Atkins, as typifying +the Salvation Army, has been forward at the very front +with what is even more important than the rear area +work.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Theodore Roosevelt</span>.</p> + +<p>The following letter was sent to Major Atkins of the +Salvation Army:</p> + +<p>Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry,<br /> +France, December 26, 1917.</p> + +<p>I wish to thank you for the great work you have been +doing here among the men of this battalion. You have +added greatly to the happiness and contentment of us +all; giving, as you have, an opportunity for good, +clean entertainment and pleasure.</p> + +<p>In religious work you have done much. As you know, +this regiment has no chaplain, and you have to a large +extent taken the place of one here.</p> + +<p>For myself, and on behalf of the officers stationed +here, I wish to express my appreciation of the work +that you have been doing here, and the hope that you +can accompany the battalion wherever the fortune of +war may lead us.</p> + +<p>Wishing you a very happy and successful New Year, +I am</p> + +<p>Yours sincerely,<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Theodore Roosevelt, Jr</span>.,<br /> +Major (U.S.R.), 26th Infantry.</p> + +<p>When Captain Archibald Roosevelt was lying wounded +in Red Cross Hospital No. 1 he wrote the following +letter to the same officer:</p> + +<p>Red Cross Hospital No. 1.</p> + +<p>July 10, 1918.</p> + +<p>“You have, by your example, helped the men morally +and physically. By your continued presence in the +most dangerous and uncomfortable periods, you have +made yourself the comrade and friend of every officer +and man in our battalion. It is in this way that you +have filled a position which the other charitable +organizations had left vacant.</p> + +<p>“Let me also mention that, perfect Democrat +that you are, you have realized the necessity of discipline, +and have helped make the discipline understood by +these men and officers.</p> + +<p>“If all the Salvation Army workers are like +you, I sincerely hope to see the time when there is +a Salvation Army officer with each battalion in the +camp.”</p> + +<p>Before leaving France for the United States, two Salvation<br /> +Army lassies received the following letter:</p> + +<p>I was very sorry to hear that you had been taken from +this division, and desire to express my appreciation +of the excellent assistance you have been to us.</p> + +<p>In all of our “shows” you have been with +us, and I wish that I knew of the many sufferers you +have cheered and made more comfortable. They are many +and, I am positive, will always have grateful thoughts +of you.</p> + +<p>I have seen you enduring hardships—going without +food and sleep, working day and night, sometimes under +fire, both shell and avion—and never have you been +anything but cheerful and willing.</p> + +<p>I thank you and your organization for all of this, +and assure you of the respect and gratitude of the +entire division.</p> + +<p>J. I. <span class="smallcaps">Mabee</span>, Colonel, Medical Corps,<br /> +Division Surgeon.</p> + +<p>CABLE.</p> + +<p>January 17, 1918.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army, New York:</p> + +<p>As Inspector General of the First Division I have +inspected all the Salvation Army huts in this Division +area and I am glad to inform you that your work here +is a well-earned success. Your huts are warm, dry, +light, and, I believe, much appreciated by all the +men in this Division. To make these huts at all homelike +under present conditions requires energy and ability. +I know that the Salvation Army men in this Division +have it and am very willing to so testify.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Conrad S. Babcock</span>, Lieut.-Colonel,<br /> +Inspector General, First Division.</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army keeps open house, and any +time that a body of men come back from the front lines, +in from a convoy, there is hot coffee and sometimes +home-made doughnuts (all free to the men). I was in +command of a town where the hut never closed till +3 or 4 in the morning, and their girls baked pies +and made doughnuts up to the front, under shell fire, +for our infantrymen. A Salvation Army lassie is safe +without an escort anywhere in France where there is +an American soldier. That speaks for itself. I am +for any organization that is out to do something for +my men, and I think that it is the idea of the American +people when they give their money. What we want is +someone who is willing to come over here and do something +for the boys, regardless of the fact that it may not +net any gain—in fact, may not help them to gather +enough facts for a lecture tour when they return home.”</p> + +<p>Headquarters, Third Division,<br /> +September 5,1918.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Mr. Leffingwell</span>:</p> + +<p>Your letter of July 22d just received. It has, perhaps, +been somewhat delayed in reaching me, owing to the +fact that I have recently been transferred to another +division. I only wish things had been so that I might +have granted you or a representative of the Salvation +Army an interview when I was in the States recently, +but, being under orders, I could wait for nothing. +Whatever I may have said, in a casual way, of the +work of the Salvation Army in France, I assure you +was all deserved. Your organization has been doing +a splendid work for the men of my former division +and other troops who have come in contact with it. +I have often remarked, as have many of the officers, +that after the war the Salvation Army is going to +receive such a boom from the boys who have come in +touch with it over here that it will seem like a veritable +propaganda! Why shouldn’t it? For your work +has been conducted in such a quiet, unostentatious, +unselfish way that only a man whose sensibilities are +dead can fail to appreciate it. I have found several +of your workers, whose names at this moment I am unable +to recall, putting up with all sorts of hardships +and inconveniences, working from daylight until well +into the night that the boys might be cheered in one +way or another. Your shacks have always been at the +disposal of the chaplains for their regimental services. +Whether Mass for the Catholic chaplains or Holy Communion +for an Episcopalian chaplain, they always found a +place to set up their altars in the Salvation Army +huts; and the Protestant chaplains, also the Jewish, +always, to my knowledge, were given its use for their +services. I have found your own services have been +very acceptable to the boys, in general, but perhaps +your doughnut program, with hot coffee or chocolate, +means as much as anything. Not that, like those of +old, we follow the Salvation Army because we can get +filled up, but we all like their spirit. More than +on one occasion do I know of troops moving at night—and +pretty wet and hungry—that have been warmed and fed +and sent on their way with new courage because of +what some Salvation Army worker and hut furnished. +And as they went their way many fine things were said +about the Salvation Army. I am sure, as a result of +this work, you have won the favor and confidence of +hundreds of these soldier lads, and, if I am not terribly +mistaken, when we get home the Salvation tambourine +will receive greater consideration than heretofore.</p> + +<p>I am glad to express my feelings for your work. God +bless you in it, and always!</p> + +<p>Sincerely yours,</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Lyman Bollins</span>, Division Chaplain,<br /> +Headquarters, Third Division, A. E. F., via New York.</p> + +<p>At the Front in France, June 12, 1918.</p> + +<p>Commissioner Thomas Estill,<br /> +Salvation Army, Chicago.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Commissioner</span>:</p> + +<p>We are engaged in a great battle. My time is all taken +with our wounded and dead. Still I cannot resist the +temptation to take a few moments in which to express +our appreciation of the splendid aid given our soldiers +by the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>The work of the Salvation Army is not in duplication +of that of any other organization. It is entirely +original and unique. It fills a long-felt want. Some +day the world will know the aid that you have rendered +our soldiers. Then you will receive every dollar you +need.</p> + +<p>Your work is also greatly appreciated by the French +people. I have never heard a single unfavorable comment +on the Salvation Army. They are respected everywhere. +Their unselfish devotion to our well, sick, wounded +and dead is above any praise that I can bestow. God +will surely greatly reward them.</p> + +<p>I heartily congratulate you on the class of workers +you have sent over here. I pray that your invaluable +aid may be extended to our troops everywhere. God +bless you and yours,</p> + +<p>In His name,<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Thomas J. Dickson</span>,<br /> +Chaplain with rank of Major,<br /> +Sixth Field Artillery, First Division, U. S. Army.</p> + +<p>An appreciation written concerning the first Salvation<br /> +Army chaplain that was appointed after the war started:</p> + +<p>Camp Cody, New Mexico,</p> + +<p>January 16, 1918.</p> + +<p>Major E. C. Clemans,<br /> +136th Infantry, Camp Cody, N. M.</p> + +<p>Commissioner Thomas Estill, Chicago, Ill.</p> + +<p>I have been associated with the chaplain now for nearly +four months. I have found him a Christian soldier +and gentleman. He is “on the job” all +the time and no Chaplain in this Division is doing +more faithful and effective work. He is thoroughly +evangelistic, is burdened for the souls of his men +and is working for their salvation not in but from +their sins. He is a “man’s man,” +knows how to approach men and knows how and does get +hold of their affections in such a way that he is a +help and a comfort to them. He brings things to pass.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army may be well pleased that it is +so well represented in the Army as it is by Chaplain +Kline.</p> + +<p>Sincerely yours,</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Ezra C. Clemans</span>,<br /> +Senior Chaplain, 34th Division.</p> + +<p>July 11, 1918.</p> + +<p>I have been familiar with the work of the Salvation +Army for years, and the organization from the beginning +of the war has been doing a wonderful work with the +Allied forces and since the entering of the United +States into the struggle has given splendid aid and +coöperation not only in connection with the war activities +at home but also with our forces abroad. Their work +is entitled to the sincere admiration of every American +citizen.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Major Edwin F. Glenn</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">To Whom It May Concern</span>:</p> + +<p>It gives me the greatest pleasure to testify to the +very excellent work of the Salvation Army as I have +seen it in this division. I have seen the work done +by this organization for ten months, under all sorts +of conditions, and it has always been of the highest +character. At the start, the Salvation Army was handicapped +by lack of funds, but even under adverse conditions, +it did most valuable work in maintaining cheerful +recreation centres for the men, often in places exposed +to hostile shell-fire. The doughnut and pie supply +has been maintained. This seems a little thing, but +it has gone a long way to keep the men cheerful. All +the Salvation Army force has been untiring in its +work under very trying conditions, and as a result, +I believe it has gained the respect and affection +of officers and men more than any similar organization.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Albert J. Myers, Jr.</span>, Major, National Army.<br /> +1st Div., A. E. F. (Captain, Cavalry, U.S.A.)</p> + +<p>Extract from letter from Captain Charles W. Albright:<br /> +Q. M., R. C., France.</p> + +<p>“As to the Salvation Army, well, if they wanted +our boys to lie down for them to walk on, to keep +their feet from getting muddy, the boys would gladly +do so.</p> + +<p>“From everyone, officers and men alike, nothing +but the highest praise is given the Salvation Army. +They are right in the thick of danger, comforting +and helping the men in the front line, heedless of +shot, shell or gas, the U. S. Army in France, as a +unit, swears by the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>“I am proud to have a sister in their ranks.”</p> + +<p>An old regular army officer who returned to Paris +last week said:</p> + +<p>“I wish every American who has stood on street +corners in America and sneered at the work of the +Salvation Army could see what they are doing for the +boys in France.</p> + +<p>“They do not proclaim that they are here for +investigation or for getting atmosphere for War romances. +They have not come to furnish material for Broadway +press agents. They do not wear, ‘Oh, such becoming +uniforms,’ white shoes, dainty blue capes and +bonnets, nor do they frequent Paris tea rooms where +the swanky British and American officers put up.</p> + +<p>“Take it from me, these women are doing almighty +fine work. There are twenty-two of them here in France. +We army men have given them shell-shattered and cast-off +field kitchens to work with, and oh, man, the doughnuts, +the pancakes and the pies they turn out!</p> + +<p>“I’m an old army officer, but what I like +about the Salvation Army is that it doesn’t +cater to officers. It is for the doughboys first, last +and all the time. The Salvation Army men do not wear +Sam Browne belts; they do as little handshaking with +officers as possible.</p> + +<p>“They cash the boys’ checks without question, +and during the month of April in a certain division +the Salvation Army sent home $20,000 for the soldiers. +The Rockefeller Foundation hasn’t as yet given +the Salvation Army a million-dollar donation to carry +on its work. Fact is, I don’t know just how +the Salvation Army chaplains and lassies do get along. +But get along they do.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps some of the boys and officers give +them a lift now and then when the sledding is rough. +They don’t aim to make a slight profit as do +some other organizations.</p> + +<p>“Ever since Cornelius Hickey put up ‘Hickey’s +Hut,’ the first Salvation Army hut in France, +they have been working at a loss. I saw an American +officer give a Salvation Army chaplain 500 francs out +of his pay at a certain small town in France recently.</p> + +<p>“The work done in ‘Hickey’s Hut’ +did much to endear the Salvation folks to the doughboys. +When a letter arrived in France some months ago addressed +only to ‘Hickey’s Hut, France,’ it +reached its destination <i>toute de suite</i>, +forty-eight hours after it arrived.</p> + +<p>“The French climate has hit our boys hard. It +is wet and penetratingly cold. Goes right to the marrow, +and three suits of underwear are no protection against +it. When the lads returned from training camp or the +trenches, wet, cold, hungry and despondent, they found +a welcome in ‘Hickey’s Hut.’</p> + +<p>“Not a patronizing, holier-than-thou, we-know-we-are-doing-a-good-work-and-hope-you-doughboys-appreciate-it +sort of a welcome, but a good old Salvation Army, +Bowery Mission welcome, such as Tim Sullivan knew how +to hand out in the old days.</p> + +<p>“Around a warm fire with men who spoke their +own language and who did not pretend to be above them +in the social scale the doughboys forgot that they +were four thousand miles from home and that they couldn’t +’sling the lingo.’</p> + +<p>“I saw a group of lads on the Montdidier front +who had not been paid in three months, standing cursing +their luck. They had no money, therefore, they could +not buy anything.</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army had been apprised by telegraph +that the doughboys were playing in hard luck. Presto! +Out from Paris came a truck loaded with everything +to eat. The truck was unloaded and the boys paid for +whatever they wanted with slips of paper signed with +their John Hancocks. The Salvation Army lassies asked +no questions, but accepted the slips of paper as if +they were Uncle Sam’s gold.</p> + +<p>“And one of the most useful institutions in +Europe where war rages is one that has no publicity +bureau and has no horns to toot. This is the Salvation +Army. In the estimation of many, the Salvation Army +goes way ahead of the work of many of the other war +organizations working here. I see brave women and +young women of the Salvation Army every day in places +that are really hazardous.”</p> + +<p>First Lieutenant Marion M. Marcus, Jr., Field Artillery, +wrote to one of our leading officers:</p> + +<p>October 9, 1918.</p> + +<p>“If the people at home could see the untiring +and absolute devotion of the workers of the Salvation +Army, in serving and caring for our men, they would +more than give you the support you ask. The way the +men and women expose themselves to the dangers of +the front lines and hardships has more than endeared +them to every member of the American Expeditionary +Forces, and they are always in the right spot with +cheer of hot food and drink when it is most appreciated.”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Extract From Letter</span>.</p> + +<p>“Away up front where things break hard and rough +for us, and we are hungry and want something hot, +we can usually find it in some old partly destroyed +building, which has been organized into a shack by—well, +guess —the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>“They are the soldier’s friend. They make +no display or show of any kind, but they are fast +winning a warm corner in the heart of everyone.”</p> + +<p>“I feel it is my duty to drop you a few lines +to let you know how the boys over here appreciate +what the Salvation Army is doing for them. It is a +second home to us. There is always a cheerful welcome +awaiting us there and <i>I have yet to meet a sour-faced +cleric behind the counter</i>. One Salvation Army +worker has his home in a cellar, located close to the +front-line trenches. He cheerfully carries on his wonderful +work amid the flying of shells and in danger of gas. +He is one fine fellow, always greeting you with a +smile. He serves the boys with hot coffee every day, +free of charge, and many times he has divided his own +bread with the tired and hungry boys returning from +the trenches. In the evening he serves coffee and +doughnuts at a small price. Say, who wouldn’t +be willing to fight after feasting on that?</p> + +<p>“In the many rest camps you will find the Salvation +Army girls. They are located so close to the front-line +trenches that they have to wear their gas masks in +the slung position, and they also have their tin hats +ready to put on. The girls certainly are a fine, jolly +bunch, and when it comes to baking pies and doughnuts +they are hard to beat. The boys line up a half hour +before time so as to be sure they get their share. +I had the pleasure of talking to a mother and her +daughter and they told me they had sold out everything +they had to the boys with the exception of some salmon +and sardines on which they were living—salmon for +dinner and sardines for supper. They stood it all +with big smiles and those smiles made me smile when +I thought of my troubles.</p> + +<p>“In the trenches the boys become affected with +body lice, known as cooties. A good hot bath is the +only real cure for them. While on the way to a bath-house +a Salvation Army worker overtook us. He was riding +in a Ford which had seen better days. The springs +on it were about all in and it made a noise like someone +calling for mercy. The Salvation Army worker pulled +up in front of us and with a broad smile on his face +said: “Room for half a ton!” We did not +need a second invitation and we soon had poor Henry +loaded down. I thought sure it would give out, but +the worker only laughed about it and kept on feeding +the machine more gas as we cheered until it started +away with us.</p> + +<p>“I want to tell you what the Salvation Army +does for the moral side of the soldier. The American +soldier needs the guidance of God over here more than +he ever did in his whole life. Away from home and in +a foreign land in every corner, one must have Divine +guidance to keep him on the narrow path of life. If +it was not for the <i>workers of God over here the +boys would gradually break away and then I’m +afraid we would not have the right kind of fighters +to hold up our end</i>. Of course, prayers alone +won’t satisfy the appetite of the American soldier, +and the Salvation Army girls get around that by baking +for the boys. They believe in satisfying the cravings +of the stomach as well as the craving of the soul and +mind. I always enjoy the sermons at the Salvation +Army. A good, every-day sermon is always appreciated. +The Salvation Army helps you along in their good old +way, and they don’t believe in preaching all +day on what you should do and what you shouldn’t +do. The girls are a fine bunch of singers and their +singing is enjoyed very much by all of the boys. It +is a treat to see an American girl so close to the +front and a still better treat to listen to one sing.</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army does much good work in keeping +the boys in the right spirit so that they are glad +to go back to the trenches when their turn comes. +There is no Salvation Army hut on this front. I often +wish there was one on every front. I believe the Salvation +Army does not get its full credit over in the States. +Perhaps the people over there do not understand the +full meaning of the work it is doing over here. I want +the Salvation Army to know that it has all of the +boys over here back of it and we want to keep up the +good work. We will go through hell, if necessary, because +we know the folks back home are back of us. We want +the Salvation Army to feel the same way. The <i>boys +over here are really back of it and we want you to +continue your good work</i>.”</p> + +<p>“There is just one thing more I wish to speak +of, and that is the little old Salvation Army. You +will never see me, nor any of the other boys over +here, laugh at their street services in the future, +and if I see anyone else doing that little thing that +person is due for a busted head! I haven’t seen +where they are raising a tenth the money some of the +other societies are, but they are the topnotchers +of them all as the soldiers’ friend, and their +handouts always come at the right time. Some of those +girls work as hard as we do.”</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army over here is doing wonderful +work. <i>They haven’t any shows or music, +but they certainly know what pleases the boys most</i>, +and feed us with homemade apple pie or crullers, with +lemonade—a great big piece of pie or three crullers, +with a large cup of lemonade, for a franc (18-1/2 +cents).</p> + +<p>“These people are working like beavers, and +the people in the States ought to give them plenty +of credit and appreciate their wonderful help to the +men over here.” “We were in a bomb-proof +semi-dugout, in the heart of a dense forest, within +range of enemy guns, my Hebrew comrade and I. We were +talking of the fate that brought us here—of the conditions +as we left them at home. There was the thought of +what ‘might’ happen if we were to return +to America minus a limb or an eye; we were discussing +the great economic and moral reform which is a certainty +after the war, when through the air came the harmonious +strumming of a guitar accompanying a sweet, feminine +voice, and we heard:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;<br /> + Lead Thou me on;<br /> +The night is dark and I am far from home,<br /> + Lead Thou me on.<br /> +Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see<br /> + The distant scene—<br /> +One step enough for me. +</p> + +<p>“It was the Salvation Army! In a desert of human +hearts, many of them wounded with heartache, these +brave, brave servants of the Son of David came to +cheer us up and make life more bearable.</p> + +<p>“In our outfit are Greeks, Italians, Bohemians, +Irish, Jews—all of them loyal Americans—and the +Salvation Army serves each with an impartial self-sacrifice +which should forever still the voices of critics who +condemn sending Army lassies over here.</p> + +<p>“Those in the ranks are men. The Salvation Army +women are admired—almost worshipped—but respected +and safe. Men by the thousands would lay down their +lives for the Salvationists, and not till after the +war will the full results of this sacrifice by Salvation +Army workers bear fruit. But now, with so many strong +temptations to go the wrong way, here are noble girls +roughing it, smiling at the hardships, singing songs, +making doughnuts for the doughboys, and always reminding +us, even in danger, that it is not all of ‘life +to live,’ bringing to us recollections of our +mothers, sisters, and sweethearts, and if anyone questions, +’Is it worth while?’ the answer is: ‘A +thousand times yes!’ and I cannot refrain from +sending my hearty thanks for all this service means +to us.</p> + +<p>“A few miles in back of us now, a half dozen +Connecticut girls representing the Salvation Army +are doing their bit to make things brighter for us, +and say, maybe those girls cannot bake. Every day they +furnish us with real homemade crullers and pies at +a small cost, and their coffee, holy smoke! it makes +me homesick to even write about it. The girls have +their headquarters in an old tumble-down building and +they must have some nerve, for the Boche keeps dropping +shells all around them day and night, and it would +only take one of those shells to blow the whole outfit +into kingdom come.”</p> + +<p>In a letter from a private to his mother while he +was lying wounded in the hospital, he says of the +Salvation Army and Red Cross:</p> + +<p>“Most emphatically let me say that they both +are giving real service to the men here and both are +worthy of any praise or help that can be given them. +This is especially so of the Salvation Army, because +it is not fully understood just what they are doing +over here. They are the only ones that, regardless +of shells or gas, feed the boys in the trenches and +bear home to them the realization of what God really +is at the very moment when our brave lads are facing +death. Their timely phrases about the Christ, handed +out with their doughnuts and coffee, have turned many +faltering souls back to the path and they will never +forget it. ’Man’s extremity is God’s +opportunity’ surely holds good here. You may +not realize or think it possible, but a large majority +of the boys carry Bibles and there are often heated +arguments over the different phrases.</p> + +<p>“I have just turned my pockets inside out and +the tambourine could hold no more, but it was all +I had and I am still in debt to the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>“For hot coffee and cookies when I was shivering +like an aspen, for buttons and patches on my tattered +uniform, for steering me clear of the camp followers; +but more than all for the cheery words of solace for +those ‘gone West,’ for the blessed face +of a woman from the homeland in the midst of withering +blight and desolation—for these I am indebted to the +Salvation Army.”</p> + +<p>CABLEGRAM.</p> + +<p>Paris, December 17, 1917.</p> + +<p>Commander Miss E. Booth,<br /> +120 W. 14th Street, New York, N. Y.</p> + +<p>Being a Private, I am one of the many thousands who +enjoy the kindnesses and thoughtful recreation in +the Salvation hut. The huts are always crowded when +the boys are off duty, for ’tis there we find +warmth of body and comradeship, pleasures in games +and music, delight in the palatable refreshments, +knowledge in reading periodicals, convenience in the +writing material at our disposal, and other home-like +touches for enjoyment. The courtesy and good-will +of the hut workers, combined with these good things, +makes the huts a resort of real comfort with the big +thought of salvation in Christ predominating over +all. Appreciation of these huts, and all they mean +to the soldier in this terrible war, rises full in +all our hearts.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Clinton Spencer</span>,<br /> +Private, Motor Action.</p> + +<p>“I just used to love to listen to the Salvation +Army at 6th and Penn Streets, but I never dreamed +of seeing them over here. And when I first saw four +girls cooking and baking all day I wondered what it +was all about.</p> + +<p>“But I didn’t have long to find out, for +that night I saw these same girls put on their gas +masks at the alert and start for the trenches. Then +I started to ask about them. I never spoke to the +girls, but fellows who had been in the trenches told +me that they came up under shell fire to give the +boys pies or doughnuts or little cakes or cocoa or +whatever they had made that day. I thought that great +of the Salvation Army. And many a boy who got help +through them has a warm spot in his heart for them.</p> + +<p>“You can see by the paper I write on who gave +it to us. It is Salvation Army paper. Altogether I +say give three hearty cheers for the Salvation Army +and the girls who risk their own lives to give our +boys a little treat.”</p> + +<p>“I am going to crow about our real friends here—and +it is the verdict of all the boys—it is the Salvation +Army, Joe. <i>That is the boys’ mother and +father here. It is our home</i>. They have a treat +for us boys every night—that is, cookies, doughnuts +or pie—about 9 o’clock. But that is only a +little of them. The big thing is the spirit—the feeling +a boy gets of being home when he enters the hut and +meets the lassies and lads who call themselves the +soldiers of Christ, and we are proud to call them +brother soldiers. We think the world of them! So, Joe, +whenever you get a chance to do the Salvation Army +a good turn, by word or deed, do so, as thereby you +will help us. When we get back we are going to be the +Salvation Army’s big friend, and you will see +it become one of the United States’ great organizations.”</p> + +<p>“My life as a soldier is not quite as easy as +it was in Rochester, but still I am not going to give +up my religion, and I am not ashamed to let the other +fellows know that I belong to the Salvation Army. Sometimes +they try to get me to smoke or go and have a glass +of beer with them, but I tell them that I am a Salvationist. +There are twenty fellows in a hut, so they used to +make fun at me when I used to say my prayers. Once +in awhile I used to have a <i>pair of shoes</i> +or a coat or something, thrown at me. I used to think +what I could do to stop them throwing things at me, +so I thought of a plan and waited. It was two or three +nights before they threw anything again. One night, +as I was saying my prayers, someone threw his shoes +at me. After I got through I picked up the shoes and +took out my shoe brushes and polished and cleaned +the shoes thrown at me, and from that night to now +I have never had a thing thrown at me. The fellow came +to me in a little while and said he was sorry he had +thrown them. There are four or five Salvationists +in our company—one was a Captain in the States. The +Salvation Army has three big huts here among the soldier +boys. We have some nice meetings here, and they have +reading-rooms and writing and lunch-rooms, so I spend +most of my time there.”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Letter of Commendation RE Salvation Army</span>.</p> + +<p>U.S.S. Point Bonita, 15 October, 1918.</p> + +<p>Miss Evangeline Booth, Commander,<br /> +Care of Salvation Army Headquarters,<br /> +14th Street, New York City.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Dear Miss Booth</span>:—</p> + +<p>We want to thank you for presenting our crew with +an elegant phonograph and 25 records. We are all going +to take up a collection and buy a lot of records and +I guess we will be able to pass the time away when +we are not on watch.</p> + +<p>We have a few men in the crew who have made trips +across on transports and they say that every soldier +and sailor has praised the Salvation Army way-up-to-the-sky +for all the many kindnesses shown them.</p> + +<p>We also want to thank you for the kindness shown to +one of our crew. The Major who gave us the present +was the best yet and so was the gentleman who drove +the auto about ten miles to our ship. That is the Salvation +Army all over. During the war or in times of peace, +your organization reaches the hearts of all.</p> + +<p>We all would like to thank Mr. Leffingwell for his +great kindness in helping us.</p> + +<p>The undersigned all have the warmest sort of feeling +for you and the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>Many, many thanks, from the ship’s crew.</p> + +<p>“I was down to the Salvation Army the other +day helping them cook doughnuts and they sure did +taste good, and the fellows fairly go crazy to get +them, too. Anything that is homemade don’t last +long around here, and when they get candy or anything +sweet there is a line about a block long.</p> + +<p>“Notice the paper this is written on? Well, +I can’t say enough about them. They sure are +a treat to us boys, and almost every night they have +good eats for us. One night it is lemonade, pies and +coffee, and the next it is doughnuts and coffee, and +they are just like mother makes. There are two girls +here that run the place, and they are real American +girls, too. The first I have seen since I have been +in France, and I’ll say they are a treat!</p> + +<p>“Hogan and I have been helping them, and now +I cook pies and doughnuts as well as anyone. We sure +do have a picnic with them and enjoy helping out once +in awhile. One thing I want you to do is to help the +Salvation Army all you can and whenever you get a +chance to lend a helping hand to them do it, for they +sure have done a whole lot for your boy, and if you +can get them a write-up in the papers, why do it and +I will be happy.”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">From Lord Derby</span>.</p> + +<p>“The splendid work which the Salvation Army +has done among the soldiers during the war is one +for which I, as Secretary of State for War, should +like to thank them most sincerely; it is a work which +is deserving of all support.”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">State of New Jersey <br /> +Executive Department <br /> +Trenton</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Mr. Battle</span>: December 27, 1917.</p> + +<p>I have learned of the campaign of the Salvation Army +to raise money for its war activities. The work of +the Salvation Army is at all times commendable and +deserving, but particularly so in its relation to the +war.</p> + +<p>I sincerely hope that the campaign will be very successful.<br /> +Cordially yours,</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Walter B. Edge</span>,</p> + +<p>Mr. George Gordon Battle, Governor.<br /> +General Chairman, 37 Wall Street, New York City.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Governor Charles S. Whitman’s Address at Luncheon at Hotel Ten Eyck, Albany, New York, December 8, 1917.</span></p> + +<p>“I take especial pleasure in offering my tribute +of respect and appreciation to the Salvation Army. +I have known of its work as intimately as any man +who is not directly connected with the organization. +In my position as a judge and a district attorney +of New York City for many years, I always found the +Salvation Army a great help in solving the various +problems of the poor, the criminal and distressed.</p> + +<p>“Frequently while other agencies, though good, +hesitated, there was never a case where there was +a possibility that relief might be brought—never +was a case of misery or violence so low, that the Salvation +Army would not undertake it.</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army lends its manhood and womanhood +to go ‘Over There’ from our States, and +our State, to labor with those who fight and die. +There is very little we can do, but we can help with +our funds.”</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army is worthy of the support +of all right-thinking people. Its main purpose is +to reclaim men and women to decency and good citizenship. +This purpose is being prosecuted not only with energy +and enthusiasm but with rare tact and judgment.</p> + +<p>“The sphere of the Army’s operations has +now been extended to the battlefields of Europe, where +its consecrated workers will coöperate with the Y.M.C.A., +K. of C., and kindred organizations.</p> + +<p>“It gives me pleasure to commend the work of +this beneficent organization, and to urge our people +to remember its splendid service to humanity.</p> + +<p>“Very truly yours,<br /> +“ <span class="smallcaps">Albert E. Sleeper</span>,<br /> +“Governor.”</p> + +<p>Endorsement of January 25, 1918.<br /> +Governor Hugh M. Dorsey, of Georgia.</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army has been a potent force for good +everywhere, so far as I know. They are rendering to +our soldiers “somewhere in France” the +most invaluable aid, ministering not only to their +spiritual needs, but caring for them in a material +way. This they have done without the blare of trumpets.</p> + +<p>Many commanding officers certify to the fact that +the Salvation Army is not only rendering most effective +work, but that this work is of a distinctive character +and of a nature not covered by the activities of other +organizations ministering to the needs of the soldier +boys. In other words, they are filling that gap in +the army life which they have always so well filled +in the civil life of our people.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">State of Utah Executive Office</span></p> + +<p>Salt Lake City, January 21, 1918.</p> + +<p>“I have learned with a great deal of interest +of the splendid work being done by the Salvation Army +for the moral uplift of the soldiers, both in the +training camps and in the field. I am very glad to +endorse this work and to express the hope that the +Salvation Army may find a way to continue and extend +its work among the soldiers.”</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Simon Bamberg</span>,<br /> +Governor.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">From a Proclamation by Governor Brumbaugh</span>.</p> + +<p>To the People of Pennsylvania:</p> + +<p>I have long since learned to believe in the great, +good work of the Salvation Army and have given it +my approval and support through the years. This mighty +body of consecrated workers are like gleaners in the +fields of humanity. They seek and succor and save those +that most need and least receive aid. Now, THEREFORE, +I, Martin G. Brumbaugh, Governor of the Commonwealth +of Pennsylvania, do cordially commend the work of the +Salvation Army and call upon our people to give earnest +heed to their call for assistance, making liberal +donations to their praiseworthy work and manifesting +thus our continued and resolute purpose to give our +men in arms unstinted aid and to support gladly all +these noble and sacrificing agencies that under God +give hope and help to our soldiers.</p> + +<p>[SEAL]</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Given</span> under my hand and the great seal of the State, +at the City of Harrisburg, this seventh day of February, +in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred +and eighteen, and of the Commonwealth the one hundred +and forty-second.</p> + +<p>By the Governor:<br /> +Secretary of the Commonwealth.<br /> +copy/h</p> + +<p>The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,<br /> +Executive Department,<br /> +State House, Boston, February 15, 1918.</p> + +<p>It gives me pleasure to add my word of approval to +the very noble work that is being done by the Salvation +Army for the men now serving the country. The Salvation +Army has for many years been doing very valuable work, +and the extension of its labors into the ranks of the +soldiers has not lessened in any degree its power +of accomplishment. The Salvation Army can render most +efficient service. It should be the aim of every one +of us in Massachusetts to assist in every way the +work that is being done for the soldiers. We cannot +do too much of this kind of work for them—they deserve +and need it all. I urge everybody in Massachusetts +to assist the Salvation Army in every way possible, +to the end that Massachusetts may maintain her place +in the forefront of the States of the Union who are +assisting the work of the Army.</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Samuel W. McCall</span>,<br /> +Governor.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Proclamation</span>.</p> + +<p>To the People of the State of Maryland:</p> + +<p>I have been very much impressed with the good work +which is being done in this country by the Salvation +Army, and I am not at all surprised at the great work +which it is doing at the front, upon or near the battlefields +of Europe. It is doing not only the same kind of work +being done by the Y.M.C.A. and the Knights of Columbus, +but work in fields decidedly their own.</p> + +<p>It is now undertaking to raise $1,000,000 for the +National War Service and it is preparing a hutment +equipped with libraries, daily newspapers, games, +light refreshments, <i>etc</i>., in every camp in France.</p> + +<p>Now, <span class="smallcaps">therefore</span>, I, Emerson C. Harrington, Governor +of Maryland, believing that the effect and purposes +for which the Salvation Army is asking this money, +are deserving of our warmest support, do hereby call +upon the people of Maryland to respond as liberally +as they can in this war drive being made by the Salvation +Army to enable them more efficiently to render service +which is so much needed.</p> + +<p>[The Great Seal of the State of Maryland]</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">In testimony whereof</span>, I have hereunto set my hand +and caused to be hereto affixed the Great Seal of +Maryland at Annapolis, Maryland, this fourteenth day +of February, in the year one thousand nine hundred +and eighteen.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Emerson C. Harrington</span>.</p> + +<p>By the Governor,<br /> +<span class="smallcaps">Thos. W. Simmons</span>, Secretary of State.</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army is peculiarly equipped for +this kind of service. I have watched the career of +this organization for many years, and I know its leaders +to be devoted and capable men and women.</p> + +<p>“Of course, any agency which can in any way +ameliorate the condition of the boys at the front +should receive encouragement.”</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Frank C. Lowden</span>,<br /> +Governor of Illinois.</p> + +<p>“I join with thousands of my fellow citizens +in having a great admiration for the splendid work +which has already been accomplished by the Salvation +Army in the alleviation of suffering, the spiritual +uplift of the masses, and its substantial and prayerful +ministrations.</p> + +<p>“The Salvation Army does its work quietly, carefully, +persistently and effectively. Our patriotic citizenry +will quickly place the stamp of approval upon the +great work being done by the Salvation Army among the +private soldiers at home and abroad.”</p> + +<p>(Signed) Governor <span class="smallcaps">Brough</span> of Arkansas.</p> + +<p>Lansing, Michigan, June 13, 1918.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">To Whom It May Concern</span>:</p> + +<p>Among the various organizations doing war work in +connection with the American Army, none are found +more worthy of support than the Salvation Army. Entering +into its work with the whole-hearted zeal which has +characterized its movement in times of peace, it has +won the highest praise of both officers and soldiers +alike.</p> + +<p>It is an essential pleasure to commend the work of +the Salvation Army to the people of Michigan with +the urgent request that its war activities be given +your generous support.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Albert E. Sleeper</span>,<br /> +Governor of the State of Michigan.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Mark E. McKee</span>,<br /> +Secretary, Counties Division, Michigan War Board.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">State of Kansas <br /> +Arthur Capper, Governor,<br /> +Topeka</span> </p> + +<p>August 8, 1917.</p> + +<p>I have been greatly pleased with the war activities +of the Salvation Army and want to express my appreciation +of the splendid service rendered by that organization +on the battlefield of Europe ever since the war began. +It is a most commendable and a most patriotic thing +to do and I hope the people of Kansas will give the +enterprise their generous support.</p> + +<p>Very respectfully,<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Arthur Capper</span>, Governor.</p> + +<p>“Best wishes for the success of your work. As +the Salvation Army has done so much good in time of +peace, it has multiplied opportunities to do good +in the horrors of war, if given the necessary means.”</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Miles Poindexter</span>,<br /> +Senator from Washington.<br /> +<span class="smallcaps">House of Representatives <br /> +Washington, D. C.</span></p> + +<p>January 8, 1918.</p> + +<p>Colonel Adam Gifford, Salvation Army,<br /> +8 East Brookline Street, Boston, Mass.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Colonel Gifford</span>:</p> + +<p>I desire to write you in highest commendation of the +work the Salvation Army is doing in France. During +last November I was behind the French and English +fronts, and unless one has been there they cannot realize +the assistance to spirit and courage given to the +soldiers by the “hut” service of the Salvation +Army.</p> + +<p>The only particular in which the Salvation Army fell +short was that there were not sufficient huts for +the demands of the troops. The huts I saw were crowded +and not commodious.</p> + +<p>Behind the British front I heard several officers +state that the service of the Salvation Army was somewhat +different from other services of the same kind, but +most effective.</p> + +<p>With kindest regards, I remain,<br /> +Very sincerely yours,</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">George Holden Tinkham</span>,<br /> +Congressman.</p> + +<p> +This Condolence Card conveyed the sympathy of the Commander to the friends of +the fallen. Forethought had prepared this some time before the first American +had made the supreme sacrifice. +</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> +<img src="images/033.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="Looking" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That a Man Lay +Down His Life for His Friends</span></p> + +<p>122 W. 14th Street New York</p> + +<p>My dear Friend:</p> + +<p>I must on behalf of The Salvation Army, take this +opportunity to say how deeply and truly we share your +grief at this time of your bereavement. It will be +hard for you to understand how anything can soothe +the pain made by your great loss, but let me point +you to the one Jesus Christ, who acquainted Himself +with all our griefs so that He might heal the heart’s +wounds made by our sorrows and whose love for us was +so vast that He bled and died to save us.</p> + +<p>It may be some solace to think that your loved one +poured out his life in a War in which high and holy +principles are involved, and also that he was quick +to answer the call for men.</p> + +<p>Believe me when I say that we are praying and will +pray for you.</p> + +<p>Yours in sympathy.</p> + +<p>(Signed) Evangeline Booth<br /> +<span class="smallcaps">Commander</span></p> + + + +<p>“ <span class="smallcaps">Commander Evangeline Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>“The comfort and solace contained in the beautiful +card of sympathy I recently received from you is more +than you can ever know. With all my heart I am very +grateful to you and can only assure you feebly of my +deep appreciation.</p> + +<p>“It has made me realize more than ever before +the fundamental principles of Christianity upon which +your Army is built and organized, for how truly does +it comfort the widow and fatherless in their affliction.</p> + +<p>“Tucked away as my two babies and I are in a +tiny Wisconsin town, we felt that our grief, while +shared in by our good friends, was just a passing +emotion to the rest of the world. But when a card such +as yours comes, extending a heart of sympathy and +prayer and ferrets us out in our sorrow in our little +town, you must know how much less lonely we are because +of it. It surely shows us that a sacrifice such as +my dear husband made is acknowledged and lauded by +the entire world.</p> + +<p>“I am, oh! so proud of him, so comforted to +know I was wife to a man so imbued with the principles +of right and justice that he counted no sacrifice, +not even his life, too great to offer in the cause. +Not for anything would I ask him back or rob him of +the glory of such a death. Yet our little home is +sad indeed, with its light and life taken away.</p> + +<p>“The good you have done before and during the +war must be a very great source of gratification for +you, and I trust you may be spared for many years +to stretch out your helping hand to the sorrowing and +make us better for having known you.</p> + +<p>With deepest gratitude,”</p> + +<p>“ <span class="smallcaps">Commander Evangeline Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>“I have just seen your picture in the November +<i>Pictorial Review</i> and I do so greatly admire +your splendid character and the great work you are +doing.</p> + +<p>“I want to thank you for the message of Christian +love and sympathy you sent to me upon the death of +my son in July, aeroplane accident in England.</p> + +<p>“Without the Christian’s faith and the +blessed hope of the Gospel we would despair indeed. +A long time ago I learned to pray Thy will be done +for my son—and I have tested the promises and I have +found them true.</p> + +<p>“May the Lord bless you abundantly in your own +heart and in your world wide influence and the splendid +Salvation Army.”</p> + +<p>“ <span class="smallcaps">Dear Friends</span>:</p> + +<p>“Words fall far short in expressing our deep +appreciation of your comforting words of condolence +and sympathy. Will you accept as a small token of +love the enclosed appreciation written by Professor +————- of the Oberlin College, and a quotation +from a letter written August 25th by our soldier boy, +and found among his effects to be opened only in case +of his death, and forwarded to his mother?</p> + +<p>I am<br /> +Yours truly,”</p> + +<p>Enclosure:</p> + +<p>“November 16, 1918.</p> + +<p>“If by any chance this letter should be given +to you, as something coming directly from my heart; +you, who are my mother, need have no fear or regret +for the personality destined not to come back to you.</p> + +<p>“A mother and father, whose noble ideals they +firmly fixed in two sons should rather experience +a deep sense of pride that the young chap of nearly +twenty-one years does not come back to them; for, though +he was fond of living, he was also prepared to die +with a faith as sound and steadfast as that of the +little children whom the Master took in His arms.</p> + +<p>“And more than that, the body you gave to me +so sweet and pure and strong, though misused at times, +has been returned to God as pure and undefiled as +when you gave it to me. I think there is nothing that +should please you more than that.</p> + +<p class="poem"> +“In My Father’s House are many mansions,<br /> +I go to prepare a place for you;<br /> +If it were not so, I would have told you.<br /> +“Your Baby boy,” +</p> + +<p> +(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Paul</span>.<br /> +Chatereaux, France.<br /> +August, 1918.</p> + +<p>N. B.—Written on back of the envelope:<br /> +“To be opened only in case of accident.”</p> + +<p>“ <span class="smallcaps">Commander Evangeline Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>“Permit me to express through you my deep appreciation +of the consoling message from the Salvation Army on +the loss of my brother, Clement, in France. I am indeed +grateful for this last thought from an organization +which did so much to meet his living needs and to lessen +the hardships of his service in France. I shall always +feel a personal debt to those of you who seemed so +near to him at the end.”</p> + +<p>“Miss <span class="smallcaps">Evangeline Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>“I was greatly touched by the card of sympathy +sent me in your name on the occasion of my great sorrow—and +my equally great glory. The death of a husband for +the great cause of humanity is a martyrdom that any +soldier’s wife, even in her deep grief, is proud +to share.</p> + +<p>“Thanking you for your helpful message,”</p> + +<p>“Miss <span class="smallcaps">Evangeline Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>“Of the many cards of condolence received by +our family upon the death of my dear brother, none +touched us more deeply than the one sent by you.</p> + +<p>“We do indeed appreciate your thoughtfulness +in sending words of comfort to people who are utter +strangers to you.</p> + +<p>“Accept again, the gratitude of my parents as +well as the other members of our family, including +myself.</p> + +<p>“May our Heavenly Father bless you all and glorify +your good works.”</p> + +<p>Miss Evangeline Booth,</p> + +<p>Commander of the Salvation Army, New York City,<br /> +N. Y.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Dear Miss Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>I beg of you to pardon me for writing you this letter, +but I feel that I must. On the 17th day of March I +received a letter from my boy in France, and it reads +as follows:</p> + +<p>“Somewhere in France, Jan. 15, 1918.<br /> +“<span class="smallcaps">My Dear Mother</span>:</p> + +<p>“I must write you a few lines to tell you that +you must not worry about me even though it is some +time since I wrote you. We don’t have much time +to ourselves out here. I have just come out of the +trenches, and now it is mud, mud, mud, up to one’s +knees. I often think of the fireplace at home these +cold nights, but, mother, I must tell you that I don’t +know what we boys would do if it was not for the Salvation +Army. The women, they are just like mothers to the +boys. God help the ones that say anything but good +about the Army! Those women certainly have courage, +to come right out in the trenches with coffee and +cocoa, <i>etc</i>., and they are so kind and good. Mother, +I want you to write to Miss Booth and thank her for +me for her splendid work out here. When I come home +I shall exchange the U. S. uniform for the S.A. uniform, +and I know, ma, that you will not object. Well, the +Germans have been raining shells to-day, but we were +unharmed. I passed by an old shack of a building—a +poor woman sat there with a baby, lulling it to sleep, +when a shell came down and the poor souls had passed +from this earthly hell to their heavenly reward. Only +God knows the conditions out here; it is horrible. +Well, I must close now, and don’t worry, mother, +I will be home some day.</p> + +<p>“Your loving son,”</p> + +<p>Well, Miss Booth, I got word three weeks ago that +Joseph had been killed in action. I am heart-broken, +but I suppose it was God’s will. Poor boy! He +has his uniform exchanged for a white robe. I am all +alone now, as he was my only boy and only child. Again +I beg of you to pardon me for sending you this letter.</p> + +<p>December 10, 1917.</p> + +<p>Commander Evangeline C. Booth, New York City.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Commander</span>:</p> + +<p>I have just read in the New York papers of your purpose +and plan to raise a million dollars for your Salvation +Army work carried on in the interests of the soldiers +at home and abroad, and I cannot refrain from writing +to you to express my deep interest, and also the hope +that you may be successful in raising this fund, because +I know that it will be so well administered.</p> + +<p>From all that I have heard of the Salvation Army work +in connection with the soldiers carried on under your +direction, I think it is simply wonderful, and if +there is any service that I can render you or the Army, +I should be exceedingly pleased.</p> + +<p>I have read “Souls in Khaki,” and I wish +that everyone might read it, for could they do so, +your million-dollar fund would be easily raised.</p> + +<p>With ever-increasing interest in the Salvation Army, +I am, Cordially yours,</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">J. Wilbur Chapman</span>.<br /> +Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian<br /> +Church in the U.S.A.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Salvation Army Is the Most Popular Organization in France</span>.</p> + +<p>Raymond B. Fosdick, chairman of the War Recreation +Commission, on his return from a tour of investigation +into activities of the relief organizations in France, +gave out the following:</p> + +<p>“Somewhat to my surprise I found the Salvation +Army probably the most popular organization in France +with the troops. It has not undertaken the comprehensive +program which the Y.M.C.A. has laid out for itself; +that is, it is operating in three or four divisions, +while the Y. M. C. A. is aiming to cover every unit +of troops.</p> + +<p>“But its simple, homely, unadorned service seems +to have touched the hearts of our men. The aim of +the organization is, if possible, to put a worker +and his wife in a canteen or a centre. The women spend +their time making doughnuts and pies, and sew on buttons. +The men make themselves generally useful in any way +which their service can be applied.</p> + +<p>“I saw such placed in dugouts way up at the +front, where the German shells screamed over our heads +with a sound not unlike a freight train crossing a +bridge. Down in their dugouts the Salvation Army folks +imperturbably handed out doughnuts and dished out +the ‘drink.’”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">War Department Commission on Training Camp Activities, Washington</span> </p> + +<p>45, Avenue Montaigne, Paris.</p> + +<p>Commander Evangeline Booth, Apr. 8, 1919.<br /> +Salvation Army, New York City.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Commander Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>The work of the Salvation Army with the armed forces +of the United States does not need any word of commendation +from me. Perhaps I may be permitted to say, however, +that as a representative of the War and Navy Departments +I have been closely in touch with it from its inception, +both in Europe and in the United States. I do not +believe there is a doughboy anywhere who does not +speak of it with enthusiasm and affection. Its remarkable +success has been due solely to the unselfish spirit +of service which has underlain it. Nothing has been +too humble or too lowly for the Salvation Army representative +to do for the soldier. Without ostentation, without +advertising, without any emphasis upon auspices or +organization, your people have met the men of the +Army as friends and companions-in-arms, and the soldiers, +particularly those of the American Expeditionary Force, +will never forget what you have done.</p> + +<p>Faithfully yours,<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Raymond B. Fosdick</span>.</p> + +<p>From Honorable Arthur Stanley,<br /> +Chairman British Red Cross Society.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">British Red Cross Society</span> <br /> +<span class="smallcaps">Joint War Committee</span> </p> + +<p>83 Pall Mall, London, S. W.,</p> + +<p>December 22, 1917.</p> + +<p>General Bramwell Booth.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Dear General Booth</span>:</p> + +<p>I enclose formal receipt for the cheque, value £2000, +which was handed to me by your representative. I note +that it is a contribution from the Salvation Army +to the Joint Funds to provide a new Salvation Army +Motor Ambulance Unit on the same conditions as before.</p> + +<p>I cannot sufficiently thank you and the Salvation +Army for this very generous donation.</p> + +<p>I am indeed glad to know that you are providing another +twenty drivers for service with our Ambulance Fleet +in France. This is most welcome news, as whenever +Salvation Army men are helping we hear nothing but +good reports of their work. Sir Ernest Clarke tells +me that your Ambulance Sections are quite the best +of any in our service, and the more Salvation Army +men you can send him, the better he will be pleased. +I would again take this opportunity of congratulating +you, which I do with all my heart, upon the splendid +record of your Army.</p> + +<p>Yours sincerely,</p> + +<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Arthur Stanley</span>.</p> + +<p>Extract from Judge Ben Lindsey’s picture of +the Salvation Army at the Front:</p> + +<p>“A good expression for American enthusiasm is: +’I am crazy about’—this, or that, or +the other thing that excites our admiration. Well, +’I am crazy about the Salvation Army’—the +Salvation Army as I saw it and mingled with it and +the doughboys in the trenches. And when I happened +to be passing through Chicago to-day and saw an appeal +in the <i>Tribune</i> for the Salvation Army, +I remembered what our boys so often shouted out to +me as I passed them in the trenches and back of the +lines: ’Judge, when you get back home tell the +folks not to forget the Salvation Army. They’re +the real thing.’</p> + +<p>“And I know they are the real thing. I have +shared with the boys the doughnuts and chocolate and +coffee that seemed to be so much better than any other +doughnuts or coffee or chocolate I have ever tasted +before. And when it seemed so wonderful to me after +just a mild sort of experience down a shell-swept +road, through the damp and cold of a French winter +day, what must it be to those boys after trench raids +or red-hot scraps down rain-soaked trenches under +the wet mists of No Man’s Land?... Listen to +some of the stories the boys told me: ’You see, +Judge, the good old Salvation Army is the real thing. +They don’t put on no airs. There ain’t +no flub-dub about them and you don’t see their +mugs in the fancy magazines much. Why, you never would +see one of them in Paris around the hotels. You’d +never know they existed, Judge, unless you came right +up here to the front lines as near as the Colonel +will let you!’</p> + +<p>“And one enthusiastic urchin said: ’Why, +Judge, after the battle yesterday, we couldn’t +get those women out of the village till they’d +seen every fellow had at least a dozen fried cakes +and all the coffee or chocolate he could pile in. +We just had to drag ’em out—for the boys love +’em too much to lose ’em—we weren’t +going to take no chances—not much— for our Salvation +ladies!’”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Harry Lauder’s Endorsement</span>.</p> + +<p>In speaking of the Salvation Army’s work before +the Rotary Club of San Francisco, Harry Lauder said:</p> + +<p>“There is no organization in Europe doing more +for the troops than the Salvation Army, and the devotion +of its officers has caused the Salvation Army to be +revered by the soldiers.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Otto Kahn, one of America’s most prominent +bankers, upon his return to this country after a tour +through the American lines in France, writes, among +other things:</p> + +<p>“I should particularly consider myself remiss +if I did not refer with sincere admiration to the +devoted, sympathetic, and most efficient work of the +Salvation Army, which, though limited in its activities +to a few sectors only, has won the warm and affectionate +regard of those of our troops with whom it has been +in contact.”</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Mr. David Lawrence, special Washington correspondent +of the <i>New York Evening Post</i> and other +influential papers, in an article in which he comments +on the work of all the relief agencies, says of the +Salvation Army in France:</p> + +<p>“Curiously enough the Salvation Army is spoken +of in all official reports as the organization most +popular with the troops. Its organization is the smallest +of all four. Its service is simple and unadorned. It +specializes on doughnuts and pie, which it gives away +free whenever the ingredients of the manufacture of +those articles are at hand.</p> + +<p>“<i>The policy of the organization</i> +is to place a worker and his wife, if possible, with +a unit of troops. The woman makes doughnuts and sews +on buttons, while the man helps the soldiers in any +way he can.</p> + +<p>“<i>The success of the Salvation Army</i> +is attributed by commanding officers to the fact that +the workers know how to mix naturally. <i>In other +cases there had been sometimes an air of condescension +not unlike that of the professional settlement house +worker</i>.”</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>In a recent issue of the <i>Saturday Evening Post</i>, +Mr. Irvin Cobb, who has just returned from France, +has this to say of the Salvation Army:</p> + +<p>“Right here seems a good-enough place for me +to slip in a few words of approbation for the work +which another organization has accomplished in France +since we put our men into the field. Nobody asked me +to speak in its favor because, so far as I can find +out, it has no publicity department. I am referring +to the Salvation Army. May it live forever for the +service which, without price and without any boasting +on the part of its personnel, it is rendering to our +boys in France!</p> + +<p>“A good many of us who hadn’t enough religion, +and a good many more of us who, mayhap, had too much +religion, looked rather contemptuously upon the methods +of the Salvationists. Some have gone so far as to intimate +that the Salvation Army was vulgar in its methods +and lacking in dignity and even in reverence. Some +have intimated that converting a sinner to the tap +of a bass drum or the tinkle of a tambourine was an +improper process altogether. Never again, though, +shall I hear the blare of the cornet as it cuts into +the chorus of hallelujah whoops, where a ring of blue-bonneted +women and blue-capped men stand exhorting on a city +street-corner under the gaslights, without recalling +what some of their enrolled brethren—and sisters—have +done, and are doing, in Europe!</p> + +<p>“The American Salvation Army in France is small, +but, believe me, it is powerfully busy! Its war delegation +came over without any fanfare of the trumpets of publicity. +It has no paid press agents here and no impressive +headquarters. There are no well-known names, other +than the names of its executive heads, on its rosters +or on its advisory boards. None of its members are +housed at an expensive hotel and none of them have +handsome automobiles in which to travel about from +place to place. No campaigns to raise nation-wide +millions of dollars for the cost of its ministrations +overseas were ever held at home. I imagine it is the +pennies of the poor that mainly fill its war chest. +I imagine, too, that sometimes its finances are an +uncertain quantity. Incidentally, I am assured that +not one of its male workers here is of draft age unless +he holds exemption papers to prove his physical unfitness +for military service. The Salvationists are taking +care to purge themselves of any suspicion that potential +slackers have joined their ranks in order to avoid +the possibility of having to perform duties in khaki.</p> + +<p>“Among officers, as well as among enlisted men, +one occasionally hears criticism—which may or may +not be based on a fair judgment—for certain branches +of certain activities of certain organizations. But +I have yet to meet any soldier, whether a brigadier +or a private, who, if he spoke at all of the Salvation +Army, did not speak in terms of fervent gratitude for +the aid that the Salvationists are rendering so unostentatiously +and yet so very effectively. Let a sizable body of +troops move from one station to another, and hard +on its heels there came a squad of men and women of +the Salvation Army. An army truck may bring them, +or it may be they have a battered jitney to move them +and their scanty outfits. Usually they do not ask +for help from anyone in reaching their destinations. +They find lodgment in a wrecked shell of a house or +in the corner of a barn. By main force and awkwardness +they set up their equipment, and very soon the word +has spread among the troops that at such and such a +place the Salvation Army is serving free hot drinks +and free doughnuts and free pies. It specializes in +doughnuts—the Salvation Army in the field does—the +real old-fashioned home-made ones that taste of home +to a homesick soldier boy!</p> + +<p>“I did not see this, but one of my associates +did. He saw it last winter in a dismal place on the +Toul sector. A file of our troops were finishing a +long hike through rain and snow over roads knee-deep +in half-thawed icy slush. Cold and wet and miserable +they came tramping into a cheerless, half-empty town +within sound and range of the German guns. They found +a reception committee awaiting them there—in the +person of two Salvation Army lassies and a Salvation +Army Captain. The women had a fire going in the dilapidated +oven of a vanished villager’s kitchen. One of +them was rolling out the batter on a plank, with an +old wine-bottle for a rolling pin, and using the top +of a tin can to cut the dough into circular strips; +the other woman was cooking the doughnuts, and as fast +as they were cooked the man served them out, spitting +hot, to hungry, wet boys clamoring about the door, +and nobody was asked to pay a cent!</p> + +<p>“At the risk of giving mortal affront to ultradoctrinal +practitioners of applied theology, I am firmly committed +to the belief that by the grace and the grease of +those doughnuts those three humble benefactors that +day strengthened their right to a place in the Heavenly +Kingdom.”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Colonel Jenkins</span>:</p> + +<p>I take pleasure in sending you a copy of my report +as Commissioner to France, in which I made reference +to the work of the Salvation Army with our American +Expeditionary Forces.</p> + +<p>I cannot recall ever hearing the slightest criticism +of the work of the Salvation Army, but I heard many +words of enthusiastic appreciation on the part not +only of the Generals and officers but of the soldiers.</p> + +<p>I saw many evidences showing that the unselfish, sometimes +reckless, abandon of your workers had a great effect +upon our men.</p> + +<p>I am sure that the Salvation Army also stands in high +respect for its religious influence upon the men.</p> + +<p>It was pleasant still further to hear such words of +appreciation as I did from General Duncan regarding +the work of Chaplain Allan, the divisional chaplain +of General Duncan’s unit. He has evidently risen +to his work in a splendid way. It is a pleasure to +have this opportunity of rendering this testimony +to you.</p> + +<p>Faithfully yours,</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Charles S. MacFarland</span>,<br /> +General Secretary.</p> + +<p>The <i>New York Globe</i> printed the following:</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Huns Don’t Stop Salvation Army. Meeting Held in Deep Dugout Under Ruined Village—Mandolin Supplants the Organ</span>.</p> + +<p>By Herbert Corey.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Just behind the Somme front</span>, May 31.—Somewhere in +the tangle of smashed walls there was a steely jingle. +At first the sound was hard to identify, so odd are +acoustics in this which was once a little town. There +were stub ends of walls here and there—bare, raw +snags of walls sticking up—and now and then a rooftree +tilted pathetically against a ruin, or a pile of dusty +masonry that had been a house. A little path ran through +this tangle, and under an arched gateway that by a +miracle remained standing and down the steps of a +dugout. The jingling sound became recognizable. Some +one was trying to play on a mandolin:</p> + +<p>“Jesus, Lover of My Soul.”</p> + +<p>It was grotesque and laughable. The grand old hymn +refused its cadences to this instrument of a tune-loving +bourgeoise. It seemed to stand aloof and unconquered. +This is a hymn for the swelling notes of an organ or +for the great harmonies of a choir. It was not made +to be debased by association with this caterwauling +wood and wire, this sounding board for barbershop +chords, this accomplice of sick lovers leaning on village +fences. Then there came a voice:</p> + +<p>“By gollies, brother, you’re getting it! +I actually believe you’re getting it, brother. +We’ll have a swell meeting to-night.”</p> + +<p>I went down the steps into the Salvation Army man’s +dugout. A large soldier, cigarette depending from +his lower lip, unshaven, tin hat tipped on the back +of his head, was picking away at the wires of the mandolin +with fingers that seemed as thick and yellow as ears +of corn. As I came in he stated profanely, that these +dam’ things were not made to pick out condemn’ +hymn tunes on. The Salvation Army man encouraged him:</p> + +<p>“You keep on, brother,” said he, “and +we’ll have a fine meeting for the Brigadier +when he comes in to-night.”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Taking His Chances</span>.</p> + +<p>Another boy was sitting there, his head rather low. +The mandolin player indicated him with a jerk. “He +got all roughed up last night,” said he. “We +found a bottle of some sweet stuff these Frogs left +in the house where we’re billeted. Tasted a +good deal like syrup. But it sure put Bull out.”</p> + +<p>Bull turned a pair of inflamed eyes on the musician.</p> + +<p>“You keep on a-talkin’, and I’ll +hang somep’n on your eye,” said Bull, +hoarsely.</p> + +<p>Then he replaced his head in his hands. The Salvation +Army man laughed at the interlude and then returned +to the player.</p> + +<p>“See,” said he, “it goes like this——” +He hummed the wonderful old hymn.</p> + +<p>The floor of the dugout was covered with straw. The +stairs which led to it were wide, so that at certain +hours the sun shone in and dried out the walls. There +were few slugs crawling slimily on the walls of the +Salvation Army’s place. Rats were there, of +course, and bugs of sorts, but few slugs. On the whole +it was considered a good dugout, because of these +things. The roof was not a strong one, it seemed to +me. A 77-shell would go through it like a knife through +cheese. I said so to the Salvation Army man.</p> + +<p>“Aw, brother,” said he. “We’ve +got to take our chances along with the rest.”</p> + +<p>At the foot of the stairs was a table on which were +the few things the Salvation Army man had to sell, +up here under the guns. There were some figs and a +handful of black licorice drops and a few nuts. Boys +kept coming in and demanding cookies. Cookies there +were none, but there was hope ahead. If the Brigadier +managed to get in to-night with the fliv, there might +be cookies.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">No Money, But Good Cheer</span>.</p> + +<p>“Just our luck,” said some morose doughboy, +“if a shell hit the fliv. It’s a hell +of a road——”</p> + +<p>“No shell has hit it yet, brother,” said +the Salvation Army man, cheerily.</p> + +<p>Fifteen dollars would have bought everything he had +in stock. One could have carried away the whole stock +in the pockets of an army overcoat. The Salvation +Army has no money, you know. It is hard to buy supplies +for canteens over here, unless a pocket filled with +money is doing the buying. The Salvation Army must +pick up its stuff where it can get it. Yesterday there +had been sardines and shaving soap and tin watches. +To-day there were only figs and licorice drops and +nuts.</p> + +<p>“But if the Brigadier gets in,” said the +Salvation Army man, “there will be something +sweet to eat. And we’ll have a little meeting +of song and praise, brother—just to thank God for +the chance he has given us to help.”</p> + +<p>Here there is no one else to serve the boys. Other +organizations have more money and more men, but for +some reason they have not seen fit to come to this +which was once a town. Shells fall into it from six +directions all day and all night long. Now and then +it is gassed. A few kilometres away is the German +line. One reaches town over a road which is nightly +torn to pieces by high explosives. No one comes here +voluntarily, and no one stays willingly—except the +Salvation Army man. He’s here for keeps.</p> + +<p>Men come down into his little dugout to play checkers +and dominoes and buy sweet things to eat. He is here +to help them spiritually as well as physically and +they know it, and yet they do not hear him. He talks +to them just as they talk to each other, except that +he does not swear and he does not tell stories that +have too much of a tang. He never obtrudes his religion +on them. Just once in a while—on the nights the Brigadier +gets in—there is a little song and praise meeting. +They thank God for the chance they have to help.</p> + +<p>That night the Brigadier got in with his cookies and +chocolates and his message that salvation is free. +Perhaps a dozen men sat around uncomfortably in the +little dugout and listened to him. The man of the +mandolin had refused at the last moment. He said he +would be dam’ if he could play a hymn tune on +that thing. But the old hymn quavered cheerily out +of the little dugout into the shell-torn night. The +husky voices of the Brigadier and the Ensign and Holy +Joe carried it on, while the little audience sat mute.</p> + +<p class="poem"> +While the nearer waters roll,<br /> +While the tempest still is high. +</p> + +<p>Then there was a little prayer and a few straight, +cordial words from the Brigadier and then, somewhere +in that perilous night outside, “taps” +sounded and the men were off to bed. They had no word +of thanks as they shook hands on parting. They did +not speak to each other as they picked their way along +the path through the ruins. But when they reached the +street some one said very profanely and very earnestly:</p> + +<p>“I can lick any man’s son who says <span class="smallcaps">they</span> +ain’t all right.”</p> + +<p>“I have just received your letter of the 30th +of July, and it has cheered my heart to know you take +an interest in a poor Belgian prisoner of war.</p> + +<p>“Since I wrote to you last we have been changed +to another camp; the one we are now in is quite a +nice camp, with lots of flowers, and we are allowed +more freedom, but it is very bad regarding food. We +have so very little to eat, it is a pity we can’t +eat flowers! We rise up hungry and go to bed hungry, +and all day long we are trying to still the craving +for food. So you will understand the longing there +is in our hearts to once again be free—to be able +to go to work and earn our daily bread! But the one +great comfort that I find is since I learned to know +Jesus as my Saviour and Friend I can better endure +the trials and even rejoice that I am called to suffer +for His sake, and while around me I see many who are +in despair—some even cursing God for all the misery +in which we are surrounded, some trying to be brave, +some giving up altogether—yet to a number of us has +come the Gospel message, brought by the Salvation Army, +and I am so glad that I, for one, listened and surrendered +my life to this Jesus! Now I have real peace, and +He walks with me and gives me grace to conquer the +evil.</p> + +<p>“When I lived in Belgium I was very worldly +and sinful—I lived for pleasure and drink and sin. +I did not then know of One who said, ’Come unto +Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will +give you rest.’ I did not know anything about +living a Christian life, but now it is all changed +and I am so thankful! Salvation Army officers visit +us and bring words of cheer and blessing and comfort. +You will be glad to know that I have applied to our +Commissioner to become a Salvation Army officer when +the war is over. I want to go to my poor little stricken +country and tell my people of this wonderful Saviour +that can save from all sin!</p> + +<p>“On behalf of my comrades and myself, I want +to thank the American nation for all they have done, +and are still doing, for my people. May God bless +you all for it, and may He grant that before long there +will be peace on earth!</p> + +<p>“I remain, faithfully yours,</p> + +<p>“ <span class="smallcaps">Remy Meersman</span>.”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">The “Stars and Stripes” Speaks from France for The Salvation Army</span>.</p> + +<p>A copy of the “Stars and Stripes,” the +official publication of the American Expeditionary +Forces published in Prance by the American soldiers +themselves, just received in Chicago, contains the +following:</p> + +<p>“Perhaps in the old days when war and your home +town seemed as far apart as Paris, France, and Paris, +Ill., you were a superior person who used to snicker +when you passed a street corner where a small Salvation +Army band was holding forth. Perhaps—Heaven forgive +you—you even sneered a little when you heard the +bespectacled sister in the poke-bonnet bang her tambourine +and raise a shrill voice to the strains of ’Oh +death, where is thy sting-a-ling.’ Probably—unless +you yourself had known the bitterness of one who finds +himself alone, hungry and homeless in a big city—you +did not know much about the Salvation Army.</p> + +<p>Well, we are all homeless over here and every American +soldier will take back with him a new affection and +a new respect for the Salvation Army. Many will carry +with them the memories of a cheering word and a friendly +cruller received in one of the huts nearest of all +to the trenches. There the old slogan of ‘Soup +and Salvation’ has given way to ‘Pies and +Piety.’ It might be ‘Doughnuts and Doughboys.’ +These huts pitched within the shock of the German +guns, are ramshackle and bare and few, for no organization +can grow rich on the pennies and nickels that are tossed +into the tambourines at the street-corners of the +world. But they are doing a work that the soldiers +themselves will never forget, and it is an especial +pleasure to say so here, because the Salvation Army, +being much too simple and old-fashioned to know the +uses of advertisement, have never asked us to. You, +however, can testify for them. Perhaps you do in your +letters home. And surely when you are back there and +you pass once more a ‘meeting’ at the +curb, you will not snicker. You will tarry awhile—and +take off your hat.”</p> + +<p>We have received a letter from Mr. Lewis Strauss, +Secretary to Mr. Herbert Hoover, who has just returned +from France, and he says that Mr. Hoover’s time +while in Europe was spent almost wholly in London and +Paris, and that he had no opportunity for observing +our War Relief Work at the front. The concluding paragraph +of the letter, however, is as follows:</p> + +<p>“Mr. Hoover has frequently heard the most complimentary +reports of the invaluable work which your organization +is performing in invariably the most perilous localities, +and he is filled with admiration for those who are +conducting it at the front.”</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">The Chicago Tribune (May 17, 1918), Quoting from the Above, also Speaks Editorially</span>.</p> + +<p>The acid test of any service done for our soldiers +in France is the value the men themselves place upon +it. No matter how excellent our intentions, we cannot +be satisfied with the result if the soldiers are not +satisfied. Without suggesting any invidious distinctions +among organizations that are working at the front, +it is nevertheless a pleasure to record that the Salvation +Army stands very high in the regard of American soldiers.</p> + +<p>The evidence of the Salvation Army’s excellent +work comes from many sources.</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>Appendix.</h2> + +<h3>A Few Facts about the Salvation Army</h3> + +<p>It has been truly said that within four days after +the German Army entered Belgium, another Army entered +also—the Salvation Army! One came to destroy, the +other to relieve distress and minister to the wounded +and dying.</p> + +<p>The British Salvation Army furnished a number of Red +Cross Ambulances, manned by Salvationists when the +Red Cross was in great need of such. When these arrived +in France and people first saw the big cars with the +“Salvation Army” label it attracted a good +deal of attention. The drivers wore the Red Cross +uniform, and were under its military rules, but wore +on their caps the red band with the words, “Salvation +Army.”</p> + +<p>There is a story of a young officer in sportive mood +who left a group of his companions and stepped out +into the street to stop one of these ambulances:</p> + +<p>“Hello! Salvation Army!” he cried. “Are +you taking those men to heaven?”</p> + +<p>Amid the derisive laughter of the officers on the +sidewalk the Salvationist replied pleasantly:</p> + +<p>“I cannot say I am taking them to heaven, but +I certainly am taking them away from the other place.”</p> + +<p>One of the good British Salvationists wrote of meeting +our American boys in England. He said:</p> + +<p>“Oh, these American soldiers! One meets them +in twos and threes, all over the city, everlastingly +asking questions, by word of mouth and by wide-open +trustful eyes, and they make a bee-line for the Salvation +Army uniform on sight. I passed a company of them +on the march across London, from one railroad station +to another, the other, day. They were obviously interested +in the sights of the city streets as they passed through +at noon, but as they drew nearer one of the boys caught +sight of the red band around my cap among the hate +crowning the sidewalk crowd. My! but that one man’s +interest swept over the hundred odd men! Like the flame +of a prairie fire, it went with a zip! They all knew +at once! They had no eyes for the crowd any more; +they did not stare at the façade of the railway terminus +which they were passing; they saw nothing of the famous +‘London Stone’ set in the wall behind +its grid on their right hand. What they saw was a +Salvation Army man in all his familiar war-paint, and +it was a sight for sore eyes! Here was something they +could understand! This was an American institution, +a tried, proved and necessary part of the life of any +community. All this and much more those wide-open eyes +told me. It was as good to them as if I was stuck +all over with stars and stripes. I belonged—that’s +it—belonged to them, and so they took off the veil +and showed their hearts and smiled their good glad +greeting.</p> + +<p>“So I smiled and that first file of four beamed +seraphic. Two at least were of Scandinavian stock, +but how should that make any difference? Again and +again I noticed their counterpart in the column which +followed.... It was all the same; file upon file those +faces spread out in eager particular greeting; those +eyes, one and all, sought mine expecting the smile +I so gladly gave. And then when the last was past and +I gazed upon their swaying forms from the rear I wondered +why my eyes were moist and something had gone wrong +with my swallowing apparatus. Great boys! Bonny boys!”</p> + +<p>The Salvation Army was founded July 5, 1865, as a +Christian Mission in East London by the Reverend William +Booth, and its first Headquarters opened in Whitechapel +Road, London. Three years later work was begun in +Scotland.</p> + +<p>In 1877 the name of the Christian Mission was altered +to the Salvation Army, and the Reverend William Booth +assumed the title of General.</p> + +<p>December 29, 1879, the first number of the official +organ, “The War Cry,” was issued and the +first brass band formed at Consett.</p> + +<p>In 1880 the first Training School was opened at Hackney, +London, and the first contingent of the Salvation +Army officers landed in the United States. The next +year the Salvation Army entered Australia, and was +extended to France. 1882 saw Switzerland, Sweden, India +and Canada receiving their first contingent of Salvation +Army officers. A London Orphan Asylum was acquired +and converted into Congress Hall, which, with its +large Auditorium, with a seating capacity of five thousand, +still remains the Mammoth International Training School +for Salvation Army officers, for missionary and home +fields all over the world. The first Prison-Gate Home +was opened in London in this same year.</p> + +<p>The Army commenced in South Africa, New Zealand and +Iceland in 1883.</p> + +<p>In 1886 work was begun in Germany and the late General +visited France, the United States and Canada. The +First International Congress was held in London in +that year.</p> + +<p>The British Slum work was inaugurated in 1887, and +Officers sent to Italy, Holland, Denmark, Zululand, +and among the Kaffirs and Hottentots. The next year +the Army extended to Norway, Argentine Republic, Finland +and Belgium, and the next ten years saw work extended +in succession to Uruguay, West Indies, Java, Japan, +British Guiana, Panama and Korea, and work commenced +among the Lepers.</p> + +<p>The growing confidence of the great of the earth was +manifested by the honors that were conferred upon +General Booth from time to time. In 1898 he opened +the American Senate with prayer. In 1904 King Edward +received him at Buckingham Palace, the freedom of +the City of London and the City of Kirkcaldy were +conferred upon him, as well as the degree of D. C. +L. by Oxford, during 1905. The Kings of Denmark, Norway, +the Queen of Sweden, and the Emperor of Japan were +among those who received him in private audience.</p> + +<p>On August 20, 1912, General William Booth laid down +his sword.</p> + +<p>He lay in state in Congress Hall, London, where the +number of visitors who looked upon his remains ran +into the hundreds of thousands.</p> + +<p>His son, William Bramwell Booth, the Chief of the +Staff, by the appointment of the late General, succeeded +to the office and came to the position with a wealth +of affection and confidence on the part of the people +of the nations such as few men know.</p> + +<h2>Salvation Army War Activities.</h2> + +<p>77 Motor ambulances manned by Salvationists.</p> + +<p>87 Hotels for use of Soldiers and Sailors.</p> + +<p>107 Buildings in United States placed at disposal +of Government for war relief purposes.</p> + +<p>199 Huts at Soldiers’ Camps used for religious +and social gatherings and for dispensing comfort to +Soldiers and Sailors.</p> + +<p>300 Rest-rooms equipped with papers, magazines, books, +<i>etc</i>., in charge of Salvation Army Officers.</p> + +<p>1507 Salvation Army officers devote their entire time +to religious and social work among Soldiers and Sailors.</p> + +<p>15,000 Beds in hotels close to railway stations and +landing points at seaport cities for protection of +Soldiers and Sailors going to and from the Front.</p> + +<p>80,000 Salvation Army officers fighting with Allied +Armies.</p> + +<p>100,000 Parcels of food and clothing distributed among +Soldiers and Sailors.</p> + +<p>100,000 Wounded Soldiers taken from battlefields in +Salvation Army ambulances.</p> + +<p>300,000 Soldiers and Sailors daily attend Salvation +Army buildings.</p> + +<p>$2,000,000 Already spent in war activities.</p> + +<p>45 Chaplains serving under Government appointment.</p> + +<p>40 Camps, Forts and Navy Yards at which Salvation +Army services are conducted or which are visited by +Salvation Army officers.</p> + +<p>2184 War Widows assisted (legal and other aid, and +visited).</p> + +<p>2404 Soldiers’ wives cared for (including medical +help).</p> + +<p>442 War children under our care.</p> + +<p>3378 Soldiers’ remittances forwarded (without +charge).</p> + +<p>$196,081.05 Amount remitted.</p> + +<p>600 Parcels supplied Prisoners of War.</p> + +<p>1300 Cables sent for Soldiers.</p> + +<p>275 Officers detailed to assist Soldiers’ wives +and relatives; number assisted, 275.</p> + +<p>40 Military hospitals visited.</p> + +<p>360 Persons visiting hospitals.</p> + +<p>147 Boats met.</p> + +<p>324,052 Men on board,</p> + +<p>35,845 Telegrams sent.</p> + +<p>24 Salvationists detailed for this work.</p> + +<p>20 Salvationists detailed for this work outside of +New York City.</p> + +<h2>Salvation Army Work in United States of America.</h2> + +<p>1218 Buildings in use at present.</p> + +<p>2953 Missing friends found.</p> + +<p>6125 Tons of ice distributed.</p> + +<p>12,000 Officers and non-commissioned officers actively +employed.</p> + +<p>11,650 Accommodations in institutions.</p> + +<p>68,000 Children cared for in Rescue Homes and Slum +Settlements.</p> + +<p>22,161 Women and girls cared for in Rescue Homes.</p> + +<p>30,401 Tons of coal distributed.</p> + +<p>175,764 Men cared for in Industrial Homes.</p> + +<p>342,639 Poor families visited.</p> + +<p>399,418 Outings given poor people.</p> + +<p>668,250 Converted to Christian life.</p> + +<p>984,426 Jobs found for unemployed poor.</p> + +<p>1,535,840 Hours spent in active service in slum districts.</p> + +<p>6,900,995 Poor people given temporary relief.</p> + +<p>40,522,990 Nights’ shelter and beds given to +needy poor.</p> + +<p>52,674,308 Meals supplied to needy poor. Constituency +reached with appeal for Christian citizenship.</p> + +<p>132,608,087 Out-door meeting attendance.</p> + +<p>134,412,564 In-door meeting attendance.</p> + +<h2>National War Board.</h2> + +<p>Commander Evangeline C. Booth, President.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">East</span>.<br /> +Peart, Col. William, Chairman.<br /> +Reinhardsen, Col. Gustave S., Sec’y and Treas.<br /> +Damon, Col. Alexander M.,<br /> +Parker, Col. Edward J.,<br /> +Jenkins, Lt.-Col. Walter F.,<br /> +Stanyon, Lt.-Col. Thomas,<br /> +Welte, Brigadier Charles</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">West</span><br /> +Estill, Commissioner Thos., Chairman<br /> +Gauntlett, Col. Sidney,<br /> +Brewer, Lt.-Col. Arthur T.,<br /> +Eynn, Lt.-Col. John T.,<br /> +Dart, Brigadier Wm. J., Sec’y.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">France</span>.<br /> +Barker, Lt.-Col. William S., Director of War Work.</p> + +<p> +As indicated in the above list, the National War Board functions in two +distinct territories—East and West—the duty of each being to +administer all War Work in the respective territories. The closest supervision +is given by each War Board over all expenditure of money and no scheme is +sanctioned until the judgment of the Board is carried concerning the usefulness +of the project and the sound financial proposals associated therewith. After +any plan is initiated, the Board is still responsible for the supervision of +the work, and for the Eastern department Colonel Edward J. Parker is the +Board’s representative in all such matters and Lieut-Colonel Arthur T. +Brewer fills a similar office in the Western department. Each section of the +National Board takes responsibility in connection with the overseas work, under +the presidency of <span class="smallcaps">Commander Evangeline C. Booth</span> +for the raising, equipping and sending of thoroughly suitable people in proper +proportion. Joint councils are occasionally necessary, when it is customary for +proper representatives of each section of the Board to meet together. +</p> + +<p>The National Board is greatly strengthened through +the adding to its special councils all of the Provincial +Officers of the country. </p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of he War Romance of the Salvation Army, by Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR ROMANCE OF SALVATION ARMY *** + +***** This file should be named 7811-h.htm or 7811-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/1/7811/ + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive +specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this +eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook +for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, +performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given +away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks +not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the +trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country outside the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it + under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this + eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the + United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you + are located before using this ebook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format +other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain +Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +provided that + +* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + +* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm + works. + +* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The +Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org + + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the +mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its +volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous +locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt +Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to +date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and +official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + +</pre> + +</body> + +</html> + + |