initial commit of ebook 7811HEADmain

80 files changed, 73917 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/7811-0.txt b/7811-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28e89dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11838 @@
+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
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+by
+
+Evangeline Booth
+
+Commander-in-Chief,
+The Salvation Army in America
+
+and
+
+Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Author of “The Enchanted Barn”; “The Best Man”;
+“Lo Michael”; “The Red Signal,” _etc_.
+
+Copyright 1919, by J.B. Lippincott Company
+
+Contents
+
+ Foreword
+ From the Commander’s Own Pen
+ Preface by the Writer
+
+ Chapter I. The Story
+ Chapter II. The Gondrecourt Area
+ Chapter III. The Toul Sector
+ Chapter IV. The Montdidier SectorThe Montdidier Sector
+ Chapter V. The Toul Sector Again
+ Chapter VI. The Baccarat Sector
+ Chapter VII. The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+ Chapter VIII. The Saint Mihiel Drive
+ Chapter IX. The Argonne Drive
+ Chapter X. The Armistice
+ Chapter XI. Homecoming
+ Chapter XII. Letters of Appreciation
+
+Illustrations
+
+ General Bramwell Booth.
+ Commander Evangeline Booth.
+ Lieutenant Colonel William S. Barker.
+ “Introduced to French Rain and French Mud.”
+ She Called the Little Company of Workers Together and Gave Them a Charge.
+ The Lassie Who Fried the First Doughnut in France.
+ “Tin Hat for a Halo! Ah! She Wears It Well!”.
+ The Patient Officers Who Were Seeing to All These Details Worked Almost Day and Night.
+ Here During the Day They Worked in Dugouts Far Below the Shell-tortured Earth.
+ They Came To Get Their Coats Mended and Their Buttons Sewed On.
+ The Entrance to the Old Wine Cellar in Mandres.
+ The Salvation Army Was Told that Ansauville Was Too Far Front for Any Women To Be Allowed To Go.
+ L’Hermitage, Nestled in the Heart of a Deep Woods.
+ L’Hermitage, Inside the Tent.
+ “Ma”.
+ They Had a Pie-baking Contest in Gondrecourt One Day.
+ A Letter of Inspiration from the Commander.
+ The Salvation Army Boy Truck Driver.
+ The Centuries-old Gray Cemetery in Treveray.
+ Colonel Barker Placing the Commander’s Flowers on Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt’s Grave.
+ The Salvation Army Boy Who Drove the Famous Doughnut Truck.
+ Bullionville, Promptly Dubbed by the American Boy “Souptown”.
+ Here They Found a Whole Little Village of German Dugouts.
+ The Girls Who Came Down to Help in the St. Mihiel Drive.
+ The Wrecked House in Neuvilly Where the Lassies Went to Sleep in the Cellar.
+ The Wrecked Church in Neuvilly Where the Memorable Meeting Was Held.
+ Right in the Midst of the Busy Hurrying Throng of Union Square.
+ “Smiling Billy”.
+ Thomas Estill.
+ The Hut at Camp Lewis.
+
+
+[Illustration: William Bramwell Booth, General of the Salvation Army]
+
+[Illustration: Evangeline Booth, Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation
+Army in America]
+
+
+
+
+Foreword
+
+
+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.
+
+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 _service_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Evangeline Booth]
+National Headquarters Salvation Army, New York City.
+April, 1919.
+
+
+
+
+From the Commander’s Own Pen
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _need at their door_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+Now on all sides I am confronted with the question: _What is the secret
+of the Salvation Army’s success in the war?_
+
+Permit me to suggests three reasons which, in my judgment, account for
+it:
+
+First, when the war-bolt fell, when the clarion call sounded, it found
+_the Salvation Army ready!_
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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—_the service of humanity_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But even such arts as these crumble; they are as dust under our feet
+compared with that much greater art, _the art of dealing ably with
+human life in all its varying conditions and phases_.
+
+It is in this art that we seek by a most careful culture and training
+to perfect our officers.
+
+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 _how_.
+
+Trained to press at every cost for the desired and decided-upon end.
+
+Trained to obey orders willingly, and gladly, and wholly—not in part.
+
+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.
+
+Trained in the art of the winsome, attractive coquetries of the round,
+brown doughnut and all its kindred.
+
+Trained, if needs be, to seal their services with their life’s blood.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+A further reason for the success of the Salvation Army in the war is,
+_it found us accustomed to hardship_.
+
+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.
+
+We went to the battlefields _no strangers to suffering_. 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.
+
+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 _underneath_ of those great cities which upon the surface
+thunder with enterprise and glitter with brilliance.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+This is how it is the Salvation Army has no “closing hours.” “Taps”
+sound for us _when the need is relieved_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Again, a reason for our success in the war is, _our practical
+religion_.
+
+That is, our religion is _practicable_. 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.
+
+We _do_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Christ in deeds_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+It has only been this same Christ, _this Christ in deeds_, 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 _Christ in
+deeds_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+It is this _Christ in deeds_ that has made the doughnut to take the
+place of the “cup of cold water” given in His name. It is this _Christ
+in deeds_ 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 _Christ in
+deeds_ 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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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, _the service of the man_.”
+
+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: _Complete
+abandonment to the service of the man_.
+
+This, in large measure, is the cause of our success all over the world.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+What was it? What is it? Those ties created by a spiritual ideal. Our
+love for God demonstrated by our sacrifice for man.
+
+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!”
+
+This was in our Founder’s breast the white flame which ignited like
+sparks in the hearts of all his followers.
+
+_Man is our life’s passion._
+
+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.
+
+After the torpedoing of the _Aboukir_ 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.
+
+When the _Empress of Ireland_ 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— _Others!_
+
+_Man!_ 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 _man_.
+
+He that was made after God’s image.
+
+He that is greater than firmaments, greater than suns, greater than
+worlds.
+
+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 _the man of the hour;_ 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.
+
+Wherein is price? What constitutes cost, when the question is _The
+Man_?
+
+
+
+
+Preface by the Writer
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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:
+
+“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!”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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 “others” 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.
+
+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!
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Grace Livingston Hill]
+
+
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+I.
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Some one gave the cry of Fire! 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.
+
+So that was how the burning of the Salvation Army Training School
+occurred.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A few days later a detective taking lunch in a small German restaurant
+on a side street overheard a conversation:
+
+“Well, if we can’t burn them out we’ll blow up the building, and get
+that damn Commander, anyhow!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commander said she knew nothing about them and could not be
+interrupted now. They must be told to come again the next day.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+But if she is courageous, she is also wise as a serpent, and knows when
+to keep her own counsel.
+
+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:
+
+“Oh, wherever they are most needed,” and passed on with a friend.
+
+“I believe that man is a spy!” she said to her friend with conviction
+in her voice.
+
+“Nonsense!” the friend replied; “you are growing nervous. That man has
+been in this hotel for several years.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+It was the beginning of the dark days of 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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 must go! 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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+Mr. Tumulty gave him a most kind letter of introduction to the American
+Ambassador.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The first destination was Gondrecourt, where the First Division
+Headquarters was established.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+The Gondrecourt Area
+
+
+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.
+
+But instead of going to the front at once they were billeted in little
+French villages and introduced to French rain and French mud.
+
+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.
+
+
+[Illustration: Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker
+Director of War Work in France]
+
+[Illustration: “Introduced to French Rain and French Mud”]
+
+There were sixteen of these camps at this time and probably twelve or
+thirteen thousand soldiers were already established in them.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The whole place smells alike. There is no heat anywhere, save from a
+fireplace in the kitchen. There is a community bakehouse.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Several chaplains, both Protestant and Catholic, expressed themselves
+as being glad to welcome the Salvation Army among them.
+
+Among the Regular Army officers there was rather a pessimistic
+attitude. It was in nowise hostile, but rather doubtful.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The song this time was just a few lines of consecration:
+
+“Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!
+ Saviour Divine, to whom else can I go?
+    Thou who hast died, loving me so,
+    Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!”
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: She called the little company of workers together and
+gave them such a charge as would make an angel search his heart]
+
+[Illustration: The lassie who fried the first doughnut in France]
+
+It was a bright, sunny afternoon, August 12th, when this first party of
+American Salvation Army workers set sail for France.
+
+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 real 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In this first touring car Colonel Barker with one of the newly arrived
+adjutants for driver, started to Demange.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When the two men finally arrived in Demange the Military General
+greeted them gladly and invited them to dine with him.
+
+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.”
+
+The General and the members of his staff said they would remember that
+promise and hold him to it.
+
+The pleasure which the thought of that pie aroused furnished a
+suggestion for work later on.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _serious_ business and longed to be at it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Officers had been appointed to take charge of the Demange hut and
+immediately further operations in other towns were being arranged.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvationists stood at the door of the hut and looked across to the
+crowd.
+
+“How about holding our meeting over there?” asked the Staff-Captain of
+the man in charge.
+
+“All right. Hold it wherever you like.”
+
+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.
+
+There were a thousand men gathered about and the cornet began where the
+band had left off, thrilling out between the roar of guns.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“Nearer, my God, to Thee,
+   Nearer to Thee,
+E’en though it be a cross
+   That raiseth me.”
+
+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:
+
+“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound
+  And time shall be no more—”
+
+How soon would that trumpet sound for many of them! Time should be no
+more! What a startling thought!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But here at last was someone else who understood!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then a lassie’s voice began to sing, all alone:
+
+“I grieved my Lord from day to day,
+I scorned His love, so full and free,
+And though I wandered far away,
+My Mother’s prayers have followed me.
+I’m coming home, I’m coming home,
+To live my wasted life anew,
+For Mother’s prayers have followed me,
+Have followed me, the whole world through.
+
+“O’er desert wild, o’er mountain high,
+A wanderer I chose to be—-
+A wretched soul condemned to die;
+Still Mother’s prayers have followed me.
+
+“He turned my darkness into light,
+This blessed Christ of Calvary;
+I’ll praise His name both day and night,
+That Mother’s prayers have followed me!
+I’m coming home, I’m coming home—-”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+One man came in and threw 300 francs on the counter, saying: “I owe you
+285 francs. Put the change in the coffee fund.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+“Never mind,” said the sergeant to the girls, “the boys will see that
+you get some to-night.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+_etc_. Soldiers used the hut for a mess hall. There was no other place
+where they could eat with any degree of comfort.
+
+By this time the fact that the Salvation Army was established at
+Demange was becoming known throughout the division.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+There stood the Salvationists in the road wondering what to do next.
+
+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.
+
+“We are going to stay here if you will have us,” said the
+Staff-Captain.
+
+“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.”
+
+Thus auspiciously did the work open in Montiers.
+
+In a few minutes they were taken to a French café and a comfortable
+place found for them to spend the night.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+The first soldier the Staff-Captain questioned reassured him.
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+Then the girls arrived and things began to look a bit more cheerful.
+
+“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.
+
+Dismay descended upon the face of the weary Staff-Captain.
+
+“Why,” he answered apologetically, “we forgot all about that!” and he
+hurried out to find a stove.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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!”
+
+“Leave that to me!” said the Mess-Sergeant. “It’ll be all right!”
+
+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.
+
+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 _en lieu_ of chairs with smiling appreciation.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Staff-Captain thanked him, but told him that he thought they would
+stay with the boys.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+That was at Montiers, the home of the doughnut.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The young Ensign lassie who had originated and _made_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Meantime, the pie was coming into its own, back in Demange also.
+
+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:
+
+“Home is where the heart is”—
+  Thus the poet sang;
+But “home is where the pie is”
+  For the doughboy gang!
+Crullers in the craters,
+  Pastry in abris—
+This Salvation Army lass
+  Sure knows how to please!
+
+
+Tin hat for a halo!
+  Ah! She wears it well!
+Making pies for homesick lads
+  Sure is “beating hell!”
+In a region blasted
+  By fire and flame and sword,
+This Salvation Army lass
+  Battles for the Lord!
+
+
+  Call me sacrilegious
+  And irreverent, too;
+Pies? They link us up with home
+  As naught else can do!
+“Home is, where the heart is”—
+  True, the poet sang;
+But “home is where the pie is”—
+  To the Yankee gang!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?”
+
+
+[Illustration: “Tin hat for a halo! Ah! She wears it well!”]
+
+[Illustration: The patient officers who were seeing to all these
+details worked out almost day and night]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+So it has proved.
+
+In the meantime another hut was established at Houdelainecourt.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+All Salvation Army graduates from the training school have a Red Cross
+diploma, and many are experienced nurses.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Many amusing incidents occurred on the voyage.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“You look so much like mother,” said one boy just before he died.
+“Won’t you please kiss me?”
+
+Another lad, with a great, convulsive effort, drew her hand to his lips
+and kissed her just as he passed away.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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?
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+Ah! That was a wonderful cake!
+
+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!
+
+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”
+
+He was finally led to the General’s room and, uncovering the great
+cake, he said:
+
+“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.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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?”
+
+“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
+_tout de suite!_ 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!”
+
+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.
+
+“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.’”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With the aid of the regimental chaplain, the Staff-Captain had arranged
+a suitable program for the occasion, the regimental band furnishing the
+music.
+
+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.”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _knew_ that the Salvation Army would have what
+he wanted.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+The regimental band played, there were recitations in French and a good
+time generally.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+By his consistent life and character and his willingness to serve both
+men and officers, he won their esteem.
+
+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.
+
+There is an interesting incident in connection with his introduction to
+Major Roosevelt’s notice.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+The man lifted his bleared eyes under the shock of unkempt hair, and
+spoke, startled:
+
+“You call me brother! You know what I’m here for and you call me
+brother! Why?”
+
+The Little Major’s voice was steady and sweet as he replied without
+hesitation:
+
+“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?”
+
+“Oh,” said the man with a groan of agony and big tears rolling down his
+face. “Could I be made a better man?”
+
+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:
+
+“It’s true, what you said! Christ has pardoned me! Now I can die like a
+man!”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+An old soldier came down from the front and a Salvationist asked him if
+he knew the Little Major.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut was a scene of constant activity.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?”
+
+The cheerful woman behind the counter would say sympathetically: “No,
+boys, no piano. Too many shells around here for a piano.”
+
+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.
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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?”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“Yes, it’s from mother!” Then impulsively, “She’s the nearest thing to
+God I know!”
+
+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.”
+
+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:
+
+Mother o’ mine, what the words mean to me
+  Is more than tongue can say;
+For one view to-night of your loving face,
+  What a price I would gladly pay!
+The wonderful face . . .
+. . . smiling still despite loads of care,
+  Tis crowned by a silvering sheen.
+Your picture I carry next to my heart;
+  With it no harm can befall.
+It has helped me to smile through many a care,
+  Since I heeded my country’s call.
+O mother who nursed me as a babe
+  And prayed for me as a boy,
+Can I not show, now at man’s estate,
+    That you are my pride and joy?
+Good night! God guard you, way over the ocean blue,
+Your boy loves you and his dreams are bright,
+  For he’s dreaming of home and you.
+
+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:
+
+Dearest Little Mother of Mine:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+And, by gosh, don’t forget about that pumpkin pie!
+
+Good-night, mother of mine; your soldier boy loves you a whole dollar’s
+worth.
+
+
+[Illustration: “Here during the day they worked in dugouts far below
+the shell-tortured earth”]
+
+[Illustration: They came to get their coats mended and their buttons
+sewed on]
+
+[Illustration: The Entrance to the Old Wine Cellar in Mandres.]
+
+[Illustration: The Salvation Army Was Told that Ansauville Was Too Far
+Front for Any Women To Be Allowed To Go.]
+
+[Illustration: “L’Hermitage, nestled in the heart of a deep woods, was
+no quiet refuge”]
+
+[Illustration: L’Hermitage, inside the tent. Several of these boys were
+killed a few days after the picture was taken]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Major-General received him at once and in brusque tones informed
+him most emphatically:
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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?
+
+“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?
+
+“Now, look at me!”
+
+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.
+
+“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?”
+
+The officer looked, and listened, and was ashamed.
+
+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.
+
+“And do you know,” said the Salvationist, afterward telling a friend in
+earnest confidence, “do you _know_, before I left we _had prayer
+together!_ And he became one of the best friends we have!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“How would you like a phonograph?” she asked.
+
+“Oh, Boy! If we only had one! I’ll tell the world we’d like it,” one
+declared wistfully.
+
+The phonograph was soon forthcoming and brought much pleasure.
+
+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:
+
+“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:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A boy on one of the hospital cots called to a passing lassie:
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Come out,” he shouted, “or I’ll throw in a hand grenade!”
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day, where the
+renowned “Aunt Mary” was located, with her sweet face and sweeter
+heart.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!
+
+One of the officers receiving his change after having paid for his pie
+looked at it surprisedly:
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“You mean you sort of work for the joy of working?” he asked, puzzled.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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:
+
+“It takes more than patriotism to keep refined women working like
+that!”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“But I can’t read!”
+
+“Read? What do you mean?” asked the lassie.
+
+“My Bible. Nobody never learned me to read, and I can’t read my Bible
+like you said in the meeting I should.”
+
+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?
+
+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:
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When he felt the desire for drink or gambling coming on he gave his
+money to the girls to keep for him.
+
+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: “For the first time on pay-day Scoop is sober!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy approached one of our men officers.
+
+“Can them girls speak American?” he asked, pointing at the girls.
+
+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.”
+
+Two soldiers were walking along the dusty roadway.
+
+First soldier: “Let’s go to the Salvation Army hut.”
+
+Second soldier: “No, I don’t want to.”
+
+First soldier: “They’ve got a piano and a phonograph and lots of
+records.”
+
+Second soldier: “No, I don’t want to.”
+
+First soldier: “They’ve got books and _beaucoup_ games.”
+
+Second soldier: “No, I don’t want to.”
+
+First soldier: “Two American ladies there!”
+
+Second soldier: “No, I don’t want to.”
+
+First soldier: “They’ve got swell coffee and doughnuts!”
+
+Second soldier (angrily): “No! I said No!”
+
+First soldier: “Aw, come on. They got real homemade pie!”
+
+Second soldier: “I don’t care!”
+
+First soldier: “They cut their own wood and do their own work!”
+
+Second soldier: “Well, that’s different! Why didn’t you say that right
+off, you bonehead? Come on. Where is it?”
+
+And they entered the Salvation Army hut smiling.
+
+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.
+
+The men went in battalions to the Lunéville Sector for Trench Training
+facing the enemy. Of course, the Salvation Army sent a detachment also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+The Toul Sector
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: “Attention! The enemy sees you!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“Where are you going to chow?” asked the chief cook.
+
+The Salvationists allowed that they didn’t know.
+
+“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!”
+
+This settled the question of board, and after a good breakfast the two
+started out to report to the General in command.
+
+He greeted them most kindly and made them feel welcome at once.
+
+When they asked about the barn he smiled pleasantly:
+
+“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!”
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Gee! It’s good to see you,” he said, sinking down in his old place by
+the stove.
+
+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.
+
+“Well, how are you?” asked one of the girls, hoping to start him.
+
+“Oh, all right, thanks,” he said meekly.
+
+“Where is your company?”
+
+“Up the line in some woods.”
+
+“How far is it?”
+
+“About ten miles.”
+
+The girls felt they were not getting on very fast in acquiring
+information.
+
+“Did you walk all that way in the dust and sun?”
+
+“Most of it. Sometimes I was in the fields.”
+
+“Were you on watch last night?”
+
+“Ye-ah.”
+
+“Then you didn’t have any sleep?”
+
+“No.”
+
+“Why did you come over here then?”
+
+“I wanted to see you.” There was a sound of a deep hunger in his voice.
+
+“Well, we’re awfully glad to see you, surely. Is there anything we can
+do for you?”
+
+“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.
+
+“Just let me look at you—and——” he hesitated.
+
+“And what?”
+
+“And cook some doughnuts.”
+
+“Why, of course!” said the girls cheerily, “but you must lie down and
+sleep awhile first. We’ll fix a place for you.”
+
+“I don’t want to lie down,” said the soldier determinedly, “I don’t
+want to waste the time.”
+
+“But it wouldn’t be wasted. You need the sleep.”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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:
+
+“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.”
+
+The girls received him with exultant smiles. “You go out there under
+the trees and go to sleep!” they ordered him.
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On the storm-swept, night-hidden hillside which overhung the field was
+established an anti-aircraft battery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Briefly the Captain explained the situation.
+
+“Caught him in the act of signaling to an enemy plane, sir,” he said.
+
+The boy was too cold to venture a protest.
+
+“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.”
+
+“Don’t know what to do with him, sir, unless I take him down to the
+Salvation Army... they have a fire there.”
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _wasn’t_ 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.
+
+“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!”
+
+That meeting was in the old wine cellar in Mandres.
+
+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.
+
+Here are some extracts from letters written by the Ensign from the old
+wine cellar in Mandres:
+
+“Somewhere in France,”
+May 15, 1918.
+
+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, _etc_. 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.
+
+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.
+
+My dear Major:
+
+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.
+
+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, _etc_., and this will be sold and given
+out in a very few days.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“See here, boys, did you ever know anything about the Salvation Army
+before?”
+
+They admitted that they had not.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+It was a very dangerous place, also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+The Montdidier Sector
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They were just lost to the land of reality when a soldier roused them
+summarily, saying:
+
+“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.”
+
+He was grinning at them cheerfully and they roused to the occasion.
+
+“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!”
+
+“I haven’t got a truck but I guess we can turn the trick all right!”
+said the soldier.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“Gee! We shall miss you like the devil!”
+
+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:
+
+“Well, now, you know what I mean. I don’t know just how to say how much
+we shall miss you!”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+The next day they went on to Tartigny, where they were to be located
+for a time.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+Bowed beneath the garden shades,
+Where the Eastern—sunlight fades,
+Through a sea of griefs He wades,
+  And prays in agony.
+His sweat is of blood,
+His tears like a flood
+  For a lost world flow down.
+I never knew such tears could be—
+  Those tears He wept for me!
+
+Hung upon a rugged tree
+On the hill of Calvary,
+Jesus suffered, death, to be
+    The Saviour of mankind.
+His brow pierced by thorn,
+His hands and feet torn,
+  With broken heart He died.
+I never knew such pain could be,
+  This pain He bore for me!
+
+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!
+
+Love which conquered o’er death’s sting,
+Love which has immortal wing,
+Love which is the only thing
+    My broken heart to heal.
+It burst through the grave,
+It brought grace to save,
+  It opened Heaven’s gate.
+I never knew such love could be—
+  This love He gave to me!
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The following is a brief excerpt from his diary when he manned the
+dugout hut in Coullemelle:
+
+May 12
+
+“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.
+
+_Tuesday, 14:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 15:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 16:_ 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.
+
+_Friday, 17:_ 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.
+
+_Saturday, 18:_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Sunday, 19:_ 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.
+
+_Monday, 20:_ 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.
+
+_Tuesday, 21:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 22:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 23:_ My eyes are very red and becoming painful and also my
+throat and nose, _etc_. 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.
+
+_Friday, 24:_ Am all ready to move to a new dugout when Staff-Captain
+arrives and tells me I am ordered out by the military.”
+
+Here is the Military Order received by the Staff-Captain:
+
+“To Major Coe,
+
+“Salvation Army:
+
+“(1) Major Wilson, Chief G1, directs that the Salvation Army evacuate
+‘Coullemelle’ as soon as possible.
+
+“(2) He desires that they leave to-night if possible.
+
+“(3) This message was received by me from the office of G1.
+
+“L. Johnson,
+“1st Lieut., F. A.”
+
+Orders also arrived soon for the removal of the Salvation Army workers
+in Broyes:
+
+“Headquarters, 1st Division, G-1.
+“American Expeditionary Forces,
+“June 3, 1919.
+
+“Memorandum: To Mr. L. A. Coe, Salvation Army, La Folie.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“By command of Major General Bullard.
+
+“G. K Wilson,
+“Major, General Staff,
+“A. C. of S., G.-1.”
+
+In Tartigny they found a house with five rooms, one of them very large.
+The billeting officer turned this over to the Salvation Army.
+
+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.
+
+“Gee! This is just like heaven, coming in here!” one of the boys said
+when he first saw it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+The soldier registered deep agitation.
+
+“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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A sign was put out announcing that pie would be served at seven
+o’clock, but the lines formed long before that.
+
+[Illustration: “Ma”]
+
+[Illustration: “They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one
+day”—the renowned “Aunt Mary” in the right-hand corner]
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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, _anyhow!_”
+
+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:
+
+“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!”
+
+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.”
+
+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:
+
+“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“I know the Salvation Army,” he said with a faint smile, “I knew I
+should find you here.”
+
+She asked him his division and he told her he belonged to one that had
+been coöperating with the French.
+
+“But how can that be?” she asked in surprise, “we have never worked
+with your division. How do you know about us?”
+
+“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!”
+
+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.”
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: A letter of inspiration from the commander]
+
+[Illustration: The Salvation Army boy truck driver who calmly went to
+sleep in his truck in a shell hole under fire]
+
+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 _pray!_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: _“What did you say?_”
+
+The soldier stared, and grew red and unhappy:
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+Here is the poem which Pte. Joseph T. Lopes wrote about “Those
+Salvation Army Folks” after the Montdidier attack:
+
+Somewhere in France, not far from the foe,
+There’s a body of workers whose name we all know;
+Who not only at home give their lives to make right,
+But are now here beside us, fighting our fight.
+What care they for rest when our boys at the front,
+Who, fighting for freedom, are bearing the brunt,
+And so, just at dawn, when the caissons come home,
+With the boys tired out and chilled to the bone,
+The Salvation Army with its brave little crew,
+Are waiting with doughnuts and hot coffee, too.
+When dangers and toiling are o’er for awhile,
+In their dugouts we find comfort and welcome their smile.
+There’s a spirit of home, so we go there each night,
+And the thinking of home makes us sit down and write,
+So we tell of these folks to our loved ones with pride,
+And are thanking the Lord to have them on our side.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+The Toul Sector Again
+
+
+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.
+
+The first Americans to pay the supreme sacrifice in the cause of
+liberty were buried in the Toul Sector.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The letter went to the Captain for censorship, and soon the Salvation
+Army woman had a call from him.
+
+“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.”
+
+The day before Memorial Day this woman with two of the lassies from the
+hut went to the cemetery and prepared for the morrow.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The centuries-old gray cemetery in Treveray]
+
+[Illustration: Colonel Barker placing the commander’s flowers on
+Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt’s grave]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commanding General then came to the front and behind him walked the
+Salvation Army lassies bearing the flags in their arms.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The General then addressed the soldiers, and facing toward the West and
+pointing he said:
+
+“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!”
+
+It was a wonderful, beautiful, solemn sight, every man standing and
+saluting while the flags fluttered softly on the breeze.
+
+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: “National Cemetery of
+the American Expeditionary Forces.” There were over two hundred graves
+inside the cemetery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+My loved ones in the Homeland
+  Are waiting me to come,
+Where neither death nor sorrow
+  Invades their holy home;
+O dear, dear native country!
+    O rest and peace above!
+Christ, bring us all to the Homeland
+  Of Thy redeeming love.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+The Baccarat Sector
+
+
+Baccarat was the Zone Headquarters for that Sector.
+
+Down the Main street there hung a sign on an old house labeled “Modern
+Bar.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Oh, if you only knew what it means to us!” one of the men tried to
+tell them one day.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?”
+
+“Oh, no,” said one of them brightly. “The Lord wouldn’t let that fellow
+get us.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+Some most amusing incidents came to the knowledge of the Salvation Army
+workers.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+The village was several hundred miles inland.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+As the soldiers had to work in the night, so the Salvation Army men and
+women worked in the night to serve them.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“Oh, no! It’s great!” she replied eagerly. “I’m the luckiest girl in
+the world.”
+
+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.
+
+There were signs all over everywhere: “Attention! The Enemy Sees You!”
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was said that they were the only women ever permitted to remain in
+these underground passages.
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The next day the girls opened up the canteen at Menilla-Tour as calmly
+as if nothing had happened the day before.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+That day the rest of the outfits arrived, and they all pulled into
+Morte Fontaine.
+
+Morte Fontaine was well named because there was no water in the town
+fit to use.
+
+The girls felt they were needed nearer the front, so they went to Major
+Peabody and asked permission.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+“Why, what’s the matter, Colonel?” asked the Zone Major innocently.
+
+“Matter enough! You had no business to bring those girls up here!”
+
+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:
+
+“Dog-gone you, Major, where’ve you been keeping yourself? Why haven’t
+you been around?” and he put out his hand affably.
+
+“Why, I didn’t want to see a man who bawled me out in the public
+highway that way,” said the Zone Major.
+
+“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.
+
+“Why not, Colonel, didn’t they do fine?”
+
+“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!”
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Let’s give them each one,” proposed one of the girls.
+
+“No! Give them a punch in the nose!” said the boys.
+
+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?”
+
+“Aw, well! The poor sneaks looked so longingly!” said one of the boys,
+grinning sheepishly.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+“Say, Cap, you see we didn’t go up.”
+
+“I see,” she smiled happily.
+
+“Say, Cap, won’t you have another farewell meeting to-night?” he asked
+with an appealing glance in his dark eyes.
+
+“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.
+
+“Oh, say, Cap, you can have that later, can’t you? We want another
+meeting now.”
+
+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:
+
+“All right. Go out and tell the boys.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+“That’s nothing!” he cried. “Tie it up!”
+
+But they forced him back lest he would bleed to death. In the hospital
+they told him that now he might go home.
+
+“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!”
+
+He went to the Major and the Major said also that he must go home.
+
+The boy looked him straight in the eye:
+
+“Excuse me, Major, saying I won’t. But _I won’t let go your coat_ till
+you say I can stay,” and finally the Major had to give in and let him
+stay. He could not resist such pleading.
+
+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.
+
+The doctors said to the girls: “It is wonderful to have you around.”
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army women worked all that drive.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+When the drive was over orders came to leave. The following is the
+official notice to the Salvation Army officers:
+
+G-1 Headquarters, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, July 26,
+1918.
+
+_Memorandum._
+
+To Directors, Y.M.C.A., Red Cross, Salvation Army Services, 1st
+Division.
+
+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.
+
+2. Time of departure and routes to be taken will be announced later.
+
+3. Secretaries attached to units may accompany units, if it is so
+desired.
+
+By command of Major-General Summerall.
+
+P. E. Peabody,
+Captain, Infantry,
+G-1
+
+Copies:
+YMCA
+Red Cross
+Salvation Army
+G-3
+C. of S.
+File
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+After the dinner they took the boys to their divisional headquarters,
+where they found their outfit.
+
+They went on their way from Senlis to Dam-Martin to stay for a week
+back of the lines for rest.
+
+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.
+
+Then orders came to move back to the Toul Sector.
+
+Those were wonderful moonlight nights at Saizerais, but the Boche
+airplanes nearly pestered the life out of everybody.
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At Bullionville the hut was in a building that bore the marks of much
+shelling. The American boys promptly dubbed the place “Souptown.”
+
+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.
+
+They started the canteen, made doughnuts and pies, and gave
+entertainments.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+The next day the girls followed in a truck, stopping a few days at
+Pagny-sur-Meuse for rest.
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+The Saint Mihiel Drive
+
+
+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.
+
+The field range was outside in the back yard.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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 “_go away_” and rest.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+“Oh, that’s all right,” said the doughboy nonchalantly.
+
+“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.”
+
+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!”
+
+“She’s got my number all right!” said the red-headed one, grinning
+sheepishly as he dropped back.
+
+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.
+
+On the evening of June 14th they made fudge for the boys who were going
+to leave that night for the front lines.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+“Here’s a real, honest-to-goodness American woman in the trenches!”
+exclaimed a homesick lad as they came around a turn.
+
+“Yes, your mother couldn’t come to-day,” said the motherly
+Salvationist, smiling a greeting, “so I’ve come in her place.”
+
+“All right!” said he, entering into the game. “This is Broadway and
+that’s Forty-second Street. Sit down.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Strange and sad and wonderful sights there were to see as the soldiers
+went forward.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Dead Man’s Curve was between Mandres and Beaumont. The enemy’s eye was
+always upon it and had its range.
+
+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.
+
+Everyone had to travel a hundred yards apart. Only three men would be
+allowed to go at once, so dangerous was the trip.
+
+Out of the night would come a voice:
+
+“Halt! Who goes there? Advance and give the countersign.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Not until after the St. Mihiel drive when Montsec was behind the line
+instead of in front did they dare enter Bouconville by day.
+
+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.
+
+Map
+
+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 _us!_” as though that were something unexpected.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: “It was just outside of Bouconville that the famous
+doughnut truck experience occurred”—and this is the Salvation Army boy
+who drove it]
+
+[Illustration: Bullionville, promptly dubbed by the American boys
+“Souptown”]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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 can.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“Madam, how many troops are in this town? Where are they? Where can we
+get any billets?”
+
+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:
+
+“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 spy! Madam, we are from Field Hospital Number 12, and we want
+to find a place to rest.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It rained for two weeks in Roulecourt. The soldiers slept in little dog
+tents in the woods.
+
+The meetings held the boys at the throne of God each night, they were
+the power behind the doughnut, and the boys recognized it.
+
+“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.”
+
+It poured torrents the night of the drive and nearly drowned out the
+soldiers in their little tents.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy came to one of the Salvation Army men Officers and said: “Pray
+for me. I have given my heart to Jesus.”
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then up spoke the other man:
+
+“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.
+
+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.
+
+Within thirty-six hours after the first gun was fired in the St. Mihiel
+drive seven Salvation Army huts were established on the territory.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut had been turned over to the hospital, so they
+found another old building.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+There’s a spot in me heart that no colleen may own,
+There’s a depth in me soul never sounded or known;
+There’s a place in me memory, me life, that you fill,
+No other can take it, no one ever will;
+Sure, I love the dear silver that shines in your hair,
+And the brow that’s all furrowed and wrinkled with care.
+I kiss the dear fingers, so toil-worn for me;
+  O, God bless you and keep you!
+    Mother Machree!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+Abide with me; fast falls the eventide,
+The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!’
+
+There had been rumors that Montsec was mined and that as soon as a foot
+was set upon it it would blow up.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At five o’clock they went sadly back to the hut.
+
+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.
+
+Then at last there came one bearing a message. There _were_ 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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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 “Kamerad, tritt’ ein.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: “This jam furnished by the
+Salvation Army!” 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.
+
+Evening brought enemy airplanes, but the lassies did not stop for that
+and soon their own aerial forces drove the enemy back.
+
+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
+_débris_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+“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.
+
+Here is one of the many popular songs that have been written on the
+subject which shows how the soldiers felt:
+
+Salvation Lassie of Mine
+
+“They say it’s in Heaven that all angels dwell,
+  But I’ve come to learn they’re on earth just as well;
+And how would I know that the like could be so,
+  If I hadn’t found one down here below?
+
+CHORUS.
+
+A sweet little Angel that went o’er the sea,
+  With the emblem of God in her hand;
+  A wonderful Angel who brought there to me
+  The sweet of a war-furrowed land.
+The crown on her head was a ribbon of red,
+  A symbol of all that’s divine;
+Though she called each a brother she’s more like a mother,
+  Salvation Lassie of Mine.
+
+Perhaps in the future I’ll meet her again,
+  In that world where no one knows sorrow or pain;
+And when that time comes and the last word is said,
+  Then place on my bosom her band of red.”
+
+_By “Jack” Caddigan and “Chick” Stoy._
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+The Argonne Drive
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+News came to the girls after they had been for a week in Nonsard that
+they were to make a long move.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Here they found a whole little village of German
+dugouts]
+
+[Illustration: The girls who came down to help in the St. Mihiel drive]
+
+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 _beaucoup_ 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.
+
+They only had a canteen here one day when they were called to go on to
+Neuvilly.
+
+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.
+
+Just before a drive, close to the front, there are always blockades of
+trucks going either way.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When night came on the question of beds arose again. The cellar seemed
+hardly possible, and the military officers considered the question.
+
+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
+_débris_ and wreckage. It had been used all day for an evacuation
+hospital.
+
+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.
+
+The military officer stood on the steps of this ruined church, and,
+looking around in perplexity, remarked:
+
+“Well, I guess this is the wholest place in town.” Then stepping inside
+he glanced about and pointed:
+
+“And this is the most secluded spot here!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked house in Neuvilly where the lassies went to
+sleep in the cellar and woke up to find the soldiers watching them.]
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked church in Neuvilly where the memorable
+meeting was held.]
+
+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!”
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+Beautiful Jesus, Bright Star of earth!
+Loving and tender from moment of birth,
+Beautiful Jesus, though lowly Thy lot,
+Born in a manger, so rude was Thy cot!
+
+Beautiful Jesus, gentle and mild,
+Light for the sinner in ways dark and wild,
+Beautiful Jesus, O save such just now,
+As at Thy feet they in penitence bow!
+
+Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+Fairest of thousands and Pearl of great price!
+Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+Gladly we welcome Thee, Beautiful Christ!
+
+Before they had finished many eyes had turned instinctively toward the
+picture in the weirdly flickering light.
+
+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.
+
+“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?”
+
+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.
+
+“And you used to have family prayers, too, didn’t you?” she asked
+eagerly.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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——”
+
+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:
+
+“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.
+
+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.”
+
+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.
+
+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 _got_
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _must_
+leave, that it was no fit place for women so near to the front.
+
+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:
+
+“General,” he said, with a twinkle, “my girls say they won’t go.”
+
+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:
+
+“Well, if the Salvation Army wants to stay let them stay!” And so they
+stayed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _débris_ 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.
+
+The shelling continued for six hours.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“Company H. Advance! See that hill over there? It’s full of Germans,
+but _we’ve got to take it_!”
+
+Then he turned over and began to sob and cry, “Oh God! Oh God!”
+
+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’m the
+only one left_!”
+
+Thus the heart-breaking scenes were multiplied.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Often the boys, just before they went over the top, would come to these
+girls and say:
+
+“We’re going up there, now. You pray for us, won’t you?”
+
+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.
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?”
+
+“I did” said the boy weakly, “I did the best I could.”
+
+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.
+
+“What is it?” she asked, looking at the book.
+
+“My Testament,” he answered with a smile.
+
+“Are you a Christian?”
+
+“Oh, yes,” he said with another smile that meant volumes.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+And then the prayers would be said once more, and another song sung.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+_The first quality_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_The second requisite_ 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.
+
+_The third requisite_ 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.
+
+
+
+
+X.
+The Armistice
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was planned to proceed with a religious campaign at these Base
+Ports, holding Salvation meetings in these extensive departments.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+President and Mrs. Wilson were present, accompanied by many prominent
+American officials. Representatives of the various War Work
+Organizations spoke.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“I told you! I told you! We’ve just been waiting for eight months to
+pull this off! Now, you see!”
+
+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.
+
+The chaplain paid a tribute to President Wilson, finishing with these
+words:
+
+“President Wilson was not man-elected, but God-selected!”
+
+Chaplains.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The effort was wholly directed to the uplift of the men and God
+commanded His blessing in a most gratifying manner.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+Homecoming
+
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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.
+
+All right! _All right!_ Did she call it all right? He looked down at
+his one foot with a dubious frown. She was quick to see. She
+understood.
+
+“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.
+
+But still he hesitated.
+
+“I don’t know,” he said, looking down at his foot again. “Mother’s
+gone, and——”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+He saw her again before he left the wharf. She gave him a card with two
+addresses written on it:
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+[Illustration: Right in the midst of the busy hurrying throng of Union
+Square]
+
+[Illustration: “Smiling Billy” “One Game Little Guy”]
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+Then he came around toward the side, and there in plain letters was a
+sign: “Soldiers and Sailors in Uniform Welcome.” What? Was it possible?
+Then he might go in? What kind of a place could it be?
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+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:
+
+“Dear Billy (It was a regular letter!):
+    “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!
+
+Signed “Jean”
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+“But can’t you tell her about your girl?” she asked.
+
+“Oh, yes, but I want you to tell her.” he said. “You see, whatever you
+say mother’ll know is true.”
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+Looking up into the man’s eyes the Salvationist said: “I am ready to
+die if God sees fit to call me.”
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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?”
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+The Captain could not help being interested and thoughtful. When she
+left, after a little more talk he put out his hand and said:
+
+“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.”
+
+Sad things are seen on the docks at times when the ships come into
+port, and the boys are coming home.
+
+A soldier in a basket, with both arms and both legs gone and only one
+eye, was being carried tenderly along.
+
+“Why do you let him live?” asked one pityingly of the Commanding
+Officer.
+
+The gruff, kindly voice replied:
+
+“You don’t know what life is. We don’t live through our arms and legs.
+We live through our hearts.”
+
+Some of our boys have learned out there amid shell fire to live through
+their hearts.
+
+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:
+
+“Hello, Sister! _You here?_”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+Forty miles west of Chicago is Camp Grant and there the Salvation Army
+has put up a hut just outside of the camp.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!”
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In Des Moines the Army has an interesting institution which grew out of
+a great need.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+[Illustration: Thomas Estill Commissioner of the Western Forces]
+
+[Illustration: The hut at Camp Lewis]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+In her alcove out of sight the visitor found refreshment for her own
+soul, and a vision also.
+
+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:
+
+“See that thou do all things according to the pattern given thee in the
+Mount”
+
+But the stories multiply and my space is drawing to a close. I am
+minded to say reverently in words of old:
+
+“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?
+
+
+
+
+XII.
+Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+My Dear Miss Booth:
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+Nov. 30,1917.
+
+My Dear Miss Booth:
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) Woodrow Wilson.
+The President of the United States of America.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+Paris, 7 April, 1919.
+122 W. 14th Street, New York, U.S.A.
+
+I am very much interested to know that the Salvation Army is about to
+enter into a campaign for a sustaining fund.
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+
+British Delegation, Paris, 8th April, 1919.
+
+Dear Madam:
+
+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.
+
+Yours faithfully,
+W. Lloyd George.
+
+General J. J. Pershing, France.
+
+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!
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, New York City.
+
+“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.”
+
+General Pershing.
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) Pershing.
+
+Salvation, New York.
+Paris, April 22, 1919.
+
+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,
+
+John J. Pershing.
+
+Marshal Foch, Paris, France:
+
+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.
+
+Western Union cablegram
+
+WESTERN UNION
+ANGLO-AMERICAN DIRECT UNITED STATES
+CABLEGRAM
+34 Broadway N.Y.
+Received at 16 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK
+
+193 F8 PZ FRANCE 31
+
+EVANGELINE BOOTH
+COMMANDER SALVATION ARMY
+IN AMERICA NEW YORK
+
+
+TRÈS TOUCHÉ DU SENTIMENT ÉLEVÉ QUI A INSPIRÉ VOTRE
+TÉLÉGRAMME JE VOUS ADRESSE AINSI QU’À VOS ADHÉRENTS MES
+SINCÈRES REMERCIEMENTS
+
+
+MARECHAL FOCH
+
+I am deeply touched by the high sentiment which inspired your
+cablegram, and I tender you and your adherents sincere thanks.
+
+MARSHAL FOCH
+
+Letter from Sir Douglas Haig
+
+Just before leaving London on Thursday for his provincial campaigns,
+General Booth received the following letter from Field Marshal Sir
+Douglas
+Haig. The generous tribute will be read with intense satisfaction by
+Salvationists the world over:
+
+General Headquarters, British Armies in France.
+March 27, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The huts which the Salvation Army has staffed have besides been an
+addition to the comfort of the soldiers which has been greatly
+appreciated.
+
+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.
+
+D. Haig, Field Marshal,
+Commanding British Armies in France.
+
+The Following Message from Marshal Joffre:
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+Apr. 9, 1919.
+New York City.
+
+“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.”
+
+From Field Marshal Viscount French.
+
+“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.”
+
+June 16, 1918.
+
+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:
+
+“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.
+
+“Faithfully yours,
+
+“(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt.”
+
+April 21st, 1919.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+Dear Commander Booth:
+
+I have known the Salvation Army from its beginning.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) John Wanamaker.
+
+Cardinal’s Residence, 408 Charles Street, Baltimore.
+April 16, 1919.
+
+Hon. Charles S. Whitman, New York City.
+
+Honorable and Dear Sir:
+
+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.
+
+I trust, therefore, your efforts to raise $13,000,000 for the Salvation
+Army will meet with a hearty response from our generous American
+public.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+James, Cardinal, Gibbons.
+
+Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
+
+Paris, April 7th, 1919.
+
+My Dear Commander Booth:
+
+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.
+
+I congratulate you and, through you, your associates, and I wish you
+the best of fortune in the continuance of your splendid work.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+L. M. House.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Salvation Army.
+
+Evangeline Booth,
+Salvation Army Headquarters, New York.
+
+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.
+
+Leonard Wood.
+Camp Funston, Kansas.
+
+Brigadier-General Duncan wrote to Colonel Barker the
+following letter:
+
+December 7, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+G. B. Duncan, Brigadier-General.
+
+The Salvation Army is doing a great work in France and every soldier
+bears testimony to the fact.
+
+Omar Bundy, Major-General.
+
+Headquarters First Division,
+American Expeditionary Forces.
+
+France, September 15, 1918.
+
+From: Chief of Staff.
+
+To: Major L. Allison Coe, Salvation Army.
+
+Subject: Service in Operation against St. Mihiel Salient.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+3. The Division Commander wishes me to thank you for the Division and
+for himself.
+
+CK/T. Campbell King, Chief of Staff.
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E, Booth, 120 W. 14th St., New York.
+
+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.
+
+L. P. Murphy, Lieut.-Colonel of Cavalry.
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York City.
+
+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.
+
+J. L. Hines,
+Colonel, Sixteenth Infantry.
+
+In sending a contribution toward the expenses of the War Work, Colonel
+George B. McClellan wrote:
+
+Treasurer, Salvation Army, July 24, 1918.
+120 West 14th Street, New York City.
+
+Dear Sir:
+
+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.
+
+Will you accept the enclosed check as my modest contribution to your
+War
+Fund, and believe me to be
+
+Yours very truly,
+Geo. B. McClelland Lt.-Col. Ord. Dept., N. A.
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss B. Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York City, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+F. G. Lawton,
+Colonel, Infantry, National Army.
+
+To Whom It May Concern:
+
+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.
+
+Theodore Roosevelt.
+
+The following letter was sent to Major Atkins of the Salvation Army:
+
+Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry,
+France, December 26, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Wishing you a very happy and successful New Year, I am
+
+Yours sincerely,
+(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.,
+Major (U.S.R.), 26th Infantry.
+
+When Captain Archibald Roosevelt was lying wounded in Red Cross
+Hospital No. 1 he wrote the following letter to the same officer:
+
+Red Cross Hospital No. 1.
+
+July 10, 1918.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+Before leaving France for the United States, two Salvation
+Army lassies received the following letter:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I thank you and your organization for all of this, and assure you of
+the respect and gratitude of the entire division.
+
+J. I. Mabee, Colonel, Medical Corps,
+Division Surgeon.
+
+CABLE.
+
+January 17, 1918.
+
+The Salvation Army, New York:
+
+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.
+
+Conrad S. Babcock, Lieut.-Colonel,
+Inspector General, First Division.
+
+“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.”
+
+Headquarters, Third Division,
+September 5,1918.
+
+My Dear Mr. Leffingwell:
+
+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.
+
+I am glad to express my feelings for your work. God bless you in it,
+and always!
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+Lyman Bollins, Division Chaplain,
+Headquarters, Third Division, A. E. F., via New York.
+
+At the Front in France, June 12, 1918.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill,
+Salvation Army, Chicago.
+
+My Dear Commissioner:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+In His name,
+(Signed) Thomas J. Dickson,
+Chaplain with rank of Major,
+Sixth Field Artillery, First Division, U. S. Army.
+
+An appreciation written concerning the first Salvation
+Army chaplain that was appointed after the war started:
+
+Camp Cody, New Mexico,
+
+January 16, 1918.
+
+Major E. C. Clemans,
+136th Infantry, Camp Cody, N. M.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill, Chicago, Ill.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army may be well pleased that it is so well represented
+in the Army as it is by Chaplain Kline.
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) Ezra C. Clemans,
+Senior Chaplain, 34th Division.
+
+July 11, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+Major Edwin F. Glenn.
+
+To Whom It May Concern:
+
+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.
+
+Albert J. Myers, Jr., Major, National Army.
+1st Div., A. E. F. (Captain, Cavalry, U.S.A.)
+
+Extract from letter from Captain Charles W. Albright:
+Q. M., R. C., France.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“I am proud to have a sister in their ranks.”
+
+An old regular army officer who returned to Paris last week said:
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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!
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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
+_toute de suite_, forty-eight hours after it arrived.
+
+“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.’
+
+“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.
+
+“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.’
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+First Lieutenant Marion M. Marcus, Jr., Field Artillery, wrote to one
+of our leading officers:
+
+October 9, 1918.
+
+“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.”
+
+Extract From Letter.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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 have yet to meet a sour-faced cleric behind the counter_.
+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?
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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 _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_. 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.
+
+“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 _boys
+over here are really back of it and we want you to continue your good
+work_.”
+
+“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.”
+
+“The Salvation Army over here is doing wonderful work. _They haven’t
+any shows or music, but they certainly know what pleases the boys
+most_, 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).
+
+“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:
+
+Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;
+  Lead Thou me on;
+The night is dark and I am far from home,
+  Lead Thou me on.
+Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
+  The distant scene—
+One step enough for me.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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:
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17, 1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+Clinton Spencer,
+Private, Motor Action.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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. _That is the boys’
+mother and father here. It is our home_. 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.”
+
+“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 _pair of shoes_ 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.”
+
+Letter of Commendation RE Salvation Army.
+
+U.S.S. Point Bonita, 15 October, 1918.
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth, Commander,
+Care of Salvation Army Headquarters,
+14th Street, New York City.
+
+Dear Miss Booth:—
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+We all would like to thank Mr. Leffingwell for his great kindness in
+helping us.
+
+The undersigned all have the warmest sort of feeling for you and the
+Salvation Army.
+
+Many, many thanks, from the ship’s crew.
+
+“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.
+
+“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!
+
+“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.”
+
+From Lord Derby.
+
+“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.”
+
+State of New Jersey
+Executive Department
+Trenton.
+
+My Dear Mr. Battle: December 27, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+I sincerely hope that the campaign will be very successful.
+Cordially yours,
+
+(Signed) Walter B. Edge,
+
+Mr. George Gordon Battle, Governor.
+General Chairman, 37 Wall Street, New York City.
+
+Governor Charles S. Whitman’s Address at Luncheon at Hotel Ten Eyck,
+Albany, New York, December 8, 1917.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“It gives me pleasure to commend the work of this beneficent
+organization, and to urge our people to remember its splendid service
+to humanity.
+
+“Very truly yours,
+“ Albert E. Sleeper,
+“Governor.”
+
+Endorsement of January 25, 1918.
+Governor Hugh M. Dorsey, of Georgia.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+State of Utah Executive Office
+
+Salt Lake City, January 21, 1918.
+
+“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.”
+
+(Signed) Simon Bamberg,
+Governor.
+
+From a Proclamation by Governor Brumbaugh.
+
+To the People of Pennsylvania:
+
+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.
+
+[SEAL]
+
+Given 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.
+
+By the Governor:
+Secretary of the Commonwealth.
+copy/h
+
+The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
+Executive Department,
+State House, Boston, February 15, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) Samuel W. McCall,
+Governor.
+
+Proclamation.
+
+To the People of the State of Maryland:
+
+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.
+
+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, _etc_., in every camp in France.
+
+Now, therefore, 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.
+
+[The Great Seal of the State of Maryland]
+
+In testimony whereof, 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.
+
+Emerson C. Harrington.
+
+By the Governor,
+Thos. W. Simmons, Secretary of State.
+
+“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.
+
+“Of course, any agency which can in any way ameliorate the condition of
+the boys at the front should receive encouragement.”
+
+(Signed) Frank C. Lowden,
+Governor of Illinois.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.”
+
+(Signed) Governor Brough of Arkansas.
+
+Lansing, Michigan, June 13, 1918.
+
+To Whom It May Concern:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Albert E. Sleeper,
+Governor of the State of Michigan.
+
+Mark E. McKee,
+Secretary, Counties Division, Michigan War Board.
+
+State of Kansas
+Arthur Capper, Governor,
+Topeka
+
+August 8, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+Very respectfully,
+(Signed) Arthur Capper, Governor.
+
+“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.”
+
+(Signed) Miles Poindexter,
+Senator from Washington.
+House of Representatives
+Washington, D. C.
+
+January 8, 1918.
+
+Colonel Adam Gifford, Salvation Army,
+8 East Brookline Street, Boston, Mass.
+
+My Dear Colonel Gifford:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With kindest regards, I remain,
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) George Holden Tinkham,
+Congressman.
+
+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.
+
+Looking
+
+Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That a Man Lay Down His Life for
+His Friends
+
+122 W. 14th Street New York
+
+My dear Friend:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Believe me when I say that we are praying and will pray for you.
+
+Yours in sympathy.
+
+(Signed) Evangeline Booth
+Commander
+
+
+“ Commander Evangeline Booth:
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+With deepest gratitude,”
+
+“ Commander Evangeline Booth:
+
+“I have just seen your picture in the November _Pictorial Review_ and I
+do so greatly admire your splendid character and the great work you are
+doing.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“May the Lord bless you abundantly in your own heart and in your world
+wide influence and the splendid Salvation Army.”
+
+“ Dear Friends:
+
+“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?
+
+I am
+Yours truly,”
+
+Enclosure:
+
+“November 16, 1918.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“In My Father’s House are many mansions,
+I go to prepare a place for you;
+If it were not so, I would have told you.
+“Your Baby boy,”
+
+
+(Signed) Paul.
+Chatereaux, France.
+August, 1918.
+
+N. B.—Written on back of the envelope:
+“To be opened only in case of accident.”
+
+“ Commander Evangeline Booth:
+
+“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.”
+
+“Miss Evangeline Booth:
+
+“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.
+
+“Thanking you for your helpful message,”
+
+“Miss Evangeline Booth:
+
+“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.
+
+“We do indeed appreciate your thoughtfulness in sending words of
+comfort to people who are utter strangers to you.
+
+“Accept again, the gratitude of my parents as well as the other members
+of our family, including myself.
+
+“May our Heavenly Father bless you all and glorify your good works.”
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+
+Commander of the Salvation Army, New York City,
+N. Y.
+
+Dear Miss Booth:
+
+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:
+
+“Somewhere in France, Jan. 15, 1918.
+“My Dear Mother:
+
+“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,
+_etc_., 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.
+
+“Your loving son,”
+
+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.
+
+December 10, 1917.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, New York City.
+
+My Dear Commander:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With ever-increasing interest in the Salvation Army, I am, Cordially
+yours,
+
+(Signed) J. Wilbur Chapman.
+Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
+Church in the U.S.A.
+
+Salvation Army Is the Most Popular Organization in France.
+
+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:
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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.’”
+
+War Department Commission on Training Camp Activities, Washington
+
+45, Avenue Montaigne, Paris.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Apr. 8, 1919.
+Salvation Army, New York City.
+
+My Dear Commander Booth:
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+(Signed) Raymond B. Fosdick.
+
+From Honorable Arthur Stanley,
+Chairman British Red Cross Society.
+
+British Red Cross Society
+Joint War Committee
+
+83 Pall Mall, London, S. W.,
+
+December 22, 1917.
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+
+Dear General Booth:
+
+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.
+
+I cannot sufficiently thank you and the Salvation Army for this very
+generous donation.
+
+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.
+
+Yours sincerely,
+
+(Signed) Arthur Stanley.
+
+Extract from Judge Ben Lindsey’s picture of the Salvation Army at the
+Front:
+
+“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 _Tribune_
+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.’
+
+“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!’
+
+“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!’”
+
+Harry Lauder’s Endorsement.
+
+In speaking of the Salvation Army’s work before the Rotary Club of San
+Francisco, Harry Lauder said:
+
+“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.”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+
+Mr. David Lawrence, special Washington correspondent of the _New York
+Evening Post_ 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:
+
+“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.
+
+“_The policy of the organization_ 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.
+
+“_The success of the Salvation Army_ is attributed by commanding
+officers to the fact that the workers know how to mix naturally. _In
+other cases there had been sometimes an air of condescension not unlike
+that of the professional settlement house worker_.”
+
+
+In a recent issue of the _Saturday Evening Post_, Mr. Irvin Cobb, who
+has just returned from France, has this to say of the Salvation Army:
+
+“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!
+
+“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!
+
+“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.
+
+“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!
+
+“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!
+
+“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.”
+
+My Dear Colonel Jenkins:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I saw many evidences showing that the unselfish, sometimes reckless,
+abandon of your workers had a great effect upon our men.
+
+I am sure that the Salvation Army also stands in high respect for its
+religious influence upon the men.
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+
+Charles S. MacFarland,
+General Secretary.
+
+The _New York Globe_ printed the following:
+
+Huns Don’t Stop Salvation Army. Meeting Held in Deep Dugout Under
+Ruined Village—Mandolin Supplants the Organ.
+
+By Herbert Corey.
+
+Just behind the Somme front, 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:
+
+“Jesus, Lover of My Soul.”
+
+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:
+
+“By gollies, brother, you’re getting it! I actually believe you’re
+getting it, brother. We’ll have a swell meeting to-night.”
+
+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:
+
+“You keep on, brother,” said he, “and we’ll have a fine meeting for the
+Brigadier when he comes in to-night.”
+
+Taking His Chances.
+
+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.”
+
+Bull turned a pair of inflamed eyes on the musician.
+
+“You keep on a-talkin’, and I’ll hang somep’n on your eye,” said Bull,
+hoarsely.
+
+Then he replaced his head in his hands. The Salvation Army man laughed
+at the interlude and then returned to the player.
+
+“See,” said he, “it goes like this——” He hummed the wonderful old hymn.
+
+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.
+
+“Aw, brother,” said he. “We’ve got to take our chances along with the
+rest.”
+
+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.
+
+No Money, But Good Cheer.
+
+“Just our luck,” said some morose doughboy, “if a shell hit the fliv.
+It’s a hell of a road——”
+
+“No shell has hit it yet, brother,” said the Salvation Army man,
+cheerily.
+
+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.
+
+“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.”
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+While the nearer waters roll,
+While the tempest still is high.
+
+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:
+
+“I can lick any man’s son who says they ain’t all right.”
+
+“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.
+
+“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.
+
+“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!
+
+“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!
+
+“I remain, faithfully yours,
+
+“ Remy Meersman.”
+
+The “Stars and Stripes” Speaks from France for The Salvation Army.
+
+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:
+
+“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.
+
+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.”
+
+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:
+
+“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.”
+
+The Chicago Tribune (May 17, 1918), Quoting from the Above, also Speaks
+Editorially.
+
+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.
+
+The evidence of the Salvation Army’s excellent work comes from many
+sources.
+
+
+
+
+Appendix.
+
+
+A Few Facts about the Salvation Army
+
+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.
+
+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.”
+
+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:
+
+“Hello! Salvation Army!” he cried. “Are you taking those men to
+heaven?”
+
+Amid the derisive laughter of the officers on the sidewalk the
+Salvationist replied pleasantly:
+
+“I cannot say I am taking them to heaven, but I certainly am taking
+them away from the other place.”
+
+One of the good British Salvationists wrote of meeting our American
+boys in England. He said:
+
+“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.
+
+“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!”
+
+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.
+
+In 1877 the name of the Christian Mission was altered to the Salvation
+Army, and the Reverend William Booth assumed the title of General.
+
+December 29, 1879, the first number of the official organ, “The War
+Cry,” was issued and the first brass band formed at Consett.
+
+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.
+
+The Army commenced in South Africa, New Zealand and Iceland in 1883.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On August 20, 1912, General William Booth laid down his sword.
+
+He lay in state in Congress Hall, London, where the number of visitors
+who looked upon his remains ran into the hundreds of thousands.
+
+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.
+
+Salvation Army War Activities.
+
+77 Motor ambulances manned by Salvationists.
+
+87 Hotels for use of Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+107 Buildings in United States placed at disposal of Government for war
+relief purposes.
+
+199 Huts at Soldiers’ Camps used for religious and social gatherings
+and for dispensing comfort to Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+300 Rest-rooms equipped with papers, magazines, books, _etc_., in
+charge of Salvation Army Officers.
+
+1507 Salvation Army officers devote their entire time to religious and
+social work among Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+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.
+
+80,000 Salvation Army officers fighting with Allied Armies.
+
+100,000 Parcels of food and clothing distributed among Soldiers and
+Sailors.
+
+100,000 Wounded Soldiers taken from battlefields in Salvation Army
+ambulances.
+
+300,000 Soldiers and Sailors daily attend Salvation Army buildings.
+
+$2,000,000 Already spent in war activities.
+
+45 Chaplains serving under Government appointment.
+
+40 Camps, Forts and Navy Yards at which Salvation Army services are
+conducted or which are visited by Salvation Army officers.
+
+2184 War Widows assisted (legal and other aid, and visited).
+
+2404 Soldiers’ wives cared for (including medical help).
+
+442 War children under our care.
+
+3378 Soldiers’ remittances forwarded (without charge).
+
+$196,081.05 Amount remitted.
+
+600 Parcels supplied Prisoners of War.
+
+1300 Cables sent for Soldiers.
+
+275 Officers detailed to assist Soldiers’ wives and relatives; number
+assisted, 275.
+
+40 Military hospitals visited.
+
+360 Persons visiting hospitals.
+
+147 Boats met.
+
+324,052 Men on board,
+
+35,845 Telegrams sent.
+
+24 Salvationists detailed for this work.
+
+20 Salvationists detailed for this work outside of New York City.
+
+Salvation Army Work in United States of America.
+
+1218 Buildings in use at present.
+
+2953 Missing friends found.
+
+6125 Tons of ice distributed.
+
+12,000 Officers and non-commissioned officers actively employed.
+
+11,650 Accommodations in institutions.
+
+68,000 Children cared for in Rescue Homes and Slum Settlements.
+
+22,161 Women and girls cared for in Rescue Homes.
+
+30,401 Tons of coal distributed.
+
+175,764 Men cared for in Industrial Homes.
+
+342,639 Poor families visited.
+
+399,418 Outings given poor people.
+
+668,250 Converted to Christian life.
+
+984,426 Jobs found for unemployed poor.
+
+1,535,840 Hours spent in active service in slum districts.
+
+6,900,995 Poor people given temporary relief.
+
+40,522,990 Nights’ shelter and beds given to needy poor.
+
+52,674,308 Meals supplied to needy poor. Constituency reached with
+appeal for Christian citizenship.
+
+132,608,087 Out-door meeting attendance.
+
+134,412,564 In-door meeting attendance.
+
+National War Board.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, President.
+
+East.
+Peart, Col. William, Chairman.
+Reinhardsen, Col. Gustave S., Sec’y and Treas.
+Damon, Col. Alexander M.,
+Parker, Col. Edward J.,
+Jenkins, Lt.-Col. Walter F.,
+Stanyon, Lt.-Col. Thomas,
+Welte, Brigadier Charles
+
+West
+Estill, Commissioner Thos., Chairman
+Gauntlett, Col. Sidney,
+Brewer, Lt.-Col. Arthur T.,
+Eynn, Lt.-Col. John T.,
+Dart, Brigadier Wm. J., Sec’y.
+
+France.
+Barker, Lt.-Col. William S., Director of War Work.
+
+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 Commander
+Evangeline C. Booth 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.
+
+The National Board is greatly strengthened through the adding to its
+special councils all of the Provincial Officers of the country. 
+
+
+
+
+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 7811-0.txt or 7811-0.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.
+
+
diff --git a/7811-0.zip b/7811-0.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba7cf03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-0.zip
diff --git a/7811-8.txt b/7811-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbb4551
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11749 @@
+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 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
+
+
+Title: The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+Author: Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Posting Date: March 26, 2014 [EBook #7811]
+Release Date: April, 2005
+First Posted: May 19, 2003
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR ROMANCE OF SALVATION ARMY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: William Bramwell Booth
+General of the Salvation Army]
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+by
+
+Evangeline Booth
+
+  Commander-in-Chief,
+  The Salvation Army in America
+
+and
+
+Grace Livingston Hill
+
+  Author of "The Enchanted Barn"; "The Best Man";
+  "Lo Michael"; "The Red Signal," etc.
+
+
+
+
+Copyright 1919, by J. T. Lippincot Company
+
+
+
+  [Illustration: Evangeline Booth
+  Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation Army in America]
+
+
+
+
+Foreword
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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 _service_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Evangeline Booth]
+
+NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SALVATION ARMY, NEW YORK CITY.
+
+April, 1919.
+
+
+
+
+From the Commander's Own Pen
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_need at their door_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+Now on all sides I am confronted with the question: _What is the secret
+of the Salvation Army's success in the war?_
+
+Permit me to suggests three reasons which, in my judgment, account for it:
+
+First, when the war-bolt fell, when the clarion call sounded, it found
+_the Salvation Army ready!_
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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--_the service of humanity_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But even such arts as these crumble; they are as dust under our feet
+compared with that much greater art, _the art of dealing ably with human
+life in all its varying conditions and phases_.
+
+It is in this art that we seek by a most careful culture and training to
+perfect our officers.
+
+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
+_how_.
+
+Trained to press at every cost for the desired and decided-upon end.
+
+Trained to obey orders willingly, and gladly, and wholly--not in part.
+
+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.
+
+Trained in the art of the winsome, attractive coquetries of the round,
+brown doughnut and all its kindred.
+
+Trained, if needs be, to seal their services with their life's blood.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+A further reason for the success of the Salvation Army in the war is,
+_it found us accustomed to hardship_.
+
+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.
+
+We went to the battlefields _no strangers to suffering_. 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.
+
+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
+_underneath_ of those great cities which upon the surface thunder
+with enterprise and glitter with brilliance.
+
+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."
+
+Our service in France was not, therefore, an experiment, but an organized,
+tested, and proved system. We were enacting no new r�le. 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+This is how it is the Salvation Army has no "closing hours." "Taps" sound
+for us _when the need is relieved_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Again, a reason for our success in the war is, _our practical
+religion_.
+
+That is, our religion is _practicable_. 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.
+
+We _do_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Christ in deeds_.
+
+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 UB 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+It has only been this same Christ, _this Christ in deeds_, 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 _Christ in deeds_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+It is this _Christ in deeds_ that has made the doughnut to take the
+place of the "cup of cold water" given in His name. It is this _Christ
+in deeds_ 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 _Christ in deeds_
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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, _the service of the man_."
+
+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: _Complete abandonment to
+the service of the man_.
+
+This, in large measure, is the cause of our success all over the world.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+What was it? What is it? Those ties created by a spiritual ideal. Our love
+for God demonstrated by our sacrifice for man.
+
+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 IB fame; my passion is man!"
+
+This was in our Founder's breast the white flame which ignited like sparks
+in the hearts of all his followers.
+
+             _Man is our life's passion._
+
+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.
+
+After the torpedoing of the _Aboukir_ 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.
+
+When the _Empress of Ireland_ 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--_Others!_
+
+_Man!_ 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 _man_.
+
+He that was made after God's image.
+
+He that is greater than firmaments, greater than suns, greater than
+worlds.
+
+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
+_the man of the hour;_ 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.
+
+Wherein is price? What constitutes cost, when the question is _THE
+MAN_?
+
+
+
+
+Preface by the Writer
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 "OTHERS" 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.
+
+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!
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Grace Livingston Hill]
+
+
+
+
+  Contents
+
+     I.  The Story
+    II.  The Gondrecourt Area
+   III.  The Toul Sector
+    IV.  The Montdidier Sector
+     V.  The Toul Sector Again
+    VI.  The Baccarat Sector
+   VII.  The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+  VIII.  The Saint Mihiel Drive
+    IX.  The Argonne Drive
+     X.  The Armistice
+    XI.  Homecoming
+   XII.  Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+
+
+Illustrations
+
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+
+Lieutenant Colonel William S. Barker.
+
+Introduced to French Rain and French Mud.
+
+She Called the Little Company of Workers Together and Gave Them a Charge.
+
+The Lassie Who Fried the First Doughnut in France.
+
+"Tin Hat for a Halo! Ah! She Wears It Well!".
+
+The Patient Officers Who Were Seeing to All These Details Worked Almost
+    Day and Night.
+
+Here During the Day They Worked in Dugouts Far Below the Shell-tortured
+    Earth.
+
+They Came To Get Their Coats Mended and Their Buttons Sewed On.
+
+The Entrance to the Old Wine Cellar in Mandres.
+
+The Salvation Army Was Told that Ansauville Was Too Far Front for Any
+    Women To Be Allowed To Go.
+
+L'Hermitage, Nestled in the Heart of a Deep Woods.
+
+L'Hermitage, Inside the Tent.
+
+"Ma".
+
+They Had a Pie-baking Contest in Gondrecourt One Day.
+
+A Letter of Inspiration from the Commander.
+
+The Salvation Army Boy Truck Driver.
+
+The Centuries-old Gray Cemetery in Treveray.
+
+Colonel Barker Placing the Commander's Flowers on Lieutenant Quentin
+    Roosevelt's Grave.
+
+The Salvation Army Boy Who Drove the Famous Doughnut Truck.
+
+Bullionville, Promptly Dubbed by the American Boy "Souptown".
+
+Here They Found a Whole Little Village of German Dugouts.
+
+The Girls Who Came Down to Help in the St. Mihiel Drive.
+
+The Wrecked House in Neuvilly Where the Lassies Went to Sleep in the Cellar.
+
+The Wrecked Church in Neuvilly Where the Memorable Meeting Was Held.
+
+Right in the Midst of the Busy Hurrying Throng of Union Square.
+
+"Smiling Billy".
+
+Thomas Estill.
+
+The Hut at Camp Lewis.
+
+
+
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+The Story
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Some one gave the cry of FIRE! 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.
+
+So that was how the burning of the Salvation Army Training School
+occurred.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A few days later a detective taking lunch in a small German restaurant on
+a side street overheard a conversation:
+
+"Well, if we can't burn them out we'll blow up the building, and get that
+damn Commander, anyhow!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commander said she knew nothing about them and could not be
+interrupted now. They must be told to come again the next day.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+But if she is courageous, she is also wise as a serpent, and knows when to
+keep her own counsel.
+
+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:
+
+"Oh, wherever they are most needed," and passed on with a friend.
+
+"I believe that man is a spy!" she said to her friend with conviction in
+her voice.
+
+"Nonsense!" the friend replied; "you are growing nervous. That man has
+been in this hotel for several years."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was the beginning of the dark days of 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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 MUST GO! 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+Mr. Tumulty gave him a most kind letter of introduction to the American
+Ambassador.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The first destination was Gondrecourt, where the First Division
+Headquarters was established.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+The Gondrecourt Area
+
+
+
+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.
+
+But instead of going to the front at once they were billeted in little
+French villages and introduced to French rain and French mud.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker Director of War Work
+in France]
+
+[Illustration: "Introduced to French Rain and French Mud"]
+
+There were sixteen of these camps at this time and probably twelve or
+thirteen thousand soldiers were already established in them.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The whole place smells alike. There is no heat anywhere, save from a
+fireplace in the kitchen. There is a community bakehouse.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Several chaplains, both Protestant and Catholic, expressed themselves as
+being glad to welcome the Salvation Army among them.
+
+Among the Regular Army officers there was rather a pessimistic attitude.
+It was in nowise hostile, but rather doubtful.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The song this time was just a few lines of consecration:
+
+  "Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!
+   Saviour Divine, to whom else can I go?
+      Thou who hast died, loving me so,
+      Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!"
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: She called the little company of workers together and gave
+them such a charge as would make an angel search his heart]
+
+[Illustration: The lassie who fried the first doughnut in France]
+
+It was a bright, sunny afternoon, August 12th, when this first party of
+American Salvation Army workers set sail for France.
+
+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 REAL 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In this first touring car Colonel Barker with one of the newly arrived
+adjutants for driver, started to Demange.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When the two men finally arrived in Demange the Military General greeted
+them gladly and invited them to dine with him.
+
+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."
+
+The General and the members of his staff said they would remember that
+promise and hold him to it.
+
+The pleasure which the thought of that pie aroused furnished a suggestion
+for work later on.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _serious_ business and
+longed to be at it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Officers had been appointed to take charge of the Demange hut and
+immediately further operations in other towns were being arranged.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvationists stood at the door of the hut and looked across to the
+crowd.
+
+"How about holding our meeting over there?" asked the Staff-Captain of the
+man in charge.
+
+"All right. Hold it wherever you like."
+
+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.
+
+There were a thousand men gathered about and the cornet began where the
+band had left off, thrilling out between the roar of guns.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  "Nearer, my God, to Thee,
+     Nearer to Thee,
+   E'en though it be a cross
+     That raiseth me."
+
+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:
+
+ "When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound
+  And time shall be no more--"
+
+How soon would that trumpet sound for many of them! Time should be no
+more! What a startling thought!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But here at last was someone else who understood!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then a lassie's voice began to sing, all alone:
+
+  "I grieved my Lord from day to day,
+     I scorned His love, so full and free,
+   And though I wandered far away,
+     My Mother's prayers have followed me.
+       I'm coming home, I'm coming home,
+         To live my wasted life anew,
+       For Mother's prayers have followed me,
+         Have followed me, the whole world through.
+
+  "O'er desert wild, o'er mountain high,
+     A wanderer I chose to be---
+   A wretched soul condemned to die;
+     Still Mother's prayers have followed me.
+
+  "He turned my darkness into light,
+     This blessed Christ of Calvary;
+   I'll praise His name both day and night,
+     That Mother's prayers have followed me!
+       I'm coming home, I'm coming home---"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+One man came in and threw 300 francs on the counter, saying: "I owe you
+285 francs. Put the change in the coffee fund."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+"Never mind," said the sergeant to the girls, "the boys will see that you
+get some to-night."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, etc. Soldiers used the hut for a
+mess hall. There was no other place where they could eat with any degree
+of comfort.
+
+By this time the fact that the Salvation Army was established at Demange
+was becoming known throughout the division.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+There stood the Salvationists in the road wondering what to do next.
+
+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.
+
+"We are going to stay here if you will have us," said the Staff-Captain.
+
+"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."
+
+Thus auspiciously did the work open in Montiers.
+
+In a few minutes they were taken to a French caf� and a comfortable place
+found for them to spend the night.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+The first soldier the Staff-Captain questioned reassured him.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+Then the girls arrived and things began to look a bit more cheerful.
+
+"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.
+
+Dismay descended upon the face of the weary Staff-Captain.
+
+"Why," he answered apologetically, "we forgot all about that!" and he
+hurried out to find a stove.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Leave that to me!" said the Mess-Sergeant. "It'll be all right!"
+
+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.
+
+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
+_en lieu_ of chairs with smiling appreciation.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Staff-Captain thanked him, but told him that he thought they would
+stay with the boys.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+That was at Montiers, the home of the doughnut.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The young Ensign lassie who had originated and _made_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Meantime, the pie was coming into its own, back in Demange also.
+
+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:
+
+ "Home is where the heart is"--
+    Thus the poet sang;
+  But "home is where the pie is"
+    For the doughboy gang!
+  Crullers in the craters,
+    Pastry in abris--
+  This Salvation Army lass
+    Sure knows how to please!
+
+  Tin hat for a halo!
+    Ah! She wears it well!
+  Making pies for homesick lads
+    Sure is "beating hell!"
+  In a region blasted
+    By fire and flame and sword,
+  This Salvation Army lass
+    Battles for the Lord!
+
+  Call me sacrilegious
+    And irreverent, too;
+  Pies? They link us up with home
+    As naught else can do!
+  "Home is, where the heart is"--
+    True, the poet sang;
+  But "home is where the pie is"--
+    To the Yankee gang!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+[Illustration: "Tin hat for a halo! Ah! She wears it well!"]
+
+[Illustration: The patient officers who were seeing to all these details
+worked out almost day and night]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+So it has proved.
+
+In the meantime another hut was established at Houdelainecourt.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+All Salvation Army graduates from the training school have a Red Cross
+diploma, and many are experienced nurses.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Many amusing incidents occurred on the voyage.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"You look so much like mother," said one boy just before he died. "Won't
+you please kiss me?"
+
+Another lad, with a great, convulsive effort, drew her hand to his lips
+and kissed her just as he passed away.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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?
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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-le-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.
+
+Now Bar-le-Duc, as everyone knows, is the home of the famous Bar-le-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.
+
+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-le-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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Ah! That was a wonderful cake!
+
+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-le-Duc jam, a third layer of cake with chocolate, another layer spread
+with Bar-le-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!
+
+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"
+
+He was finally led to the General's room and, uncovering the great cake,
+he said:
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 _tout de
+suite!_ 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!"
+
+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.
+
+"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.'"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With the aid of the regimental chaplain, the Staff-Captain had arranged a
+suitable program for the occasion, the regimental band furnishing the
+music.
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+ "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."
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _knew_ that the Salvation Army would have what he
+wanted.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The regimental band played, there were recitations in French and a good
+time generally.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+By his consistent life and character and his willingness to serve both men
+and officers, he won their esteem.
+
+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.
+
+There is an interesting incident in connection with his introduction to
+Major Roosevelt's notice.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The man lifted his bleared eyes under the shock of unkempt hair, and
+spoke, startled:
+
+"You call me brother! You know what I'm here for and you call me brother!
+Why?"
+
+The Little Major's voice was steady and sweet as he replied without
+hesitation:
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh," said the man with a groan of agony and big tears rolling down his
+face. "Could I be made a better man?"
+
+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:
+
+"It's true, what you said! Christ has pardoned me! Now I can die like a
+man!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+An old soldier came down from the front and a Salvationist asked him if he
+knew the Little Major.
+
+"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."
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut was a scene of constant activity.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+The cheerful woman behind the counter would say sympathetically: "No,
+boys, no piano. Too many shells around here for a piano."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Yes, it's from mother!" Then impulsively, "She's the nearest thing to God
+I know!"
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+  Mother o' mine, what the words mean to me
+    Is more than tongue can say;
+  For one view to-night of your loving face,
+    What a price I would gladly pay!
+  The wonderful face . . .
+  . . . smiling still despite loads of care,
+    Tis crowned by a silvering sheen.
+  Your picture I carry next to my heart;
+    With it no harm can befall.
+  It has helped me to smile through many a care,
+    Since I heeded my country's call.
+  O mother who nursed me as a babe
+    And prayed for me as a boy,
+  Can I not show, now at man's estate,
+    That you are my pride and joy?
+  Good night! God guard you, way over the ocean blue,
+  Your boy loves you and his dreams are bright,
+    For he's dreaming of home and you.
+
+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:
+
+
+Dearest Little Mother of Mine:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+And, by gosh, don't forget about that pumpkin pie!
+
+Good-night, mother of mine; your soldier boy loves you a whole dollar's
+worth.
+
+ [Illustraion: "Here during the day they worked in dugouts far below the
+shell-tortured earth"]
+
+[Illustration: They came to get their coats mended and their buttons sewed
+on]
+
+[Illustration: "L'Hermitage, nestled in the heart of a deep woods, was no
+quiet refuge"]
+
+[Illustraion: L'Hermitage, inside the tent.  Several of these boys were
+killed a few days after the picture was taken]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Major-General received him at once and in brusque tones informed him
+most emphatically:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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?
+
+"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?
+
+"Now, look at me!"
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+The officer looked, and listened, and was ashamed.
+
+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.
+
+"And do you know," said the Salvationist, afterward telling a friend in
+earnest confidence, "do you _know_, before I left we _had prayer
+together!_ And he became one of the best friends we have!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+ 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.
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+"How would you like a phonograph?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, Boy! If we only had one! I'll tell the world we'd like it," one
+declared wistfully.
+
+The phonograph was soon forthcoming and brought much pleasure.
+
+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:
+
+"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:
+
+
+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.
+
+
+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.
+
+A boy on one of the hospital cots called to a passing lassie:
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Come out," he shouted, "or I'll throw in a hand grenade!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day, where the renowned
+"Aunt Mary" was located, with her sweet face and sweeter heart.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!
+
+One of the officers receiving his change after having paid for his pie
+looked at it surprisedly:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"You mean you sort of work for the joy of working?" he asked, puzzled.
+
+"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."
+
+"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:
+
+"It takes more than patriotism to keep refined women working like that!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"But I can't read!"
+
+"Read? What do you mean?" asked the lassie.
+
+"My Bible. Nobody never learned me to read, and I can't read my Bible like
+you said in the meeting I should."
+
+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?
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When he felt the desire for drink or gambling coming on he gave his money
+to the girls to keep for him.
+
+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: "FOR THE FIRST TIME ON PAY-DAY SCOOP IS SOBER!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy approached one of our men officers.
+
+"Can them girls speak American?" he asked, pointing at the girls.
+
+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."
+
+Two soldiers were walking along the dusty roadway.
+
+First soldier: "Let's go to the Salvation Army hut."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got a piano and a phonograph and lots of records."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got books and _beaucoup_ games."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "Two American ladies there!"
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got swell coffee and doughnuts!"
+
+Second soldier (angrily): "No! I said NO!"
+
+First soldier: "Aw, come on. They got real homemade pie!"
+
+Second soldier: "I don't care!"
+
+First soldier: "They cut their own wood and do their own work!"
+
+Second soldier: "Well, that's different! Why didn't you say that right
+off, you bonehead? Come on. Where is it?"
+
+And they entered the Salvation Army hut smiling.
+
+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.
+
+ The men went in battalions to the Luneville Sector for Trench Training
+facing the enemy. Of course, the Salvation Army sent a detachment also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+The Toul Sector
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+"ATTENTION! THE ENEMY SEES YOU!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Where are you going to chow?" asked the chief cook.
+
+The Salvationists allowed that they didn't know.
+
+"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!"
+
+This settled the question of board, and after a good breakfast the two
+started out to report to the General in command.
+
+He greeted them most kindly and made them feel welcome at once.
+
+When they asked about the barn he smiled pleasantly:
+
+"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!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Gee! It's good to see you," he said, sinking down in his old place by the
+stove.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, how are you?" asked one of the girls, hoping to start him.
+
+"Oh, all right, thanks," he said meekly.
+
+"Where is your company?"
+
+"Up the line in some woods."
+
+"How far is it?"
+
+"About ten miles."
+
+The girls felt they were not getting on very fast in acquiring
+information.
+
+"Did you walk all that way in the dust and sun?"
+
+"Most of it. Sometimes I was in the fields."
+
+"Were you on watch last night?"
+
+"Ye-ah."
+
+"Then you didn't have any sleep?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why did you come over here then?"
+
+"I wanted to see you." There was a sound of a deep hunger in his voice.
+
+"Well, we're awfully glad to see you, surely. Is there anything we can do
+for you?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Just let me look at you--and----" he hesitated.
+
+"And what?"  "And cook some doughnuts."
+
+"Why, of course!" said the girls cheerily, "but you must lie down and
+sleep awhile first. We'll fix a place for you."
+
+"I don't want to lie down," said the soldier determinedly, "I don't want
+to waste the time."
+
+"But it wouldn't be wasted. You need the sleep."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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:
+
+"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."
+
+The girls received him with exultant smiles. "You go out there under the
+trees and go to sleep!" they ordered him.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On the storm-swept, night-hidden hillside which overhung the field was
+established an anti-aircraft battery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Briefly the Captain explained the situation.
+
+"Caught him in the act of signaling to an enemy plane, sir," he said.
+
+The boy was too cold to venture a protest.
+
+"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."
+
+"Don't know what to do with him, sir, unless I take him down to the
+Salvation Army... they have a fire there."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_wasn't_ 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+That meeting was in the old wine cellar in Mandres.
+
+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.
+
+Here are some extracts from letters written by the Ensign from the old
+wine cellar in Mandres:
+
+   "Somewhere in France,"    May 15, 1918.
+
+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, etc. 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.
+
+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.
+
+My dear Major:
+
+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.
+
+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, etc.,
+and this will be sold and given out in a very few days.
+
+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!
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"See here, boys, did you ever know anything about the Salvation Army
+before?"
+
+They admitted that they had not.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+It was a very dangerous place, also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 detonations 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+The Montdidier Sector
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They were just lost to the land of reality when a soldier roused them
+summarily, saying:
+
+"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."
+
+He was grinning at them cheerfully and they roused to the occasion.
+
+"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!"
+
+"I haven't got a truck but I guess we can turn the trick all right!" said
+the soldier.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Gee! We shall miss you like the devil!"
+
+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:
+
+"Well, now, you know what I mean. I don't know just how to say how much we
+shall miss you!"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+The next day they went on to Tartigny, where they were to be located for a
+time.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Bowed beneath the garden shades,
+  Where the Eastern--sunlight fades,
+  Through a sea of griefs He wades,
+    And prays in agony.
+  His sweat is of blood,
+  His tears like a flood
+    For a lost world flow down.
+  I never knew such tears could be--
+    Those tears He wept for me!
+
+  Hung upon a rugged tree
+  On the hill of Calvary,
+  Jesus suffered, death, to be
+    The Saviour of mankind.
+  His brow pierced by thorn,
+  His hands and feet torn,
+    With broken heart He died.
+  I never knew such pain could be,
+    This pain He bore for me!
+
+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!
+
+  Love which conquered o'er death's sting,
+  Love which has immortal wing,
+  Love which is the only thing
+    My broken heart to heal.
+  It burst through the grave,
+  It brought grace to save,
+    It opened Heaven's gate.
+  I never knew such love could be--
+    This love He gave to me!
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ The following is a brief excerpt from his diary when he manned the dugout
+hut in Coullemelle:
+
+                                                      May 12
+
+"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.
+
+_Tuesday, 14:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 15:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 16:_ 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.
+
+_Friday, 17:_ 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.
+
+_Saturday, 18:_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Sunday, 19:_ 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.
+
+_Monday, 20:_ 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.
+
+_Tuesday, 21:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 22:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 23:_ My eyes are very red and becoming painful and also my
+throat and nose, etc. 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.
+
+_Friday, 24:_ Am all ready to move to a new dugout when Staff-Captain
+arrives and tells me I am ordered out by the military."
+
+Here is the Military Order received by the Staff-Captain:
+
+
+"To Major Coe,
+
+"Salvation Army:
+
+"(1) Major Wilson, Chief G1, directs that the Salvation Army evacuate
+'Coullemelle' as soon as possible.
+
+"(2) He desires that they leave to-night if possible.
+
+"(3) This message was received by me from the office of G1.
+
+                    "L. JOHNSON,
+                    "1st Lieut., F. A."
+
+
+Orders also arrived soon for the removal of the Salvation Army workers in
+Broyes:
+
+
+                 "Headquarters, 1st Division, G-1.
+                 "American Expeditionary Forces,
+                                " June 3, 1919.
+
+"Memorandum: To Mr. L. A. Coe, Salvation Army, La Folie.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"By command of Major General Bullard.
+
+                             "G. K Wilson,
+                             "Major, General Staff,
+                             "A. C. of S., G.-1."
+
+
+In Tartigny they found a house with five rooms, one of them very large.
+The billeting officer turned this over to the Salvation Army.
+
+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.
+
+"Gee! This is just like heaven, coming in here!" one of the boys said when
+he first saw it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+The soldier registered deep agitation.
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A sign was put out announcing that pie would be served at seven o'clock,
+but the lines formed long before that.
+
+[Illustration: "Ma"]
+
+[Illustration: "They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day"--the
+renowned "Aunt Mary" in the right-hand corner]
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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, _anyhow!_"
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"I know the Salvation Army," he said with a faint smile, "I knew I should
+find you here."
+
+She asked him his division and he told her he belonged to one that had
+been co�perating with the French.
+
+"But how can that be?" she asked in surprise, "we have never worked with
+your division. How do you know about us?"
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: A letter of inspiration from the commander]
+
+[Illustration: The Salvation Army boy truck driver who calmly went to
+sleep in his truck in a shell hole under fire]
+
+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 _pray!_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: _"What did you say?_"
+
+The soldier stared, and grew red and unhappy:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Here is the poem which Pte. Joseph T. Lopes wrote about "Those Salvation
+Army Folks" after the Montdidier attack:
+
+  Somewhere in France, not far from the foe,
+  There's a body of workers whose name we all know;
+  Who not only at home give their lives to make right,
+  But are now here beside us, fighting our fight.
+  What care they for rest when our boys at the front,
+  Who, fighting for freedom, are bearing the brunt,
+  And so, just at dawn, when the caissons come home,
+  With the boys tired out and chilled to the bone,
+  The Salvation Army with its brave little crew,
+  Are waiting with doughnuts and hot coffee, too.
+  When dangers and toiling are o'er for awhile,
+  In their dugouts we find comfort and welcome their smile.
+  There's a spirit of home, so we go there each night,
+  And the thinking of home makes us sit down and write,
+  So we tell of these folks to our loved ones with pride,
+  And are thanking the Lord to have them on our side.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+The Toul Sector Again
+
+
+
+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.
+
+The first Americans to pay the supreme sacrifice in the cause of liberty
+were buried in the Toul Sector.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The letter went to the Captain for censorship, and soon the Salvation Army
+woman had a call from him.
+
+"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."
+
+The day before Memorial Day this woman with two of the lassies from the
+hut went to the cemetery and prepared for the morrow.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The centuries-old gray cemetery in Treveray]
+
+[Illustration: Colonel Barker placing the commander's flowers on
+Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt's grave]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commanding General then came to the front and behind him walked the
+Salvation Army lassies bearing the flags in their arms.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The General then addressed the soldiers, and facing toward the West and
+pointing he said:
+
+"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!"
+
+It was a wonderful, beautiful, solemn sight, every man standing and
+saluting while the flags fluttered softly on the breeze.
+
+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: "NATIONAL CEMETERY OF THE AMERICAN
+EXPEDITIONARY FORCES." There were over two hundred graves inside the
+cemetery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  My loved ones in the Homeland
+    Are waiting me to come,
+  Where neither death nor sorrow
+    Invades their holy home;
+  O dear, dear native country!
+    O rest and peace above!
+  Christ, bring us all to the Homeland
+    Of Thy redeeming love.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+The Baccarat Sector
+
+
+
+Baccarat was the Zone Headquarters for that Sector.
+
+Down the Main street there hung a sign on an old house labeled "MODERN
+BAR."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, if you only knew what it means to us!" one of the men tried to tell
+them one day.
+
+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.
+
+ 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.
+
+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?"
+
+"Oh, no," said one of them brightly. "The Lord wouldn't let that fellow
+get us."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+ Some most amusing incidents came to the knowledge of the Salvation Army
+workers.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+The village was several hundred miles inland.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+As the soldiers had to work in the night, so the Salvation Army men and
+women worked in the night to serve them.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, no! It's great!" she replied eagerly. "I'm the luckiest girl in the
+world."
+
+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.
+
+There were signs all over everywhere: "ATTENTION! THE ENEMY SEES YOU!"
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was said that they were the only women ever permitted to remain in
+these underground passages.
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The next day the girls opened up the canteen at Menilla-Tour as calmly as
+if nothing had happened the day before.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+That day the rest of the outfits arrived, and they all pulled into Morte
+Fontaine.
+
+Morte Fontaine was well named because there was no water in the town fit
+to use.
+
+The girls felt they were needed nearer the front, so they went to Major
+Peabody and asked permission.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"Why, what's the matter, Colonel?" asked the Zone Major innocently.
+
+"Matter enough! You had no business to bring those girls up here!"
+
+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:
+
+"Dog-gone you, Major, where've you been keeping yourself? Why haven't you
+been around?" and he put out his hand affably.
+
+"Why, I didn't want to see a man who bawled me out in the public highway
+that way," said the Zone Major.
+
+"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.
+
+"Why not, Colonel, didn't they do fine?"
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Let's give them each one," proposed one of the girls.
+
+"No! Give them a punch in the nose!" said the boys.
+
+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?"
+
+"Aw, well! The poor sneaks looked so longingly!" said one of the boys,
+grinning sheepishly.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"Say, Cap, you see we didn't go up."
+
+"I see," she smiled happily.
+
+"Say, Cap, won't you have another farewell meeting to-night?" he asked
+with an appealing glance in his dark eyes.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, say, Cap, you can have that later, can't you? We want another meeting
+now."
+
+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:
+
+"All right. Go out and tell the boys."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"That's nothing!" he cried. "Tie it up!"
+
+But they forced him back lest he would bleed to death. In the hospital
+they told him that now he might go home.
+
+"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!"
+
+He went to the Major and the Major said also that he must go home.
+
+The boy looked him straight in the eye:
+
+"Excuse me, Major, saying I won't. But _I won't let go your coat_
+till you say I can stay," and finally the Major had to give in and let him
+stay. He could not resist such pleading.
+
+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.
+
+The doctors said to the girls: "It is wonderful to have you around."
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army women worked all that drive.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+When the drive was over orders came to leave. The following is the
+official notice to the Salvation Army officers:
+
+
+G-1 Headquarters, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, July 26,
+1918.
+
+_Memorandum._
+
+To Directors, Y.M.C.A., Red Cross, Salvation Army Services, 1st Division.
+
+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.
+
+2. Time of departure and routes to be taken will be announced later.
+
+3. Secretaries attached to units may accompany units, if it is so desired.
+
+By command of Major-General Summerall.
+
+                                      P. E. Peabody,
+                                      Captain, Infantry,
+                                      G-1
+
+Copies:
+YMCA
+Red Cross
+Salvation Army
+G-3
+C. of S.
+File
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+After the dinner they took the boys to their divisional headquarters,
+where they found their outfit.
+
+They went on their way from Senlis to Dam-Martin to stay for a week back
+of the lines for rest.
+
+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.
+
+Then orders came to move back to the Toul Sector.
+
+ Those were wonderful moonlight nights at Saizerais, but the Boche
+airplanes nearly pestered the life out of everybody.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At Bullionville the hut was in a building that bore the marks of much
+shelling. The American boys promptly dubbed the place "Souptown."
+
+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.
+
+They started the canteen, made doughnuts and pies, and gave
+entertainments.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+The next day the girls followed in a truck, stopping a few days at
+Pagny-sur-Meuse for rest.
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+The Saint Mihiel Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+The field range was outside in the back yard.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 "_go away_" and rest.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said the doughboy nonchalantly.
+
+"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."
+
+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!"
+
+"She's got my number all right!" said the red-headed one, grinning
+sheepishly as he dropped back.
+
+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.
+
+On the evening of June 14th they made fudge for the boys who were going to
+leave that night for the front lines.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+"Here's a real, honest-to-goodness American woman in the trenches!"
+exclaimed a homesick lad as they came around a turn.
+
+"Yes, your mother couldn't come to-day," said the motherly Salvationist,
+smiling a greeting, "so I've come in her place."
+
+"All right!" said he, entering into the game. "This is Broadway and that's
+Forty-second Street. Sit down."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Strange and sad and wonderful sights there were to see as the soldiers
+went forward.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Dead Man's Curve was between Mandres and Beaumont. The enemy's eye was
+always upon it and had its range.
+
+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.
+
+Everyone had to travel a hundred yards apart. Only three men would be
+allowed to go at once, so dangerous was the trip.
+
+Out of the night would come a voice:
+
+"Halt! Who goes there? Advance and give the countersign."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Not until after the St. Mihiel drive when Montsec was behind the line
+instead of in front did they dare enter Bouconville by day.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Map]
+
+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 _us!_" as though that were
+something unexpected.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: "It was just outside of Bouconville that the famous
+doughnut truck experience occurred"---and this is the Salvation Army boy
+who drove it]
+
+[Illustration: Bullionville, promptly dubbed by the American boys
+"Souptown"]
+
+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-Cotes 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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 CAN.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Madam, how many troops are in this town? Where are they? Where can we get
+any billets?"
+
+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:
+
+"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
+SPY! Madam, we are from Field Hospital Number 12, and we want to find a
+place to rest."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It rained for two weeks in Roulecourt. The soldiers slept in little dog
+tents in the woods.
+
+The meetings held the boys at the throne of God each night, they were the
+power behind the doughnut, and the boys recognized it.
+
+"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."
+
+It poured torrents the night of the drive and nearly drowned out the
+soldiers in their little tents.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy came to one of the Salvation Army men Officers and said: "Pray for
+me. I have given my heart to Jesus."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then up spoke the other man:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Within thirty-six hours after the first gun was fired in the St. Mihiel
+drive seven Salvation Army huts were established on the territory.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut had been turned over to the hospital, so they found
+another old building.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+  There's a spot in me heart that no colleen may own,
+  There's a depth in me soul never sounded or known;
+  There's a place in me memory, me life, that you fill,
+  No other can take it, no one ever will;
+  Sure, I love the dear silver that shines in your hair,
+  And the brow that's all furrowed and wrinkled with care.
+  I kiss the dear fingers, so toil-worn for me;
+    O, God bless you and keep you!
+      Mother Machree!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Abide with me; fast falls the eventide,
+  The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!'
+
+There had been rumors that Montsec was mined and that as soon as a foot
+was set upon it it would blow up.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At five o'clock they went sadly back to the hut.
+
+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.
+
+Then at last there came one bearing a message. There _were_ 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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 "KAMERAD, tritt' ein."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: "THIS JAM FURNISHED BY THE SALVATION ARMY!" 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.
+
+Evening brought enemy airplanes, but the lassies did not stop for that and
+soon their own aerial forces drove the enemy back.
+
+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 _d�bris_
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+Here is one of the many popular songs that have been written on the
+subject which shows how the soldiers felt:
+
+  SALVATION LASSIE OF MINE.
+
+  "They say it's in Heaven that all angels dwell,
+    But I've come to learn they're on earth just as well;
+  And how would I know that the like could be so,
+    If I hadn't found one down here below?
+
+  CHORUS.
+
+  A sweet little Angel that went o'er the sea,
+    With the emblem of God in her hand;
+  A wonderful Angel who brought there to me
+    The sweet of a war-furrowed land.
+  The crown on her head was a ribbon of red,
+    A symbol of all that's divine;
+  Though she called each a brother she's more like a mother,
+    Salvation Lassie of Mine.
+
+  Perhaps in the future I'll meet her again,
+    In that world where no one knows sorrow or pain;
+  And when that time comes and the last word is said,
+    Then place on my bosom her band of red."
+
+                        _By "Jack" Caddigan and "Chick" Stoy._
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+The Argonne Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+News came to the girls after they had been for a week in Nonsard that they
+were to make a long move.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The girls who came down to help in the St. Mihiel drive]
+
+[Illustration: Here they found a whole little village of German dugouts]
+
+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 _beaucoup_ 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.
+
+They only had a canteen here one day when they were called to go on to
+Neuvilly.
+
+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.
+
+Just before a drive, close to the front, there are always blockades of
+trucks going either way.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When night came on the question of beds arose again. The cellar seemed
+hardly possible, and the military officers considered the question.
+
+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 _d�bris_
+and wreckage. It had been used all day for an evacuation hospital.
+
+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.
+
+The military officer stood on the steps of this ruined church, and,
+looking around in perplexity, remarked:
+
+"Well, I guess this is the wholest place in town." Then stepping inside he
+glanced about and pointed:
+
+"And this is the most secluded spot here!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked house in Neuvilly where the lassies went to
+sleep in the cellar and woke up to find the soldiers watching]
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked church in Neuvilly where the memorable meeting
+was held]
+
+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!"
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Beautiful Jesus, Bright Star of earth!
+  Loving and tender from moment of birth,
+  Beautiful Jesus, though lowly Thy lot,
+  Born in a manger, so rude was Thy cot!
+
+  Beautiful Jesus, gentle and mild,
+  Light for the sinner in ways dark and wild,
+  Beautiful Jesus, O save such just now,
+  As at Thy feet they in penitence bow!
+
+  Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+  Fairest of thousands and Pearl of great price!
+  Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+  Gladly we welcome Thee, Beautiful Christ!
+
+Before they had finished many eyes had turned instinctively toward the
+picture in the weirdly flickering light.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+"And you used to have family prayers, too, didn't you?" she asked eagerly.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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----"
+
+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:
+
+ "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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 _got_ 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _must_ leave, that it was
+no fit place for women so near to the front.
+
+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:
+
+"General," he said, with a twinkle, "my girls say they won't go."
+
+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:
+
+"Well, if the Salvation Army wants to stay let them stay!" And so they
+stayed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _d�bris_ 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.
+
+The shelling continued for six hours.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Company H. Advance! See that hill over there? It's full of Germans, but
+_we've got to take it_!"
+
+Then he turned over and began to sob and cry, "Oh God! Oh God!"
+
+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'm the only one
+left_!"
+
+Thus the heart-breaking scenes were multiplied.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Often the boys, just before they went over the top, would come to these
+girls and say:
+
+"We're going up there, now. You pray for us, won't you?"
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+"I did" said the boy weakly, "I did the best I could."
+
+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.
+
+"What is it?" she asked, looking at the book.
+
+"My Testament," he answered with a smile.
+
+"Are you a Christian?"
+
+"Oh, yes," he said with another smile that meant volumes.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+And then the prayers would be said once more, and another song sung.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+_The first quality_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_The second requisite_ 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.
+
+_The third requisite_ 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.
+
+
+
+X.
+
+The Armistice
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was planned to proceed with a religious campaign at these Base Ports,
+holding Salvation meetings in these extensive departments.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+President and Mrs. Wilson were present, accompanied by many prominent
+American officials. Representatives of the various War Work Organizations
+spoke.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"I told you! I told you! We've just been waiting for eight months to pull
+this off! Now, you see!"
+
+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.
+
+The chaplain paid a tribute to President Wilson, finishing with these
+words:
+
+"President Wilson was not man-elected, but God-selected!"
+
+
+
+CHAPLAINS.
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The effort was wholly directed to the uplift of the men and God commanded
+His blessing in a most gratifying manner.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+Homecoming
+
+
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+All right! _All right!_ Did she call it all right? He looked down at
+his one foot with a dubious frown. She was quick to see. She understood.
+
+"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.
+
+But still he hesitated.
+
+"I don't know," he said, looking down at his foot again. "Mother's gone,
+and------"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+He saw her again before he left the wharf. She gave him a card with two
+addresses written on it:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+[Illustration: Right in the midst of the busy hurrying throng of Union
+Square]
+
+[Illustration: "Smiling Billy" "One Game Little Guy"]
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+Then he came around toward the side, and there in plain letters was a
+sign: "SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN UNIFORM WELCOME." What? Was it possible?
+Then he might go in? What kind of a place could it be?
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+ "Dear Billy (It was a regular letter!):
+
+"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!
+
+                                              Signed "Jean"
+
+ 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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"But can't you tell her about your girl?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, yes, but I want you to tell her." he said. "You see, whatever you say
+mother'll know is true."
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+Looking up into the man's eyes the Salvationist said: "I am ready to die
+if God sees fit to call me."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+The Captain could not help being interested and thoughtful. When she left,
+after a little more talk he put out his hand and said:
+
+"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."
+
+Sad things are seen on the docks at times when the ships come into port,
+and the boys are coming home.
+
+A soldier in a basket, with both arms and both legs gone and only one eye,
+was being carried tenderly along.
+
+"Why do you let him live?" asked one pityingly of the Commanding Officer.
+
+The gruff, kindly voice replied:
+
+"You don't know what life is. We don't live through our arms and legs. We
+live through our hearts."
+
+Some of our boys have learned out there amid shell fire to live through
+their hearts.
+
+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:
+
+"Hello, Sister! _You here?_"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+Forty miles west of Chicago is Camp Grant and there the Salvation Army has
+put up a hut just outside of the camp.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In Des Moines the Army has an interesting institution which grew out of a
+great need.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 caf� 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.
+
+[Illustration: Thomas Estill Commissioner of the Western Forces]
+
+[Illustration: The hut at Camp Lewis]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+In her alcove out of sight the visitor found refreshment for her own soul,
+and a vision also.
+
+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:
+
+"See that thou do all things according to the pattern given thee in the
+Mount"
+
+But the stories multiply and my space is drawing to a close. I am minded
+to say reverently in words of old:
+
+"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?
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+
+MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+Nov. 30,1917.
+
+
+MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
+The President of the United States of America.
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+Paris, 7 April, 1919.
+122 W. 14th Street, New York, U.S.A.
+
+I am very much interested to know that the Salvation Army is about to
+enter into a campaign for a sustaining fund.
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+
+
+British Delegation, Paris, 8th April, 1919.
+
+DEAR MADAM:
+
+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.
+
+Yours faithfully,
+W. Lloyd George.
+
+
+General J. J. Pershing, France.
+
+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!
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, New York City.
+
+"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."
+
+General Pershing.
+
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) Pershing.
+
+
+Salvation, New York.
+Paris, April 22, 1919.
+
+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,
+
+John J. Pershing.
+
+
+Marshal Foch, Paris, France:
+
+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.
+
+
+[Illustration: Western Union cablegram (transcription below)]
+
+WESTERN UNION
+ANGLO-AMERICAN DIRECT UNITED STATES
+CABLEGRAM
+34 Broadway N.Y.
+Received at 16 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK
+
+193 F8 PZ
+FRANCE 31
+
+EVANGELINE BOOTH
+COMMANDER SALVATION ARMY
+IN AMERICA NEW YORK
+
+TR�S TOUCH� DU SENTIMENT �LEV� QUI A INSPIR� VOTRE
+T�L�GRAMME JE VOUS ADRESSE AINSI QU'� VOS ADH�RENTS MES
+SINC�RES REMERCIEMENTS
+
+        MARECHAL FOCH
+
+
+I am deeply touched by the high sentiment which inspired
+your cablegram, and I tender you and your adherents sincere
+thanks.
+
+        MARSHAL FOCH
+
+
+
+Letter from Sir Douglas Haig
+
+
+Just before leaving London on Thursday for his provincial campaigns,
+General Booth received the following letter from Field Marshal Sir Douglas
+Haig. The generous tribute will be read with intense satisfaction by
+Salvationists the world over:
+
+
+General Headquarters, British Armies in France.
+March 27, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The huts which the Salvation Army has staffed have besides been an
+addition to the comfort of the soldiers which has been greatly
+appreciated.
+
+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.
+
+D. Haig, Field Marshal,
+Commanding British Armies in France.
+
+
+The Following Message from Marshal Joffre:
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+Apr. 9, 1919.
+New York City.
+
+"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."
+
+
+From Field Marshal Viscount French.
+
+"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."
+
+
+June 16, 1918.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"Faithfully yours,
+
+"(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt."
+
+
+
+April 21st, 1919.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+Dear Commander Booth:
+
+I have known the Salvation Army from its beginning.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) John Wanamaker.
+
+
+
+Cardinal's Residence, 408 Charles Street, Baltimore.
+April 16, 1919.
+
+Hon. Charles S. Whitman, New York City.
+
+Honorable and Dear Sir:
+
+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.
+
+I trust, therefore, your efforts to raise $13,000,000 for the Salvation
+Army will meet with a hearty response from our generous American public.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+James, Cardinal, Gibbons.
+
+
+
+Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
+
+Paris, April 7th, 1919.
+
+My Dear Commander Booth:
+
+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.
+
+I congratulate you and, through you, your associates, and I wish you the
+best of fortune in the continuance of your splendid work.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+L. M. House.
+
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Salvation Army.
+
+Evangeline Booth,
+Salvation Army Headquarters, New York.
+
+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.
+
+Leonard Wood.
+Camp Funston, Kansas.
+
+
+
+Brigadier-General Duncan wrote to Colonel Barker the
+following letter:
+
+December 7, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+G. B. Duncan, Brigadier-General.
+
+
+
+The Salvation Army is doing a great work in France and every soldier bears
+testimony to the fact.
+
+Omar Bundy, Major-General.
+
+
+
+Headquarters First Division,
+American Expeditionary Forces.
+
+France, September 15, 1918.
+
+From: Chief of Staff.
+
+To: Major L. Allison Coe, Salvation Army.
+
+Subject: Service in Operation against St. Mihiel Salient.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+3. The Division Commander wishes me to thank you for the Division and for
+himself.
+
+CK/T.        Campbell King, Chief of Staff.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E, Booth, 120 W. 14th St., New York.
+
+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.
+
+L. P. MURPHY, Lieut.-Colonel of Cavalry.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York City.
+
+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.
+
+J. L. HINES,
+Colonel, Sixteenth Infantry.
+
+
+
+In sending a contribution toward the expenses of the War Work, Colonel
+George B. McClellan wrote:
+
+Treasurer, Salvation Army,       July 24, 1918.
+120 West 14th Street, New York City.
+
+DEAR SIR:
+
+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.
+
+Will you accept the enclosed check as my modest contribution to your War
+Fund, and believe me to be
+
+Yours very truly,
+GEO. B. MCCLELLAND Lt.-Col. Ord. Dept., N. A.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss B. Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York City, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+F. G. LAWTON,
+Colonel, Infantry, National Army.
+
+
+
+To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
+
+
+
+The following letter was sent to Major Atkins of the Salvation Army:
+
+Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry,
+France, December 26, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Wishing you a very happy and successful New Year, I am
+
+Yours sincerely,
+(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT, JR.,
+Major (U.S.R.), 26th Infantry.
+
+
+
+When Captain Archibald Roosevelt was lying wounded
+in Red Cross Hospital No. 1 he wrote the following letter
+to the same officer:
+
+Red Cross Hospital No. 1.
+
+July 10, 1918.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+Before leaving France for the United States, two Salvation
+Army lassies received the following letter:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I thank you and your organization for all of this, and assure you of the
+respect and gratitude of the entire division.
+
+J. I. MABEE, Colonel, Medical Corps,
+Division Surgeon.
+
+
+
+CABLE.
+
+January 17, 1918.
+
+The Salvation Army, New York:
+
+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.
+
+CONRAD S. BABCOCK, Lieut.-Colonel,
+Inspector General, First Division.
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+Headquarters, Third Division,
+September 5,1918.
+
+MY DEAR MR. LEFFINGWELL:
+
+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.
+
+I am glad to express my feelings for your work. God bless you in it, and
+always!
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+LYMAN BOLLINS, Division Chaplain,
+Headquarters, Third Division, A. E. F., via New York.
+
+
+
+At the Front in France, June 12, 1918.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill,
+Salvation Army, Chicago.
+
+MY DEAR COMMISSIONER:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+In His name,
+(Signed) THOMAS J. DICKSON,
+Chaplain with rank of Major,
+Sixth Field Artillery, First Division, U. S. Army.
+
+
+
+An appreciation written concerning the first Salvation
+Army chaplain that was appointed after the war started:
+
+Camp Cody, New Mexico,
+
+January 16, 1918.
+
+Major E. C. Clemans,
+136th Infantry, Camp Cody, N. M.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill, Chicago, Ill.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army may be well pleased that it is so well represented in
+the Army as it is by Chaplain Kline.
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) EZRA C. CLEMANS,
+Senior Chaplain, 34th Division.
+
+
+
+July 11, 1918.
+
+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 co�peration 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.
+
+MAJOR EDWIN F. GLENN.
+
+
+
+TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+ALBERT J. MYERS, JR., Major, National Army.
+1st Div., A. E. F. (Captain, Cavalry, U.S.A.)
+
+
+
+Extract from letter from Captain Charles W. Albright:
+Q. M., R. C., France.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I am proud to have a sister in their ranks."
+
+
+
+An old regular army officer who returned to Paris last week said:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _toute de
+suite_, forty-eight hours after it arrived.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+First Lieutenant Marion M. Marcus, Jr., Field Artillery,
+wrote to one of our leading officers:
+
+October 9, 1918.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+EXTRACT FROM LETTER.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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 have yet to meet a sour-faced cleric behind the counter_. 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?
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _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_. 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.
+
+"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 _boys over here are really back of it and we want
+you to continue your good work_."
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+"The Salvation Army over here is doing wonderful work. _They haven't any
+shows or music, but they certainly know what pleases the boys most_,
+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).
+
+"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:
+
+  Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;
+    Lead Thou me on;
+  The night is dark and I am far from home,
+    Lead Thou me on.
+  Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
+    The distant scene--
+  One step enough for me.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17, 1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+CLINTON SPENCER,
+Private, Motor Action.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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. _That is the boys' mother
+and father here. It is our home_. 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."
+
+"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 _pair of shoes_ 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."
+
+
+
+LETTER OF COMMENDATION RE SALVATION ARMY.
+
+U.S.S. Point Bonita,       15 October, 1918.
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth, Commander,
+Care of Salvation Army Headquarters,
+14th Street, New York City.
+
+DEAR MISS BOOTH:--
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+We all would like to thank Mr. Leffingwell for his great kindness in
+helping us.
+
+The undersigned all have the warmest sort of feeling for you and the
+Salvation Army.
+
+Many, many thanks, from the ship's crew.
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+FROM LORD DERBY.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+STATE OF NEW JERSEY
+EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
+TRENTON.
+
+MY DEAR MR. BATTLE:      December 27, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+I sincerely hope that the campaign will be very successful.
+Cordially yours,
+
+(Signed) WALTER B. EDGE,
+
+Mr. George Gordon Battle, Governor.
+General Chairman, 37 Wall Street, New York City.
+
+
+
+GOVERNOR CHARLES S. WHITMAN'S ADDRESS AT LUNCHEON
+AT HOTEL TEN EYCK, ALBANY, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8, 1917.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"The sphere of the Army's operations has now been extended to the
+battlefields of Europe, where its consecrated workers will co�perate with
+the Y.M.C.A., K. of C., and kindred organizations.
+
+"It gives me pleasure to commend the work of this beneficent organization,
+and to urge our people to remember its splendid service to humanity.
+
+"Very truly yours,
+"ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
+"Governor."
+
+
+
+Endorsement of January 25, 1918.
+Governor Hugh M. Dorsey, of Georgia.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+STATE OF UTAH
+EXECUTIVE OFFICE
+
+Salt Lake City, January 21, 1918.
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) SIMON BAMBERG,
+Governor.
+
+
+
+FROM A PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOR BRUMBAUGH.
+
+To the People of Pennsylvania:
+
+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.
+
+[SEAL]
+
+GIVEN 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.
+
+By the Governor:
+Secretary of the Commonwealth.
+copy/h
+
+
+
+The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
+Executive Department,
+State House, Boston, February 15, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) SAMUEL W. McCALL,
+Governor.
+
+
+PROCLAMATION.
+
+To the People of the State of Maryland:
+
+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.
+
+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, etc., in every camp in
+France.
+
+Now, THEREFORE, 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.
+
+[The Great Seal of the State of Maryland]
+
+IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, 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.
+
+EMERSON C. HARRINGTON.
+
+
+By the Governor,
+THOS. W. SIMMONS, Secretary of State.
+
+"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.
+
+"Of course, any agency which can in any way ameliorate the condition of
+the boys at the front should receive encouragement."
+
+(Signed) FRANK C. LOWDEN,
+Governor of Illinois.
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) Governor BROUGH of Arkansas.
+
+Lansing, Michigan, June 13, 1918.
+
+
+
+TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
+Governor of the State of Michigan.
+
+MARK E. McKEE,
+Secretary, Counties Division, Michigan War Board.
+
+
+
+STATE OF KANSAS
+ARTHUR CAPPER, GOVERNOR,
+TOPEKA
+
+August 8, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+Very respectfully,
+(Signed) ARTHUR CAPPER, Governor.
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) MILES POINDEXTER,
+Senator from Washington.
+HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
+WASHINGTON, D. C.
+
+
+January 8, 1918.
+
+Colonel Adam Gifford, Salvation Army,
+8 East Brookline Street, Boston, Mass.
+
+MY DEAR COLONEL GIFFORD:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With kindest regards, I remain,
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) GEORGE HOLDEN TINKHAM,
+Congressman.
+
+
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration (Condolence Card):
+GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT
+
+122 W. 14th Street New York
+
+My dear Friend:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Believe me when I say that we are praying and will pray for you.
+
+Yours in sympathy.
+
+(Signed) Evangeline Booth
+COMMANDER
+
+A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS]
+
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+With deepest gratitude,"
+
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"I have just seen your picture in the November _Pictorial Review_ and
+I do so greatly admire your splendid character and the great work you are
+doing.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"May the Lord bless you abundantly in your own heart and in your world
+wide influence and the splendid Salvation Army."
+
+
+
+"DEAR FRIENDS:
+
+"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?
+
+I am
+Yours truly,"
+
+
+Enclosure:
+
+"November 16, 1918.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+  "In My Father's House are many mansions,
+  I go to prepare a place for you;
+  If it were not so, I would have told you.
+
+"Your Baby boy,"
+(Signed) PAUL.
+Chatereaux, France.
+August, 1918.
+
+N. B.--Written on back of the envelope:
+"To be opened only in case of accident."
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"Miss EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"Thanking you for your helpful message,"
+
+
+
+"Miss EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"We do indeed appreciate your thoughtfulness in sending words of comfort
+to people who are utter strangers to you.
+
+"Accept again, the gratitude of my parents as well as the other members of
+our family, including myself.
+
+"May our Heavenly Father bless you all and glorify your good works."
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+
+Commander of the Salvation Army, New York City,
+N. Y.
+
+DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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:
+
+"Somewhere in France, Jan. 15, 1918.
+"MY DEAR MOTHER:
+
+"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, etc., 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.
+
+"Your loving son,"
+
+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.
+
+
+
+December 10, 1917.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, New York City.
+
+MY DEAR COMMANDER:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With ever-increasing interest in the Salvation Army, I am,     Cordially
+yours,
+
+(Signed) J. WILBUR CHAPMAN.
+Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
+Church in the U.S.A.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY IS THE MOST POPULAR ORGANIZATION
+IN FRANCE.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'"
+
+
+
+WAR DEPARTMENT
+COMMISSION ON TRAINING CAMP ACTIVITIES, WASHINGTON
+
+45, Avenue Montaigne, Paris.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Apr. 8, 1919.
+Salvation Army, New York City.
+
+MY DEAR COMMANDER BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+(Signed) RAYMOND B. FOSDICK.
+
+
+
+From Honorable Arthur Stanley,
+Chairman British Red Cross Society.
+
+BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY
+JOINT WAR COMMITTEE
+
+83 Pall Mall, London, S. W.,
+
+December 22, 1917.
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+
+DEAR GENERAL BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+I cannot sufficiently thank you and the Salvation Army for this very
+generous donation.
+
+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.
+
+Yours sincerely,
+
+(Signed) ARTHUR STANLEY.
+
+
+
+Extract from Judge Ben Lindsey's picture of the Salvation Army at the
+Front:
+
+"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 _Tribune_ 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.'
+
+ "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!'
+
+"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!'"
+
+
+HARRY LAUDER'S ENDORSEMENT.
+
+In speaking of the Salvation Army's work before the Rotary Club of San
+Francisco, Harry Lauder said:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Mr. David Lawrence, special Washington correspondent of the _New York
+Evening Post_ 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:
+
+"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.
+
+"_The policy of the organization_ 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.
+
+"_The success of the Salvation Army_ is attributed by commanding
+officers to the fact that the workers know how to mix naturally. _In
+other cases there had been sometimes an air of condescension not unlike
+that of the professional settlement house worker_."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In a recent issue of the _Saturday Evening Post_, Mr. Irvin Cobb, who
+has just returned from France, has this to say of the Salvation  Army:
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+MY DEAR COLONEL JENKINS:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I saw many evidences showing that the unselfish, sometimes reckless,
+abandon of your workers had a great effect upon our men.
+
+I am sure that the Salvation Army also stands in high respect for its
+religious influence upon the men.
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+
+CHARLES S. MACFARLAND,
+General Secretary.
+
+
+
+The _New York Globe_ printed the following:
+
+HUNS DON'T STOP SALVATION ARMY. MEETING HELD IN
+DEEP DUGOUT UNDER RUINED VILLAGE--MANDOLIN
+SUPPLANTS THE ORGAN.
+
+By Herbert Corey.
+
+JUST BEHIND THE SOMME FRONT, May 3l.--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:
+
+"Jesus, Lover of My Soul."
+
+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:
+
+"By gollies, brother, you're getting it! I actually believe you're getting
+it, brother. We'll have a swell meeting to-night."
+
+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:
+
+"You keep on, brother," said he, "and we'll have a fine meeting for the
+Brigadier when he comes in to-night."
+
+
+TAKING HIS CHANCES.
+
+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."
+
+Bull turned a pair of inflamed eyes on the musician.
+
+"You keep on a-talkin', and I'll hang somep'n on your eye," said Bull,
+hoarsely.
+
+Then he replaced his head in his hands. The Salvation Army man laughed at
+the interlude and then returned to the player.
+
+"See," said he, "it goes like this----" He hummed the wonderful old hymn.
+
+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.
+
+"Aw, brother," said he. "We've got to take our chances along with the
+rest."
+
+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.
+
+
+NO MONEY, BUT GOOD CHEER.
+
+"Just our luck," said some morose doughboy, "if a shell hit the fliv. It's
+a hell of a road----"
+
+"No shell has hit it yet, brother," said the Salvation Army man, cheerily.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+  While the nearer waters roll,
+  While the tempest still is high.
+
+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:
+
+"I can lick any man's son who says THEY ain't all right."
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"I remain, faithfully yours,
+
+"REMY MEERSMAN."
+
+
+
+THE "STARS AND STRIPES" SPEAKS FROM FRANCE FOR THE
+SALVATION ARMY.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+
+THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MAY 17, 1918), QUOTING FROM THE
+ABOVE, ALSO SPEAKS EDITORIALLY.
+
+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.
+
+The evidence of the Salvation Army's excellent work comes from many
+sources.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+A Few Facts about the Salvation Army
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+"Hello! Salvation Army!" he cried. "Are you taking those men to heaven?"
+
+Amid the derisive laughter of the officers on the sidewalk the
+Salvationist replied pleasantly:
+
+"I cannot say I am taking them to heaven, but I certainly am taking them
+away from the other place."
+
+One of the good British Salvationists wrote of meeting our American boys
+in England. He said:
+
+"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 fa�ade 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+In 1877 the name of the Christian Mission was altered to the Salvation
+Army, and the Reverend William Booth assumed the title of General.
+
+December 29, 1879, the first number of the official organ, "The War Cry,"
+was issued and the first brass band formed at Consett.
+
+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.
+
+The Army commenced in South Africa, New Zealand and Iceland in 1883.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On August 20, 1912, General William Booth laid down his sword.
+
+He lay in state in Congress Hall, London, where the number of visitors who
+looked upon his remains ran into the hundreds of thousands.
+
+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.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY WAR ACTIVITIES.
+
+77 Motor ambulances manned by Salvationists.
+
+87 Hotels for use of Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+107 Buildings in United States placed at disposal of Government for war
+relief purposes.
+
+199 Huts at Soldiers' Camps used for religious and social gatherings and
+for dispensing comfort to Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+300 Rest-rooms equipped with papers, magazines, books, etc., in charge of
+Salvation Army Officers.
+
+1507 Salvation Army officers devote their entire time to religious and
+social work among Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+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.
+
+80,000 Salvation Army officers fighting with Allied Armies.
+
+100,000 Parcels of food and clothing distributed among Soldiers and
+Sailors.
+
+100,000 Wounded Soldiers taken from battlefields in Salvation Army
+ambulances.
+
+300,000 Soldiers and Sailors daily attend Salvation Army buildings.
+
+$2,000,000 Already spent in war activities.
+
+45 Chaplains serving under Government appointment.
+
+40 Camps, Forts and Navy Yards at which Salvation Army services are
+conducted or which are visited by Salvation Army officers.
+
+2184 War Widows assisted (legal and other aid, and visited).
+
+2404 Soldiers' wives cared for (including medical help).
+
+442 War children under our care.
+
+3378 Soldiers' remittances forwarded (without charge).
+
+$196,081.05 Amount remitted.
+
+600 Parcels supplied Prisoners of War.
+
+1300 Cables sent for Soldiers.
+
+275 Officers detailed to assist Soldiers' wives and relatives; number
+assisted, 275.
+
+40 Military hospitals visited.
+
+360 Persons visiting hospitals.
+
+147 Boats met.
+
+324,052 Men on board,
+
+35,845 Telegrams sent.
+
+24 Salvationists detailed for this work.
+
+20 Salvationists detailed for this work outside of New York City.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY WORK IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
+
+1218 Buildings in use at present.
+
+2953 Missing friends found.
+
+6125 Tons of ice distributed.
+
+12,000 Officers and non-commissioned officers actively employed.
+
+11,650 Accommodations in institutions.
+
+68,000 Children cared for in Rescue Homes and Slum Settlements.
+
+22,161 Women and girls cared for in Rescue Homes.
+
+30,401 Tons of coal distributed.
+
+175,764 Men cared for in Industrial Homes.
+
+342,639 Poor families visited.
+
+399,418 Outings given poor people.
+
+668,250 Converted to Christian life.
+
+984,426 Jobs found for unemployed poor.
+
+1,535,840 Hours spent in active service in slum districts.
+
+6,900,995 Poor people given temporary relief.
+
+40,522,990 Nights' shelter and beds given to needy poor.
+
+52,674,308 Meals supplied to needy poor. Constituency reached with appeal
+for Christian citizenship.
+
+132,608,087 Out-door meeting attendance.
+
+134,412,564 In-door meeting attendance.
+
+
+NATIONAL WAR BOARD.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, President.
+
+EAST.
+Peart, Col. William, Chairman.
+Reinhardsen, Col. Gustave S., Sec'y and Treas.
+Damon, Col. Alexander M.,
+Parker, Col. Edward J.,
+Jenkins, Lt.-Col. Walter F.,
+Stanyon, Lt.-Col. Thomas,
+Welte, Brigadier Charles
+
+WEST
+Estill, Commissioner Thos., Chairman
+Gauntlett, Col. Sidney,
+Brewer, Lt.-Col. Arthur T.,
+Eynn, Lt.-Col. John T.,
+Dart, Brigadier Wm. J., Sec'y.
+
+FRANCE.
+Barker, Lt.-Col. William S., Director of War Work.
+
+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 COMMANDER
+EVANGELINE C. BOOTH 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.
+
+The National Board is greatly strengthened through the adding to its
+special councils all of the Provincial Officers of the country.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Romance of the Salvation Army, by 
+Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR ROMANCE OF SALVATION ARMY ***
+
+***** This file should be named 7811-8.txt or 7811-8.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 public domain print editions 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 with public domain eBooks.  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 in the public domain 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 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
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (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 Michael
+Hart, 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
+public domain works 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 located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., 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 Public Domain 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.
diff --git a/7811-8.zip b/7811-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e977bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-8.zip
diff --git a/7811-h.zip b/7811-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6341224
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h.zip
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 &ldquo;The Enchanted Barn&rdquo;; &ldquo;The Best Man&rdquo;;
+&ldquo;Lo Michael&rdquo;; &ldquo;The Red Signal,&rdquo; <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&rsquo;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">&ldquo;Introduced to French Rain and French Mud.&rdquo;</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">&ldquo;Tin Hat for a Halo! Ah! She Wears It Well!&rdquo;.</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&rsquo;Hermitage, Nestled in the Heart of a Deep Woods.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus14">L&rsquo;Hermitage, Inside the Tent.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus15">&ldquo;Ma&rdquo;.</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&rsquo;s Flowers on Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt&rsquo;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 &ldquo;Souptown&rdquo;.</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">&ldquo;Smiling Billy&rdquo;.</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;The Boys&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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, &ldquo;Bear ye one
+another&rsquo;s burdens and so
+fulfill the law of Christ.&rdquo;</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, &ldquo;Whatever the lot of the men,
+the Salvation Army is
+found with them.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s Own Pen</h2>
+
+<p>The war is over. The world&rsquo;s greatest tragedy
+is arrested. The awful pull
+at men&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;one great graveyard! Its towns and
+cities a wilderness of
+waste! The allied countries&mdash;Italy, and deathless
+little Belgium, and
+Serbia&mdash;well-nigh exterminated in the desperate, gory
+struggle! When I
+think upon it&mdash;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&rsquo;s titanic sacrifice
+for liberty, but which
+part we shall ever regard as our life&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;the only women amidst tens
+of thousands of men&mdash;
+upon the mountain-side of the Chilcoot Pass saving
+the lives of the gold-
+seekers, and telling those shattered by disappointment
+of treasure that
+&ldquo;doth not perish.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&mdash;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&mdash;<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&mdash;as I saw it done&mdash;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&mdash;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&mdash;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Colonel, we can die with the men,
+but we cannot leave them.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;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 &ldquo;tack,&rdquo; but as it is
+&ldquo;the set of the sails, and not the
+gales&rdquo; that decides the ports we reach, the
+competency of our seamanship
+is determined by the fact that we &ldquo;get there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Our service in France was not, therefore, an experiment,
+but an organized,
+tested, and proved system. We were enacting no new
+r&ocirc;le. 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: &ldquo;Your
+men have given us an example both of how to live as
+good soldiers and how
+to die as heroes.&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;closing
+hours.&rdquo; &ldquo;Taps&rdquo; 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&mdash;the
+many nights without
+sleep&mdash;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:
+&ldquo;This is just to show
+you how grateful we are to you.&rdquo; The officer
+was deeply touched, but told
+them she could not think of accepting it for herself.
+&ldquo;I am quite
+accustomed to hard toils,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I
+have only done what all my
+comrades are doing&mdash;my duty,&rdquo; and offered to
+compromise by putting the
+money into a general fund for the benefit of all&mdash;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s only begotten Son, dying
+on Calvary for a world&rsquo;s
+transgressions, able to save to the uttermost &ldquo;all
+those who come unto God
+by Him.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;s
+success-&ldquo;the simple, thorough-going, uncompromising, seven-days-a-week
+character of its Christianity.&rdquo; 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&mdash;let
+them come&mdash;mothers
+and the little children&mdash;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&rsquo; 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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;cup of cold water&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;I thank you for
+the money, but much more for
+the men; they are quite the best in our service.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A senator, after several months spent in France, stated:
+&ldquo;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>.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;scraps&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;know no man after the flesh,&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Your
+Majesty, some men&rsquo;s passion is gold; some men&rsquo;s passion is art; some men&rsquo;s
+passion is fame; my passion is man!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This was in our Founder&rsquo;s breast the white flame
+which ignited like sparks
+in the hearts of all his followers.</p>
+
+<p><i>Man is our life&rsquo;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&mdash;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:
+&ldquo;Tom, for me to die will mean to go home to
+mother. I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;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.&rdquo; 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, &ldquo;I can die better than you
+can;&rdquo; and from the deck of
+that sinking boat they flung their battle-cry around
+the world&mdash;
+<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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Our people,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;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!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke a light shone in her face that reminded
+me of the light that
+we read was on Moses&rsquo; face after he had spent
+those days in the mountain
+with God; and somewhere back in my soul something
+was repeating the words:
+&ldquo;And they took knowledge of them that they had
+been with Jesus.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;as
+seeing Him who is
+invisible.&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">others</span>&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Go straight for the salvation of souls: never
+rest satisfied unless this
+end is achieved!&rdquo; 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
+&ldquo;in their way,&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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&rsquo;m glad I was born a
+woman. It means a great deal to be a woman.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;smeared&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Well, if we can&rsquo;t burn them out we&rsquo;ll
+blow up the building, and get that damn Commander,
+anyhow!&rdquo;</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 &rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;ladies&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry I didn&rsquo;t
+see them. I&rsquo;m sure they would have done me no
+harm and I might have done them some good.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Where are
+the Salvation Army workers now in France?&rdquo; she
+replied evasively:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, wherever they are most needed,&rdquo; and
+passed on with a friend.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe that man is a spy!&rdquo; she said
+to her friend with conviction in her voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nonsense!&rdquo; the friend replied; &ldquo;you
+are growing nervous. That man has been in this hotel
+for several years.&rdquo;</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&rsquo; 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&rsquo;
+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&rsquo;s greatest calamity they must fulfill the
+mission for which he lived and died.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go!&rdquo; Those pictured eyes seemed to speak
+to her, just as they used to command her when he was
+here: &ldquo;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&rsquo;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.&rdquo;</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&mdash;just as
+she would later charge those whom she would send across
+the water&mdash;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: &ldquo;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!&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;the real thing&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Give the Colonel what he
+wants and make it a good one!&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;You know
+what the Salvation Army has done for me; now do what
+you can for the Salvation Army.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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="&ldquo;Introduced to French Rain and French Mud&rdquo;" />
+<p class="caption"><b>&ldquo;Introduced to French Rain and French Mud&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;new&rdquo; 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&mdash;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:
+&ldquo;The Salvation Army! I believe they&rsquo;ll
+be waiting for us when we get to hell to try and save
+us!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;&ldquo;singing
+as unto the Lord!&rdquo; 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">
+&ldquo;Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!<br />
+&nbsp;Saviour Divine, to whom else can I go?<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thou who hast died, loving me so,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!&rdquo;
+</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 &ldquo;play army&rdquo; 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;&mdash;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&mdash;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&rsquo;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&mdash;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 &ldquo;vin blanche&rdquo; and &ldquo;vin
+rouge.&rdquo; The French call this &ldquo;light&rdquo;
+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: &ldquo;Just
+wait till our Salvation Army women get here and I
+will see that they make you a pie that is a pie.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;never-say-die&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;How about holding our meeting over there?&rdquo;
+asked the Staff-Captain of the man in charge.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right. Hold it wherever you like.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;s
+voices! Young and fresh, too, not old ones. How they
+thrilled with the sweetness of it:</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+&ldquo;Nearer, my God, to Thee,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nearer to Thee,<br />
+E&rsquo;en though it be a cross<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That raiseth me.&rdquo;
+</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">
+&ldquo;When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;And time shall be no more&mdash;&rdquo;
+</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 &ldquo;supreme sacrifice&rdquo; and
+the glory of dying for one&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s voice began to sing, all alone:</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+&ldquo;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&rsquo;s prayers have followed me.<br />
+I&rsquo;m coming home, I&rsquo;m coming home,<br />
+To live my wasted life anew,<br />
+For Mother&rsquo;s prayers have followed me,<br />
+Have followed me, the whole world through.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+&ldquo;O&rsquo;er desert wild, o&rsquo;er mountain high,<br />
+A wanderer I chose to be&mdash;-<br />
+A wretched soul condemned to die;<br />
+Still Mother&rsquo;s prayers have followed me.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+&ldquo;He turned my darkness into light,<br />
+This blessed Christ of Calvary;<br />
+I&rsquo;ll praise His name both day and night,<br />
+That Mother&rsquo;s prayers have followed me!<br />
+I&rsquo;m coming home, I&rsquo;m coming home&mdash;-&rdquo;
+</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
+&ldquo;War Cry&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;jawbone&rdquo;
+when he was &ldquo;broke.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Salvation Army huts gave the soldiers &ldquo;jawbone,&rdquo;
+this being the soldier&rsquo;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 &ldquo;jawbone,&rdquo;
+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: &ldquo;I owe you 285 francs. Put the change
+in the coffee fund.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;non-coms&rdquo;
+met in it. The band practiced in it every morning.
+Because of its popularity among the men it was known
+among the officers as &ldquo;the soldiers&rsquo; hut.&rdquo;
+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>&ldquo;Never mind,&rdquo; said the sergeant to the
+girls, &ldquo;the boys will see that you get some
+to-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>
+So he requested every man going up to the Salvation Army hut that evening to
+carry a stick of wood with him (&ldquo;a stick&rdquo; may weigh anywhere from
+10 to 100 pounds). By eight o&rsquo;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Are you locating
+with us?&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;We are going to stay here if you will have
+us,&rdquo; said the Staff-Captain.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have you! Well, I should say we would have
+you! Wait a minute and I&rsquo;ll have a detail put
+your baggage under cover for the night. Then we&rsquo;ll
+see about dinner and a billet.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Who put up those tents?&rdquo;
+The Salvation Army Staff-Captain stood forth saluting
+respectfully and responded: &ldquo;I, sir.&rdquo; &ldquo;Well,&rdquo;
+said the Colonel, &ldquo;they look mighty fine up
+on that hill&mdash;mighty fine! Splendid location for them&mdash;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!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Aw, that&rsquo;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!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;But where is the cook stove?&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Why,&rdquo; he answered apologetically, &ldquo;we
+forgot all about that!&rdquo; 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&mdash;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>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know about bringing my girls
+in here with the men,&rdquo; said the Staff-Captain
+still hesitating. &ldquo;You know the men are pretty
+rough in their talk, and they&rsquo;re always cussing!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Leave that to me!&rdquo; said the Mess-Sergeant.
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;ll be all right!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;cuss word&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;We ought to have something more than just chocolate
+to sell to the soldiers, anyway,&rdquo; 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.
+&ldquo;We ought to be able to give them some real home
+cooking!&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;honest-to-goodness&rdquo;
+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: &ldquo;Gee! If this is war, let it
+continue!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;doughnut
+wrist&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;Stars and Stripes,&rdquo;
+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">
+&ldquo;Home is where the heart is&rdquo;&mdash;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Thus the poet sang;<br />
+But &ldquo;home is where the pie is&rdquo;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;For the doughboy gang!<br />
+Crullers in the craters,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Pastry in abris&mdash;<br />
+This Salvation Army lass<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Sure knows how to please!
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+Tin hat for a halo!<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Ah! She wears it well!<br />
+Making pies for homesick lads<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Sure is &ldquo;beating hell!&rdquo;<br />
+In a region blasted<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;By fire and flame and sword,<br />
+This Salvation Army lass<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Battles for the Lord!
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Call me sacrilegious<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;And irreverent, too;<br />
+Pies? They link us up with home<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;As naught else can do!<br />
+&ldquo;Home is, where the heart is&rdquo;&mdash;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;True, the poet sang;<br />
+But &ldquo;home is where the pie is&rdquo;&mdash;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;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&mdash; 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: &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll
+leave it to the men, whether they will be billeted
+here or let the Salvation Army have the place.&rdquo;
+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: &ldquo;Captain, would it make you
+mad if we offered our services to help?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:50%;">
+<a name="illus07"></a>
+<img src="images/007.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="&ldquo;Tin hat for a halo! Ah! She wears it well!&rdquo;" />
+<p class="caption"><b>&ldquo;Tin hat for a halo!<br/>
+Ah! She wears it well!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;
+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&rsquo;
+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: &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&rsquo; 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&mdash;so many, in fact, that
+special hospital accommodations had to be immediately
+arranged. The ship&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;s Captain requested
+a Salvation Army Adjutant to conduct the funeral service.</p>
+
+<p>At 4.30 P.M. the ship&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;Mother&rdquo;
+and no mother could have been more tender than she.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You look so much like mother,&rdquo; said one
+boy just before he died. &ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you please
+kiss me?&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Good-bye, mother! Good luck!&rdquo;</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. &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo;
+replied another; &ldquo;haven&rsquo;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!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;As soon
+as the American Army goes into camp we will blow them
+off the map.&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Let me have that cake,&rdquo; said he to the
+lassie who had baked it, &ldquo;and I&rsquo;ll take
+it to the General and see what I can do.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;
+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: &ldquo;The ladies
+of Montiers-sur-Saulx sent this cake to the General,
+and I must put it into his hands&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He was finally led to the General&rsquo;s room and,
+uncovering the great cake, he said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Gentlemen, this cake will not
+be served till the evening&rsquo;s mess, and I pity
+the gentlemen who do not eat with the officer&rsquo;s
+mess, but they will have to go elsewhere for their
+cake.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;old Sarge&rdquo; 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&rsquo;s
+raid, and the patient workers looked aghast at the
+task before them. But the Colonel would listen to no
+arguments. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t talk about difficulties,&rdquo;
+he said, brushing aside a plea for another lot, not
+quite so desirable perhaps, but much easier to clear.
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t talk about difficulties; get busy
+and have the job over with!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Bunch of grafters, these Y.M.C.A. and Salvation
+Army outfits!&rdquo; grumbled one as he struck a match.
+&ldquo;What good are the &lsquo;Sallies&rsquo; in a
+soldier camp?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Buddy,&rdquo; said the other somewhat
+excitedly, &ldquo;there&rsquo;s a whole lot of us
+think the Salvation Army is about it in this man&rsquo;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&rsquo;s what. I didn&rsquo;t have much
+use for them myself back in the States, but here in
+France they&rsquo;re real folks, believe me!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;We never forced a meeting on them,&rdquo; said
+one of the girls. &ldquo;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
+&lsquo;Tell Mother I&rsquo;ll Be There.&rsquo;&rdquo;</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. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the
+worst thing I ever did&mdash;stopping the music,&rdquo;
+he exclaimed ruefully. He refused to occupy the chair
+which had been prepared for him, saying: &ldquo;No,
+I want to stand so that I can look at these men.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;s
+letter, giving a picture of one of her days in the
+hut:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;s work in my last hut. Then
+meeting at night, and it lasts two hours.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A lieutenant came into the canteen to buy something
+and said to one of the girls: &ldquo;Will you please
+tell me something? Don&rsquo;t you ever rest?&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;It was my mother&rsquo;s,&rdquo; he explained.
+&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No one will misunderstand&rdquo; he cried,
+seeing that the lassie was about to decline, &ldquo;not
+even me. I shall tell no one. And it would help.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well,&rdquo; agreed the girl, looking
+steadily at him for a moment, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo; 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: &ldquo;Because they always take
+time to cheer us up. It&rsquo;s true they do knock
+us mighty hard about our sins, but while it hurts
+they always show us a way out.&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Why, sure!&rdquo; he said heartily. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s
+my regular work!&rdquo; 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:
+&ldquo;Are you going to sell all those things?&rdquo;
+The Staff-Captain, with quick appreciation, said:
+&ldquo;No, Colonel, Christmas comes but once a year
+and there&rsquo;s a present up there for you.&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;Boudoir Biscuits&rdquo; One day
+a soldier entered a hut and said: &ldquo;Say, miss,
+I want some of them there-them there&mdash;Dang me if I
+can remember them French names!&mdash;them there (suddenly
+a great light dawned)&mdash;some of them there bedroom cookies.&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;La
+Petit Major,&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s degradation; and still the man did not
+look up.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must be in great trouble, brother. Can
+I help you any?&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;You call me brother! You know what I&rsquo;m
+here for and you call me brother! Why?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The Little Major&rsquo;s voice was steady and sweet
+as he replied without hesitation:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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, &rsquo;Though your sins be as scarlet they
+shall be as white as snow, though they be red like
+crimson they shall be as wool!&rsquo; So why shouldn&rsquo;t
+I call you brother?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said the man with a groan of agony
+and big tears rolling down his face. &ldquo;Could
+I be made a better man?&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s true, what you said! Christ has
+pardoned me! Now I can die like a man!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;I knew that someone who knew how to deal with
+men had got hold of him,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;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!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;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!&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;over the top,&rdquo; 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&rsquo; 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. &ldquo;Then
+take it out and read it,&rdquo; said the Major. &ldquo;God
+is here!&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;Go
+back, Major, you haven&rsquo;t even a pistol!&rdquo;
+But the Major did not go back. He went with the boys.
+&ldquo;I have no hesitancy in laying down my life,&rdquo;
+he once said, &ldquo;if it will help or encourage
+anyone else to live in a better or cleaner way.&rdquo;</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, &ldquo;We are not afraid because we
+have a sense of the presence of God right here with
+us!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>One night the battalion was &ldquo;in&rdquo; after
+a heavy day&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Oh, Daddy!
+Daddy! Daddy!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Well, you just bet I know the Major&mdash;sure thing!&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;Buddie.&rdquo; 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
+&ldquo;war baby&rdquo; 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. &ldquo;No, sir, we can&rsquo;t get
+along without our Major!&rdquo; So says &ldquo;Buddie.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;No
+piano?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The cheerful woman behind the counter would say sympathetically:
+&ldquo;No, boys, no piano. Too many shells around
+here for a piano.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t ask us where we got it,&rdquo;
+they would answer with a twinkle in reply to the pleased
+inquiry. &ldquo;This is war! We salvaged it!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Say, where do you
+come from? Don&rsquo;t you know the Salvation Army
+don&rsquo;t handle tobacco?&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;attention&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;tiger.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Yes, it&rsquo;s from mother!&rdquo; Then impulsively,
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s the nearest thing to God I know!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Aw,
+well, this is different. These beans are the kind
+that mother used to buy.&rdquo;</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&rsquo; mine, what the words mean to me<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Is more than tongue can say;<br />
+For one view to-night of your loving face,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;What a price I would gladly pay!<br />
+The wonderful face . . .<br />
+. . . smiling still despite loads of care,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Tis crowned by a silvering sheen.<br />
+Your picture I carry next to my heart;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;With it no harm can befall.<br />
+It has helped me to smile through many a care,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Since I heeded my country&rsquo;s call.<br />
+O mother who nursed me as a babe<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;And prayed for me as a boy,<br />
+Can I not show, now at man&rsquo;s estate,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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 />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;For he&rsquo;s dreaming of home and you.
+</p>
+
+<p>One of the letters that was written home for &ldquo;Mother&rsquo;s
+Day&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;t
+take much mental work to connect lilacs with mother.
+Then, too, the distant whistle of a train &rsquo;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
+&rsquo;till she was home alone; who knit helmets, wristlets
+and sweaters to keep out the cold when she should
+have been sleeping; who (I&rsquo;ll bet a hat) didn&rsquo;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&rsquo;m
+not much on showing affection. I haven&rsquo;t always
+been as good to you as I ought, but I&rsquo;m going
+to make up by being the soldier and the man &ldquo;me
+mudder&rdquo; thinks I am.</p>
+
+<p>And when I come back home, all full of prunes and
+glory, we&rsquo;re going to have the grandest time
+you ever dreamed of. We&rsquo;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&rsquo;s chevrons, about steen
+service stripes, a Mex. campaign badge and a Croix
+de Guerre (maybe), then you&rsquo;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&rsquo;m a wee bit tired so
+I&rsquo;m making this kinder short; but it&rsquo;s
+a little reminder that the boy who is 5,000 miles
+away is thinking, &ldquo;I love you my ma,&rdquo;
+same as I always did.</p>
+
+<p>And, by gosh, don&rsquo;t forget about that pumpkin
+pie!</p>
+
+<p>Good-night, mother of mine; your soldier boy loves
+you a whole dollar&rsquo;s worth.</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:70%;">
+<a name="illus09"></a>
+<img src="images/009.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="&ldquo;Here during the day
+they worked in dugouts far below the shell-tortured earth&rdquo;" />
+<p class="caption"><b>&ldquo;Here during the day they worked in dugouts far
+below the shell-tortured earth&rdquo;</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="&ldquo;L&rsquo;Hermitage,
+nestled in the heart of a deep woods, was no quiet refuge&rdquo;" />
+<p class="caption"><b>&ldquo;L&rsquo;Hermitage, nestled in the heart of a deep
+woods, was no quiet refuge&rdquo;</b></p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:70%;">
+<a name="illus14"></a>
+<img src="images/014.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="L&rsquo;Hermitage, inside
+the tent. Several of these boys were killed a few days after the picture was taken" />
+<p class="caption"><b>L&rsquo;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>&ldquo;We want you to get out! We don&rsquo;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!&rdquo; pointing through the doorway, &ldquo;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!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;On my way up here in your automobile&rdquo;&mdash;every
+word was slow and calm and deliberate, tinged with
+a fine righteous sarcasm&mdash;&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;Now, look at me!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Can you find any man&mdash;&rdquo; The Salvationist
+said &ldquo;mon&rdquo; and the soft Scotch sound of
+it sent a thrill down the Major-General&rsquo;s back
+in spite of his opposition. &ldquo;Can you find any
+mon at fifty-five years who can follow these in your
+regiment, who can beat me at any game whatever?&rdquo;</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&rsquo;s
+face and dropped upon his table.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And do you know,&rdquo; said the Salvationist,
+afterward telling a friend in earnest confidence,
+&ldquo;do you <i>know</i>, before I left we <i>had
+prayer together!</i> And he became one of the best
+friends we have!&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;Lead Kindly Light Amid the
+Encircling Gloom, Lead Thou Me On.&rdquo;</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.
+&ldquo;The boys would miss it so,&rdquo; they said,
+&ldquo;and we would miss it, too. It rests us to hear
+you sing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>After the Bible reading and prayer a lassie sang:
+&ldquo;There Is Sunshine in My Heart To-day,&rdquo;
+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&mdash;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>&ldquo;How would you like a phonograph?&rdquo; she
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, Boy! If we only had one! I&rsquo;ll tell
+the world we&rsquo;d like it,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;But when you write promise me you won&rsquo;t
+tell mother about my foot. She worries! She wouldn&rsquo;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.&rdquo; So, with
+his left hand, he wrote the following:</p>
+
+<p>Dearest Mother:&mdash;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>&ldquo;I am going to die, I know I am, and I&rsquo;m
+a Catholic. Can you pray for me, Salvation Army girl,
+like you prayed for that fellow over there?&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Come out,&rdquo; he shouted, &ldquo;or I&rsquo;ll
+throw in a hand grenade!&rdquo;</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&rsquo; Training
+Camp. On the big parade ground in back of the Salvation
+Army huts three companies were lined up for &ldquo;Colors.&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;Star Spangled Banner,&rdquo;
+and the flag slipped slowly from its high staff. Instantly
+the farming tools were dropped and the three childish
+figures swung swiftly to &ldquo;attention,&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;The Star Spangled Banner.&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;s supply
+train, who had, perforce, to follow suit. The &ldquo;Star
+Spangled Banner&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;Aunt Mary&rdquo; 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&rsquo; 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&rsquo;clock that evening the pie line was
+several hundred yards long. It was eleven o&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;And you mean to tell me that you girls work
+so hard for such a small return? I don&rsquo;t see
+where you make any profit at all.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t work for profit, Captain,&rdquo;
+answered the lassie. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think any
+amount of money would persuade us to keep going as
+we have to here at times.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You mean you sort of work for the joy of working?&rdquo;
+he asked, puzzled.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what you mean,&rdquo; responded
+the lassie pleasantly, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No wonder my men have so many good things to
+say about the Salvation Army!&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;It takes more than patriotism to keep refined
+women working like that!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;But I can&rsquo;t read!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Read? What do you mean?&rdquo; asked the lassie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My Bible. Nobody never learned me to read,
+and I can&rsquo;t read my Bible like you said in the
+meeting I should.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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&rsquo;t even fear
+death. I know now that it can only mean a new life.
+Thank God for your goodness to me!&rdquo;</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, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+out to enjoy life.&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">For the first time on pay-day Scoop is sober</span>!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;No,
+nothing will help me to bear my sorrow like doing something
+for others.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&mdash;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>&ldquo;Can them girls speak American?&rdquo; he asked,
+pointing at the girls.</p>
+
+<p>On being assured that they could, he said: &ldquo;Will
+they mind if I go up and speak to them? I ain&rsquo;t
+talked to an American woman in seven months.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Two soldiers were walking along the dusty roadway.</p>
+
+<p>First soldier: &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s go to the Salvation
+Army hut.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Second soldier: &ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t want to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>First soldier: &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got a piano and
+a phonograph and lots of records.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Second soldier: &ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t want to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>First soldier: &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got books and
+<i>beaucoup</i> games.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Second soldier: &ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t want to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>First soldier: &ldquo;Two American ladies there!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Second soldier: &ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t want to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>First soldier: &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve got swell coffee
+and doughnuts!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Second soldier (angrily): &ldquo;No! I said <span class="smallcaps">No</span>!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>First soldier: &ldquo;Aw, come on. They got real homemade
+pie!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Second soldier: &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>First soldier: &ldquo;They cut their own wood and
+do their own work!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Second soldier: &ldquo;Well, that&rsquo;s different!
+Why didn&rsquo;t you say that right off, you bonehead?
+Come on. Where is it?&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;mother&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;s
+&ldquo;buddie.&rdquo; &ldquo;I wish it was me instead
+of him, Cap,&rdquo; said this soldier, &ldquo;he was
+his mother&rsquo;s oldest son and she will take it
+hard.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">Attention! The enemy sees you</span>!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;As I live, it&rsquo;s the Salvation Army!&rdquo;
+he cried joyfully, shaking hands with both of them
+at once. &ldquo;All of the boys have been asking when
+you were coming. Are you looking for a place to chow
+and sleep? There&rsquo;s no place in town for a billet,
+but we have a kitchen down the street. We can give
+you some chow, and it&rsquo;s warm there. You can
+roll up in your blankets and sleep by the stove till
+morning. Come with me.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry about getting up yet,&rdquo;
+said the chief cook kindly. &ldquo;Sleep a little
+longer. You are not in my way.&rdquo; But the two men
+thanked him and declined to rest longer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where are you going to chow?&rdquo; asked the
+chief cook.</p>
+
+<p>The Salvationists allowed that they didn&rsquo;t know.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, you boys line up with this outfit, see?&rdquo;
+insisted the chief cook. &ldquo;We eat three times
+a day and you&rsquo;re welcome to everything we have!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;That Colonel of yours is a fine fellow,&rdquo;
+he said. &ldquo;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&rsquo;s anything I
+can do, command me!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Gee! It&rsquo;s good to see you,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Well, how are you?&rdquo; asked one of the
+girls, hoping to start him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, all right, thanks,&rdquo; he said meekly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where is your company?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Up the line in some woods.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How far is it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;About ten miles.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The girls felt they were not getting on very fast
+in acquiring information.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did you walk all that way in the dust and sun?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Most of it. Sometimes I was in the fields.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Were you on watch last night?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ye-ah.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you didn&rsquo;t have any sleep?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why did you come over here then?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wanted to see you.&rdquo; There was a sound
+of a deep hunger in his voice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, we&rsquo;re awfully glad to see you,
+surely. Is there anything we can do for you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, Just let me look at you&rdquo;&mdash;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>&ldquo;Just let me look at you&mdash;and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; he
+hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And what?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And cook some doughnuts.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, of course!&rdquo; said the girls cheerily,
+&ldquo;but you must lie down and sleep awhile first.
+We&rsquo;ll fix a place for you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to lie down,&rdquo; said
+the soldier determinedly, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want
+to waste the time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But it wouldn&rsquo;t be wasted. You need the
+sleep.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, that isn&rsquo;t what I need. I want to
+look at you,&rdquo; he reiterated. &ldquo;I&rsquo;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&rsquo;t go over the top tonight without
+seeing you again. That&rsquo;s why I want to see you
+and fry a few doughnuts for you. It takes me back
+to them.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;Just thought I ought to come back and tell
+you I&rsquo;m all right,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I
+was afraid you&rsquo;d be worried. My wife and baby
+would, anyway.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The girls received him with exultant smiles. &ldquo;You
+go out there under the trees and go to sleep!&rdquo;
+they ordered him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, I will,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I
+feel like sleeping now. Say, you don&rsquo;t think
+I&rsquo;m crazy, do you? I just had to see you! It
+took me back to them!&rdquo;</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&mdash;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&mdash;only an impenetrable
+darkness which pressed in upon him with a heaviness
+which might almost have been weighed. He was lost&mdash;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>&ldquo;Caught him in the act of signaling to an enemy
+plane, sir,&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>The boy was too cold to venture a protest.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bring him to me again in the morning,&rdquo;
+said the Colonel, shrugging his shoulders. &ldquo;Hold
+on, though! What are you going to do with him? He will
+die unless you get him warmed up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t know what to do with him, sir,
+unless I take him down to the Salvation Army... they
+have a fire there.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very good, Captain, see that he is properly
+guarded and if they will have him, leave him there
+for the night.&rdquo; And so it came to pass that the
+boy reached his destination. It was past closing time&mdash;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&rsquo;s
+hand, was sleeping peacefully.</p>
+
+<p>The next day a little investigation assured the Colonel
+that the boy&rsquo;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&rsquo; 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&mdash;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. &ldquo;Did you ever go to one of their meetings?&rdquo;
+asked one. &ldquo;I sure did!&rdquo; answered a big
+fine fellow&mdash;a college man, by the way, from one of
+the well known New England universities. &ldquo;I
+sure did!&mdash;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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&rsquo;ll
+never forget that meeting!&rdquo;</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">
+&ldquo;Somewhere in France,&rdquo;<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&mdash;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 &ldquo;slouched&rdquo; down so I can
+stand straight. Almost every evening we have a little
+&ldquo;sing-song&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;See here, boys, did you ever know anything
+about the Salvation Army before?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They admitted that they had not.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;t like us you can say so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, that&rsquo;s fair, Dad,&rdquo; spoke
+up one soldier, and after that there was no more trouble,
+and it wasn&rsquo;t long before the soldiers were giving
+the most generous praise to the Salvation Army on
+every side.</p>
+
+<p>L&rsquo;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&rsquo;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, &ldquo;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.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;This is a heck of a place for the Salvation
+Army to go to sleep! If you don&rsquo;t mind I&rsquo;ll
+just pick your old bus out of here and send you on
+your way before it&rsquo;s light enough for Fritzy
+to spot you and send a calling card.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He was grinning at them cheerfully and they roused
+to the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How are you going to do it?&rdquo; asked the
+Adjutant, who, by the way, was Smiling Billy, the
+same one the soldiers called &ldquo;one game little
+guy.&rdquo; &ldquo;It will take a three-ton truck
+to get us out of this hole!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t got a truck but I guess we
+can turn the trick all right!&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;How do you like &rsquo;em?&rdquo; 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&mdash;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&rsquo; mess where
+the girls had dined once at their invitation, brought
+them boxes of candy, and in presenting them said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Gee! We shall miss you like the devil!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The lassie twinkled up in a merry smile and answered:
+&ldquo;That sure is some comparison!&rdquo; The officer
+blushed as red as a peony and tried to apologize:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, now, you know what I mean. I don&rsquo;t
+know just how to say how much we shall miss you!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;You can&rsquo;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.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Oh, they&rsquo;re
+shelling the road! Pull into the village quick!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo; 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&mdash;sunlight fades,<br />
+Through a sea of griefs He wades,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;And prays in agony.<br />
+His sweat is of blood,<br />
+His tears like a flood<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;For a lost world flow down.<br />
+I never knew such tears could be&mdash;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;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 />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Saviour of mankind.<br />
+His brow pierced by thorn,<br />
+His hands and feet torn,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;With broken heart He died.<br />
+I never knew such pain could be,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;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&rsquo;er death&rsquo;s sting,<br />
+Love which has immortal wing,<br />
+Love which is the only thing<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;My broken heart to heal.<br />
+It burst through the grave,<br />
+It brought grace to save,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;It opened Heaven&rsquo;s gate.<br />
+I never knew such love could be&mdash;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;Others.&rdquo; Did
+you ever stop to think how that would take the coquetry
+out of a girl&rsquo;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;And they
+took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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&mdash;&mdash; 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&rsquo;clock when I got up, washed
+my clothes: was visited by the Y.M.C.A. Secretary:
+was shelled from five o&rsquo;clock till ten o&rsquo;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&mdash;
+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&mdash;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;Swanee River&rdquo; 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&rsquo;clock
+a terrific crash just outside of my dugout followed
+by a man shouting as he rushed down the dugout steps,
+&ldquo;Oh, God, get me to the doctor right away.&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;Million-Dollar Barrage,&rdquo;
+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&mdash;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Here is the Military Order received by the Staff-Captain:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;To Major Coe,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Salvation Army:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;(1) Major Wilson, Chief G1, directs that the
+Salvation Army evacuate &lsquo;Coullemelle&rsquo;
+as soon as possible.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;(2) He desires that they leave to-night if
+possible.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;(3) This message was received by me from the
+office of G1.</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+&ldquo;L. <span class="smallcaps">Johnson</span>,<br />
+&ldquo;1st Lieut., F. A.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Orders also arrived soon for the removal of the Salvation
+Army workers in Broyes:</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+&ldquo;Headquarters,
+1st Division, G-1.<br />
+&ldquo;American Expeditionary Forces,<br />
+&ldquo;June 3, 1919.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Memorandum: To Mr. L. A. Coe, Salvation Army,
+La Folie.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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 &rsquo;be removed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;By command of Major General Bullard.</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+&ldquo;G. K Wilson,<br />
+&ldquo;Major, General
+Staff,<br />
+&ldquo;A. C. of S., G.-1.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Gee! This is just like heaven, coming in here!&rdquo;
+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>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t do that, you will get hit!&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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, &ldquo;What did you do with
+that furniture?&rdquo; &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; the Colonel
+said, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s down there all right!&rdquo;
+&ldquo;And where is the piano?&rdquo; &ldquo;Oh, I
+gave that to the Salvation Army.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In this area it was one lassie&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Come on! Follow
+me to your dugout!&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Drop the shoes!&rdquo; he shouted. &ldquo;I
+can clean the shoes, but for heaven&rsquo;s sake don&rsquo;t
+drop them pies!&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;Pa&rdquo; and &ldquo;Ma.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;Ma&rdquo;
+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,
+&ldquo;Ma&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;Ma&rsquo;s&rdquo; gray eyes.</p>
+
+<p>From Bonnet they were transferred to command a hut
+at Ansauville, but &ldquo;Ma&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;Ma&rsquo;s&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;Ma&rsquo;s&rdquo;
+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&rsquo; 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&rsquo;s
+clothes that &ldquo;Ma&rdquo; could not mend.</p>
+
+<p>A short time after the pie contest over at Gondrecourt,
+&ldquo;Ma&rdquo; and one of her lassie helpers set
+out to break the record of 316 pies as a day&rsquo;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&rsquo;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="&ldquo;Ma&rdquo;" />
+<p class="caption"><b>&ldquo;Ma&rdquo;</b></p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:70%;">
+<a name="illus16"></a>
+<img src="images/016.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="&ldquo;They had a pie-baking
+contest in Gondrecourt one day&rdquo;&mdash;the renowned &ldquo;Aunt Mary&rdquo;
+in the right-hand corner" />
+<p class="caption"><b>&ldquo;They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one
+day&rdquo;&mdash;the renowned &ldquo;Aunt Mary&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;Ma&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;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>&rdquo;</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. &ldquo;Ma,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;I used to be a hard guy fellers,&rdquo; he
+said, &ldquo;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 &lsquo;arrivals&rsquo;
+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&rsquo;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&rsquo;d call for a new deal,
+and I want to say that I&rsquo;m going to keep that
+promise!&rdquo;</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. &ldquo;Now,&rdquo;
+said he with relief after he had told the story, &ldquo;that&rsquo;s
+all clear. And say, if I&rsquo;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&rsquo;ll
+know what to say to her to help her bear up.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth
+us from all sin.&rdquo;</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, &ldquo;Ma&rsquo;s&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;Take heed to the law,&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;Ma&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;Ma,&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;I know the Salvation Army,&rdquo; he said with
+a faint smile, &ldquo;I knew I should find you here.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>She asked him his division and he told her he belonged
+to one that had been co&ouml;perating with the French.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But how can that be?&rdquo; she asked in surprise,
+&ldquo;we have never worked with your division. How
+do you know about us?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I only saw the Salvation Army once,&rdquo;
+he replied, &ldquo;but I&rsquo;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!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>One bright young fellow with a bandaged eye turned
+a cheerful grin toward the Salvation Army visitor
+as she said with compassion: &ldquo;Son, I&rsquo;m
+sorry you&rsquo;ve lost your eye.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that&rsquo;s nothing,&rdquo; was the gay
+reply, &ldquo;I can see everything out of the other
+eye. I&rsquo;ve got seven holes in me, too, but believe
+me I&rsquo;m not going home for the loss of an eye
+and seven holes! I&rsquo;ll get out yet and get into
+the fight!&rdquo;</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
+&ldquo;Sunshine&rdquo; 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, &ldquo;Little
+girl, you had better get out of town early to-night;
+I feel as though something is going to happen.&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;She is the
+real thing!&rdquo; They won&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;fresh&rdquo; youth,
+once walked boldly into a hut, it is said, and jauntily
+addressed the lassie behind the counter as &ldquo;Dearie.&rdquo;
+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>&ldquo;What
+did you say?</i>&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The soldier stared, and grew red and unhappy:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh! I beg your pardon!&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;Those Salvation Army Folks&rdquo; after
+the Montdidier attack:</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+Somewhere in France, not far from the foe,<br />
+There&rsquo;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&rsquo;er for awhile,<br />
+In their dugouts we find comfort and welcome their smile.<br />
+There&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;I understand by one of your letters that you
+are thinking of decorating the American graves,&rdquo;
+he said. &ldquo;We would like to help in that, if you
+don&rsquo;t mind. I would like the company all to be
+present.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Colonel&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;with
+your permission we would like to follow our custom
+and offer a prayer for the bereaved.&rdquo; 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&rsquo; 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&rsquo;s flowers on Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt&rsquo;s grave" />
+<p class="caption"><b>Colonel Barker placing the commander&rsquo;s flowers on
+Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; said he in a clear
+ringing voice, &ldquo;turn and salute America!&rdquo;
+And they all turned and saluted toward the West, while
+the band played softly &ldquo;My Country &rsquo;Tis
+of Thee!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">National Cemetery of the American Expeditionary Forces</span>.&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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 />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Are waiting me to come,<br />
+Where neither death nor sorrow<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Invades their holy home;<br />
+O dear, dear native country!<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;O rest and peace above!<br />
+Christ, bring us all to the Homeland<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;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 &ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">Modern Bar</span>.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Game called on account
+of shell fire!&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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. &ldquo;Ho, every
+one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he
+that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;When The Roll
+Is Called Up Yonder, I&rsquo;ll Be There.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Oh, if you only knew what it means to us!&rdquo;
+one of the men tried to tell them one day.</p>
+
+<p>Sometimes men who said they hadn&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Girls! Are you hurt?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; said one of them brightly. &ldquo;The
+Lord wouldn&rsquo;t let that fellow get us.&rdquo;</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&rsquo; 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: &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;It is not the guns, nor the bombs which can
+frighten me,&rdquo; she told a Salvation Army lassie
+who was billeted with her for a time, &ldquo;but I
+am very much afraid of the submarines.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s
+shoulder, then pass on to the next.</p>
+
+<p>One morning at three o&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Good! That is all I wanted. I can keep
+going until morning now!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+going over the top, Sister. If I don&rsquo;t come
+back&mdash;if I&rsquo;m kicked off&mdash;you tell mother. You
+will know what to say to her to help her bear up.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Aren&rsquo;t you tired? Aren&rsquo;t you afraid?&rdquo;
+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>&ldquo;Oh, no! It&rsquo;s great!&rdquo; she replied
+eagerly. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m the luckiest girl in the
+world.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">Attention!
+The Enemy Sees You</span>!&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;If you have to go, go like
+the devil!&rdquo;</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&mdash;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;
+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: &ldquo;Man, don&rsquo;t you know that town is
+being shelled every night?&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;I should say not!&rdquo; he replied vigorously
+with yet a twinkle of admiration for the brave lassies.
+&ldquo;But you can take anything you want in this town.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;one game little guy,&rdquo;
+because he was so fearless in going into No Man&rsquo;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&mdash;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&rsquo; collars
+and dresses&mdash;ten thousand yards at a dollar a yard&mdash;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: &ldquo;You saved
+my life that day. Oh, but I&rsquo;m glad to see you!
+The doctor said it was that cold lemonade you gave
+me that kept me from dying of fever!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m out with you for life&rdquo;
+declared the Colonel angrily. &ldquo;The General&rsquo;s
+upset and I&rsquo;m upset.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, what&rsquo;s the matter, Colonel?&rdquo;
+asked the Zone Major innocently.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Matter enough! You had no business to bring
+those girls up here!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Dog-gone you, Major, where&rsquo;ve you been
+keeping yourself? Why haven&rsquo;t you been around?&rdquo;
+and he put out his hand affably.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, I didn&rsquo;t want to see a man who bawled
+me out in the public highway that way,&rdquo; said
+the Zone Major.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, Major, you had no business to bring those
+girls up here and you know it!&rdquo; said the Colonel
+rousing to the old subject again.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why not, Colonel, didn&rsquo;t they do fine?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, they did,&rdquo; said the Colonel with
+tears springing suddenly into his eyes and a huskiness
+into his voice, &ldquo;but, Major, think what if we&rsquo;d
+lost one of them!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Colonel,&rdquo; said the Zone Major gently,
+&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The Colonel struggled with his emotion for a moment
+and then said gruffly: &ldquo;Had anything to eat?
+Stop and take a bite with me.&rdquo; 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&rsquo; 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 &ldquo;The Ladies
+From Hell,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s give them each one,&rdquo; proposed
+one of the girls.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No! Give them a punch in the nose!&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;What
+does this mean?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Aw, well! The poor sneaks looked so longingly!&rdquo;
+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,
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t help me, help that fellow over there
+who is suffering!&rdquo; 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:
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the last,&rdquo; the boy to whom
+it was given would say: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t give it
+to me, give it to Harry. I don&rsquo;t want it.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Say, Cap, you see we didn&rsquo;t go up.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I see,&rdquo; she smiled happily.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Say, Cap, won&rsquo;t you have another farewell
+meeting to-night?&rdquo; he asked with an appealing
+glance in his dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Son, we&rsquo;ve arranged something else just
+now for the fellows who are coming back,&rdquo; she
+said gently, for she hated to refuse such a request.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, say, Cap, you can have that later, can&rsquo;t
+you? We want another meeting now.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;All right. Go out and tell the boys.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;went
+over.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Tell the girls I&rsquo;ve gone West; for I
+will be by the time you tell them; and tell them it&rsquo;s
+all right for at that second meeting I accepted Christ
+and I die resting on the same Saviour that is theirs.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>One of our wonderful boys out on the drive had his
+hand blown off and didn&rsquo;t realize it. His chum
+tried to drag him back and told him his hand was gone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s nothing!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Tie
+it up!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Go home!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Go home for
+the loss of a left hand! I&rsquo;m not left-handed.
+Maybe I can&rsquo;t carry a gun, but I can throw hand
+grenades!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Excuse me, Major, saying I won&rsquo;t. But
+<i>I won&rsquo;t let go your coat</i> till you
+say I can stay,&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;No&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;It is wonderful
+to have you around.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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. &ldquo;Before
+they came,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;all in,&rdquo; and could hardly
+walk.</p>
+
+<p>Without an instant&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Gee!&rdquo; said one of the boys, &ldquo;if
+anybody ever says &rsquo;beautiful moonlight nights&rsquo;
+to me when I get home I don&rsquo;t know what I&rsquo;ll
+do to &rsquo;em!&rdquo;</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
+&ldquo;Vin&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;When you feel thirsty just come here
+and get lemonade as often as you want it!&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;hole in the wall&rdquo; where &ldquo;vin blanche&rdquo;
+and &ldquo;vin rouge&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;Souptown.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;going up.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Say, you&rsquo;re awfully tired turning over
+doughnuts. Let me help you. You go inside and rest
+a while. I&rsquo;m sure I can do that.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;<i>go away</i>&rdquo; and rest.</p>
+
+<p>Often the boys would come to the lassies and say:
+&ldquo;Say, Cap, I can help you. Loan me an apron.&rdquo;
+And soon they would be all flour from their chin to
+their toes.</p>
+
+<p>They would come about four o&rsquo;clock to find out
+what time the doughnuts would be ready for serving,
+and the girls usually said six o&rsquo;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Why, but it&rsquo;s too big!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that&rsquo;s all right,&rdquo; said the
+doughboy nonchalantly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;ll be all the better for us. We&rsquo;ll
+get more doughnut. You always give us three anyway,
+you know. The size don&rsquo;t count.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;You! With the red head
+down there! Get out of the line!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;She&rsquo;s got my number all right!&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;going in&rdquo;
+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: &ldquo;Shells are still flying all about
+us, but our work is here and we must stay. God will
+protect us.&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;It
+looks awfully bad, almost as bad as it sounds.&rdquo;</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:
+&ldquo;Keep your heads down, ladies, the snipers are
+all around!&rdquo; 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&rsquo;s eyes
+as they saw the women.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s a real, honest-to-goodness American
+woman in the trenches!&rdquo; exclaimed a homesick
+lad as they came around a turn.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, your mother couldn&rsquo;t come to-day,&rdquo;
+said the motherly Salvationist, smiling a greeting,
+&ldquo;so I&rsquo;ve come in her place.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right!&rdquo; said he, entering into the
+game. &ldquo;This is Broadway and that&rsquo;s Forty-second
+Street. Sit down.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Just wait,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;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!&rdquo; He fumbled in his breast pocket
+right over his heart and brought out two photographs.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d give my right arm to see them this
+minute, but for all that,&rdquo; he went on, &ldquo;I
+wouldn&rsquo;t leave till we&rsquo;ve fought this thing
+through to Berlin and given them a dose of what they
+gave little Belgium!&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;No Man&rsquo;s
+Land.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;What!
+Cake already?&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s Curve was between Mandres and Beaumont.
+The enemy&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Halt! Who goes there? Advance and give the
+countersign.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;alerte&rdquo;
+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: &ldquo;Say, they must be shooting at <i>us!</i>&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;clock
+in the afternoon.</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:45%;">
+<a name="illus21"></a>
+<img src="images/022.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="&ldquo;It was just outside
+of Bouconville that the famous doughnut truck experience occurred&rdquo;&mdash;and
+this is the Salvation Army boy who drove it" />
+<p class="caption"><b>&ldquo;It was just outside of Bouconville that the famous
+doughnut truck experience occurred&rdquo;&mdash;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 &ldquo;Souptown&rdquo;" />
+<p class="caption"><b>Bullionville, promptly dubbed by the American boys
+&ldquo;Souptown&rdquo;</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-C&ocirc;tés
+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&rsquo;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&rsquo; 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.
+&ldquo;You are only fit to wash dishes, and hang on
+to a woman&rsquo;s skirts,&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;clock
+all the men were fed and gone. That is the way the
+Salvation Army does things. They never say &ldquo;I
+can&rsquo;t.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Madam, how many troops are in this town? Where
+are they? Where can we get any billets?&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t
+drive us away. We know we shall be needed!&rdquo;
+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>&ldquo;One hesitated to ask them if they wanted prayers
+because we knew they did,&rdquo; said one sweet woman
+back from the front, speaking about the time of the
+St. Mihiel drive. &ldquo;We couldn&rsquo;t say how
+many knelt at the altar because they all knelt. Some
+of them would walk five miles to attend a meeting.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Pray for me. I have given my heart
+to Jesus.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Another, a Sergeant, who had lived a hard life, came
+to the Salvation Army Adjutant and said: &ldquo;When
+I go back, if I ever go, I&rsquo;m going to serve the
+Lord.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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!&rdquo; This young man seemed to think that&mdash;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 &ldquo;Mother Machree.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+There&rsquo;s a spot in me heart that no colleen may own,<br />
+There&rsquo;s a depth in me soul never sounded or known;<br />
+There&rsquo;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&rsquo;s all furrowed and wrinkled with care.<br />
+I kiss the dear fingers, so toil-worn for me;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;O, God bless you and keep you!<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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: &ldquo;Tell mother I&rsquo;ll
+be there!&rdquo; Always the thought of mother. A little
+interval and the jolly swing of &ldquo;Pack up your
+troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile!&rdquo;
+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!&rsquo;
+</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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Boss, I&rsquo;se doin&rsquo; mah best
+to make de world safe foh Democrats!&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;Bonnes Americaines! Bonnes Americaines!&rdquo;
+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 &ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">Kamerad</span>, tritt&rsquo; ein.&rdquo;</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:
+&ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">This jam furnished by the Salvation Army</span>!&rdquo;
+and the soldiers passed the word along the line: &ldquo;The
+finest sandwich in the world, Red Cross and Salvation
+Army!&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;We had to keep on a perpetual grin,&rdquo;
+said one of the lassies, &ldquo;so that each soldier
+would think he had a smile all his own. We always gave
+everything with a smile.&rdquo; 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">
+&ldquo;They say it&rsquo;s in Heaven that all angels dwell,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;But I&rsquo;ve come to learn they&rsquo;re on earth just as well;<br />
+And how would I know that the like could be so,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;If I hadn&rsquo;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&rsquo;er the sea,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;With the emblem of God in her hand;<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;A wonderful Angel who brought there to me<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;The sweet of a war-furrowed land.<br />
+The crown on her head was a ribbon of red,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;A symbol of all that&rsquo;s divine;<br />
+Though she called each a brother she&rsquo;s more like a mother,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Salvation Lassie of Mine.
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+Perhaps in the future I&rsquo;ll meet her again,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;In that world where no one knows sorrow or pain;<br />
+And when that time comes and the last word is said,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Then place on my bosom her band of red.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+<i>By &ldquo;Jack&rdquo; Caddigan and &ldquo;Chick&rdquo; 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, &ldquo;My Buddy! My Buddy!&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;yes, I said
+holy eyes!&mdash;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>&ldquo;Well, I guess this is the wholest place in
+town.&rdquo; Then stepping inside he glanced about
+and pointed:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And this is the most secluded spot here!&rdquo;</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:
+&ldquo;The Long, Long Trail,&rdquo; &ldquo;Keep the
+Home Fires Burning,&rdquo; &ldquo;Pack Up Your Troubles
+in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile! Smile! Smile!&rdquo;
+and &ldquo;Keep Your Head Down, Fritzie Boy!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>By and by some one called for a hymn, and then other
+hymns followed: &ldquo;Jesus Lover of My Soul,&rdquo;
+&ldquo;When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,&rdquo; and,
+as always, the old favorite, &ldquo;Tell Mother I&rsquo;ll
+Be There!&rdquo;</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, &ldquo;He that dwelleth
+in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under
+the shadow of the Almighty,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;This evening has made me think so much of home,&rdquo;
+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, &ldquo;I suppose it has made
+every one else feel that way,&rdquo; she went on; &ldquo;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 &lsquo;sing;&rsquo;
+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&rsquo;t
+wonder if many of you used to have homes like that?&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;And you used to have family prayers, too, didn&rsquo;t
+you?&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;To-night has been a family gathering,&rdquo;
+she went on, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Our Father which are in heaven&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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 &mdash;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&mdash;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In what remained of another village not far distant
+from Neuvilly, the lassies had a tent erected. The
+rain was endless&mdash;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. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve <i>got</i> to get there&rdquo;
+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: &ldquo;I never
+was so glad to see anybody in my life!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;General,&rdquo; he said, with a twinkle, &ldquo;my
+girls say they won&rsquo;t go.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The General&rsquo;s face softened, and the twinkle
+flashed across to his eyes, with something like a
+tear behind its fire. Somehow he didn&rsquo;t look
+like a Commanding Officer who had just been defied.
+A wonderful light broke over his face and he said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, if the Salvation Army wants to stay let
+them stay!&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Company H. Advance! See that hill over there?
+It&rsquo;s full of Germans, but <i>we&rsquo;ve got
+to take it</i>!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Then he turned over and began to sob and cry, &ldquo;Oh
+God! Oh God!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;Oh, nurse!
+I&rsquo;ve got to get back to my men! <i>I&rsquo;m
+the only one left</i>!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;I was wounded, lying on the ground over there
+in No Man&rsquo;s Land,&rdquo; he went on. &ldquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s all
+right. I wanted you to know.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Often the boys, just before they went over the top,
+would come to these girls and say:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going up there, now. You pray for
+us, won&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;We fellows want to ask you something,&rdquo;
+they said. &ldquo;Some of the chaplains have been
+telling us that if we go over there and die for liberty
+that it&rsquo;ll be all right with us afterward. But
+we don&rsquo;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&rsquo;s going to be saved
+just because he got killed fighting? Why, some of
+us fellows didn&rsquo;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!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;t have some morphine to dull the
+pain. The Sergeant in charge came over and looked
+at him, examined the bandage on the boy&rsquo;s leg
+and then exclaimed: &ldquo;Who bandaged this leg?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did&rdquo; said the boy weakly, &ldquo;I
+did the best I could.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; she asked, looking at the
+book.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My Testament,&rdquo; he answered with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you a Christian?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; 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: &ldquo;Now, friends, let us go and
+say a prayer beside our enemy&rsquo;s graves. They
+are some mother&rsquo;s boys, and some woman is waiting
+for them to come home!&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;trench religion&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve escaped!&rdquo; they would say.
+&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know how it is, but we think
+it&rsquo;s because you girls were praying for us, and
+the folks at home were praying, too!&rdquo;</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&rsquo; 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&mdash;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&mdash;Brest, St. Nazaire and Bordeaux&mdash;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&mdash;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&mdash;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&rsquo; 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>&ldquo;I told you! I told you! We&rsquo;ve just been
+waiting for eight months to pull this off! Now, you
+see!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;President Wilson was not man-elected, but God-selected!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;t like to think it of
+her, but he found he wasn&rsquo;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&rsquo;t told the girl yet about the foot.
+He didn&rsquo;t know as he should. He felt lonely
+and desolate in spite of his joy at getting back to
+&ldquo;God&rsquo;s Country.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;just perhaps&mdash;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>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re the girl that saved my life out
+there in the field, don&rsquo;t you remember? With
+the lemonade!&rdquo; Her face lit up. She had recognized
+him and somehow cleared one hand of chocolate and
+telegrams to grasp his with a hearty welcome: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+so glad you came through all right!&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Oh, but that&rsquo;s nothing!&rdquo; she said,
+and somehow her voice put new heart into him. &ldquo;Your
+folks will be so glad to have you home you&rsquo;ll
+forget all about it. Come, aren&rsquo;t you going
+to send them a telegram?&rdquo; And she held out the
+yellow blank.</p>
+
+<p>But still he hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; he said, looking down at his foot again.
+&ldquo;Mother&rsquo;s gone, and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+</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: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so sorry!&rdquo;
+Then she added:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But isn&rsquo;t there somebody else? I&rsquo;m
+sure there was. I&rsquo;m sure you told me about a
+girl I was to write to if you didn&rsquo;t come through.
+Aren&rsquo;t you going to let her know? Of course
+you are.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; said the boy. &ldquo;I
+don&rsquo;t think I am. Maybe I&rsquo;ll never go
+back now. You see, I&rsquo;m not what I was when I
+went away.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Nonsense!&rdquo; said the lassie with that
+cheerful assurance that had carried her through shell
+fire and made her merit the pet name of &ldquo;Sunshine&rdquo;
+that the boys had given her in the trenches. &ldquo;Why,
+that wouldn&rsquo;t be fair to her. Of course, you&rsquo;re
+going to let her know right away. Leave it to me.
+Here, give me her address!&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;This first is where you can drop in and rest
+when you are tired,&rdquo; she explained. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s
+just one of our huts; the other is where you can find
+a good bed when you are in the city.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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="&ldquo;Smiling Billy&rdquo;
+&ldquo;One Game Little Guy&rdquo;" />
+<p class="caption"><b>&ldquo;Smiling Billy&rdquo;<br/>&ldquo;One Game Little
+Guy&rdquo;</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&rsquo;t Willow
+Vale&mdash;or Heaven&mdash;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: &ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">Soldiers and Sailors in Uniform Welcome</span>.&rdquo; 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&rsquo;s
+voice, kindly, pleasant, brotherly, spoke:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;s what we
+want it to be to you, Home. Just drop in here whenever
+you&rsquo;re in town and want a place to rest or write,
+or a bite of something homelike to eat.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;s face just in time
+to give a word of cheer. He could have thrown his
+arms around the man&rsquo;s neck and kissed him if
+he only hadn&rsquo;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a telegram here for you,&rdquo;
+she said pleasantly. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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">
+&ldquo;Dear Billy (It was a regular letter!):<br/>
+    &ldquo;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&rsquo;t I be hands
+and feet for you the rest of your life? I&rsquo;m
+proud, proud, proud of you!</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Signed
+&ldquo;Jean&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>He found great tears coming into his eyes and his
+throat was full of them, too. It didn&rsquo;t matter
+if that Salvation Army lassie behind the counter did
+see them roll down his cheeks. He didn&rsquo;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;May we call you Mother?&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;But can&rsquo;t you tell her about your girl?&rdquo;
+she asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes, but I want you to tell her.&rdquo;
+he said. &ldquo;You see, whatever you say mother&rsquo;ll
+know is true.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;t mind about the foot! She didn&rsquo;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: &ldquo;God bless her! Oh,
+God bless her!&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&mdash;real wool blankets&mdash;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&rsquo;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: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you realize
+that you have done a foolish thing? Those men have
+influenza and your serving them might mean your death!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Looking up into the man&rsquo;s eyes the Salvationist
+said: &ldquo;I am ready to die if God sees fit to
+call me.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Aren&rsquo;t you ready to die?&rdquo; asked
+the girl. &ldquo;Certainly not,&rdquo; replied the
+Captain. &ldquo;Sometimes I think I am hardly fit to
+live, much less die.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;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?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, well, I don&rsquo;t bother about going
+to church, in fact, I don&rsquo;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&rsquo;t want to go
+to church and go through all that business.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is possible to accept Christ here and now
+on this very spot&mdash;on this ship&mdash;if you&rsquo;ll only
+believe,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;Thank you. You&rsquo;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.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Why do you let him live?&rdquo; asked one pityingly
+of the Commanding Officer.</p>
+
+<p>The gruff, kindly voice replied:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know what life is. We don&rsquo;t
+live through our arms and legs. We live through our
+hearts.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Hello, Sister! <i>You here?</i>&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Oh, that&rsquo;s all right, Sister,&rdquo;
+he said, &ldquo;I know they got me pretty hard, but
+I don&rsquo;t mind that. I&rsquo;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&rsquo;m going to live for Him. I
+wanted you to know.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the greatest disappointment of my
+life,&rdquo; he said sadly, &ldquo;the folks here
+don&rsquo;t understand. They all want to make me forget,
+and I don&rsquo;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&rsquo;t understand.&rdquo;</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. &ldquo;I think she is in Rockford somewhere,&rdquo;
+he said anxiously, &ldquo;but I don&rsquo;t know where,
+and I have to leave in three hours!&rdquo;</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: &ldquo;There she
+is!&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;
+Club at Des Moines, a Soldiers&rsquo; 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&rsquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;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&rsquo;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&mdash;and he called her
+by her name&mdash;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&mdash;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>&ldquo;See that thou do all things according to the
+pattern given thee in the Mount&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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;&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&mdash;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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.
+&ldquo;J. Joffre.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>From Field Marshal Viscount French.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;Faithfully yours,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt.&rdquo;</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&mdash;the man of ideas and many questions,
+of the Lord&rsquo;s family.</p>
+
+<p>General William Booth was of a discipleship that kept
+him always on the &ldquo;long, long trail&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;carried on&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;shows&rdquo; 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&mdash;going without
+food and sleep, working day and night, sometimes under
+fire, both shell and avion&mdash;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>&ldquo;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&mdash;in fact, may not help them to gather
+enough facts for a lecture tour when they return home.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&mdash;and
+pretty wet and hungry&mdash;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 &ldquo;on the job&rdquo; 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 &ldquo;man&rsquo;s man,&rdquo;
+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
+co&ouml;peration 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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;I am proud to have a sister in their ranks.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>An old regular army officer who returned to Paris
+last week said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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, &lsquo;Oh, such becoming
+uniforms,&rsquo; 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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m an old army officer, but what I like
+about the Salvation Army is that it doesn&rsquo;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>&ldquo;They cash the boys&rsquo; 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&rsquo;t as yet given
+the Salvation Army a million-dollar donation to carry
+on its work. Fact is, I don&rsquo;t know just how
+the Salvation Army chaplains and lassies do get along.
+But get along they do.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps some of the boys and officers give
+them a lift now and then when the sledding is rough.
+They don&rsquo;t aim to make a slight profit as do
+some other organizations.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ever since Cornelius Hickey put up &lsquo;Hickey&rsquo;s
+Hut,&rsquo; 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>&ldquo;The work done in &lsquo;Hickey&rsquo;s Hut&rsquo;
+did much to endear the Salvation folks to the doughboys.
+When a letter arrived in France some months ago addressed
+only to &lsquo;Hickey&rsquo;s Hut, France,&rsquo; it
+reached its destination <i>toute de suite</i>,
+forty-eight hours after it arrived.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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 &lsquo;Hickey&rsquo;s Hut.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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&rsquo;t
+&rsquo;sling the lingo.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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&rsquo;s gold.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>First Lieutenant Marion M. Marcus, Jr., Field Artillery,
+wrote to one of our leading officers:</p>
+
+<p>October 9, 1918.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class="smallcaps">Extract From Letter</span>.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&mdash;well,
+guess &mdash;the Salvation Army.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They are the soldier&rsquo;s friend. They make
+no display or show of any kind, but they are fast
+winning a warm corner in the heart of everyone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;t
+be willing to fight after feasting on that?</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&mdash;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>&ldquo;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: &ldquo;Room for half a ton!&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;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&rsquo;m
+afraid we would not have the right kind of fighters
+to hold up our end</i>. Of course, prayers alone
+won&rsquo;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&rsquo;t believe in preaching all
+day on what you should do and what you shouldn&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo; friend, and their
+handouts always come at the right time. Some of those
+girls work as hard as we do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The Salvation Army over here is doing wonderful
+work. <i>They haven&rsquo;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&mdash;a great big piece of pie or three crullers,
+with a large cup of lemonade, for a franc (18-1/2
+cents).</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo; &ldquo;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&mdash;of the conditions
+as we left them at home. There was the thought of
+what &lsquo;might&rsquo; 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 />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Lead Thou me on;<br />
+The night is dark and I am far from home,<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;Lead Thou me on.<br />
+Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;The distant scene&mdash;<br />
+One step enough for me.
+</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;In our outfit are Greeks, Italians, Bohemians,
+Irish, Jews&mdash;all of them loyal Americans&mdash;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>&ldquo;Those in the ranks are men. The Salvation Army
+women are admired&mdash;almost worshipped&mdash;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 &lsquo;life
+to live,&rsquo; bringing to us recollections of our
+mothers, sisters, and sweethearts, and if anyone questions,
+&rsquo;Is it worth while?&rsquo; the answer is: &lsquo;A
+thousand times yes!&rsquo; and I cannot refrain from
+sending my hearty thanks for all this service means
+to us.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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. &rsquo;Man&rsquo;s extremity is God&rsquo;s
+opportunity&rsquo; 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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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 &lsquo;gone West,&rsquo; for the blessed face
+of a woman from the homeland in the midst of withering
+blight and desolation&mdash;for these I am indebted to the
+Salvation Army.&rdquo;</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 &rsquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;But I didn&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going to crow about our real friends here&mdash;and
+it is the verdict of all the boys&mdash;it is the Salvation
+Army, Joe. <i>That is the boys&rsquo; mother and
+father here. It is our home</i>. They have a treat
+for us boys every night&mdash;that is, cookies, doughnuts
+or pie&mdash;about 9 o&rsquo;clock. But that is only a
+little of them. The big thing is the spirit&mdash;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&rsquo;s big friend, and you will see
+it become one of the United States&rsquo; great organizations.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&mdash;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.&rdquo;</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>:&mdash;</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&rsquo;s crew.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;t last
+long around here, and when they get candy or anything
+sweet there is a line about a block long.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Notice the paper this is written on? Well,
+I can&rsquo;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&rsquo;ll say they are a treat!</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class="smallcaps">From Lord Derby</span>.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;s Address at Luncheon at Hotel Ten Eyck, Albany, New York, December 8, 1917.</span></p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;Frequently while other agencies, though good,
+hesitated, there was never a case where there was
+a possibility that relief might be brought&mdash;never
+was a case of misery or violence so low, that the Salvation
+Army would not undertake it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The Salvation Army lends its manhood and womanhood
+to go &lsquo;Over There&rsquo; 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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;The sphere of the Army&rsquo;s operations has
+now been extended to the battlefields of Europe, where
+its consecrated workers will co&ouml;perate with the Y.M.C.A.,
+K. of C., and kindred organizations.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;Very truly yours,<br />
+&ldquo; <span class="smallcaps">Albert E. Sleeper</span>,<br />
+&ldquo;Governor.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;somewhere in France&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&mdash;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;Of course, any agency which can in any way
+ameliorate the condition of the boys at the front
+should receive encouragement.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Frank C. Lowden</span>,<br />
+Governor of Illinois.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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 &ldquo;hut&rdquo; 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&rsquo;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>&ldquo; <span class="smallcaps">Commander Evangeline Booth</span>:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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,&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo; <span class="smallcaps">Commander Evangeline Booth</span>:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;Without the Christian&rsquo;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&mdash;and I have tested the promises and I have
+found them true.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May the Lord bless you abundantly in your own
+heart and in your world wide influence and the splendid
+Salvation Army.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo; <span class="smallcaps">Dear Friends</span>:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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
+&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;- 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,&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Enclosure:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;November 16, 1918.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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">
+&ldquo;In My Father&rsquo;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 />
+&ldquo;Your Baby boy,&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Signed) <span class="smallcaps">Paul</span>.<br />
+Chatereaux, France.<br />
+August, 1918.</p>
+
+<p>N. B.&mdash;Written on back of the envelope:<br />
+&ldquo;To be opened only in case of accident.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo; <span class="smallcaps">Commander Evangeline Booth</span>:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss <span class="smallcaps">Evangeline Booth</span>:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was greatly touched by the card of sympathy
+sent me in your name on the occasion of my great sorrow&mdash;and
+my equally great glory. The death of a husband for
+the great cause of humanity is a martyrdom that any
+soldier&rsquo;s wife, even in her deep grief, is proud
+to share.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thanking you for your helpful message,&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Miss <span class="smallcaps">Evangeline Booth</span>:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;We do indeed appreciate your thoughtfulness
+in sending words of comfort to people who are utter
+strangers to you.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Accept again, the gratitude of my parents as
+well as the other members of our family, including
+myself.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May our Heavenly Father bless you all and glorify
+your good works.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Somewhere in France, Jan. 15, 1918.<br />
+&ldquo;<span class="smallcaps">My Dear Mother</span>:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s
+knees. I often think of the fireplace at home these
+cold nights, but, mother, I must tell you that I don&rsquo;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&mdash;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&rsquo;t worry, mother,
+I will be home some day.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Your loving son,&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;Souls in Khaki,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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 &lsquo;drink.&rsquo;&rdquo;</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 &#163;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&rsquo;s picture of
+the Salvation Army at the Front:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A good expression for American enthusiasm is:
+&rsquo;I am crazy about&rsquo;&mdash;this, or that, or
+the other thing that excites our admiration. Well,
+&rsquo;I am crazy about the Salvation Army&rsquo;&mdash;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: &rsquo;Judge, when you get back home tell the
+folks not to forget the Salvation Army. They&rsquo;re
+the real thing.&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;s Land?... Listen to
+some of the stories the boys told me: &rsquo;You see,
+Judge, the good old Salvation Army is the real thing.
+They don&rsquo;t put on no airs. There ain&rsquo;t
+no flub-dub about them and you don&rsquo;t see their
+mugs in the fancy magazines much. Why, you never would
+see one of them in Paris around the hotels. You&rsquo;d
+never know they existed, Judge, unless you came right
+up here to the front lines as near as the Colonel
+will let you!&rsquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And one enthusiastic urchin said: &rsquo;Why,
+Judge, after the battle yesterday, we couldn&rsquo;t
+get those women out of the village till they&rsquo;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 &rsquo;em out&mdash;for the boys love
+&rsquo;em too much to lose &rsquo;em&mdash;we weren&rsquo;t
+going to take no chances&mdash;not much&mdash; for our Salvation
+ladies!&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class="smallcaps">Harry Lauder&rsquo;s Endorsement</span>.</p>
+
+<p>In speaking of the Salvation Army&rsquo;s work before
+the Rotary Club of San Francisco, Harry Lauder said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Otto Kahn, one of America&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;<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>&ldquo;<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>.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;A good many of us who hadn&rsquo;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&mdash;and sisters&mdash;have
+done, and are doing, in Europe!</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;Among officers, as well as among enlisted men,
+one occasionally hears criticism&mdash;which may or may
+not be based on a fair judgment&mdash;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&mdash;the Salvation Army in the field does&mdash;the
+real old-fashioned home-made ones that taste of home
+to a homesick soldier boy!</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&mdash;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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&rsquo;t Stop Salvation Army. Meeting Held in Deep Dugout Under Ruined Village&mdash;Mandolin Supplants the Organ</span>.</p>
+
+<p>By Herbert Corey.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smallcaps">Just behind the Somme front</span>, May 31.&mdash;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&mdash;bare, raw
+snags of walls sticking up&mdash;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>&ldquo;Jesus, Lover of My Soul.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;By gollies, brother, you&rsquo;re getting it!
+I actually believe you&rsquo;re getting it, brother.
+We&rsquo;ll have a swell meeting to-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>I went down the steps into the Salvation Army man&rsquo;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&rsquo; things were not made to pick out condemn&rsquo;
+hymn tunes on. The Salvation Army man encouraged him:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You keep on, brother,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and
+we&rsquo;ll have a fine meeting for the Brigadier
+when he comes in to-night.&rdquo;</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. &ldquo;He
+got all roughed up last night,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;We
+found a bottle of some sweet stuff these Frogs left
+in the house where we&rsquo;re billeted. Tasted a
+good deal like syrup. But it sure put Bull out.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Bull turned a pair of inflamed eyes on the musician.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You keep on a-talkin&rsquo;, and I&rsquo;ll
+hang somep&rsquo;n on your eye,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;See,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it goes like this&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;Aw, brother,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve
+got to take our chances along with the rest.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Just our luck,&rdquo; said some morose doughboy,
+&ldquo;if a shell hit the fliv. It&rsquo;s a hell
+of a road&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No shell has hit it yet, brother,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;But if the Brigadier gets in,&rdquo; said the
+Salvation Army man, &ldquo;there will be something
+sweet to eat. And we&rsquo;ll have a little meeting
+of song and praise, brother&mdash;just to thank God for
+the chance he has given us to help.&rdquo;</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&mdash;except the
+Salvation Army man. He&rsquo;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&mdash;on the nights the Brigadier
+gets in&mdash;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&rsquo; 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, &ldquo;taps&rdquo;
+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>&ldquo;I can lick any man&rsquo;s son who says <span class="smallcaps">they</span>
+ain&rsquo;t all right.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;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&mdash;some even cursing God for all the misery
+in which we are surrounded, some trying to be brave,
+some giving up altogether&mdash;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>&ldquo;When I lived in Belgium I was very worldly
+and sinful&mdash;I lived for pleasure and drink and sin.
+I did not then know of One who said, &rsquo;Come unto
+Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will
+give you rest.&rsquo; 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>&ldquo;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>&ldquo;I remain, faithfully yours,</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo; <span class="smallcaps">Remy Meersman</span>.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class="smallcaps">The &ldquo;Stars and Stripes&rdquo; Speaks from France for The Salvation Army</span>.</p>
+
+<p>A copy of the &ldquo;Stars and Stripes,&rdquo; 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>&ldquo;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&mdash;Heaven forgive
+you&mdash;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 &rsquo;Oh
+death, where is thy sting-a-ling.&rsquo; Probably&mdash;unless
+you yourself had known the bitterness of one who finds
+himself alone, hungry and homeless in a big city&mdash;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 &lsquo;Soup
+and Salvation&rsquo; has given way to &lsquo;Pies and
+Piety.&rsquo; It might be &lsquo;Doughnuts and Doughboys.&rsquo;
+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 &lsquo;meeting&rsquo; at the
+curb, you will not snicker. You will tarry awhile&mdash;and
+take off your hat.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;</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&rsquo;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&mdash;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
+&ldquo;Salvation Army&rdquo; 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, &ldquo;Salvation
+Army.&rdquo;</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>&ldquo;Hello! Salvation Army!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Are
+you taking those men to heaven?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Amid the derisive laughter of the officers on the
+sidewalk the Salvationist replied pleasantly:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot say I am taking them to heaven, but
+I certainly am taking them away from the other place.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>One of the good British Salvationists wrote of meeting
+our American boys in England. He said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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&rsquo;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 fa&ccedil;ade of the railway terminus
+which they were passing; they saw nothing of the famous
+&lsquo;London Stone&rsquo; 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&mdash;that&rsquo;s
+it&mdash;belonged to them, and so they took off the veil
+and showed their hearts and smiled their good glad
+greeting.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;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!&rdquo;</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, &ldquo;The War Cry,&rdquo; 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&rsquo; 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&rsquo; wives cared for (including medical
+help).</p>
+
+<p>442 War children under our care.</p>
+
+<p>3378 Soldiers&rsquo; 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&rsquo; 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&rsquo; 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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&mdash;East and West&mdash;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&rsquo;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>
+
+
diff --git a/7811-h/images/001.jpg b/7811-h/images/001.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e967f87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/001.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/002.jpg b/7811-h/images/002.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d97967
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/002.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/003.jpg b/7811-h/images/003.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e54f3ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/003.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/004.jpg b/7811-h/images/004.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92776c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/004.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/005.jpg b/7811-h/images/005.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1c015f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/005.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/006.jpg b/7811-h/images/006.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28a80f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/006.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/007.jpg b/7811-h/images/007.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c88e095
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/007.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/008.jpg b/7811-h/images/008.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35e333c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/008.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/009.jpg b/7811-h/images/009.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e2760e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/009.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/010.jpg b/7811-h/images/010.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa1892f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/010.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/011.jpg b/7811-h/images/011.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ef00345
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/011.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/012.jpg b/7811-h/images/012.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..660502a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/012.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/013.jpg b/7811-h/images/013.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27eebfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/013.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/014.jpg b/7811-h/images/014.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a36c70b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/014.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/015.jpg b/7811-h/images/015.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..506e263
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/015.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/016.jpg b/7811-h/images/016.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d404e85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/016.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/017.jpg b/7811-h/images/017.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b941c17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/017.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/018.jpg b/7811-h/images/018.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4750bfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/018.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/019.jpg b/7811-h/images/019.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27a0596
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/019.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/020.jpg b/7811-h/images/020.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e03b0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/020.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/021.jpg b/7811-h/images/021.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5c2d0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/021.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/022.jpg b/7811-h/images/022.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a068d8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/022.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/023.jpg b/7811-h/images/023.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f354528
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/023.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/024.jpg b/7811-h/images/024.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c85bc78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/024.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/025.jpg b/7811-h/images/025.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1dd8473
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/025.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/026.jpg b/7811-h/images/026.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c12b4ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/026.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/027.jpg b/7811-h/images/027.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..473f41e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/027.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/028.jpg b/7811-h/images/028.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f45538b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/028.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/029.jpg b/7811-h/images/029.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a2c647
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/029.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/030.jpg b/7811-h/images/030.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e12a864
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/030.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/031.jpg b/7811-h/images/031.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d9558c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/031.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/032.jpg b/7811-h/images/032.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2a6227
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/032.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/033.jpg b/7811-h/images/033.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c64425
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/033.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/cover.jpg b/7811-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a504eeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/cover.jpg
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image01.png b/7811-h/images/th_image01.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b099c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image01.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image02.png b/7811-h/images/th_image02.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b746b6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image02.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image03.png b/7811-h/images/th_image03.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07ec96a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image03.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image04.png b/7811-h/images/th_image04.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf9e9e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image04.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image05.png b/7811-h/images/th_image05.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41d703f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image05.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image06.png b/7811-h/images/th_image06.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59c257e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image06.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image07.png b/7811-h/images/th_image07.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c33495
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image07.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image08.png b/7811-h/images/th_image08.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21dd188
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image08.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image09.png b/7811-h/images/th_image09.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5fa7985
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image09.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image10.png b/7811-h/images/th_image10.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ecd541f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image10.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image11.png b/7811-h/images/th_image11.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bed8e78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image11.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image12.png b/7811-h/images/th_image12.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25ea6e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image12.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image13.png b/7811-h/images/th_image13.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..254704d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image13.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image14.png b/7811-h/images/th_image14.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27cbc2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image14.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image15.png b/7811-h/images/th_image15.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51fc9e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image15.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image16.png b/7811-h/images/th_image16.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b00958
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image16.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image17.png b/7811-h/images/th_image17.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c1ba7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image17.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image18.png b/7811-h/images/th_image18.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4b12dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image18.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image19.png b/7811-h/images/th_image19.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7cac45f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image19.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image20.png b/7811-h/images/th_image20.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6289f89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image20.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image21.png b/7811-h/images/th_image21.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..066001f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image21.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image22.png b/7811-h/images/th_image22.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d73d9bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image22.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image23.png b/7811-h/images/th_image23.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e792f89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image23.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image24.png b/7811-h/images/th_image24.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a09b7f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image24.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image25.png b/7811-h/images/th_image25.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8393704
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image25.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image26.png b/7811-h/images/th_image26.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ef4143
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image26.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image27.png b/7811-h/images/th_image27.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d23d6ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image27.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image28.png b/7811-h/images/th_image28.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ede4814
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image28.png
diff --git a/7811-h/images/th_image29.png b/7811-h/images/th_image29.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b11e830
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811-h/images/th_image29.png
diff --git a/7811.txt b/7811.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f5d671
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11749 @@
+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 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
+
+
+Title: The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+Author: Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Posting Date: March 26, 2014 [EBook #7811]
+Release Date: April, 2005
+First Posted: May 19, 2003
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR ROMANCE OF SALVATION ARMY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: William Bramwell Booth
+General of the Salvation Army]
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+by
+
+Evangeline Booth
+
+  Commander-in-Chief,
+  The Salvation Army in America
+
+and
+
+Grace Livingston Hill
+
+  Author of "The Enchanted Barn"; "The Best Man";
+  "Lo Michael"; "The Red Signal," etc.
+
+
+
+
+Copyright 1919, by J. T. Lippincot Company
+
+
+
+  [Illustration: Evangeline Booth
+  Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation Army in America]
+
+
+
+
+Foreword
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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 _service_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Evangeline Booth]
+
+NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SALVATION ARMY, NEW YORK CITY.
+
+April, 1919.
+
+
+
+
+From the Commander's Own Pen
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_need at their door_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+Now on all sides I am confronted with the question: _What is the secret
+of the Salvation Army's success in the war?_
+
+Permit me to suggests three reasons which, in my judgment, account for it:
+
+First, when the war-bolt fell, when the clarion call sounded, it found
+_the Salvation Army ready!_
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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--_the service of humanity_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But even such arts as these crumble; they are as dust under our feet
+compared with that much greater art, _the art of dealing ably with human
+life in all its varying conditions and phases_.
+
+It is in this art that we seek by a most careful culture and training to
+perfect our officers.
+
+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
+_how_.
+
+Trained to press at every cost for the desired and decided-upon end.
+
+Trained to obey orders willingly, and gladly, and wholly--not in part.
+
+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.
+
+Trained in the art of the winsome, attractive coquetries of the round,
+brown doughnut and all its kindred.
+
+Trained, if needs be, to seal their services with their life's blood.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+A further reason for the success of the Salvation Army in the war is,
+_it found us accustomed to hardship_.
+
+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.
+
+We went to the battlefields _no strangers to suffering_. 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.
+
+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
+_underneath_ of those great cities which upon the surface thunder
+with enterprise and glitter with brilliance.
+
+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."
+
+Our service in France was not, therefore, an experiment, but an organized,
+tested, and proved system. We were enacting no new role. 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+This is how it is the Salvation Army has no "closing hours." "Taps" sound
+for us _when the need is relieved_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Again, a reason for our success in the war is, _our practical
+religion_.
+
+That is, our religion is _practicable_. 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.
+
+We _do_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Christ in deeds_.
+
+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 UB 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+It has only been this same Christ, _this Christ in deeds_, 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 _Christ in deeds_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+It is this _Christ in deeds_ that has made the doughnut to take the
+place of the "cup of cold water" given in His name. It is this _Christ
+in deeds_ 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 _Christ in deeds_
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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, _the service of the man_."
+
+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: _Complete abandonment to
+the service of the man_.
+
+This, in large measure, is the cause of our success all over the world.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+What was it? What is it? Those ties created by a spiritual ideal. Our love
+for God demonstrated by our sacrifice for man.
+
+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 IB fame; my passion is man!"
+
+This was in our Founder's breast the white flame which ignited like sparks
+in the hearts of all his followers.
+
+             _Man is our life's passion._
+
+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.
+
+After the torpedoing of the _Aboukir_ 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.
+
+When the _Empress of Ireland_ 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--_Others!_
+
+_Man!_ 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 _man_.
+
+He that was made after God's image.
+
+He that is greater than firmaments, greater than suns, greater than
+worlds.
+
+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
+_the man of the hour;_ 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.
+
+Wherein is price? What constitutes cost, when the question is _THE
+MAN_?
+
+
+
+
+Preface by the Writer
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 "OTHERS" 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.
+
+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!
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Grace Livingston Hill]
+
+
+
+
+  Contents
+
+     I.  The Story
+    II.  The Gondrecourt Area
+   III.  The Toul Sector
+    IV.  The Montdidier Sector
+     V.  The Toul Sector Again
+    VI.  The Baccarat Sector
+   VII.  The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+  VIII.  The Saint Mihiel Drive
+    IX.  The Argonne Drive
+     X.  The Armistice
+    XI.  Homecoming
+   XII.  Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+
+
+Illustrations
+
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+
+Lieutenant Colonel William S. Barker.
+
+Introduced to French Rain and French Mud.
+
+She Called the Little Company of Workers Together and Gave Them a Charge.
+
+The Lassie Who Fried the First Doughnut in France.
+
+"Tin Hat for a Halo! Ah! She Wears It Well!".
+
+The Patient Officers Who Were Seeing to All These Details Worked Almost
+    Day and Night.
+
+Here During the Day They Worked in Dugouts Far Below the Shell-tortured
+    Earth.
+
+They Came To Get Their Coats Mended and Their Buttons Sewed On.
+
+The Entrance to the Old Wine Cellar in Mandres.
+
+The Salvation Army Was Told that Ansauville Was Too Far Front for Any
+    Women To Be Allowed To Go.
+
+L'Hermitage, Nestled in the Heart of a Deep Woods.
+
+L'Hermitage, Inside the Tent.
+
+"Ma".
+
+They Had a Pie-baking Contest in Gondrecourt One Day.
+
+A Letter of Inspiration from the Commander.
+
+The Salvation Army Boy Truck Driver.
+
+The Centuries-old Gray Cemetery in Treveray.
+
+Colonel Barker Placing the Commander's Flowers on Lieutenant Quentin
+    Roosevelt's Grave.
+
+The Salvation Army Boy Who Drove the Famous Doughnut Truck.
+
+Bullionville, Promptly Dubbed by the American Boy "Souptown".
+
+Here They Found a Whole Little Village of German Dugouts.
+
+The Girls Who Came Down to Help in the St. Mihiel Drive.
+
+The Wrecked House in Neuvilly Where the Lassies Went to Sleep in the Cellar.
+
+The Wrecked Church in Neuvilly Where the Memorable Meeting Was Held.
+
+Right in the Midst of the Busy Hurrying Throng of Union Square.
+
+"Smiling Billy".
+
+Thomas Estill.
+
+The Hut at Camp Lewis.
+
+
+
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+The Story
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Some one gave the cry of FIRE! 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.
+
+So that was how the burning of the Salvation Army Training School
+occurred.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A few days later a detective taking lunch in a small German restaurant on
+a side street overheard a conversation:
+
+"Well, if we can't burn them out we'll blow up the building, and get that
+damn Commander, anyhow!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commander said she knew nothing about them and could not be
+interrupted now. They must be told to come again the next day.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+But if she is courageous, she is also wise as a serpent, and knows when to
+keep her own counsel.
+
+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:
+
+"Oh, wherever they are most needed," and passed on with a friend.
+
+"I believe that man is a spy!" she said to her friend with conviction in
+her voice.
+
+"Nonsense!" the friend replied; "you are growing nervous. That man has
+been in this hotel for several years."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was the beginning of the dark days of 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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 MUST GO! 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+Mr. Tumulty gave him a most kind letter of introduction to the American
+Ambassador.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The first destination was Gondrecourt, where the First Division
+Headquarters was established.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+The Gondrecourt Area
+
+
+
+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.
+
+But instead of going to the front at once they were billeted in little
+French villages and introduced to French rain and French mud.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker Director of War Work
+in France]
+
+[Illustration: "Introduced to French Rain and French Mud"]
+
+There were sixteen of these camps at this time and probably twelve or
+thirteen thousand soldiers were already established in them.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The whole place smells alike. There is no heat anywhere, save from a
+fireplace in the kitchen. There is a community bakehouse.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Several chaplains, both Protestant and Catholic, expressed themselves as
+being glad to welcome the Salvation Army among them.
+
+Among the Regular Army officers there was rather a pessimistic attitude.
+It was in nowise hostile, but rather doubtful.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The song this time was just a few lines of consecration:
+
+  "Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!
+   Saviour Divine, to whom else can I go?
+      Thou who hast died, loving me so,
+      Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!"
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: She called the little company of workers together and gave
+them such a charge as would make an angel search his heart]
+
+[Illustration: The lassie who fried the first doughnut in France]
+
+It was a bright, sunny afternoon, August 12th, when this first party of
+American Salvation Army workers set sail for France.
+
+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 REAL 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In this first touring car Colonel Barker with one of the newly arrived
+adjutants for driver, started to Demange.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When the two men finally arrived in Demange the Military General greeted
+them gladly and invited them to dine with him.
+
+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."
+
+The General and the members of his staff said they would remember that
+promise and hold him to it.
+
+The pleasure which the thought of that pie aroused furnished a suggestion
+for work later on.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _serious_ business and
+longed to be at it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Officers had been appointed to take charge of the Demange hut and
+immediately further operations in other towns were being arranged.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvationists stood at the door of the hut and looked across to the
+crowd.
+
+"How about holding our meeting over there?" asked the Staff-Captain of the
+man in charge.
+
+"All right. Hold it wherever you like."
+
+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.
+
+There were a thousand men gathered about and the cornet began where the
+band had left off, thrilling out between the roar of guns.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  "Nearer, my God, to Thee,
+     Nearer to Thee,
+   E'en though it be a cross
+     That raiseth me."
+
+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:
+
+ "When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound
+  And time shall be no more--"
+
+How soon would that trumpet sound for many of them! Time should be no
+more! What a startling thought!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But here at last was someone else who understood!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then a lassie's voice began to sing, all alone:
+
+  "I grieved my Lord from day to day,
+     I scorned His love, so full and free,
+   And though I wandered far away,
+     My Mother's prayers have followed me.
+       I'm coming home, I'm coming home,
+         To live my wasted life anew,
+       For Mother's prayers have followed me,
+         Have followed me, the whole world through.
+
+  "O'er desert wild, o'er mountain high,
+     A wanderer I chose to be---
+   A wretched soul condemned to die;
+     Still Mother's prayers have followed me.
+
+  "He turned my darkness into light,
+     This blessed Christ of Calvary;
+   I'll praise His name both day and night,
+     That Mother's prayers have followed me!
+       I'm coming home, I'm coming home---"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+One man came in and threw 300 francs on the counter, saying: "I owe you
+285 francs. Put the change in the coffee fund."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+"Never mind," said the sergeant to the girls, "the boys will see that you
+get some to-night."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, etc. Soldiers used the hut for a
+mess hall. There was no other place where they could eat with any degree
+of comfort.
+
+By this time the fact that the Salvation Army was established at Demange
+was becoming known throughout the division.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+There stood the Salvationists in the road wondering what to do next.
+
+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.
+
+"We are going to stay here if you will have us," said the Staff-Captain.
+
+"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."
+
+Thus auspiciously did the work open in Montiers.
+
+In a few minutes they were taken to a French cafe and a comfortable place
+found for them to spend the night.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+The first soldier the Staff-Captain questioned reassured him.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+Then the girls arrived and things began to look a bit more cheerful.
+
+"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.
+
+Dismay descended upon the face of the weary Staff-Captain.
+
+"Why," he answered apologetically, "we forgot all about that!" and he
+hurried out to find a stove.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Leave that to me!" said the Mess-Sergeant. "It'll be all right!"
+
+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.
+
+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
+_en lieu_ of chairs with smiling appreciation.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Staff-Captain thanked him, but told him that he thought they would
+stay with the boys.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+That was at Montiers, the home of the doughnut.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The young Ensign lassie who had originated and _made_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Meantime, the pie was coming into its own, back in Demange also.
+
+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:
+
+ "Home is where the heart is"--
+    Thus the poet sang;
+  But "home is where the pie is"
+    For the doughboy gang!
+  Crullers in the craters,
+    Pastry in abris--
+  This Salvation Army lass
+    Sure knows how to please!
+
+  Tin hat for a halo!
+    Ah! She wears it well!
+  Making pies for homesick lads
+    Sure is "beating hell!"
+  In a region blasted
+    By fire and flame and sword,
+  This Salvation Army lass
+    Battles for the Lord!
+
+  Call me sacrilegious
+    And irreverent, too;
+  Pies? They link us up with home
+    As naught else can do!
+  "Home is, where the heart is"--
+    True, the poet sang;
+  But "home is where the pie is"--
+    To the Yankee gang!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+[Illustration: "Tin hat for a halo! Ah! She wears it well!"]
+
+[Illustration: The patient officers who were seeing to all these details
+worked out almost day and night]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+So it has proved.
+
+In the meantime another hut was established at Houdelainecourt.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+All Salvation Army graduates from the training school have a Red Cross
+diploma, and many are experienced nurses.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Many amusing incidents occurred on the voyage.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"You look so much like mother," said one boy just before he died. "Won't
+you please kiss me?"
+
+Another lad, with a great, convulsive effort, drew her hand to his lips
+and kissed her just as he passed away.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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?
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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-le-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.
+
+Now Bar-le-Duc, as everyone knows, is the home of the famous Bar-le-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.
+
+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-le-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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Ah! That was a wonderful cake!
+
+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-le-Duc jam, a third layer of cake with chocolate, another layer spread
+with Bar-le-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!
+
+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"
+
+He was finally led to the General's room and, uncovering the great cake,
+he said:
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 _tout de
+suite!_ 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!"
+
+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.
+
+"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.'"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With the aid of the regimental chaplain, the Staff-Captain had arranged a
+suitable program for the occasion, the regimental band furnishing the
+music.
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+ "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."
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _knew_ that the Salvation Army would have what he
+wanted.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The regimental band played, there were recitations in French and a good
+time generally.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+By his consistent life and character and his willingness to serve both men
+and officers, he won their esteem.
+
+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.
+
+There is an interesting incident in connection with his introduction to
+Major Roosevelt's notice.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The man lifted his bleared eyes under the shock of unkempt hair, and
+spoke, startled:
+
+"You call me brother! You know what I'm here for and you call me brother!
+Why?"
+
+The Little Major's voice was steady and sweet as he replied without
+hesitation:
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh," said the man with a groan of agony and big tears rolling down his
+face. "Could I be made a better man?"
+
+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:
+
+"It's true, what you said! Christ has pardoned me! Now I can die like a
+man!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+An old soldier came down from the front and a Salvationist asked him if he
+knew the Little Major.
+
+"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."
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut was a scene of constant activity.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+The cheerful woman behind the counter would say sympathetically: "No,
+boys, no piano. Too many shells around here for a piano."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Yes, it's from mother!" Then impulsively, "She's the nearest thing to God
+I know!"
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+  Mother o' mine, what the words mean to me
+    Is more than tongue can say;
+  For one view to-night of your loving face,
+    What a price I would gladly pay!
+  The wonderful face . . .
+  . . . smiling still despite loads of care,
+    Tis crowned by a silvering sheen.
+  Your picture I carry next to my heart;
+    With it no harm can befall.
+  It has helped me to smile through many a care,
+    Since I heeded my country's call.
+  O mother who nursed me as a babe
+    And prayed for me as a boy,
+  Can I not show, now at man's estate,
+    That you are my pride and joy?
+  Good night! God guard you, way over the ocean blue,
+  Your boy loves you and his dreams are bright,
+    For he's dreaming of home and you.
+
+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:
+
+
+Dearest Little Mother of Mine:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+And, by gosh, don't forget about that pumpkin pie!
+
+Good-night, mother of mine; your soldier boy loves you a whole dollar's
+worth.
+
+ [Illustraion: "Here during the day they worked in dugouts far below the
+shell-tortured earth"]
+
+[Illustration: They came to get their coats mended and their buttons sewed
+on]
+
+[Illustration: "L'Hermitage, nestled in the heart of a deep woods, was no
+quiet refuge"]
+
+[Illustraion: L'Hermitage, inside the tent.  Several of these boys were
+killed a few days after the picture was taken]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Major-General received him at once and in brusque tones informed him
+most emphatically:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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?
+
+"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?
+
+"Now, look at me!"
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+The officer looked, and listened, and was ashamed.
+
+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.
+
+"And do you know," said the Salvationist, afterward telling a friend in
+earnest confidence, "do you _know_, before I left we _had prayer
+together!_ And he became one of the best friends we have!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+ 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.
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+"How would you like a phonograph?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, Boy! If we only had one! I'll tell the world we'd like it," one
+declared wistfully.
+
+The phonograph was soon forthcoming and brought much pleasure.
+
+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:
+
+"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:
+
+
+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.
+
+
+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.
+
+A boy on one of the hospital cots called to a passing lassie:
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Come out," he shouted, "or I'll throw in a hand grenade!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day, where the renowned
+"Aunt Mary" was located, with her sweet face and sweeter heart.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!
+
+One of the officers receiving his change after having paid for his pie
+looked at it surprisedly:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"You mean you sort of work for the joy of working?" he asked, puzzled.
+
+"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."
+
+"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:
+
+"It takes more than patriotism to keep refined women working like that!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"But I can't read!"
+
+"Read? What do you mean?" asked the lassie.
+
+"My Bible. Nobody never learned me to read, and I can't read my Bible like
+you said in the meeting I should."
+
+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?
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When he felt the desire for drink or gambling coming on he gave his money
+to the girls to keep for him.
+
+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: "FOR THE FIRST TIME ON PAY-DAY SCOOP IS SOBER!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy approached one of our men officers.
+
+"Can them girls speak American?" he asked, pointing at the girls.
+
+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."
+
+Two soldiers were walking along the dusty roadway.
+
+First soldier: "Let's go to the Salvation Army hut."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got a piano and a phonograph and lots of records."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got books and _beaucoup_ games."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "Two American ladies there!"
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got swell coffee and doughnuts!"
+
+Second soldier (angrily): "No! I said NO!"
+
+First soldier: "Aw, come on. They got real homemade pie!"
+
+Second soldier: "I don't care!"
+
+First soldier: "They cut their own wood and do their own work!"
+
+Second soldier: "Well, that's different! Why didn't you say that right
+off, you bonehead? Come on. Where is it?"
+
+And they entered the Salvation Army hut smiling.
+
+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.
+
+ The men went in battalions to the Luneville Sector for Trench Training
+facing the enemy. Of course, the Salvation Army sent a detachment also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+The Toul Sector
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+"ATTENTION! THE ENEMY SEES YOU!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Where are you going to chow?" asked the chief cook.
+
+The Salvationists allowed that they didn't know.
+
+"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!"
+
+This settled the question of board, and after a good breakfast the two
+started out to report to the General in command.
+
+He greeted them most kindly and made them feel welcome at once.
+
+When they asked about the barn he smiled pleasantly:
+
+"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!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Gee! It's good to see you," he said, sinking down in his old place by the
+stove.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, how are you?" asked one of the girls, hoping to start him.
+
+"Oh, all right, thanks," he said meekly.
+
+"Where is your company?"
+
+"Up the line in some woods."
+
+"How far is it?"
+
+"About ten miles."
+
+The girls felt they were not getting on very fast in acquiring
+information.
+
+"Did you walk all that way in the dust and sun?"
+
+"Most of it. Sometimes I was in the fields."
+
+"Were you on watch last night?"
+
+"Ye-ah."
+
+"Then you didn't have any sleep?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why did you come over here then?"
+
+"I wanted to see you." There was a sound of a deep hunger in his voice.
+
+"Well, we're awfully glad to see you, surely. Is there anything we can do
+for you?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Just let me look at you--and----" he hesitated.
+
+"And what?"  "And cook some doughnuts."
+
+"Why, of course!" said the girls cheerily, "but you must lie down and
+sleep awhile first. We'll fix a place for you."
+
+"I don't want to lie down," said the soldier determinedly, "I don't want
+to waste the time."
+
+"But it wouldn't be wasted. You need the sleep."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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:
+
+"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."
+
+The girls received him with exultant smiles. "You go out there under the
+trees and go to sleep!" they ordered him.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On the storm-swept, night-hidden hillside which overhung the field was
+established an anti-aircraft battery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Briefly the Captain explained the situation.
+
+"Caught him in the act of signaling to an enemy plane, sir," he said.
+
+The boy was too cold to venture a protest.
+
+"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."
+
+"Don't know what to do with him, sir, unless I take him down to the
+Salvation Army... they have a fire there."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_wasn't_ 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+That meeting was in the old wine cellar in Mandres.
+
+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.
+
+Here are some extracts from letters written by the Ensign from the old
+wine cellar in Mandres:
+
+   "Somewhere in France,"    May 15, 1918.
+
+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, etc. 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.
+
+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.
+
+My dear Major:
+
+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.
+
+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, etc.,
+and this will be sold and given out in a very few days.
+
+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!
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"See here, boys, did you ever know anything about the Salvation Army
+before?"
+
+They admitted that they had not.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+It was a very dangerous place, also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 detonations 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+The Montdidier Sector
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They were just lost to the land of reality when a soldier roused them
+summarily, saying:
+
+"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."
+
+He was grinning at them cheerfully and they roused to the occasion.
+
+"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!"
+
+"I haven't got a truck but I guess we can turn the trick all right!" said
+the soldier.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Gee! We shall miss you like the devil!"
+
+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:
+
+"Well, now, you know what I mean. I don't know just how to say how much we
+shall miss you!"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+The next day they went on to Tartigny, where they were to be located for a
+time.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Bowed beneath the garden shades,
+  Where the Eastern--sunlight fades,
+  Through a sea of griefs He wades,
+    And prays in agony.
+  His sweat is of blood,
+  His tears like a flood
+    For a lost world flow down.
+  I never knew such tears could be--
+    Those tears He wept for me!
+
+  Hung upon a rugged tree
+  On the hill of Calvary,
+  Jesus suffered, death, to be
+    The Saviour of mankind.
+  His brow pierced by thorn,
+  His hands and feet torn,
+    With broken heart He died.
+  I never knew such pain could be,
+    This pain He bore for me!
+
+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!
+
+  Love which conquered o'er death's sting,
+  Love which has immortal wing,
+  Love which is the only thing
+    My broken heart to heal.
+  It burst through the grave,
+  It brought grace to save,
+    It opened Heaven's gate.
+  I never knew such love could be--
+    This love He gave to me!
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ The following is a brief excerpt from his diary when he manned the dugout
+hut in Coullemelle:
+
+                                                      May 12
+
+"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.
+
+_Tuesday, 14:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 15:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 16:_ 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.
+
+_Friday, 17:_ 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.
+
+_Saturday, 18:_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Sunday, 19:_ 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.
+
+_Monday, 20:_ 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.
+
+_Tuesday, 21:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 22:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 23:_ My eyes are very red and becoming painful and also my
+throat and nose, etc. 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.
+
+_Friday, 24:_ Am all ready to move to a new dugout when Staff-Captain
+arrives and tells me I am ordered out by the military."
+
+Here is the Military Order received by the Staff-Captain:
+
+
+"To Major Coe,
+
+"Salvation Army:
+
+"(1) Major Wilson, Chief G1, directs that the Salvation Army evacuate
+'Coullemelle' as soon as possible.
+
+"(2) He desires that they leave to-night if possible.
+
+"(3) This message was received by me from the office of G1.
+
+                    "L. JOHNSON,
+                    "1st Lieut., F. A."
+
+
+Orders also arrived soon for the removal of the Salvation Army workers in
+Broyes:
+
+
+                 "Headquarters, 1st Division, G-1.
+                 "American Expeditionary Forces,
+                                " June 3, 1919.
+
+"Memorandum: To Mr. L. A. Coe, Salvation Army, La Folie.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"By command of Major General Bullard.
+
+                             "G. K Wilson,
+                             "Major, General Staff,
+                             "A. C. of S., G.-1."
+
+
+In Tartigny they found a house with five rooms, one of them very large.
+The billeting officer turned this over to the Salvation Army.
+
+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.
+
+"Gee! This is just like heaven, coming in here!" one of the boys said when
+he first saw it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+The soldier registered deep agitation.
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A sign was put out announcing that pie would be served at seven o'clock,
+but the lines formed long before that.
+
+[Illustration: "Ma"]
+
+[Illustration: "They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day"--the
+renowned "Aunt Mary" in the right-hand corner]
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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, _anyhow!_"
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"I know the Salvation Army," he said with a faint smile, "I knew I should
+find you here."
+
+She asked him his division and he told her he belonged to one that had
+been cooeperating with the French.
+
+"But how can that be?" she asked in surprise, "we have never worked with
+your division. How do you know about us?"
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: A letter of inspiration from the commander]
+
+[Illustration: The Salvation Army boy truck driver who calmly went to
+sleep in his truck in a shell hole under fire]
+
+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 _pray!_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: _"What did you say?_"
+
+The soldier stared, and grew red and unhappy:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Here is the poem which Pte. Joseph T. Lopes wrote about "Those Salvation
+Army Folks" after the Montdidier attack:
+
+  Somewhere in France, not far from the foe,
+  There's a body of workers whose name we all know;
+  Who not only at home give their lives to make right,
+  But are now here beside us, fighting our fight.
+  What care they for rest when our boys at the front,
+  Who, fighting for freedom, are bearing the brunt,
+  And so, just at dawn, when the caissons come home,
+  With the boys tired out and chilled to the bone,
+  The Salvation Army with its brave little crew,
+  Are waiting with doughnuts and hot coffee, too.
+  When dangers and toiling are o'er for awhile,
+  In their dugouts we find comfort and welcome their smile.
+  There's a spirit of home, so we go there each night,
+  And the thinking of home makes us sit down and write,
+  So we tell of these folks to our loved ones with pride,
+  And are thanking the Lord to have them on our side.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+The Toul Sector Again
+
+
+
+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.
+
+The first Americans to pay the supreme sacrifice in the cause of liberty
+were buried in the Toul Sector.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The letter went to the Captain for censorship, and soon the Salvation Army
+woman had a call from him.
+
+"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."
+
+The day before Memorial Day this woman with two of the lassies from the
+hut went to the cemetery and prepared for the morrow.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The centuries-old gray cemetery in Treveray]
+
+[Illustration: Colonel Barker placing the commander's flowers on
+Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt's grave]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commanding General then came to the front and behind him walked the
+Salvation Army lassies bearing the flags in their arms.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The General then addressed the soldiers, and facing toward the West and
+pointing he said:
+
+"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!"
+
+It was a wonderful, beautiful, solemn sight, every man standing and
+saluting while the flags fluttered softly on the breeze.
+
+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: "NATIONAL CEMETERY OF THE AMERICAN
+EXPEDITIONARY FORCES." There were over two hundred graves inside the
+cemetery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  My loved ones in the Homeland
+    Are waiting me to come,
+  Where neither death nor sorrow
+    Invades their holy home;
+  O dear, dear native country!
+    O rest and peace above!
+  Christ, bring us all to the Homeland
+    Of Thy redeeming love.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+The Baccarat Sector
+
+
+
+Baccarat was the Zone Headquarters for that Sector.
+
+Down the Main street there hung a sign on an old house labeled "MODERN
+BAR."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, if you only knew what it means to us!" one of the men tried to tell
+them one day.
+
+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.
+
+ 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.
+
+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?"
+
+"Oh, no," said one of them brightly. "The Lord wouldn't let that fellow
+get us."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+ Some most amusing incidents came to the knowledge of the Salvation Army
+workers.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+The village was several hundred miles inland.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+As the soldiers had to work in the night, so the Salvation Army men and
+women worked in the night to serve them.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, no! It's great!" she replied eagerly. "I'm the luckiest girl in the
+world."
+
+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.
+
+There were signs all over everywhere: "ATTENTION! THE ENEMY SEES YOU!"
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was said that they were the only women ever permitted to remain in
+these underground passages.
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The next day the girls opened up the canteen at Menilla-Tour as calmly as
+if nothing had happened the day before.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+That day the rest of the outfits arrived, and they all pulled into Morte
+Fontaine.
+
+Morte Fontaine was well named because there was no water in the town fit
+to use.
+
+The girls felt they were needed nearer the front, so they went to Major
+Peabody and asked permission.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"Why, what's the matter, Colonel?" asked the Zone Major innocently.
+
+"Matter enough! You had no business to bring those girls up here!"
+
+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:
+
+"Dog-gone you, Major, where've you been keeping yourself? Why haven't you
+been around?" and he put out his hand affably.
+
+"Why, I didn't want to see a man who bawled me out in the public highway
+that way," said the Zone Major.
+
+"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.
+
+"Why not, Colonel, didn't they do fine?"
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Let's give them each one," proposed one of the girls.
+
+"No! Give them a punch in the nose!" said the boys.
+
+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?"
+
+"Aw, well! The poor sneaks looked so longingly!" said one of the boys,
+grinning sheepishly.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"Say, Cap, you see we didn't go up."
+
+"I see," she smiled happily.
+
+"Say, Cap, won't you have another farewell meeting to-night?" he asked
+with an appealing glance in his dark eyes.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, say, Cap, you can have that later, can't you? We want another meeting
+now."
+
+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:
+
+"All right. Go out and tell the boys."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"That's nothing!" he cried. "Tie it up!"
+
+But they forced him back lest he would bleed to death. In the hospital
+they told him that now he might go home.
+
+"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!"
+
+He went to the Major and the Major said also that he must go home.
+
+The boy looked him straight in the eye:
+
+"Excuse me, Major, saying I won't. But _I won't let go your coat_
+till you say I can stay," and finally the Major had to give in and let him
+stay. He could not resist such pleading.
+
+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.
+
+The doctors said to the girls: "It is wonderful to have you around."
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army women worked all that drive.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+When the drive was over orders came to leave. The following is the
+official notice to the Salvation Army officers:
+
+
+G-1 Headquarters, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, July 26,
+1918.
+
+_Memorandum._
+
+To Directors, Y.M.C.A., Red Cross, Salvation Army Services, 1st Division.
+
+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.
+
+2. Time of departure and routes to be taken will be announced later.
+
+3. Secretaries attached to units may accompany units, if it is so desired.
+
+By command of Major-General Summerall.
+
+                                      P. E. Peabody,
+                                      Captain, Infantry,
+                                      G-1
+
+Copies:
+YMCA
+Red Cross
+Salvation Army
+G-3
+C. of S.
+File
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+After the dinner they took the boys to their divisional headquarters,
+where they found their outfit.
+
+They went on their way from Senlis to Dam-Martin to stay for a week back
+of the lines for rest.
+
+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.
+
+Then orders came to move back to the Toul Sector.
+
+ Those were wonderful moonlight nights at Saizerais, but the Boche
+airplanes nearly pestered the life out of everybody.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At Bullionville the hut was in a building that bore the marks of much
+shelling. The American boys promptly dubbed the place "Souptown."
+
+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.
+
+They started the canteen, made doughnuts and pies, and gave
+entertainments.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+The next day the girls followed in a truck, stopping a few days at
+Pagny-sur-Meuse for rest.
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+The Saint Mihiel Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+The field range was outside in the back yard.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 "_go away_" and rest.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said the doughboy nonchalantly.
+
+"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."
+
+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!"
+
+"She's got my number all right!" said the red-headed one, grinning
+sheepishly as he dropped back.
+
+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.
+
+On the evening of June 14th they made fudge for the boys who were going to
+leave that night for the front lines.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+"Here's a real, honest-to-goodness American woman in the trenches!"
+exclaimed a homesick lad as they came around a turn.
+
+"Yes, your mother couldn't come to-day," said the motherly Salvationist,
+smiling a greeting, "so I've come in her place."
+
+"All right!" said he, entering into the game. "This is Broadway and that's
+Forty-second Street. Sit down."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Strange and sad and wonderful sights there were to see as the soldiers
+went forward.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Dead Man's Curve was between Mandres and Beaumont. The enemy's eye was
+always upon it and had its range.
+
+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.
+
+Everyone had to travel a hundred yards apart. Only three men would be
+allowed to go at once, so dangerous was the trip.
+
+Out of the night would come a voice:
+
+"Halt! Who goes there? Advance and give the countersign."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Not until after the St. Mihiel drive when Montsec was behind the line
+instead of in front did they dare enter Bouconville by day.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Map]
+
+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 _us!_" as though that were
+something unexpected.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: "It was just outside of Bouconville that the famous
+doughnut truck experience occurred"---and this is the Salvation Army boy
+who drove it]
+
+[Illustration: Bullionville, promptly dubbed by the American boys
+"Souptown"]
+
+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-Cotes 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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 CAN.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Madam, how many troops are in this town? Where are they? Where can we get
+any billets?"
+
+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:
+
+"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
+SPY! Madam, we are from Field Hospital Number 12, and we want to find a
+place to rest."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It rained for two weeks in Roulecourt. The soldiers slept in little dog
+tents in the woods.
+
+The meetings held the boys at the throne of God each night, they were the
+power behind the doughnut, and the boys recognized it.
+
+"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."
+
+It poured torrents the night of the drive and nearly drowned out the
+soldiers in their little tents.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy came to one of the Salvation Army men Officers and said: "Pray for
+me. I have given my heart to Jesus."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then up spoke the other man:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Within thirty-six hours after the first gun was fired in the St. Mihiel
+drive seven Salvation Army huts were established on the territory.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut had been turned over to the hospital, so they found
+another old building.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+  There's a spot in me heart that no colleen may own,
+  There's a depth in me soul never sounded or known;
+  There's a place in me memory, me life, that you fill,
+  No other can take it, no one ever will;
+  Sure, I love the dear silver that shines in your hair,
+  And the brow that's all furrowed and wrinkled with care.
+  I kiss the dear fingers, so toil-worn for me;
+    O, God bless you and keep you!
+      Mother Machree!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Abide with me; fast falls the eventide,
+  The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!'
+
+There had been rumors that Montsec was mined and that as soon as a foot
+was set upon it it would blow up.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At five o'clock they went sadly back to the hut.
+
+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.
+
+Then at last there came one bearing a message. There _were_ 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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 "KAMERAD, tritt' ein."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: "THIS JAM FURNISHED BY THE SALVATION ARMY!" 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.
+
+Evening brought enemy airplanes, but the lassies did not stop for that and
+soon their own aerial forces drove the enemy back.
+
+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 _debris_
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+Here is one of the many popular songs that have been written on the
+subject which shows how the soldiers felt:
+
+  SALVATION LASSIE OF MINE.
+
+  "They say it's in Heaven that all angels dwell,
+    But I've come to learn they're on earth just as well;
+  And how would I know that the like could be so,
+    If I hadn't found one down here below?
+
+  CHORUS.
+
+  A sweet little Angel that went o'er the sea,
+    With the emblem of God in her hand;
+  A wonderful Angel who brought there to me
+    The sweet of a war-furrowed land.
+  The crown on her head was a ribbon of red,
+    A symbol of all that's divine;
+  Though she called each a brother she's more like a mother,
+    Salvation Lassie of Mine.
+
+  Perhaps in the future I'll meet her again,
+    In that world where no one knows sorrow or pain;
+  And when that time comes and the last word is said,
+    Then place on my bosom her band of red."
+
+                        _By "Jack" Caddigan and "Chick" Stoy._
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+The Argonne Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+News came to the girls after they had been for a week in Nonsard that they
+were to make a long move.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The girls who came down to help in the St. Mihiel drive]
+
+[Illustration: Here they found a whole little village of German dugouts]
+
+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 _beaucoup_ 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.
+
+They only had a canteen here one day when they were called to go on to
+Neuvilly.
+
+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.
+
+Just before a drive, close to the front, there are always blockades of
+trucks going either way.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When night came on the question of beds arose again. The cellar seemed
+hardly possible, and the military officers considered the question.
+
+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 _debris_
+and wreckage. It had been used all day for an evacuation hospital.
+
+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.
+
+The military officer stood on the steps of this ruined church, and,
+looking around in perplexity, remarked:
+
+"Well, I guess this is the wholest place in town." Then stepping inside he
+glanced about and pointed:
+
+"And this is the most secluded spot here!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked house in Neuvilly where the lassies went to
+sleep in the cellar and woke up to find the soldiers watching]
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked church in Neuvilly where the memorable meeting
+was held]
+
+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!"
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Beautiful Jesus, Bright Star of earth!
+  Loving and tender from moment of birth,
+  Beautiful Jesus, though lowly Thy lot,
+  Born in a manger, so rude was Thy cot!
+
+  Beautiful Jesus, gentle and mild,
+  Light for the sinner in ways dark and wild,
+  Beautiful Jesus, O save such just now,
+  As at Thy feet they in penitence bow!
+
+  Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+  Fairest of thousands and Pearl of great price!
+  Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+  Gladly we welcome Thee, Beautiful Christ!
+
+Before they had finished many eyes had turned instinctively toward the
+picture in the weirdly flickering light.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+"And you used to have family prayers, too, didn't you?" she asked eagerly.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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----"
+
+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:
+
+ "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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 _got_ 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _must_ leave, that it was
+no fit place for women so near to the front.
+
+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:
+
+"General," he said, with a twinkle, "my girls say they won't go."
+
+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:
+
+"Well, if the Salvation Army wants to stay let them stay!" And so they
+stayed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _debris_ 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.
+
+The shelling continued for six hours.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Company H. Advance! See that hill over there? It's full of Germans, but
+_we've got to take it_!"
+
+Then he turned over and began to sob and cry, "Oh God! Oh God!"
+
+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'm the only one
+left_!"
+
+Thus the heart-breaking scenes were multiplied.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Often the boys, just before they went over the top, would come to these
+girls and say:
+
+"We're going up there, now. You pray for us, won't you?"
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+"I did" said the boy weakly, "I did the best I could."
+
+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.
+
+"What is it?" she asked, looking at the book.
+
+"My Testament," he answered with a smile.
+
+"Are you a Christian?"
+
+"Oh, yes," he said with another smile that meant volumes.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+And then the prayers would be said once more, and another song sung.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+_The first quality_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_The second requisite_ 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.
+
+_The third requisite_ 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.
+
+
+
+X.
+
+The Armistice
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was planned to proceed with a religious campaign at these Base Ports,
+holding Salvation meetings in these extensive departments.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+President and Mrs. Wilson were present, accompanied by many prominent
+American officials. Representatives of the various War Work Organizations
+spoke.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"I told you! I told you! We've just been waiting for eight months to pull
+this off! Now, you see!"
+
+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.
+
+The chaplain paid a tribute to President Wilson, finishing with these
+words:
+
+"President Wilson was not man-elected, but God-selected!"
+
+
+
+CHAPLAINS.
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The effort was wholly directed to the uplift of the men and God commanded
+His blessing in a most gratifying manner.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+Homecoming
+
+
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+All right! _All right!_ Did she call it all right? He looked down at
+his one foot with a dubious frown. She was quick to see. She understood.
+
+"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.
+
+But still he hesitated.
+
+"I don't know," he said, looking down at his foot again. "Mother's gone,
+and------"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+He saw her again before he left the wharf. She gave him a card with two
+addresses written on it:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+[Illustration: Right in the midst of the busy hurrying throng of Union
+Square]
+
+[Illustration: "Smiling Billy" "One Game Little Guy"]
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+Then he came around toward the side, and there in plain letters was a
+sign: "SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN UNIFORM WELCOME." What? Was it possible?
+Then he might go in? What kind of a place could it be?
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+ "Dear Billy (It was a regular letter!):
+
+"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!
+
+                                              Signed "Jean"
+
+ 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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"But can't you tell her about your girl?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, yes, but I want you to tell her." he said. "You see, whatever you say
+mother'll know is true."
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+Looking up into the man's eyes the Salvationist said: "I am ready to die
+if God sees fit to call me."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+The Captain could not help being interested and thoughtful. When she left,
+after a little more talk he put out his hand and said:
+
+"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."
+
+Sad things are seen on the docks at times when the ships come into port,
+and the boys are coming home.
+
+A soldier in a basket, with both arms and both legs gone and only one eye,
+was being carried tenderly along.
+
+"Why do you let him live?" asked one pityingly of the Commanding Officer.
+
+The gruff, kindly voice replied:
+
+"You don't know what life is. We don't live through our arms and legs. We
+live through our hearts."
+
+Some of our boys have learned out there amid shell fire to live through
+their hearts.
+
+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:
+
+"Hello, Sister! _You here?_"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+Forty miles west of Chicago is Camp Grant and there the Salvation Army has
+put up a hut just outside of the camp.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In Des Moines the Army has an interesting institution which grew out of a
+great need.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 cafe 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.
+
+[Illustration: Thomas Estill Commissioner of the Western Forces]
+
+[Illustration: The hut at Camp Lewis]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+In her alcove out of sight the visitor found refreshment for her own soul,
+and a vision also.
+
+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:
+
+"See that thou do all things according to the pattern given thee in the
+Mount"
+
+But the stories multiply and my space is drawing to a close. I am minded
+to say reverently in words of old:
+
+"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?
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+
+MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+Nov. 30,1917.
+
+
+MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
+The President of the United States of America.
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+Paris, 7 April, 1919.
+122 W. 14th Street, New York, U.S.A.
+
+I am very much interested to know that the Salvation Army is about to
+enter into a campaign for a sustaining fund.
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+
+
+British Delegation, Paris, 8th April, 1919.
+
+DEAR MADAM:
+
+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.
+
+Yours faithfully,
+W. Lloyd George.
+
+
+General J. J. Pershing, France.
+
+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!
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, New York City.
+
+"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."
+
+General Pershing.
+
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) Pershing.
+
+
+Salvation, New York.
+Paris, April 22, 1919.
+
+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,
+
+John J. Pershing.
+
+
+Marshal Foch, Paris, France:
+
+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.
+
+
+[Illustration: Western Union cablegram (transcription below)]
+
+WESTERN UNION
+ANGLO-AMERICAN DIRECT UNITED STATES
+CABLEGRAM
+34 Broadway N.Y.
+Received at 16 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK
+
+193 F8 PZ
+FRANCE 31
+
+EVANGELINE BOOTH
+COMMANDER SALVATION ARMY
+IN AMERICA NEW YORK
+
+TRES TOUCHE DU SENTIMENT ELEVE QUI A INSPIRE VOTRE
+TELEGRAMME JE VOUS ADRESSE AINSI QU'A VOS ADHERENTS MES
+SINCERES REMERCIEMENTS
+
+        MARECHAL FOCH
+
+
+I am deeply touched by the high sentiment which inspired
+your cablegram, and I tender you and your adherents sincere
+thanks.
+
+        MARSHAL FOCH
+
+
+
+Letter from Sir Douglas Haig
+
+
+Just before leaving London on Thursday for his provincial campaigns,
+General Booth received the following letter from Field Marshal Sir Douglas
+Haig. The generous tribute will be read with intense satisfaction by
+Salvationists the world over:
+
+
+General Headquarters, British Armies in France.
+March 27, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The huts which the Salvation Army has staffed have besides been an
+addition to the comfort of the soldiers which has been greatly
+appreciated.
+
+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.
+
+D. Haig, Field Marshal,
+Commanding British Armies in France.
+
+
+The Following Message from Marshal Joffre:
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+Apr. 9, 1919.
+New York City.
+
+"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."
+
+
+From Field Marshal Viscount French.
+
+"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."
+
+
+June 16, 1918.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"Faithfully yours,
+
+"(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt."
+
+
+
+April 21st, 1919.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+Dear Commander Booth:
+
+I have known the Salvation Army from its beginning.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) John Wanamaker.
+
+
+
+Cardinal's Residence, 408 Charles Street, Baltimore.
+April 16, 1919.
+
+Hon. Charles S. Whitman, New York City.
+
+Honorable and Dear Sir:
+
+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.
+
+I trust, therefore, your efforts to raise $13,000,000 for the Salvation
+Army will meet with a hearty response from our generous American public.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+James, Cardinal, Gibbons.
+
+
+
+Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
+
+Paris, April 7th, 1919.
+
+My Dear Commander Booth:
+
+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.
+
+I congratulate you and, through you, your associates, and I wish you the
+best of fortune in the continuance of your splendid work.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+L. M. House.
+
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Salvation Army.
+
+Evangeline Booth,
+Salvation Army Headquarters, New York.
+
+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.
+
+Leonard Wood.
+Camp Funston, Kansas.
+
+
+
+Brigadier-General Duncan wrote to Colonel Barker the
+following letter:
+
+December 7, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+G. B. Duncan, Brigadier-General.
+
+
+
+The Salvation Army is doing a great work in France and every soldier bears
+testimony to the fact.
+
+Omar Bundy, Major-General.
+
+
+
+Headquarters First Division,
+American Expeditionary Forces.
+
+France, September 15, 1918.
+
+From: Chief of Staff.
+
+To: Major L. Allison Coe, Salvation Army.
+
+Subject: Service in Operation against St. Mihiel Salient.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+3. The Division Commander wishes me to thank you for the Division and for
+himself.
+
+CK/T.        Campbell King, Chief of Staff.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E, Booth, 120 W. 14th St., New York.
+
+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.
+
+L. P. MURPHY, Lieut.-Colonel of Cavalry.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York City.
+
+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.
+
+J. L. HINES,
+Colonel, Sixteenth Infantry.
+
+
+
+In sending a contribution toward the expenses of the War Work, Colonel
+George B. McClellan wrote:
+
+Treasurer, Salvation Army,       July 24, 1918.
+120 West 14th Street, New York City.
+
+DEAR SIR:
+
+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.
+
+Will you accept the enclosed check as my modest contribution to your War
+Fund, and believe me to be
+
+Yours very truly,
+GEO. B. MCCLELLAND Lt.-Col. Ord. Dept., N. A.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss B. Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York City, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+F. G. LAWTON,
+Colonel, Infantry, National Army.
+
+
+
+To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
+
+
+
+The following letter was sent to Major Atkins of the Salvation Army:
+
+Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry,
+France, December 26, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Wishing you a very happy and successful New Year, I am
+
+Yours sincerely,
+(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT, JR.,
+Major (U.S.R.), 26th Infantry.
+
+
+
+When Captain Archibald Roosevelt was lying wounded
+in Red Cross Hospital No. 1 he wrote the following letter
+to the same officer:
+
+Red Cross Hospital No. 1.
+
+July 10, 1918.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+Before leaving France for the United States, two Salvation
+Army lassies received the following letter:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I thank you and your organization for all of this, and assure you of the
+respect and gratitude of the entire division.
+
+J. I. MABEE, Colonel, Medical Corps,
+Division Surgeon.
+
+
+
+CABLE.
+
+January 17, 1918.
+
+The Salvation Army, New York:
+
+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.
+
+CONRAD S. BABCOCK, Lieut.-Colonel,
+Inspector General, First Division.
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+Headquarters, Third Division,
+September 5,1918.
+
+MY DEAR MR. LEFFINGWELL:
+
+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.
+
+I am glad to express my feelings for your work. God bless you in it, and
+always!
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+LYMAN BOLLINS, Division Chaplain,
+Headquarters, Third Division, A. E. F., via New York.
+
+
+
+At the Front in France, June 12, 1918.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill,
+Salvation Army, Chicago.
+
+MY DEAR COMMISSIONER:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+In His name,
+(Signed) THOMAS J. DICKSON,
+Chaplain with rank of Major,
+Sixth Field Artillery, First Division, U. S. Army.
+
+
+
+An appreciation written concerning the first Salvation
+Army chaplain that was appointed after the war started:
+
+Camp Cody, New Mexico,
+
+January 16, 1918.
+
+Major E. C. Clemans,
+136th Infantry, Camp Cody, N. M.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill, Chicago, Ill.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army may be well pleased that it is so well represented in
+the Army as it is by Chaplain Kline.
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) EZRA C. CLEMANS,
+Senior Chaplain, 34th Division.
+
+
+
+July 11, 1918.
+
+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 cooeperation 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.
+
+MAJOR EDWIN F. GLENN.
+
+
+
+TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+ALBERT J. MYERS, JR., Major, National Army.
+1st Div., A. E. F. (Captain, Cavalry, U.S.A.)
+
+
+
+Extract from letter from Captain Charles W. Albright:
+Q. M., R. C., France.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I am proud to have a sister in their ranks."
+
+
+
+An old regular army officer who returned to Paris last week said:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _toute de
+suite_, forty-eight hours after it arrived.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+First Lieutenant Marion M. Marcus, Jr., Field Artillery,
+wrote to one of our leading officers:
+
+October 9, 1918.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+EXTRACT FROM LETTER.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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 have yet to meet a sour-faced cleric behind the counter_. 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?
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _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_. 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.
+
+"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 _boys over here are really back of it and we want
+you to continue your good work_."
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+"The Salvation Army over here is doing wonderful work. _They haven't any
+shows or music, but they certainly know what pleases the boys most_,
+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).
+
+"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:
+
+  Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;
+    Lead Thou me on;
+  The night is dark and I am far from home,
+    Lead Thou me on.
+  Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
+    The distant scene--
+  One step enough for me.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17, 1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+CLINTON SPENCER,
+Private, Motor Action.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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. _That is the boys' mother
+and father here. It is our home_. 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."
+
+"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 _pair of shoes_ 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."
+
+
+
+LETTER OF COMMENDATION RE SALVATION ARMY.
+
+U.S.S. Point Bonita,       15 October, 1918.
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth, Commander,
+Care of Salvation Army Headquarters,
+14th Street, New York City.
+
+DEAR MISS BOOTH:--
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+We all would like to thank Mr. Leffingwell for his great kindness in
+helping us.
+
+The undersigned all have the warmest sort of feeling for you and the
+Salvation Army.
+
+Many, many thanks, from the ship's crew.
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+FROM LORD DERBY.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+STATE OF NEW JERSEY
+EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
+TRENTON.
+
+MY DEAR MR. BATTLE:      December 27, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+I sincerely hope that the campaign will be very successful.
+Cordially yours,
+
+(Signed) WALTER B. EDGE,
+
+Mr. George Gordon Battle, Governor.
+General Chairman, 37 Wall Street, New York City.
+
+
+
+GOVERNOR CHARLES S. WHITMAN'S ADDRESS AT LUNCHEON
+AT HOTEL TEN EYCK, ALBANY, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8, 1917.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"The sphere of the Army's operations has now been extended to the
+battlefields of Europe, where its consecrated workers will cooeperate with
+the Y.M.C.A., K. of C., and kindred organizations.
+
+"It gives me pleasure to commend the work of this beneficent organization,
+and to urge our people to remember its splendid service to humanity.
+
+"Very truly yours,
+"ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
+"Governor."
+
+
+
+Endorsement of January 25, 1918.
+Governor Hugh M. Dorsey, of Georgia.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+STATE OF UTAH
+EXECUTIVE OFFICE
+
+Salt Lake City, January 21, 1918.
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) SIMON BAMBERG,
+Governor.
+
+
+
+FROM A PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOR BRUMBAUGH.
+
+To the People of Pennsylvania:
+
+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.
+
+[SEAL]
+
+GIVEN 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.
+
+By the Governor:
+Secretary of the Commonwealth.
+copy/h
+
+
+
+The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
+Executive Department,
+State House, Boston, February 15, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) SAMUEL W. McCALL,
+Governor.
+
+
+PROCLAMATION.
+
+To the People of the State of Maryland:
+
+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.
+
+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, etc., in every camp in
+France.
+
+Now, THEREFORE, 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.
+
+[The Great Seal of the State of Maryland]
+
+IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, 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.
+
+EMERSON C. HARRINGTON.
+
+
+By the Governor,
+THOS. W. SIMMONS, Secretary of State.
+
+"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.
+
+"Of course, any agency which can in any way ameliorate the condition of
+the boys at the front should receive encouragement."
+
+(Signed) FRANK C. LOWDEN,
+Governor of Illinois.
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) Governor BROUGH of Arkansas.
+
+Lansing, Michigan, June 13, 1918.
+
+
+
+TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
+Governor of the State of Michigan.
+
+MARK E. McKEE,
+Secretary, Counties Division, Michigan War Board.
+
+
+
+STATE OF KANSAS
+ARTHUR CAPPER, GOVERNOR,
+TOPEKA
+
+August 8, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+Very respectfully,
+(Signed) ARTHUR CAPPER, Governor.
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) MILES POINDEXTER,
+Senator from Washington.
+HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
+WASHINGTON, D. C.
+
+
+January 8, 1918.
+
+Colonel Adam Gifford, Salvation Army,
+8 East Brookline Street, Boston, Mass.
+
+MY DEAR COLONEL GIFFORD:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With kindest regards, I remain,
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) GEORGE HOLDEN TINKHAM,
+Congressman.
+
+
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration (Condolence Card):
+GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT
+
+122 W. 14th Street New York
+
+My dear Friend:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Believe me when I say that we are praying and will pray for you.
+
+Yours in sympathy.
+
+(Signed) Evangeline Booth
+COMMANDER
+
+A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS]
+
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+With deepest gratitude,"
+
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"I have just seen your picture in the November _Pictorial Review_ and
+I do so greatly admire your splendid character and the great work you are
+doing.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"May the Lord bless you abundantly in your own heart and in your world
+wide influence and the splendid Salvation Army."
+
+
+
+"DEAR FRIENDS:
+
+"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?
+
+I am
+Yours truly,"
+
+
+Enclosure:
+
+"November 16, 1918.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+  "In My Father's House are many mansions,
+  I go to prepare a place for you;
+  If it were not so, I would have told you.
+
+"Your Baby boy,"
+(Signed) PAUL.
+Chatereaux, France.
+August, 1918.
+
+N. B.--Written on back of the envelope:
+"To be opened only in case of accident."
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"Miss EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"Thanking you for your helpful message,"
+
+
+
+"Miss EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"We do indeed appreciate your thoughtfulness in sending words of comfort
+to people who are utter strangers to you.
+
+"Accept again, the gratitude of my parents as well as the other members of
+our family, including myself.
+
+"May our Heavenly Father bless you all and glorify your good works."
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+
+Commander of the Salvation Army, New York City,
+N. Y.
+
+DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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:
+
+"Somewhere in France, Jan. 15, 1918.
+"MY DEAR MOTHER:
+
+"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, etc., 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.
+
+"Your loving son,"
+
+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.
+
+
+
+December 10, 1917.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, New York City.
+
+MY DEAR COMMANDER:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With ever-increasing interest in the Salvation Army, I am,     Cordially
+yours,
+
+(Signed) J. WILBUR CHAPMAN.
+Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
+Church in the U.S.A.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY IS THE MOST POPULAR ORGANIZATION
+IN FRANCE.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'"
+
+
+
+WAR DEPARTMENT
+COMMISSION ON TRAINING CAMP ACTIVITIES, WASHINGTON
+
+45, Avenue Montaigne, Paris.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Apr. 8, 1919.
+Salvation Army, New York City.
+
+MY DEAR COMMANDER BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+(Signed) RAYMOND B. FOSDICK.
+
+
+
+From Honorable Arthur Stanley,
+Chairman British Red Cross Society.
+
+BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY
+JOINT WAR COMMITTEE
+
+83 Pall Mall, London, S. W.,
+
+December 22, 1917.
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+
+DEAR GENERAL BOOTH:
+
+I enclose formal receipt for the cheque, value L2000, 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.
+
+I cannot sufficiently thank you and the Salvation Army for this very
+generous donation.
+
+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.
+
+Yours sincerely,
+
+(Signed) ARTHUR STANLEY.
+
+
+
+Extract from Judge Ben Lindsey's picture of the Salvation Army at the
+Front:
+
+"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 _Tribune_ 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.'
+
+ "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!'
+
+"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!'"
+
+
+HARRY LAUDER'S ENDORSEMENT.
+
+In speaking of the Salvation Army's work before the Rotary Club of San
+Francisco, Harry Lauder said:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Mr. David Lawrence, special Washington correspondent of the _New York
+Evening Post_ 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:
+
+"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.
+
+"_The policy of the organization_ 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.
+
+"_The success of the Salvation Army_ is attributed by commanding
+officers to the fact that the workers know how to mix naturally. _In
+other cases there had been sometimes an air of condescension not unlike
+that of the professional settlement house worker_."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In a recent issue of the _Saturday Evening Post_, Mr. Irvin Cobb, who
+has just returned from France, has this to say of the Salvation  Army:
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+MY DEAR COLONEL JENKINS:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I saw many evidences showing that the unselfish, sometimes reckless,
+abandon of your workers had a great effect upon our men.
+
+I am sure that the Salvation Army also stands in high respect for its
+religious influence upon the men.
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+
+CHARLES S. MACFARLAND,
+General Secretary.
+
+
+
+The _New York Globe_ printed the following:
+
+HUNS DON'T STOP SALVATION ARMY. MEETING HELD IN
+DEEP DUGOUT UNDER RUINED VILLAGE--MANDOLIN
+SUPPLANTS THE ORGAN.
+
+By Herbert Corey.
+
+JUST BEHIND THE SOMME FRONT, May 3l.--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:
+
+"Jesus, Lover of My Soul."
+
+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:
+
+"By gollies, brother, you're getting it! I actually believe you're getting
+it, brother. We'll have a swell meeting to-night."
+
+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:
+
+"You keep on, brother," said he, "and we'll have a fine meeting for the
+Brigadier when he comes in to-night."
+
+
+TAKING HIS CHANCES.
+
+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."
+
+Bull turned a pair of inflamed eyes on the musician.
+
+"You keep on a-talkin', and I'll hang somep'n on your eye," said Bull,
+hoarsely.
+
+Then he replaced his head in his hands. The Salvation Army man laughed at
+the interlude and then returned to the player.
+
+"See," said he, "it goes like this----" He hummed the wonderful old hymn.
+
+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.
+
+"Aw, brother," said he. "We've got to take our chances along with the
+rest."
+
+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.
+
+
+NO MONEY, BUT GOOD CHEER.
+
+"Just our luck," said some morose doughboy, "if a shell hit the fliv. It's
+a hell of a road----"
+
+"No shell has hit it yet, brother," said the Salvation Army man, cheerily.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+  While the nearer waters roll,
+  While the tempest still is high.
+
+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:
+
+"I can lick any man's son who says THEY ain't all right."
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"I remain, faithfully yours,
+
+"REMY MEERSMAN."
+
+
+
+THE "STARS AND STRIPES" SPEAKS FROM FRANCE FOR THE
+SALVATION ARMY.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+
+THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MAY 17, 1918), QUOTING FROM THE
+ABOVE, ALSO SPEAKS EDITORIALLY.
+
+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.
+
+The evidence of the Salvation Army's excellent work comes from many
+sources.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+A Few Facts about the Salvation Army
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+"Hello! Salvation Army!" he cried. "Are you taking those men to heaven?"
+
+Amid the derisive laughter of the officers on the sidewalk the
+Salvationist replied pleasantly:
+
+"I cannot say I am taking them to heaven, but I certainly am taking them
+away from the other place."
+
+One of the good British Salvationists wrote of meeting our American boys
+in England. He said:
+
+"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 facade 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+In 1877 the name of the Christian Mission was altered to the Salvation
+Army, and the Reverend William Booth assumed the title of General.
+
+December 29, 1879, the first number of the official organ, "The War Cry,"
+was issued and the first brass band formed at Consett.
+
+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.
+
+The Army commenced in South Africa, New Zealand and Iceland in 1883.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On August 20, 1912, General William Booth laid down his sword.
+
+He lay in state in Congress Hall, London, where the number of visitors who
+looked upon his remains ran into the hundreds of thousands.
+
+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.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY WAR ACTIVITIES.
+
+77 Motor ambulances manned by Salvationists.
+
+87 Hotels for use of Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+107 Buildings in United States placed at disposal of Government for war
+relief purposes.
+
+199 Huts at Soldiers' Camps used for religious and social gatherings and
+for dispensing comfort to Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+300 Rest-rooms equipped with papers, magazines, books, etc., in charge of
+Salvation Army Officers.
+
+1507 Salvation Army officers devote their entire time to religious and
+social work among Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+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.
+
+80,000 Salvation Army officers fighting with Allied Armies.
+
+100,000 Parcels of food and clothing distributed among Soldiers and
+Sailors.
+
+100,000 Wounded Soldiers taken from battlefields in Salvation Army
+ambulances.
+
+300,000 Soldiers and Sailors daily attend Salvation Army buildings.
+
+$2,000,000 Already spent in war activities.
+
+45 Chaplains serving under Government appointment.
+
+40 Camps, Forts and Navy Yards at which Salvation Army services are
+conducted or which are visited by Salvation Army officers.
+
+2184 War Widows assisted (legal and other aid, and visited).
+
+2404 Soldiers' wives cared for (including medical help).
+
+442 War children under our care.
+
+3378 Soldiers' remittances forwarded (without charge).
+
+$196,081.05 Amount remitted.
+
+600 Parcels supplied Prisoners of War.
+
+1300 Cables sent for Soldiers.
+
+275 Officers detailed to assist Soldiers' wives and relatives; number
+assisted, 275.
+
+40 Military hospitals visited.
+
+360 Persons visiting hospitals.
+
+147 Boats met.
+
+324,052 Men on board,
+
+35,845 Telegrams sent.
+
+24 Salvationists detailed for this work.
+
+20 Salvationists detailed for this work outside of New York City.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY WORK IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
+
+1218 Buildings in use at present.
+
+2953 Missing friends found.
+
+6125 Tons of ice distributed.
+
+12,000 Officers and non-commissioned officers actively employed.
+
+11,650 Accommodations in institutions.
+
+68,000 Children cared for in Rescue Homes and Slum Settlements.
+
+22,161 Women and girls cared for in Rescue Homes.
+
+30,401 Tons of coal distributed.
+
+175,764 Men cared for in Industrial Homes.
+
+342,639 Poor families visited.
+
+399,418 Outings given poor people.
+
+668,250 Converted to Christian life.
+
+984,426 Jobs found for unemployed poor.
+
+1,535,840 Hours spent in active service in slum districts.
+
+6,900,995 Poor people given temporary relief.
+
+40,522,990 Nights' shelter and beds given to needy poor.
+
+52,674,308 Meals supplied to needy poor. Constituency reached with appeal
+for Christian citizenship.
+
+132,608,087 Out-door meeting attendance.
+
+134,412,564 In-door meeting attendance.
+
+
+NATIONAL WAR BOARD.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, President.
+
+EAST.
+Peart, Col. William, Chairman.
+Reinhardsen, Col. Gustave S., Sec'y and Treas.
+Damon, Col. Alexander M.,
+Parker, Col. Edward J.,
+Jenkins, Lt.-Col. Walter F.,
+Stanyon, Lt.-Col. Thomas,
+Welte, Brigadier Charles
+
+WEST
+Estill, Commissioner Thos., Chairman
+Gauntlett, Col. Sidney,
+Brewer, Lt.-Col. Arthur T.,
+Eynn, Lt.-Col. John T.,
+Dart, Brigadier Wm. J., Sec'y.
+
+FRANCE.
+Barker, Lt.-Col. William S., Director of War Work.
+
+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 COMMANDER
+EVANGELINE C. BOOTH 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.
+
+The National Board is greatly strengthened through the adding to its
+special councils all of the Provincial Officers of the country.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Romance of the Salvation Army, by
+Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR ROMANCE OF SALVATION ARMY ***
+
+***** This file should be named 7811.txt or 7811.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 public domain print editions 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 with public domain eBooks.  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 in the public domain 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 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
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (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 Michael
+Hart, 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
+public domain works 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 located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., 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 Public Domain 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.
diff --git a/7811.zip b/7811.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e2b6df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/7811.zip
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c70ae98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #7811 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7811)
diff --git a/old/2014-03_7811-h.zip b/old/2014-03_7811-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e47ade
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/2014-03_7811-h.zip
diff --git a/old/7warm10.txt b/old/7warm10.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e4db0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/7warm10.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11695 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+by Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the
+copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing
+this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
+
+This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
+Gutenberg file.  Please do not remove it.  Do not change or edit the
+header without written permission.
+
+Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
+eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file.  Included is
+important information about your specific rights and restrictions in
+how the file may be used.  You can also find out about how to make a
+donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
+
+
+**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
+
+**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
+
+*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
+
+
+Title: The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+Author: Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7811]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on May 19, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR ROMANCE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: William Bramwell Booth
+General of the Salvation Army]
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+by
+
+Evangeline Booth
+
+Commander-in-Chief,
+The Salvation Army in America
+
+and
+
+Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Author of "The Enchanted Barn"; "The Best Man";
+"Lo Michael"; "The Red Signal," etc.
+
+
+
+
+Copyright 1919, by J. T. Lippincot Company
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Evangeline Booth
+Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation Army in America]
+
+
+
+
+Foreword
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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 _service_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Evangeline Booth]
+
+NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SALVATION ARMY, NEW YORK CITY.
+
+April, 1919.
+
+
+
+
+From the Commander's Own Pen
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_need at their door_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+Now on all sides I am confronted with the question: _What is the secret
+of the Salvation Army's success in the war?_
+
+Permit me to suggests three reasons which, in my judgment, account for it:
+
+First, when the war-bolt fell, when the clarion call sounded, it found
+_the Salvation Army ready!_
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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--_the service of humanity_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But even such arts as these crumble; they are as dust under our feet
+compared with that much greater art, _the art of dealing ably with human
+life in all its varying conditions and phases_.
+
+It is in this art that we seek by a most careful culture and training to
+perfect our officers.
+
+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
+_how_.
+
+Trained to press at every cost for the desired and decided-upon end.
+
+Trained to obey orders willingly, and gladly, and wholly--not in part.
+
+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.
+
+Trained in the art of the winsome, attractive coquetries of the round,
+brown doughnut and all its kindred.
+
+Trained, if needs be, to seal their services with their life's blood.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+A further reason for the success of the Salvation Army in the war is,
+_it found us accustomed to hardship_.
+
+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.
+
+We went to the battlefields _no strangers to suffering_. 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.
+
+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
+_underneath_ of those great cities which upon the surface thunder
+with enterprise and glitter with brilliance.
+
+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."
+
+Our service in France was not, therefore, an experiment, but an organized,
+tested, and proved system. We were enacting no new role. 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+This is how it is the Salvation Army has no "closing hours." "Taps" sound
+for us _when the need is relieved_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Again, a reason for our success in the war is, _our practical
+religion_.
+
+That is, our religion is _practicable_. 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.
+
+We _do_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Christ in deeds_.
+
+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 UB 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+It has only been this same Christ, _this Christ in deeds_, 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 _Christ in deeds_ 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, humam and divine.
+
+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.
+
+It is this _Christ in deeds_ that has made the doughnut to take the
+place of the "cup of cold water" given in His name. It is this _Christ
+in deeds_ 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 _Christ in deeds_
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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, _the service of the man_."
+
+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: _Complete abandonment to
+the service of the man_.
+
+This, in large measure, is the cause of our success all over the world.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+What was it? What is it? Those ties created by a spiritual ideal. Our love
+for God demonstrated by our sacrifice for man.
+
+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 IB fame; my passion is man!"
+
+This was in our Founder's breast the white flame which ignited like sparks
+in the hearts of all his followers.
+
+             _Man is our life's passion._
+
+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.
+
+After the torpedoing of the _Aboukir_ 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.
+
+When the _Empress of Ireland_ 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--
+_Others!_
+
+_Man!_ 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 _man_.
+
+He that was made after God's image.
+
+He that is greater than firmaments, greater than suns, greater than
+worlds.
+
+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
+_the man of the hour;_ 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.
+
+Wherein is price? What constitutes cost, when the question is _THE
+MAN_?
+
+
+
+
+Preface by the Writer
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 "OTHERS" 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.
+
+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!
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Grace Livingston Hill]
+
+
+
+
+Contents
+
+
+
+
+   I.  The Story
+  II.  The Gondrecourt Area
+ III.  The Toul Sector
+  IV.  The Montdidier Sector
+   V.  The Toul Sector Again
+  VI.  The Baccarat Sector
+ VII.  The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+VIII.  The Saint Mihiel Drive
+  IX.  The Argonne Drive
+   X.  The Armistice
+  XI.  Homecoming
+ XII.  Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+
+
+Illustrations
+
+
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+Lieutenant Colonel William S. Barker.
+Introduced to French Rain and French Mud.
+She Called the Little Company of Workers Together and Gave Them a Charge.
+The Lassie Who Fried the First Doughnut in France.
+"Tin Hat for a Halo! Ah! She Wears It Well!".
+The Patient Officers Who Were Seeing to All These Details Worked Almost
+    Day and Night.
+Here During the Day They Worked in Dugouts Far Below the Shell-tortured
+    Earth.
+They Came To Get Their Coats Mended and Their Buttons Sewed On.
+The Entrance to the Old Wine Cellar in Mandres.
+The Salvation Army Was Told that Ansauville Was Too Far Front for Any
+    Women To Be Allowed To Go.
+L'Hermitage, Nestled in the Heart of a Deep Woods.
+L'Hermitage, Inside the Tent.
+"Ma".
+They Had a Pie-baking Contest in Gondrecourt One Day.
+A Letter of Inspiration from the Commander.
+The Salvation Army Boy Truck Driver.
+The Centuries-old Gray Cemetery in Treveray.
+Colonel Barker Placing the Commander's Flowers on Lieutenant Quentin
+    Roosevelt's Grave.
+The Salvation Army Boy Who Drove the Famous Doughnut Truck.
+Bullionville, Promptly Dubbed by the American Boy "Souptown".
+Here They Found a Whole Little Village of German Dugouts.
+The Girls Who Came Down to Help in the St. Mihiel Drive.
+The Wrecked House in Neuvilly Where the Lassies Went to Sleep in the Cellar.
+The Wrecked Church in Neuvilly Where the Memorable Meeting Was Held.
+Right in the Midst of the Busy Hurrying Throng of Union Square.
+"Smiling Billy".
+Thomas Estill.
+The Hut at Camp Lewis.
+
+
+
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+The Story
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Some one gave the cry of FIRE! 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.
+
+So that was how the burning of the Salvation Army Training School
+occurred.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A few days later a detective taking lunch in a small German restaurant on
+a side street overheard a conversation:
+
+"Well, if we can't burn them out we'll blow up the building, and get that
+damn Commander, anyhow!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commander said she knew nothing about them and could not be
+interrupted now. They must be told to come again the next day.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+But if she is courageous, she is also wise as a serpent, and knows when to
+keep her own counsel.
+
+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:
+
+"Oh, wherever they are most needed," and passed on with a friend.
+
+"I believe that man is a spy!" she said to her friend with conviction in
+her voice.
+
+"Nonsense!" the friend replied; "you are growing nervous. That man has
+been in this hotel for several years."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was the beginning of the dark days of 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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 MUST GO! 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+Mr. Tumulty gave him a most kind letter of introduction to the American
+Ambassador.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The first destination was Gondrecourt, where the First Division
+Headquarters was established.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+The Gondrecourt Area
+
+
+
+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.
+
+But instead of going to the front at once they were billeted in little
+French villages and introduced to French rain and French mud.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker Director of War Work
+in France]
+
+[Illustration: "Introduced to French Rain and French Mud"]
+
+There were sixteen of these camps at this time and probably twelve or
+thirteen thousand soldiers were already established in them.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The whole place smells alike. There is no heat anywhere, save from a
+fireplace in the kitchen. There is a community bakehouse.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Several chaplains, both Protestant and Catholic, expressed themselves as
+being glad to welcome the Salvation Army among them.
+
+Among the Regular Army officers there was rather a pessimistic attitude.
+It was in nowise hostile, but rather doubtful.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The song this time was just a few lines of consecration:
+
+  "Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!
+   Saviour Divine, to whom else can I go?
+      Thou who hast died, loving me so,
+      Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!"
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: She called the little company of workers together and gave
+them such a charge as would make an angel search his heart]
+
+[Illustration: The lassie who fried the first doughnut in France]
+
+It wtas a bright, sunny afternoon, August 12th, when this first party of
+American Salvation Army workers set sail for France.
+
+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 REAL 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In this first touring car Colonel Barker with one of the newly arrived
+adjutants for driver, started to Demange.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When the two men finally arrived in Demange the Military General greeted
+them gladly and invited them to dine with him.
+
+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."
+
+The General and the members of his staff said they would remember that
+promise and hold him to it.
+
+The pleasure which the thought of that pie aroused furnished a suggestion
+for work later on.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _serious_ business and
+longed to be at it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Officers had been appointed to take charge of the Demange hut and
+immediately further operations in other towns were being arranged.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvationists stood at the door of the hut and looked across to the
+crowd.
+
+"How about holding our meeting over there?" asked the Staff-Captain of the
+man in charge.
+
+"All right. Hold it wherever you like."
+
+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.
+
+There were a thousand men gathered about and the cornet began where the
+band had left off, thrilling out between the roar of guns.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  "Nearer, my God, to Thee,
+     Nearer to Thee,
+   E'en though it be a cross
+     That raiseth me."
+
+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:
+
+ "When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound
+  And time shall be no more--"
+
+How soon would that trumpet sound for many of them! Time should be no
+more! What a startling thought!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But here at last was someone else who understood!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then a lassie's voice began to sing, all alone:
+
+  "I grieved my Lord from day to day,
+     I scorned His love, so full and free,
+   And though I wandered far away,
+     My Mother's prayers have followed me.
+       I'm coming home, I'm coming home,
+         To live my wasted life anew,
+       For Mother's prayers have followed me,
+         Have followed me, the whole world through.
+
+  "O'er desert wild, o'er mountain high,
+     A wanderer I chose to be---
+   A wretched soul condemned to die;
+     Still Mother's prayers have followed me.
+
+  "He turned my darkness into light,
+     This blessed Christ of Calvary;
+   I'll praise His name both day and night,
+     That Mother's prayers have followed me!
+       I'm coming home, I'm coming home---"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+One man came in and threw 300 francs on the counter, saying: "I owe you
+285 francs. Put the change in the coffee fund."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+"Never mind," said the sergeant to the girls, "the boys will see that you
+get some to-night."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, etc. Soldiers used the hut for a
+mess hall. There was no other place where they could eat with any degree
+of comfort.
+
+By this time the fact that the Salvation Army was established at Demange
+was becoming known throughout the division.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+There stood the Salvationists in the road wondering what to do next.
+
+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.
+
+"We are going to stay here if you will have us," said the Staff-Captain.
+
+"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."
+
+Thus auspiciously did the work open in Montiers.
+
+In a few minutes they were taken to a French cafe and a comfortable place
+found for them to spend the night.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+The first soldier the Staff-Captain questioned reassured him.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+Then the girls arrived and things began to look a bit more cheerful.
+
+"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.
+
+Dismay descended upon the face of the weary Staff-Captain.
+
+"Why," he answered apologetically, "we forgot all about that!" and he
+hurried out to find a stove.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Leave that to me!" said the Mess-Sergeant. "It'll be all right!"
+
+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.
+
+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
+_en lieu_ of chairs with smiling appreciation.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Staff-Captain thanked him, but told him that he thought they would
+stay with the boys.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+That was at Montiers, the home of the doughnut.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The young Ensign lassie who had originated and _made_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Meantime, the pie was coming into its own, back in Demange also.
+
+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:
+
+ "Home is where the heart is"--
+    Thus the poet sang;
+  But "home is where the pie is"
+    For the doughboy gang!
+  Crullers in the craters,
+    Pastry in abris--
+  This Salvation Army lass
+    Sure knows how to please!
+
+  Tin hat for a halo!
+    Ah! She wears it well!
+  Making pies for homesick lads
+    Sure is "beating hell!"
+  In a region blasted
+    By fire and flame and sword,
+  This Salvation Army lass
+    Battles for the Lord!
+
+  Call me sacrilegious
+    And irreverent, too;
+  Pies? They link us up with home
+    As naught else can do!
+  "Home is, where the heart is"--
+    True, the poet sang;
+  But "home is where the pie is"--
+    To the Yankee gang!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+[Illustration: "Tin hat for a halo! Ah! She wears it well!"]
+
+[Illustration: The patient officers who were seeing to all these details
+worked out almost day and night]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+So it has proved.
+
+In the meantime another hut was established at Houdelainecourt.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+All Salvation Army graduates from the training school have a Red Cross
+diploma, and many are experienced nurses.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Many amusing incidents occurred on the voyage.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"You look so much like mother," said one boy just before he died. "Won't
+you please kiss me?"
+
+Another lad, with a great, convulsive effort, drew her hand to his lips
+and kissed her just as he passed away.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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?
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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-le-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.
+
+Now Bar-le-Duc, as everyone knows, is the home of the famous Bar-le-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.
+
+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-le-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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Ah! That was a wonderful cake!
+
+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-le-Duc jam, a third layer of cake with chocolate, another layer spread
+with Bar-le-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!
+
+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"
+
+He was finally led to the General's room and, uncovering the great cake,
+he said:
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 he 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 _tout de
+suite!_ 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!"
+
+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.
+
+"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.'"
+
+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 scon 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With the aid of the regimental chaplain, the Staff-Captain had arranged a
+suitable program for the occasion, the regimental band furnishing the
+music.
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+ "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."
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _knew_ that the Salvation Army would have what he
+wanted.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The regimental band played, there were recitations in French and a good
+time generally.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+By his consistent life and character and his willingness to serve both men
+and officers, he won their esteem.
+
+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.
+
+There is an interesting incident in connection with his introduction to
+Major Roosevelt's notice.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The man lifted his bleared eyes under the shock of unkempt hair, and
+spoke, startled:
+
+"You call me brother! You know what I'm here for and you call me brother!
+Why?"
+
+The Little Major's voice was steady and sweet as he replied without
+hesitation:
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh," said the man with a groan of agony and big tears rolling down his
+face. "Could I be made a better man?"
+
+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:
+
+"It's true, what you said! Christ has pardoned me! Now I can die like a
+man!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+An old soldier came down from the front and a Salvationist asked him if he
+knew the Little Major.
+
+"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."
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut was a scene of constant activity.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+The cheerful woman behind the counter would say sympathetically: "No,
+boys, no piano. Too many shells around here for a piano."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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 Salyation 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.
+
+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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Yes, it's from mother!" Then impulsively, "She's the nearest thing to God
+I know!"
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+  Mother o' mine, what the words mean to me
+    Is more than tongue can say;
+  For one view to-night of your loving face,
+    What a price I would gladly pay!
+  The wonderful face . . .
+  . . . smiling still despite loads of care,
+    Tis crowned by a silvering sheen.
+  Your picture I carry next to my heart;
+    With it no harm can befall.
+  It has helped me to smile through many a care,
+    Since I heeded my country's call.
+  O mother who nursed me as a babe
+    And prayed for me as a boy,
+  Can I not show, now at man's estate,
+    That you are my pride and joy?
+  Good night! God guard you, way over the ocean blue,
+  Your boy loves you and his dreams are bright,
+    For he's dreaming of home and you.
+
+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:
+
+
+Dearest Little Mother of Mine:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+And, by gosh, don't forget about that pumpkin pie!
+
+Good-night, mother of mine; your soldier boy loves you a whole dollar's
+worth.
+
+ [Illustraion: "Here during the day they worked in dugouts far below the
+shell-tortured earth"]
+
+[Illustration: They came to get their coats mended and their buttons sewed
+on]
+
+[Illustration: "L'Hermitage, nestled in the heart of a deep woods, was no
+quiet refuge"]
+
+[Illustraion: L'Hermitage, inside the tent.  Several of these boys were
+killed a few days after the picture was taken]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Major-General received him at once and in brusque tones informed him
+most emphatically:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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?
+
+"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?
+
+"Now, look at me!"
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+The officer looked, and listened, and was ashamed.
+
+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.
+
+"And do you know," said the Salvationist, afterward telling a friend in
+earnest confidence, "do you _know_, before I left we _had prayer
+together!_ And he became one of the best friends we have!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+ 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.
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+"How would you like a phonograph?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, Boy! If we only had one! I'll tell the world we'd like it," one
+declared wistfully.
+
+The phonograph was soon forthcoming and brought much pleasure.
+
+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:
+
+"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:
+
+
+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.
+
+
+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.
+
+A boy on one of the hospital cots called to a passing lassie:
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Come out," he shouted, "or I'll throw in a hand grenade!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day, where the renowned
+"Aunt Mary" was located, with her sweet face and sweeter heart.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!
+
+One of the officers receiving his change after having paid for his pie
+looked at it surprisedly:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"You mean you sort of work for the joy of working?" he asked, puzzled.
+
+"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."
+
+"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:
+
+"It takes more than patriotism to keep refined women working like that!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"But I can't read!"
+
+"Read? What do you mean?" asked the lassie.
+
+"My Bible. Nobody never learned me to read, and I can't read my Bible like
+you said in the meeting I should."
+
+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?
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When he felt the desire for drink or gambling coming on he gave his money
+to the girls to keep for him.
+
+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: "FOR THE FIRST TIME ON PAY-DAY SCOOP IS SOBER!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy approached one of our men officers.
+
+"Can them girls speak American?" he asked, pointing at the girls.
+
+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."
+
+Two soldiers were walking along the dusty roadway.
+
+First soldier: "Let's go to the Salvation Army hut."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got a piano and a phonograph and lots of records."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got books and _beaucoup_ games."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "Two American ladies there!"
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got swell coffee and doughnuts!"
+
+Second soldier (angrily): "No! I said NO!"
+
+First soldier: "Aw, come on. They got real homemade pie!"
+
+Second soldier: "I don't care!"
+
+First soldier: "They cut their own wood and do their own work!"
+
+Second soldier: "Well, that's different! Why didn't you say that right
+off, you bonehead? Come on. Where is it?"
+
+And they entered the Salvation Army hut smiling.
+
+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.
+
+ The men went in battalions to the Luneville Sector for Trench Training
+facing the enemy. Of course, the Salvation Army sent a detachment also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+The Toul Sector
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+"ATTENTION! THE ENEMY SEES YOU!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Where are you going to chow?" asked the chief cook.
+
+The Salvationists allowed that they didn't know.
+
+"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!"
+
+This settled the question of board, and after a good breakfast the two
+started out to report to the General in command.
+
+He greeted them most kindly and made them feel welcome at once.
+
+When they asked about the barn he smiled pleasantly:
+
+"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!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Gee! It's good to see you," he said, sinking down in his old place by the
+stove.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, how are you?" asked one of the girls, hoping to start him.
+
+"Oh, all right, thanks," he said meekly.
+
+"Where is your company?"
+
+"Up the line in some woods."
+
+"How far is it?"
+
+"About ten miles."
+
+The girls felt they were not getting on very fast in acquiring
+information.
+
+"Did you walk all that way in the dust and sun?"
+
+"Most of it. Sometimes I was in the fields."
+
+"Were you on watch last night?"
+
+"Ye-ah."
+
+"Then you didn't have any sleep?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why did you come over here then?"
+
+"I wanted to see you." There was a sound of a deep hunger in his voice.
+
+"Well, we're awfully glad to see you, surely. Is there anything we can do
+for you?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Just let me look at you--and----" he hesitated.
+
+"And what?"  "And cook some doughnuts."
+
+"Why, of course!" said the girls cheerily, "but you must lie down and
+sleep awhile first. We'll fix a place for you."
+
+"I don't want to lie down," said the soldier determinedly, "I don't want
+to waste the time."
+
+"But it wouldn't be wasted. You need the sleep."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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:
+
+"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."
+
+The girls received him with exultant smiles. "You go out there under the
+trees and go to sleep!" they ordered him.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On the storm-swept, night-hidden hillside which overhung the field was
+established an anti-aircraft battery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Briefly the Captain explained the situation.
+
+"Caught him in the act of signaling to an enemy plane, sir," he said.
+
+The boy was too cold to venture a protest.
+
+"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."
+
+"Don't know what to do with him, sir, unless I take him down to the
+Salvation Army... they have a fire there."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_wasn't_ 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+That meeting was in the old wine cellar in Mandres.
+
+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.
+
+Here are some extracts from letters written by the Ensign from the old
+wine cellar in Mandres:
+
+   "Somewhere in France,"    May 15, 1918.
+
+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, etc. 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.
+
+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.
+
+My dear Major:
+
+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.
+
+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, etc.,
+and this will be sold and given out in a very few days.
+
+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!
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"See here, boys, did you ever know anything about the Salvation Army
+before?"
+
+They admitted that they had not.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+It was a very dangerous place, also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 detonations 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+The Montdidier Sector
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They were just lost to the land of reality when a soldier roused them
+summarily, saying:
+
+"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."
+
+He was grinning at them cheerfully and they roused to the occasion.
+
+"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!"
+
+"I haven't got a truck but I guess we can turn the trick all right!" said
+the soldier.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Gee! We shall miss you like the devil!"
+
+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:
+
+"Well, now, you know what I mean. I don't know just how to say how much we
+shall miss you!"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+The next day they went on to Tartigny, where they were to be located for a
+time.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Bowed beneath the garden shades,
+  Where the Eastern--sunlight fades,
+  Through a sea of griefs He wades,
+    And prays in agony.
+  His sweat is of blood,
+  His tears like a flood
+    For a lost world flow down.
+  I never knew such tears could be--
+    Those tears He wept for me!
+
+  Hung upon a rugged tree
+  On the hill of Calvary,
+  Jesus suffered, death, to be
+    The Saviour of mankind.
+  His brow pierced by thorn,
+  His hands and feet torn,
+    With broken heart He died.
+  I never knew such pain could be,
+    This pain He bore for me!
+
+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!
+
+  Love which conquered o'er death's sting,
+  Love which has immortal wing,
+  Love which is the only thing
+    My broken heart to heal.
+  It burst through the grave,
+  It brought grace to save,
+    It opened Heaven's gate.
+  I never knew such love could be--
+    This love He gave to me!
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ The following is a brief excerpt from his diary when he manned the dugout
+hut in Coullemelle:
+
+                                                      May 12
+
+"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.
+
+_Tuesday, 14:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 15:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 16:_ 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.
+
+_Friday, 17:_ 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.
+
+_Saturday, 18:_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Sunday, 19:_ 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.
+
+_Monday, 20:_ 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.
+
+_Tuesday, 21:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 22:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 23:_ My eyes are very red and becoming painful and also my
+throat and nose, etc. 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.
+
+_Friday, 24:_ Am all ready to move to a new dugout when Staff-Captain
+arrives and tells me I am ordered out by the military."
+
+Here is the Military Order received by the Staff-Captain:
+
+
+"To Major Coe,
+
+"Salvation Army:
+
+"(1) Major Wilson, Chief G1, directs that the Salvation Army evacuate
+'Coullemelle' as soon as possible.
+
+"(2) He desires that they leave to-night if possible.
+
+"(3) This message was received by me from the office of G1.
+
+                    "L. JOHNSON,
+                    "1st Lieut., F. A."
+
+
+Orders also arrived soon for the removal of the Salvation Army workers in
+Broyes:
+
+
+                 "Headquarters, 1st Division, G-1.
+                 "American Expeditionary Forces,
+                                " June 3, 1919.
+
+"Memorandum: To Mr. L. A. Coe, Salvation Army, La Folie.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"By command of Major General Bullard.
+
+                             "G. K Wilson,
+                             "Major, General Staff,
+                             "A. C. of S., G.-1."
+
+
+In Tartigny they found a house with five rooms, one of them very large.
+The billeting officer turned this over to the Salvation Army.
+
+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.
+
+"Gee! This is just like heaven, coming in here!" one of the boys said when
+he first saw it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+The soldier registered deep agitation.
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A sign was put out announcing that pie would be served at seven o'clock,
+but the lines formed long before that.
+
+[Illustration: "Ma"]
+
+[Illustration: "They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day"--the
+renowned "Aunt Mary" in the right-hand corner]
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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, _anyhow!_"
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"I know the Salvation Army," he said with a faint smile, "I knew I should
+find you here."
+
+She asked him his division and he told her he belonged to one that had
+been cooperating with the French.
+
+"But how can that be?" she asked in surprise, "we have never worked with
+your division. How do you know about us?"
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: A letter of inspiration from the commander]
+
+[Illustration: The Salvation Army boy truck driver who calmly went to
+sleep in his truck in a shell hole under fire]
+
+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 _pray!_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: _"What did you say?_"
+
+The soldier stared, and grew red and unhappy:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Here is the poem which Pte. Joseph T. Lopes wrote about "Those Salvation
+Army Folks" after the Montdidier attack:
+
+  Somewhere in France, not far from the foe,
+  There's a body of workers whose name we all know;
+  Who not only at home give their lives to make right,
+  But are now here beside us, fighting our fight.
+  What care they for rest when our boys at the front,
+  Who, fighting for freedom, are bearing the brunt,
+  And so, just at dawn, when the caissons come home,
+  With the boys tired out and chilled to the bone,
+  The Salvation Army with its brave little crew,
+  Are waiting with doughnuts and hot coffee, too.
+  When dangers and toiling are o'er for awhile,
+  In their dugouts we find comfort and welcome their smile.
+  There's a spirit of home, so we go there each night,
+  And the thinking of home makes us sit down and write,
+  So we tell of these folks to our loved ones with pride,
+  And are thanking the Lord to have them on our side.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+The Toul Sector Again
+
+
+
+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.
+
+The first Americans to pay the supreme sacrifice in the cause of liberty
+were buried in the Toul Sector.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The letter went to the Captain for censorship, and soon the Salvation Army
+woman had a call from him.
+
+"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."
+
+The day before Memorial Day this woman with two of the lassies from the
+hut went to the cemetery and prepared for the morrow.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The centuries-old gray cemetery in Treveray]
+
+[Illustration: Colonel Barker placing the commander's flowers on
+Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt's grave]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commanding General then came to the front and behind him walked the
+Salvation Army lassies bearing the flags in their arms.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The General then addressed the soldiers, and facing toward the West and
+pointing he said:
+
+"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!"
+
+It was a wonderful, beautiful, solemn sight, every man standing and
+saluting while the flags fluttered softly on the breeze.
+
+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: "NATIONAL CEMETERY OF THE AMERICAN
+EXPEDITIONARY FORCES." There were over two hundred graves inside the
+cemetery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  My loved ones in the Homeland
+    Are waiting me to come,
+  Where neither death nor sorrow
+    Invades their holy home;
+  O dear, dear native country!
+    O rest and peace above!
+  Christ, bring us all to the Homeland
+    Of Thy redeeming love.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+The Baccarat Sector
+
+
+
+Baccarat was the Zone Headquarters for that Sector.
+
+Down the Main street there hung a sign on an old house labeled "MODERN
+BAR."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, if you only knew what it means to us!" one of the men tried to tell
+them one day.
+
+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.
+
+ 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.
+
+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?"
+
+"Oh, no," said one of them brightly. "The Lord wouldn't let that fellow
+get us."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+ Some most amusing incidents came to the knowledge of the Salvation Army
+workers.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+The village was several hundred miles inland.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+As the soldiers had to work in the night, so the Salvation Army men and
+women worked in the night to serve them.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, no! It's great!" she replied eagerly. "I'm the luckiest girl in the
+world."
+
+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.
+
+There were signs all over everywhere: "ATTENTION! THE ENEMY SEES YOU!"
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was said that they were the only women ever permitted to remain in
+these underground passages.
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The next day the girls opened up the canteen at Menilla-Tour as calmly as
+if nothing had happened the day before.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+That day the rest of the outfits arrived, and they all pulled into Morte
+Fontaine.
+
+Morte Fontaine was well named because there was no water in the town fit
+to use.
+
+The girls felt they were needed nearer the front, so they went to Major
+Peabody and asked permission.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"Why, what's the matter, Colonel?" asked the Zone Major innocently.
+
+"Matter enough! You had no business to bring those girls up here!"
+
+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:
+
+"Dog-gone you, Major, where've you been keeping yourself? Why haven't you
+been around?" and he put out his hand affably.
+
+"Why, I didn't want to see a man who bawled me out in the public highway
+that way," said the Zone Major.
+
+"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.
+
+"Why not, Colonel, didn't they do fine?"
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Let's give them each one," proposed one of the girls.
+
+"No! Give them a punch in the nose!" said the boys.
+
+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?"
+
+"Aw, well! The poor sneaks looked so longingly!" said one of the boys,
+grinning sheepishly.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"Say, Cap, you see we didn't go up."
+
+"I see," she smiled happily.
+
+"Say, Cap, won't you have another farewell meeting to-night?" he asked
+with an appealing glance in his dark eyes.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, say, Cap, you can have that later, can't you? We want another meeting
+now."
+
+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:
+
+"All right. Go out and tell the boys."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"That's nothing!" he cried. "Tie it up!"
+
+But they forced him back lest he would bleed to death. In the hospital
+they told him that now he might go home.
+
+"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!"
+
+He went to the Major and the Major said also that he must go home.
+
+The boy looked him straight in the eye:
+
+"Excuse me, Major, saying I won't. But _I won't let go your coat_
+till you say I can stay," and finally the Major had to give in and let him
+stay. He could not resist such pleading.
+
+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.
+
+The doctors said to the girls: "It is wonderful to have you around."
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army women worked all that drive.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+When the drive was over orders came to leave. The following is the
+official notice to the Salvation Army officers:
+
+
+G-1 Headquarters, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, July 26,
+1918.
+
+_Memorandum._
+
+To Directors, Y.M.C.A., Red Cross, Salvation Army Services, 1st Division.
+
+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.
+
+2. Time of departure and routes to be taken will be announced later.
+
+3. Secretaries attached to units may accompany units, if it is so desired.
+
+By command of Major-General Summerall.
+
+                                      P. E. Peabody,
+                                      Captain, Infantry,
+                                      G-1
+
+Copies:
+YMCA
+Red Cross
+Salvation Army
+G-3
+C. of S.
+File
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+After the dinner they took the boys to their divisional headquarters,
+where they found their outfit.
+
+They went on their way from Senlis to Dam-Martin to stay for a week back
+of the lines for rest.
+
+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.
+
+Then orders came to move back to the Toul Sector.
+
+ Those were wonderful moonlight nights at Saizerais, but the Boche
+airplanes nearly pestered the life out of everybody.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At Bullionville the hut was in a building that bore the marks of much
+shelling. The American boys promptly dubbed the place "Souptown."
+
+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.
+
+They started the canteen, made doughnuts and pies, and gave
+entertainments.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+The next day the girls followed in a truck, stopping a few days at Pagny-
+sur-Meuse for rest.
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+The Saint Mihiel Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+The field range was outside in the back yard.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 "_go away_" and rest.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said the doughboy nonchalantly.
+
+"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."
+
+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!"
+
+"She's got my number all right!" said the red-headed one, grinning
+sheepishly as he dropped back.
+
+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.
+
+On the evening of June 14th they made fudge for the boys who were going to
+leave that night for the front lines.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+"Here's a real, honest-to-goodness American woman in the trenches!"
+exclaimed a homesick lad as they came around a turn.
+
+"Yes, your mother couldn't come to-day," said the motherly Salvationist,
+smiling a greeting, "so I've come in her place."
+
+"All right!" said he, entering into the game. "This is Broadway and that's
+Forty-second Street. Sit down."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Strange and sad and wonderful sights there were to see as the soldiers
+went forward.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Dead Man's Curve was between Mandres and Beaumont. The enemy's eye was
+always upon it and had its range.
+
+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.
+
+Everyone had to travel a hundred yards apart. Only three men would be
+allowed to go at once, so dangerous was the trip.
+
+Out of the night would come a voice:
+
+"Halt! Who goes there? Advance and give the countersign."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Not until after the St. Mihiel drive when Montsec was behind the line
+instead of in front did they dare enter Bouconville by day.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Map]
+
+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 _us!_" as though that were
+something unexpected.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: "It was just outside of Bouconville that the famous
+doughnut truck experience occurred"---and this is the Salvation Army boy
+who drove it]
+
+[Illustration: Bullionville, promptly dubbed by the American boys
+"Souptown"]
+
+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-Cotes 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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 CAN.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Madam, how many troops are in this town? Where are they? Where can we get
+any billets?"
+
+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:
+
+"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
+SPY! Madam, we are from Field Hospital Number 12, and we want to find a
+place to rest."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It rained for two weeks in Roulecourt. The soldiers slept in little dog
+tents in the woods.
+
+The meetings held the boys at the throne of God each night, they were the
+power behind the doughnut, and the boys recognized it.
+
+"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."
+
+It poured torrents the night of the drive and nearly drowned out the
+soldiers in their little tents.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy came to one of the Salvation Army men Officers and said: "Pray for
+me. I have given my heart to Jesus."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then up spoke the other man:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Within thirty-six hours after the first gun was fired in the St. Mihiel
+drive seven Salvation Army huts were established on the territory.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut had been turned over to the hospital, so they found
+another old building.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+  There's a spot in me heart that no colleen may own,
+  There's a depth in me soul never sounded or known;
+  There's a place in me memory, me life, that you fill,
+  No other can take it, no one ever will;
+  Sure, I love the dear silver that shines in your hair,
+  And the brow that's all furrowed and wrinkled with care.
+  I kiss the dear fingers, so toil-worn for me;
+    O, God bless you and keep you!
+      Mother Machree!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Abide with me; fast falls the eventide,
+  The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!'
+
+There had been rumors that Montsec was mined and that as soon as a foot
+was set upon it it would blow up.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At five o'clock they went sadly back to the hut.
+
+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.
+
+Then at last there came one bearing a message. There _were_ 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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 "KAMERAD, tritt' ein."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: "THIS JAM FURNISHED BY THE SALVATION ARMY!" 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.
+
+Evening brought enemy airplanes, but the lassies did not stop for that and
+soon their own aerial forces drove the enemy back.
+
+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 _debris_
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+Here is one of the many popular songs that have been written on the
+subject which shows how the soldiers felt:
+
+  SALVATION LASSIE OF MINE.
+
+  "They say it's in Heaven that all angels dwell,
+    But I've come to learn they're on earth just as well;
+  And how would I know that the like could be so,
+    If I hadn't found one down here below?
+
+  CHORUS.
+
+  A sweet little Angel that went o'er the sea,
+    With the emblem of God in her hand;
+  A wonderful Angel who brought there to me
+    The sweet of a war-furrowed land.
+  The crown on her head was a ribbon of red,
+    A symbol of all that's divine;
+  Though she called each a brother she's more like a mother,
+    Salvation Lassie of Mine.
+
+  Perhaps in the future I'll meet her again,
+    In that world where no one knows sorrow or pain;
+  And when that time comes and the last word is said,
+    Then place on my bosom her band of red."
+
+                        _By "Jack" Caddigan and "Chick" Stoy._
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+The Argonne Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+News came to the girls after they had been for a week in Nonsard that they
+were to make a long move.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The girls who came down to help in the St. Mihiel drive]
+
+[Illustration: Here they found a whole little village of German dugouts]
+
+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 _beaucoup_ 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.
+
+They only had a canteen here one day when they were called to go on to
+Neuvilly.
+
+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.
+
+Just before a drive, close to the front, there are always blockades of
+trucks going either way.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When night came on the question of beds arose again. The cellar seemed
+hardly possible, and the military officers considered the question.
+
+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 _debris_
+and wreckage. It had been used all day for an evacuation hospital.
+
+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.
+
+The military officer stood on the steps of this ruined church, and,
+looking around in perplexity, remarked:
+
+"Well, I guess this is the wholest place in town." Then stepping inside he
+glanced about and pointed:
+
+"And this is the most secluded spot here!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked house in Neuvilly where the lassies went to
+sleep in the cellar and woke up to find the soldiers watching]
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked church in Neuvilly where the memorable meeting
+was held]
+
+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!"
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Beautiful Jesus, Bright Star of earth!
+  Loving and tender from moment of birth,
+  Beautiful Jesus, though lowly Thy lot,
+  Born in a manger, so rude was Thy cot!
+
+  Beautiful Jesus, gentle and mild,
+  Light for the sinner in ways dark and wild,
+  Beautiful Jesus, O save such just now,
+  As at Thy feet they in penitence bow!
+
+  Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+  Fairest of thousands and Pearl of great price!
+  Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+  Gladly we welcome Thee, Beautiful Christ!
+
+Before they had finished many eyes had turned instinctively toward the
+picture in the weirdly flickering light.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+"And you used to have family prayers, too, didn't you?" she asked eagerly.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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----"
+
+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:
+
+ "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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 _got_ 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _must_ leave, that it was
+no fit place for women so near to the front.
+
+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:
+
+"General," he said, with a twinkle, "my girls say they won't go."
+
+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:
+
+"Well, if the Salvation Army wants to stay let them stay!" And so they
+stayed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _debris_ 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.
+
+The shelling continued for six hours.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Company H. Advance! See that hill over there? It's full of Germans, but
+_we've got to take it_!"
+
+Then he turned over and began to sob and cry, "Oh God! Oh God!"
+
+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'm the only one
+left_!"
+
+Thus the heart-breaking scenes were multiplied.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Often the boys, just before they went over the top, would come to these
+girls and say:
+
+"We're going up there, now. You pray for us, won't you?"
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+"I did" said the boy weakly, "I did the best I could."
+
+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.
+
+"What is it?" she asked, looking at the book.
+
+"My Testament," he answered with a smile.
+
+"Are you a Christian?"
+
+"Oh, yes," he said with another smile that meant volumes.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+And then the prayers would be said once more, and another song sung.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+_The first quality_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_The second requisite_ 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.
+
+_The third requisite_ 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.
+
+
+
+X.
+
+The Armistice
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was planned to proceed with a religious campaign at these Base Ports,
+holding Salvation meetings in these extensive departments.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+President and Mrs. Wilson were present, accompanied by many prominent
+American officials. Representatives of the various War Work Organizations
+spoke.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"I told you! I told you! We've just been waiting for eight months to pull
+this off! Now, you see!"
+
+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.
+
+The chaplain paid a tribute to President Wilson, finishing with these
+words:
+
+"President Wilson was not man-elected, but God-selected!"
+
+
+
+CHAPLAINS.
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The effort was wholly directed to the uplift of the men and God commanded
+His blessing in a most gratifying manner.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+Homecoming
+
+
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+All right! _All right!_ Did she call it all right? He looked down at
+his one foot with a dubious frown. She was quick to see. She understood.
+
+"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.
+
+But still he hesitated.
+
+"I don't know," he said, looking down at his foot again. "Mother's gone,
+and------"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+He saw her again before he left the wharf. She gave him a card with two
+addresses written on it:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+[Illustration: Right in the midst of the busy hurrying throng of Union
+Square]
+
+[Illustration: "Smiling Billy" "One Game Little Guy"]
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+Then he came around toward the side, and there in plain letters was a
+sign: "SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN UNIFORM WELCOME." What? Was it possible?
+Then he might go in? What kind of a place could it be?
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+ "Dear Billy (It was a regular letter!):
+
+"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!
+
+                                              Signed "Jean"
+
+ 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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"But can't you tell her about your girl?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, yes, but I want you to tell her." he said. "You see, whatever you say
+mother'll know is true."
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+Looking up into the man's eyes the Salvationist said: "I am ready to die
+if God sees fit to call me."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+The Captain could not help being interested and thoughtful. When she left,
+after a little more talk he put out his hand and said:
+
+"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."
+
+Sad things are seen on the docks at times when the ships come into port,
+and the boys are coming home.
+
+A soldier in a basket, with both arms and both legs gone and only one eye,
+was being carried tenderly along.
+
+"Why do you let him live?" asked one pityingly of the Commanding Officer.
+
+The gruff, kindly voice replied:
+
+"You don't know what life is. We don't live through our arms and legs. We
+live through our hearts."
+
+Some of our boys have learned out there amid shell fire to live through
+their hearts.
+
+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:
+
+"Hello, Sister! _You here?_"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+Forty miles west of Chicago is Camp Grant and there the Salvation Army has
+put up a hut just outside of the camp.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In Des Moines the Army has an interesting institution which grew out of a
+great need.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 cafe 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.
+
+[Illustration: Thomas Estill Commissioner of the Western Forces]
+
+[Illustration: The hut at Camp Lewis]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+In her alcove out of sight the visitor found refreshment for her own soul,
+and a vision also.
+
+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:
+
+"See that thou do all things according to the pattern given thee in the
+Mount"
+
+But the stories multiply and my space is drawing to a close. I am minded
+to say reverently in words of old:
+
+"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?
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+
+MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+Nov. 30,1917.
+
+
+MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
+The President of the United States of America.
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+Paris, 7 April, 1919.
+122 W. 14th Street, New York, U.S.A.
+
+I am very much interested to know that the Salvation Army is about to
+enter into a campaign for a sustaining fund.
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+
+
+British Delegation, Paris, 8th April, 1919.
+
+DEAR MADAM:
+
+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.
+
+Yours faithfully,
+W. Lloyd George.
+
+
+General J. J. Pershing, France.
+
+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!
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, New York City.
+
+"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."
+
+General Pershing.
+
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) Pershing.
+
+
+Salvation, New York.
+Paris, April 22, 1919.
+
+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,
+
+John J. Pershing.
+
+
+Marshal Foch, Paris, France:
+
+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.
+
+
+[Illustration: Western Union cablegram (transcription below)]
+
+WESTERN UNION
+ANGLO-AMERICAN DIRECT UNITED STATES
+CABLEGRAM
+34 Broadway N.Y.
+Received at 16 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK
+
+193 F8 PZ
+FRANCE 31
+
+EVANGELINE BOOTH
+COMMANDER SALVATION ARMY
+IN AMERICA NEW YORK
+
+TRES TOUCHE DU SENTIMENT ELEVE QUI A INSPIRE VOTRE
+TELEGRAMME JE VOUS ADRESSE AINSI QU'A VOS ADHERENTS MES
+SINCERES REMERCIEMENTS
+
+        MARECHAL FOCH
+
+
+I am deeply touched by the high sentiment which inspired
+your cablegram, and I tender you and your adherents sincere
+thanks.
+
+        MARSHAL FOCH
+
+
+
+Letter from Sir Douglas Haig
+
+
+Just before leaving London on Thursday for his provincial campaigns,
+General Booth received the following letter from Field Marshal Sir Douglas
+Haig. The generous tribute will be read with intense satisfaction by
+Salvationists the world over:
+
+
+General Headquarters, British Armies in France.
+March 27, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The huts which the Salvation Army has staffed have besides been an
+addition to the comfort of the soldiers which has been greatly
+appreciated.
+
+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.
+
+D. Haig, Field Marshal,
+Commanding British Armies in France.
+
+
+The Following Message from Marshal Joffre:
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+Apr. 9, 1919.
+New York City.
+
+"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."
+
+
+From Field Marshal Viscount French.
+
+"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."
+
+
+June 16, 1918.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"Faithfully yours,
+
+"(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt."
+
+
+
+April 21st, 1919.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+Dear Commander Booth:
+
+I have known the Salvation Army from its beginning.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) John Wanamaker.
+
+
+
+Cardinal's Residence, 408 Charles Street, Baltimore.
+April 16, 1919.
+
+Hon. Charles S. Whitman, New York City.
+
+Honorable and Dear Sir:
+
+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.
+
+I trust, therefore, your efforts to raise $13,000,000 for the Salvation
+Army will meet with a hearty response from our generous American public.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+James, Cardinal, Gibbons.
+
+
+
+Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
+
+Paris, April 7th, 1919.
+
+My Dear Commander Booth:
+
+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.
+
+I congratulate you and, through you, your associates, and I wish you the
+best of fortune in the continuance of your splendid work.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+L. M. House.
+
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Salvation Army.
+
+Evangeline Booth,
+Salvation Army Headquarters, New York.
+
+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.
+
+Leonard Wood.
+Camp Funston, Kansas.
+
+
+
+Brigadier-General Duncan wrote to Colonel Barker the
+following letter:
+
+December 7, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+G. B. Duncan, Brigadier-General.
+
+
+
+The Salvation Army is doing a great work in France and every soldier bears
+testimony to the fact.
+
+Omar Bundy, Major-General.
+
+
+
+Headquarters First Division,
+American Expeditionary Forces.
+
+France, September 15, 1918.
+
+From: Chief of Staff.
+
+To: Major L. Allison Coe, Salvation Army.
+
+Subject: Service in Operation against St. Mihiel Salient.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+3. The Division Commander wishes me to thank you for the Division and for
+himself.
+
+CK/T.        Campbell King, Chief of Staff.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E, Booth, 120 W. 14th St., New York.
+
+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.
+
+L. P. MURPHY, Lieut.-Colonel of Cavalry.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York City.
+
+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.
+
+J. L. HINES,
+Colonel, Sixteenth Infantry.
+
+
+
+In sending a contribution toward the expenses of the War Work, Colonel
+George B. McClellan wrote:
+
+Treasurer, Salvation Army,       July 24, 1918.
+120 West 14th Street, New York City.
+
+DEAR SIR:
+
+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.
+
+Will you accept the enclosed check as my modest contribution to your War
+Fund, and believe me to be
+
+Yours very truly,
+GEO. B. MCCLELLAND Lt.-Col. Ord. Dept., N. A.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss B. Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York City, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+F. G. LAWTON,
+Colonel, Infantry, National Army.
+
+
+
+To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
+
+
+
+The following letter was sent to Major Atkins of the Salvation Army:
+
+Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry,
+France, December 26, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Wishing you a very happy and successful New Year, I am
+
+Yours sincerely,
+(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT, JR.,
+Major (U.S.R.), 26th Infantry.
+
+
+
+When Captain Archibald Roosevelt was lying wounded
+in Red Cross Hospital No. 1 he wrote the following letter
+to the same officer:
+
+Red Cross Hospital No. 1.
+
+July 10, 1918.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+Before leaving France for the United States, two Salvation
+Army lassies received the following letter:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I thank you and your organization for all of this, and assure you of the
+respect and gratitude of the entire division.
+
+J. I. MABEE, Colonel, Medical Corps,
+Division Surgeon.
+
+
+
+CABLE.
+
+January 17, 1918.
+
+The Salvation Army, New York:
+
+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.
+
+CONRAD S. BABCOCK, Lieut.-Colonel,
+Inspector General, First Division.
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+Headquarters, Third Division,
+September 5,1918.
+
+MY DEAR MR. LEFFINGWELL:
+
+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.
+
+I am glad to express my feelings for your work. God bless you in it, and
+always!
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+LYMAN BOLLINS, Division Chaplain,
+Headquarters, Third Division, A. E. F., via New York.
+
+
+
+At the Front in France, June 12, 1918.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill,
+Salvation Army, Chicago.
+
+MY DEAR COMMISSIONER:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+In His name,
+(Signed) THOMAS J. DICKSON,
+Chaplain with rank of Major,
+Sixth Field Artillery, First Division, U. S. Army.
+
+
+
+An appreciation written concerning the first Salvation
+Army chaplain that was appointed after the war started:
+
+Camp Cody, New Mexico,
+
+January 16, 1918.
+
+Major E. C. Clemans,
+136th Infantry, Camp Cody, N. M.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill, Chicago, Ill.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army may be well pleased that it is so well represented in
+the Army as it is by Chaplain Kline.
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) EZRA C. CLEMANS,
+Senior Chaplain, 34th Division.
+
+
+
+July 11, 1918.
+
+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 cooperation 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.
+
+MAJOR EDWIN F. GLENN.
+
+
+
+TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+ALBERT J. MYERS, JR., Major, National Army.
+1st Div., A. E. F. (Captain, Cavalry, U.S.A.)
+
+
+
+Extract from letter from Captain Charles W. Albright:
+Q. M., R. C., France.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I am proud to have a sister in their ranks."
+
+
+
+An old regular army officer who returned to Paris last week said:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _toute de
+suite_, forty-eight hours after it arrived.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+First Lieutenant Marion M. Marcus, Jr., Field Artillery,
+wrote to one of our leading officers:
+
+October 9, 1918.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+EXTRACT FROM LETTER.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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 have yet to meet a sour-faced cleric behind the counter_. 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?
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _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_. 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.
+
+"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 _boys over here are really back of it and we want
+you to continue your good work_."
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+"The Salvation Army over here is doing wonderful work. _They haven't any
+shows or music, but they certainly know what pleases the boys most_,
+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).
+
+"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:
+
+  Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;
+    Lead Thou me on;
+  The night is dark and I am far from home,
+    Lead Thou me on.
+  Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
+    The distant scene--
+  One step enough for me.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17, 1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+CLINTON SPENCER,
+Private, Motor Action.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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. _That is the boys' mother
+and father here. It is our home_. 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."
+
+"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 _pair of shoes_ 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."
+
+
+
+LETTER OF COMMENDATION RE SALVATION ARMY.
+
+U.S.S. Point Bonita,       15 October, 1918.
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth, Commander,
+Care of Salvation Army Headquarters,
+14th Street, New York City.
+
+DEAR MISS BOOTH:--
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+We all would like to thank Mr. Leffingwell for his great kindness in
+helping us.
+
+The undersigned all have the warmest sort of feeling for you and the
+Salvation Army.
+
+Many, many thanks, from the ship's crew.
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+FROM LORD DERBY.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+STATE OF NEW JERSEY
+EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
+TRENTON.
+
+MY DEAR MR. BATTLE:      December 27, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+I sincerely hope that the campaign will be very successful.
+Cordially yours,
+
+(Signed) WALTER B. EDGE,
+
+Mr. George Gordon Battle, Governor.
+General Chairman, 37 Wall Street, New York City.
+
+
+
+GOVERNOR CHARLES S. WHITMAN'S ADDRESS AT LUNCHEON
+AT HOTEL TEN EYCK, ALBANY, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8, 1917.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"The sphere of the Army's operations has now been extended to the
+battlefields of Europe, where its consecrated workers will cooperate with
+the Y.M.C.A., K. of C., and kindred organizations.
+
+"It gives me pleasure to commend the work of this beneficent organization,
+and to urge our people to remember its splendid service to humanity.
+
+"Very truly yours,
+"ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
+"Governor."
+
+
+
+Endorsement of January 25, 1918.
+Governor Hugh M. Dorsey, of Georgia.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+STATE OF UTAH
+EXECUTIVE OFFICE
+
+Salt Lake City, January 21, 1918.
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) SIMON BAMBERG,
+Governor.
+
+
+
+FROM A PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOR BRUMBAUGH.
+
+To the People of Pennsylvania:
+
+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.
+
+[SEAL]
+
+GIVEN 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.
+
+By the Governor:
+Secretary of the Commonwealth.
+copy/h
+
+
+
+The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
+Executive Department,
+State House, Boston, February 15, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) SAMUEL W. McCALL,
+Governor.
+
+
+PROCLAMATION.
+
+To the People of the State of Maryland:
+
+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.
+
+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, etc., in every camp in
+France.
+
+Now, THEREFORE, 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.
+
+[The Great Seal of the State of Maryland]
+
+IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, 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.
+
+EMERSON C. HARRINGTON.
+
+
+By the Governor,
+THOS. W. SIMMONS, Secretary of State.
+
+"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.
+
+"Of course, any agency which can in any way ameliorate the condition of
+the boys at the front should receive encouragement."
+
+(Signed) FRANK C. LOWDEN,
+Governor of Illinois.
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) Governor BROUGH of Arkansas.
+
+Lansing, Michigan, June 13, 1918.
+
+
+
+TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
+Governor of the State of Michigan.
+
+MARK E. McKEE,
+Secretary, Counties Division, Michigan War Board.
+
+
+
+STATE OF KANSAS
+ARTHUR CAPPER, GOVERNOR,
+TOPEKA
+
+August 8, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+Very respectfully,
+(Signed) ARTHUR CAPPER, Governor.
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) MILES POINDEXTER,
+Senator from Washington.
+HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
+WASHINGTON, D. C.
+
+
+January 8, 1918.
+
+Colonel Adam Gifford, Salvation Army,
+8 East Brookline Street, Boston, Mass.
+
+MY DEAR COLONEL GIFFORD:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With kindest regards, I remain,
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) GEOEGE HOLDEN TINKHAM,
+Congressman.
+
+
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration (Condolence Card):
+GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT
+
+122 W. 14th Street New York
+
+My dear Friend:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Believe me when I say that we are praying and will pray for you.
+
+Yours in sympathy.
+
+(Signed) Evangeline Booth
+COMMANDER
+
+A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS]
+
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+With deepest gratitude,"
+
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"I have just seen your picture in the November _Pictorial Review_ and
+I do so greatly admire your splendid character and the great work you are
+doing.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"May the Lord bless you abundantly in your own heart and in your world
+wide influence and the splendid Salvation Army."
+
+
+
+"DEAR FRIENDS:
+
+"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?
+
+I am
+Yours truly,"
+
+
+Enclosure:
+
+"November 16, 1918.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+  "In My Father's House are many mansions,
+  I go to prepare a place for you;
+  If it were not so, I would have told you.
+
+"Your Baby boy,"
+(Signed) PAUL.
+Chatereaux, France.
+August, 1918.
+
+N. B.--Written on back of the envelope:
+"To be opened only in case of accident."
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"Miss EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"Thanking you for your helpful message,"
+
+
+
+"Miss EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"We do indeed appreciate your thoughtfulness in sending words of comfort
+to people who are utter strangers to you.
+
+"Accept again, the gratitude of my parents as well as the other members of
+our family, including myself.
+
+"May our Heavenly Father bless you all and glorify your good works."
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+
+Commander of the Salvation Army, New York City,
+N. Y.
+
+DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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:
+
+"Somewhere in France, Jan. 15, 1918.
+"MY DEAR MOTHER:
+
+"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, etc., 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.
+
+"Your loving son,"
+
+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.
+
+
+
+December 10, 1917.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, New York City.
+
+MY DEAR COMMANDER:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With ever-increasing interest in the Salvation Army, I am,     Cordially
+yours,
+
+(Signed) J. WILBUR CHAPMAN.
+Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
+Church in the U.S.A.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY IS THE MOST POPULAR ORGANIZATION
+IN FRANCE.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'"
+
+
+
+WAR DEPARTMENT
+COMMISSION ON TRAINING CAMP ACTIVITIES, WASHINGTON
+
+45, Avenue Montaigne, Paris.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Apr. 8, 1919.
+Salvation Army, New York City.
+
+MY DEAR COMMANDER BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+(Signed) RAYMOND B. FOSDICK.
+
+
+
+From Honorable Arthur Stanley,
+Chairman British Red Cross Society.
+
+BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY
+JOINT WAR COMMITTEE
+
+83 Pall Mall, London, S. W.,
+
+December 22, 1917.
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+
+DEAR GENERAL BOOTH:
+
+I enclose formal receipt for the cheque, value L2000, 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.
+
+I cannot sufficiently thank you and the Salvation Army for this very
+generous donation.
+
+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.
+
+Yours sincerely,
+
+(Signed) ARTHUR STANLEY.
+
+
+
+Extract from Judge Ben Lindsey's picture of the Salvation Army at the
+Front:
+
+"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 _Tribune_ 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.'
+
+ "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!'
+
+"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!'"
+
+
+HARRY LAUDER'S ENDORSEMENT.
+
+In speaking of the Salvation Army's work before the Rotary Club of San
+Francisco, Harry Lauder said:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Mr. David Lawrence, special Washington correspondent of the _New York
+Evening Post_ 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:
+
+"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.
+
+"_The policy of the organization_ 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.
+
+"_The success of the Salvation Army_ is attributed by commanding
+officers to the fact that the workers know how to mix naturally. _In
+other cases there had been sometimes an air of condescension not unlike
+that of the professional settlement house worker_."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In a recent issue of the _Saturday Evening Post_, Mr. Irvin Cobb, who
+has just returned from France, has this to say of the Salvation  Army:
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+MY DEAR COLONEL JENKINS:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I saw many evidences showing that the unselfish, sometimes reckless,
+abandon of your workers had a great effect upon our men.
+
+I am sure that the Salvation Army also stands in high respect for its
+religious influence upon the men.
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+
+CHARLES S. MACFARLAND,
+General Secretary.
+
+
+
+The _New York Globe_ printed the following:
+
+HUNS DON'T STOP SALVATION ARMY. MEETING HELD IN
+DEEP DUGOUT UNDER RUINED VILLAGE--MANDOLIN
+SUPPLANTS THE ORGAN.
+
+By Herbert Corey.
+
+JUST BEHIND THE SOMME FRONT, May 3l.--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:
+
+"Jesus, Lover of My Soul."
+
+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:
+
+"By gollies, brother, you're getting it! I actually believe you're getting
+it, brother. We'll have a swell meeting to-night."
+
+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:
+
+"You keep on, brother," said he, "and we'll have a fine meeting for the
+Brigadier when he comes in to-night."
+
+
+TAKING HIS CHANCES.
+
+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."
+
+Bull turned a pair of inflamed eyes on the musician.
+
+"You keep on a-talkin', and I'll hang somep'n on your eye," said Bull,
+hoarsely.
+
+Then he replaced his head in his hands. The Salvation Army man laughed at
+the interlude and then returned to the player.
+
+"See," said he, "it goes like this----" He hummed the wonderful old hymn.
+
+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.
+
+"Aw, brother," said he. "We've got to take our chances along with the
+rest."
+
+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.
+
+
+NO MONEY, BUT GOOD CHEER.
+
+"Just our luck," said some morose doughboy, "if a shell hit the fliv. It's
+a hell of a road----"
+
+"No shell has hit it yet, brother," said the Salvation Army man, cheerily.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+  While the nearer waters roll,
+  While the tempest still is high.
+
+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:
+
+"I can lick any man's son who says THEY ain't all right."
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"I remain, faithfully yours,
+
+"REMY MEERSMAN."
+
+
+
+THE "STARS AND STRIPES" SPEAKS FROM FRANCE FOR THE
+SALVATION ARMY.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+
+THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MAY 17, 1918), QUOTING FROM THE
+ABOVE, ALSO SPEAKS EDITORIALLY.
+
+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.
+
+The evidence of the Salvation Army's excellent work comes from many
+sources.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+A Few Facts about the Salvation Army
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+"Hello! Salvation Army!" he cried. "Are you taking those men to heaven?"
+
+Amid the derisive laughter of the officers on the sidewalk the
+Salvationist replied pleasantly:
+
+"I cannot say I am taking them to heaven, but I certainly am taking them
+away from the other place."
+
+One of the good British Salvationists wrote of meeting our American boys
+in England. He said:
+
+"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 facade 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+In 1877 the name of the Christian Mission was altered to the Salvation
+Army, and the Reverend William Booth assumed the title of General.
+
+December 29, 1879, the first number of the official organ, "The War Cry,"
+was issued and the first brass band formed at Consett.
+
+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.
+
+The Army commenced in South Africa, New Zealand and Iceland in 1883.
+
+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.
+
+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 Kepublic, 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.
+
+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.
+
+On August 20, 1912, General William Booth laid down his sword.
+
+He lay in state in Congress Hall, London, where the number of visitors who
+looked upon his remains ran into the hundreds of thousands.
+
+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.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY WAR ACTIVITIES.
+
+77 Motor ambulances manned by Salvationists.
+
+87 Hotels for use of Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+107 Buildings in United States placed at disposal of Government for war
+relief purposes.
+
+199 Huts at Soldiers' Camps used for religious and social gatherings and
+for dispensing comfort to Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+300 Rest-rooms equipped with papers, magazines, books, etc., in charge of
+Salvation Army Officers.
+
+1507 Salvation Army officers devote their entire time to religious and
+social work among Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+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.
+
+80,000 Salvation Army officers fighting with Allied Armies.
+
+100,000 Parcels of food and clothing distributed among Soldiers and
+Sailors.
+
+100,000 Wounded Soldiers taken from battlefields in Salvation Army
+ambulances.
+
+300,000 Soldiers and Sailors daily attend Salvation Army buildings.
+
+$2,000,000 Already spent in war activities.
+
+45 Chaplains serving under Government appointment.
+
+40 Camps, Forts and Navy Yards at which Salvation Army services are
+conducted or which are visited by Salvation Army officers.
+
+2184 War Widows assisted (legal and other aid, and visited).
+
+2404 Soldiers' wives cared for (including medical help).
+
+442 War children under our care.
+
+3378 Soldiers' remittances forwarded (without charge).
+
+$196,081.05 Amount remitted.
+
+600 Parcels supplied Prisoners of War.
+
+1300 Cables sent for Soldiers.
+
+275 Officers detailed to assist Soldiers' wives and relatives; number
+assisted, 275.
+
+40 Military hospitals visited.
+
+360 Persons visiting hospitals.
+
+147 Boats met.
+
+324,052 Men on board,
+
+35,845 Telegrams sent.
+
+24 Salvationists detailed for this work.
+
+20 Salvationists detailed for this work outside of New York City.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY WORK IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
+
+1218 Buildings in use at present.
+
+2953 Missing friends found.
+
+6125 Tons of ice distributed.
+
+12,000 Officers and non-commissioned officers actively employed.
+
+11,650 Accommodations in institutions.
+
+68,000 Children cared for in Rescue Homes and Slum Settlements.
+
+22,161 Women and girls cared for in Rescue Homes.
+
+30,401 Tons of coal distributed.
+
+175,764 Men cared for in Industrial Homes.
+
+342,639 Poor families visited.
+
+399,418 Outings given poor people.
+
+668,250 Converted to Christian life.
+
+984,426 Jobs found for unemployed poor.
+
+1,535,840 Hours spent in active service in slum districts.
+
+6,900,995 Poor people given temporary relief.
+
+40,522,990 Nights' shelter and beds given to needy poor.
+
+52,674,308 Meals supplied to needy poor. Constituency reached with appeal
+for Christian citizenship.
+
+132,608,087 Out-door meeting attendance.
+
+134,412,564 In-door meeting attendance.
+
+
+NATIONAL WAR BOARD.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, President.
+
+EAST.
+Peart, Col. William, Chairman.
+Reinhardsen, Col. Gustave S., Sec'y and Treas.
+Damon, Col. Alexander M.,
+Parker, Col. Edward J.,
+Jenkins, Lt.-Col. Walter F.,
+Stanyon, Lt.-Col. Thomas,
+Welte, Brigadier Charles
+
+WEST
+Estill, Commissioner Thos., Chairman
+Gauntlett, Col. Sidney,
+Brewer, Lt.-Col. Arthur T.,
+Eynn, Lt.-Col. John T.,
+Dart, Brigadier Wm. J., Sec'y.
+
+FRANCE.
+Barker, Lt.-Col. William S., Director of War Work.
+
+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 COMMANDER EVANGELINE C. BOOTH
+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.
+
+The National Board is greatly strengthened through the adding to its
+special councils all of the Provincial Officers of the country.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+by Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR ROMANCE ***
+
+This file should be named 7warm10.txt or 7warm10.zip
+Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7warm11.txt
+VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7warm10a.txt
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we usually do not
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance
+of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.
+Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections,
+even years after the official publication date.
+
+Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til
+midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.
+The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at
+Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month.  A
+preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment
+and editing by those who wish to do so.
+
+Most people start at our Web sites at:
+http://gutenberg.net or
+http://promo.net/pg
+
+These Web sites include award-winning information about Project
+Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new
+eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!).
+
+
+Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement
+can get to them as follows, and just download by date.  This is
+also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the
+indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an
+announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter.
+
+http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or
+ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03
+
+Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90
+
+Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want,
+as it appears in our Newsletters.
+
+
+Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)
+
+We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work.  The
+time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours
+to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright
+searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc.   Our
+projected audience is one hundred million readers.  If the value
+per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2
+million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text
+files per month:  1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+
+We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002
+If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total
+will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end.
+
+The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks!
+This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers,
+which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users.
+
+Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated):
+
+eBooks Year Month
+
+    1  1971 July
+   10  1991 January
+  100  1994 January
+ 1000  1997 August
+ 1500  1998 October
+ 2000  1999 December
+ 2500  2000 December
+ 3000  2001 November
+ 4000  2001 October/November
+ 6000  2002 December*
+ 9000  2003 November*
+10000  2004 January*
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created
+to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium.
+
+We need your donations more than ever!
+
+As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people
+and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut,
+Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois,
+Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts,
+Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
+Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
+Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
+Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West
+Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
+
+We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones
+that have responded.
+
+As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list
+will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states.
+Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state.
+
+In answer to various questions we have received on this:
+
+We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally
+request donations in all 50 states.  If your state is not listed and
+you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have,
+just ask.
+
+While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are
+not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting
+donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to
+donate.
+
+International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about
+how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made
+deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are
+ways.
+
+Donations by check or money order may be sent to:
+
+Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+PMB 113
+1739 University Ave.
+Oxford, MS 38655-4109
+
+Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment
+method other than by check or money order.
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by
+the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN
+[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154.  Donations are
+tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law.  As fund-raising
+requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be
+made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states.
+
+We need your donations more than ever!
+
+You can get up to date donation information online at:
+
+http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html
+
+
+***
+
+If you can't reach Project Gutenberg,
+you can always email directly to:
+
+Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com>
+
+Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message.
+
+We would prefer to send you information by email.
+
+
+**The Legal Small Print**
+
+
+(Three Pages)
+
+***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START***
+Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers.
+They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with
+your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from
+someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our
+fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement
+disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how
+you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to.
+
+*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK
+By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
+eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept
+this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive
+a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by
+sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person
+you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical
+medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request.
+
+ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS
+This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks,
+is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart
+through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project").
+Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright
+on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and
+distribute it in the United States without permission and
+without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth
+below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook
+under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.
+
+Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market
+any commercial products without permission.
+
+To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable
+efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain
+works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any
+medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other
+things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
+intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged
+disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer
+codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.
+
+LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES
+But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below,
+[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may
+receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims
+all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including
+legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR
+UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT,
+INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE
+OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
+
+If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of
+receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any)
+you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that
+time to the person you received it from. If you received it
+on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and
+such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement
+copy. If you received it electronically, such person may
+choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to
+receive it electronically.
+
+THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS
+TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
+PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or
+the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the
+above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you
+may have other legal rights.
+
+INDEMNITY
+You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation,
+and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated
+with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
+texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including
+legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the
+following that you do or cause:  [1] distribution of this eBook,
+[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook,
+or [3] any Defect.
+
+DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm"
+You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by
+disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this
+"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg,
+or:
+
+[1]  Only give exact copies of it.  Among other things, this
+     requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the
+     eBook or this "small print!" statement.  You may however,
+     if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable
+     binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form,
+     including any form resulting from conversion by word
+     processing or hypertext software, but only so long as
+     *EITHER*:
+
+     [*]  The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and
+          does *not* contain characters other than those
+          intended by the author of the work, although tilde
+          (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may
+          be used to convey punctuation intended by the
+          author, and additional characters may be used to
+          indicate hypertext links; OR
+
+     [*]  The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at
+          no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent
+          form by the program that displays the eBook (as is
+          the case, for instance, with most word processors);
+          OR
+
+     [*]  You provide, or agree to also provide on request at
+          no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the
+          eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC
+          or other equivalent proprietary form).
+
+[2]  Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this
+     "Small Print!" statement.
+
+[3]  Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the
+     gross profits you derive calculated using the method you
+     already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  If you
+     don't derive profits, no royalty is due.  Royalties are
+     payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation"
+     the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were
+     legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent
+     periodic) tax return.  Please contact us beforehand to
+     let us know your plans and to work out the details.
+
+WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
+Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of
+public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
+in machine readable form.
+
+The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time,
+public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses.
+Money should be paid to the:
+"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or
+software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at:
+hart@pobox.com
+
+[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only
+when distributed free of all fees.  Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by
+Michael S. Hart.  Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be
+used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be
+they hardware or software or any other related product without
+express permission.]
+
+*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END*
+
diff --git a/old/7warm10.zip b/old/7warm10.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04fede7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/7warm10.zip
diff --git a/old/8warm10.txt b/old/8warm10.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7f850e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/8warm10.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11695 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+by Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the
+copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing
+this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
+
+This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
+Gutenberg file.  Please do not remove it.  Do not change or edit the
+header without written permission.
+
+Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
+eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file.  Included is
+important information about your specific rights and restrictions in
+how the file may be used.  You can also find out about how to make a
+donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
+
+
+**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
+
+**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
+
+*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
+
+
+Title: The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+Author: Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7811]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on May 19, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-Latin-1
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR ROMANCE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: William Bramwell Booth
+General of the Salvation Army]
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+by
+
+Evangeline Booth
+
+Commander-in-Chief,
+The Salvation Army in America
+
+and
+
+Grace Livingston Hill
+
+Author of "The Enchanted Barn"; "The Best Man";
+"Lo Michael"; "The Red Signal," etc.
+
+
+
+
+Copyright 1919, by J. T. Lippincot Company
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Evangeline Booth
+Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation Army in America]
+
+
+
+
+Foreword
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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 _service_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Evangeline Booth]
+
+NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SALVATION ARMY, NEW YORK CITY.
+
+April, 1919.
+
+
+
+
+From the Commander's Own Pen
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_need at their door_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+Now on all sides I am confronted with the question: _What is the secret
+of the Salvation Army's success in the war?_
+
+Permit me to suggests three reasons which, in my judgment, account for it:
+
+First, when the war-bolt fell, when the clarion call sounded, it found
+_the Salvation Army ready!_
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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--_the service of humanity_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But even such arts as these crumble; they are as dust under our feet
+compared with that much greater art, _the art of dealing ably with human
+life in all its varying conditions and phases_.
+
+It is in this art that we seek by a most careful culture and training to
+perfect our officers.
+
+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
+_how_.
+
+Trained to press at every cost for the desired and decided-upon end.
+
+Trained to obey orders willingly, and gladly, and wholly--not in part.
+
+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.
+
+Trained in the art of the winsome, attractive coquetries of the round,
+brown doughnut and all its kindred.
+
+Trained, if needs be, to seal their services with their life's blood.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+A further reason for the success of the Salvation Army in the war is,
+_it found us accustomed to hardship_.
+
+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.
+
+We went to the battlefields _no strangers to suffering_. 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.
+
+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
+_underneath_ of those great cities which upon the surface thunder
+with enterprise and glitter with brilliance.
+
+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."
+
+Our service in France was not, therefore, an experiment, but an organized,
+tested, and proved system. We were enacting no new r�le. 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+This is how it is the Salvation Army has no "closing hours." "Taps" sound
+for us _when the need is relieved_.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Again, a reason for our success in the war is, _our practical
+religion_.
+
+That is, our religion is _practicable_. 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.
+
+We _do_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _Christ in deeds_.
+
+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 UB 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+It has only been this same Christ, _this Christ in deeds_, 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 _Christ in deeds_ 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, humam and divine.
+
+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.
+
+It is this _Christ in deeds_ that has made the doughnut to take the
+place of the "cup of cold water" given in His name. It is this _Christ
+in deeds_ 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 _Christ in deeds_
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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, _the service of the man_."
+
+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: _Complete abandonment to
+the service of the man_.
+
+This, in large measure, is the cause of our success all over the world.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+What was it? What is it? Those ties created by a spiritual ideal. Our love
+for God demonstrated by our sacrifice for man.
+
+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 IB fame; my passion is man!"
+
+This was in our Founder's breast the white flame which ignited like sparks
+in the hearts of all his followers.
+
+             _Man is our life's passion._
+
+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.
+
+After the torpedoing of the _Aboukir_ 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.
+
+When the _Empress of Ireland_ 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--
+_Others!_
+
+_Man!_ 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 _man_.
+
+He that was made after God's image.
+
+He that is greater than firmaments, greater than suns, greater than
+worlds.
+
+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
+_the man of the hour;_ 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.
+
+Wherein is price? What constitutes cost, when the question is _THE
+MAN_?
+
+
+
+
+Preface by the Writer
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 "OTHERS" 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.
+
+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!
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Grace Livingston Hill]
+
+
+
+
+Contents
+
+
+
+
+   I.  The Story
+  II.  The Gondrecourt Area
+ III.  The Toul Sector
+  IV.  The Montdidier Sector
+   V.  The Toul Sector Again
+  VI.  The Baccarat Sector
+ VII.  The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+VIII.  The Saint Mihiel Drive
+  IX.  The Argonne Drive
+   X.  The Armistice
+  XI.  Homecoming
+ XII.  Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+
+
+Illustrations
+
+
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+Lieutenant Colonel William S. Barker.
+Introduced to French Rain and French Mud.
+She Called the Little Company of Workers Together and Gave Them a Charge.
+The Lassie Who Fried the First Doughnut in France.
+"Tin Hat for a Halo! Ah! She Wears It Well!".
+The Patient Officers Who Were Seeing to All These Details Worked Almost
+    Day and Night.
+Here During the Day They Worked in Dugouts Far Below the Shell-tortured
+    Earth.
+They Came To Get Their Coats Mended and Their Buttons Sewed On.
+The Entrance to the Old Wine Cellar in Mandres.
+The Salvation Army Was Told that Ansauville Was Too Far Front for Any
+    Women To Be Allowed To Go.
+L'Hermitage, Nestled in the Heart of a Deep Woods.
+L'Hermitage, Inside the Tent.
+"Ma".
+They Had a Pie-baking Contest in Gondrecourt One Day.
+A Letter of Inspiration from the Commander.
+The Salvation Army Boy Truck Driver.
+The Centuries-old Gray Cemetery in Treveray.
+Colonel Barker Placing the Commander's Flowers on Lieutenant Quentin
+    Roosevelt's Grave.
+The Salvation Army Boy Who Drove the Famous Doughnut Truck.
+Bullionville, Promptly Dubbed by the American Boy "Souptown".
+Here They Found a Whole Little Village of German Dugouts.
+The Girls Who Came Down to Help in the St. Mihiel Drive.
+The Wrecked House in Neuvilly Where the Lassies Went to Sleep in the Cellar.
+The Wrecked Church in Neuvilly Where the Memorable Meeting Was Held.
+Right in the Midst of the Busy Hurrying Throng of Union Square.
+"Smiling Billy".
+Thomas Estill.
+The Hut at Camp Lewis.
+
+
+
+
+
+The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+The Story
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Some one gave the cry of FIRE! 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.
+
+So that was how the burning of the Salvation Army Training School
+occurred.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A few days later a detective taking lunch in a small German restaurant on
+a side street overheard a conversation:
+
+"Well, if we can't burn them out we'll blow up the building, and get that
+damn Commander, anyhow!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commander said she knew nothing about them and could not be
+interrupted now. They must be told to come again the next day.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+But if she is courageous, she is also wise as a serpent, and knows when to
+keep her own counsel.
+
+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:
+
+"Oh, wherever they are most needed," and passed on with a friend.
+
+"I believe that man is a spy!" she said to her friend with conviction in
+her voice.
+
+"Nonsense!" the friend replied; "you are growing nervous. That man has
+been in this hotel for several years."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was the beginning of the dark days of 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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 MUST GO! 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+Mr. Tumulty gave him a most kind letter of introduction to the American
+Ambassador.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The first destination was Gondrecourt, where the First Division
+Headquarters was established.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+The Gondrecourt Area
+
+
+
+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.
+
+But instead of going to the front at once they were billeted in little
+French villages and introduced to French rain and French mud.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker Director of War Work
+in France]
+
+[Illustration: "Introduced to French Rain and French Mud"]
+
+There were sixteen of these camps at this time and probably twelve or
+thirteen thousand soldiers were already established in them.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The whole place smells alike. There is no heat anywhere, save from a
+fireplace in the kitchen. There is a community bakehouse.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Several chaplains, both Protestant and Catholic, expressed themselves as
+being glad to welcome the Salvation Army among them.
+
+Among the Regular Army officers there was rather a pessimistic attitude.
+It was in nowise hostile, but rather doubtful.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The song this time was just a few lines of consecration:
+
+  "Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!
+   Saviour Divine, to whom else can I go?
+      Thou who hast died, loving me so,
+      Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!"
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: She called the little company of workers together and gave
+them such a charge as would make an angel search his heart]
+
+[Illustration: The lassie who fried the first doughnut in France]
+
+It wtas a bright, sunny afternoon, August 12th, when this first party of
+American Salvation Army workers set sail for France.
+
+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 REAL 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In this first touring car Colonel Barker with one of the newly arrived
+adjutants for driver, started to Demange.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When the two men finally arrived in Demange the Military General greeted
+them gladly and invited them to dine with him.
+
+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."
+
+The General and the members of his staff said they would remember that
+promise and hold him to it.
+
+The pleasure which the thought of that pie aroused furnished a suggestion
+for work later on.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _serious_ business and
+longed to be at it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Officers had been appointed to take charge of the Demange hut and
+immediately further operations in other towns were being arranged.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvationists stood at the door of the hut and looked across to the
+crowd.
+
+"How about holding our meeting over there?" asked the Staff-Captain of the
+man in charge.
+
+"All right. Hold it wherever you like."
+
+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.
+
+There were a thousand men gathered about and the cornet began where the
+band had left off, thrilling out between the roar of guns.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  "Nearer, my God, to Thee,
+     Nearer to Thee,
+   E'en though it be a cross
+     That raiseth me."
+
+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:
+
+ "When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound
+  And time shall be no more--"
+
+How soon would that trumpet sound for many of them! Time should be no
+more! What a startling thought!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But here at last was someone else who understood!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then a lassie's voice began to sing, all alone:
+
+  "I grieved my Lord from day to day,
+     I scorned His love, so full and free,
+   And though I wandered far away,
+     My Mother's prayers have followed me.
+       I'm coming home, I'm coming home,
+         To live my wasted life anew,
+       For Mother's prayers have followed me,
+         Have followed me, the whole world through.
+
+  "O'er desert wild, o'er mountain high,
+     A wanderer I chose to be---
+   A wretched soul condemned to die;
+     Still Mother's prayers have followed me.
+
+  "He turned my darkness into light,
+     This blessed Christ of Calvary;
+   I'll praise His name both day and night,
+     That Mother's prayers have followed me!
+       I'm coming home, I'm coming home---"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+One man came in and threw 300 francs on the counter, saying: "I owe you
+285 francs. Put the change in the coffee fund."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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).
+
+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.
+
+"Never mind," said the sergeant to the girls, "the boys will see that you
+get some to-night."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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, etc. Soldiers used the hut for a
+mess hall. There was no other place where they could eat with any degree
+of comfort.
+
+By this time the fact that the Salvation Army was established at Demange
+was becoming known throughout the division.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+There stood the Salvationists in the road wondering what to do next.
+
+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.
+
+"We are going to stay here if you will have us," said the Staff-Captain.
+
+"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."
+
+Thus auspiciously did the work open in Montiers.
+
+In a few minutes they were taken to a French caf� and a comfortable place
+found for them to spend the night.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+The first soldier the Staff-Captain questioned reassured him.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+Then the girls arrived and things began to look a bit more cheerful.
+
+"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.
+
+Dismay descended upon the face of the weary Staff-Captain.
+
+"Why," he answered apologetically, "we forgot all about that!" and he
+hurried out to find a stove.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Leave that to me!" said the Mess-Sergeant. "It'll be all right!"
+
+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.
+
+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
+_en lieu_ of chairs with smiling appreciation.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Staff-Captain thanked him, but told him that he thought they would
+stay with the boys.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+That was at Montiers, the home of the doughnut.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The young Ensign lassie who had originated and _made_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Meantime, the pie was coming into its own, back in Demange also.
+
+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:
+
+ "Home is where the heart is"--
+    Thus the poet sang;
+  But "home is where the pie is"
+    For the doughboy gang!
+  Crullers in the craters,
+    Pastry in abris--
+  This Salvation Army lass
+    Sure knows how to please!
+
+  Tin hat for a halo!
+    Ah! She wears it well!
+  Making pies for homesick lads
+    Sure is "beating hell!"
+  In a region blasted
+    By fire and flame and sword,
+  This Salvation Army lass
+    Battles for the Lord!
+
+  Call me sacrilegious
+    And irreverent, too;
+  Pies? They link us up with home
+    As naught else can do!
+  "Home is, where the heart is"--
+    True, the poet sang;
+  But "home is where the pie is"--
+    To the Yankee gang!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+[Illustration: "Tin hat for a halo! Ah! She wears it well!"]
+
+[Illustration: The patient officers who were seeing to all these details
+worked out almost day and night]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+So it has proved.
+
+In the meantime another hut was established at Houdelainecourt.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+All Salvation Army graduates from the training school have a Red Cross
+diploma, and many are experienced nurses.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Many amusing incidents occurred on the voyage.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"You look so much like mother," said one boy just before he died. "Won't
+you please kiss me?"
+
+Another lad, with a great, convulsive effort, drew her hand to his lips
+and kissed her just as he passed away.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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?
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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-le-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.
+
+Now Bar-le-Duc, as everyone knows, is the home of the famous Bar-le-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.
+
+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-le-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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+Ah! That was a wonderful cake!
+
+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-le-Duc jam, a third layer of cake with chocolate, another layer spread
+with Bar-le-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!
+
+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"
+
+He was finally led to the General's room and, uncovering the great cake,
+he said:
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 he 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 _tout de
+suite!_ 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!"
+
+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.
+
+"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.'"
+
+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 scon 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With the aid of the regimental chaplain, the Staff-Captain had arranged a
+suitable program for the occasion, the regimental band furnishing the
+music.
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+ "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."
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _knew_ that the Salvation Army would have what he
+wanted.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The regimental band played, there were recitations in French and a good
+time generally.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+By his consistent life and character and his willingness to serve both men
+and officers, he won their esteem.
+
+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.
+
+There is an interesting incident in connection with his introduction to
+Major Roosevelt's notice.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The man lifted his bleared eyes under the shock of unkempt hair, and
+spoke, startled:
+
+"You call me brother! You know what I'm here for and you call me brother!
+Why?"
+
+The Little Major's voice was steady and sweet as he replied without
+hesitation:
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh," said the man with a groan of agony and big tears rolling down his
+face. "Could I be made a better man?"
+
+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:
+
+"It's true, what you said! Christ has pardoned me! Now I can die like a
+man!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+An old soldier came down from the front and a Salvationist asked him if he
+knew the Little Major.
+
+"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."
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut was a scene of constant activity.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+The cheerful woman behind the counter would say sympathetically: "No,
+boys, no piano. Too many shells around here for a piano."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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 Salyation 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.
+
+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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Yes, it's from mother!" Then impulsively, "She's the nearest thing to God
+I know!"
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+  Mother o' mine, what the words mean to me
+    Is more than tongue can say;
+  For one view to-night of your loving face,
+    What a price I would gladly pay!
+  The wonderful face . . .
+  . . . smiling still despite loads of care,
+    Tis crowned by a silvering sheen.
+  Your picture I carry next to my heart;
+    With it no harm can befall.
+  It has helped me to smile through many a care,
+    Since I heeded my country's call.
+  O mother who nursed me as a babe
+    And prayed for me as a boy,
+  Can I not show, now at man's estate,
+    That you are my pride and joy?
+  Good night! God guard you, way over the ocean blue,
+  Your boy loves you and his dreams are bright,
+    For he's dreaming of home and you.
+
+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:
+
+
+Dearest Little Mother of Mine:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+And, by gosh, don't forget about that pumpkin pie!
+
+Good-night, mother of mine; your soldier boy loves you a whole dollar's
+worth.
+
+ [Illustraion: "Here during the day they worked in dugouts far below the
+shell-tortured earth"]
+
+[Illustration: They came to get their coats mended and their buttons sewed
+on]
+
+[Illustration: "L'Hermitage, nestled in the heart of a deep woods, was no
+quiet refuge"]
+
+[Illustraion: L'Hermitage, inside the tent.  Several of these boys were
+killed a few days after the picture was taken]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Major-General received him at once and in brusque tones informed him
+most emphatically:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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?
+
+"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?
+
+"Now, look at me!"
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+The officer looked, and listened, and was ashamed.
+
+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.
+
+"And do you know," said the Salvationist, afterward telling a friend in
+earnest confidence, "do you _know_, before I left we _had prayer
+together!_ And he became one of the best friends we have!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+ 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.
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+"How would you like a phonograph?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, Boy! If we only had one! I'll tell the world we'd like it," one
+declared wistfully.
+
+The phonograph was soon forthcoming and brought much pleasure.
+
+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:
+
+"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:
+
+
+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.
+
+
+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.
+
+A boy on one of the hospital cots called to a passing lassie:
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Come out," he shouted, "or I'll throw in a hand grenade!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day, where the renowned
+"Aunt Mary" was located, with her sweet face and sweeter heart.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!
+
+One of the officers receiving his change after having paid for his pie
+looked at it surprisedly:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"You mean you sort of work for the joy of working?" he asked, puzzled.
+
+"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."
+
+"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:
+
+"It takes more than patriotism to keep refined women working like that!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"But I can't read!"
+
+"Read? What do you mean?" asked the lassie.
+
+"My Bible. Nobody never learned me to read, and I can't read my Bible like
+you said in the meeting I should."
+
+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?
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When he felt the desire for drink or gambling coming on he gave his money
+to the girls to keep for him.
+
+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: "FOR THE FIRST TIME ON PAY-DAY SCOOP IS SOBER!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy approached one of our men officers.
+
+"Can them girls speak American?" he asked, pointing at the girls.
+
+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."
+
+Two soldiers were walking along the dusty roadway.
+
+First soldier: "Let's go to the Salvation Army hut."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got a piano and a phonograph and lots of records."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got books and _beaucoup_ games."
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "Two American ladies there!"
+
+Second soldier: "No, I don't want to."
+
+First soldier: "They've got swell coffee and doughnuts!"
+
+Second soldier (angrily): "No! I said NO!"
+
+First soldier: "Aw, come on. They got real homemade pie!"
+
+Second soldier: "I don't care!"
+
+First soldier: "They cut their own wood and do their own work!"
+
+Second soldier: "Well, that's different! Why didn't you say that right
+off, you bonehead? Come on. Where is it?"
+
+And they entered the Salvation Army hut smiling.
+
+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.
+
+ The men went in battalions to the Luneville Sector for Trench Training
+facing the enemy. Of course, the Salvation Army sent a detachment also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+The Toul Sector
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+"ATTENTION! THE ENEMY SEES YOU!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Where are you going to chow?" asked the chief cook.
+
+The Salvationists allowed that they didn't know.
+
+"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!"
+
+This settled the question of board, and after a good breakfast the two
+started out to report to the General in command.
+
+He greeted them most kindly and made them feel welcome at once.
+
+When they asked about the barn he smiled pleasantly:
+
+"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!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Gee! It's good to see you," he said, sinking down in his old place by the
+stove.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, how are you?" asked one of the girls, hoping to start him.
+
+"Oh, all right, thanks," he said meekly.
+
+"Where is your company?"
+
+"Up the line in some woods."
+
+"How far is it?"
+
+"About ten miles."
+
+The girls felt they were not getting on very fast in acquiring
+information.
+
+"Did you walk all that way in the dust and sun?"
+
+"Most of it. Sometimes I was in the fields."
+
+"Were you on watch last night?"
+
+"Ye-ah."
+
+"Then you didn't have any sleep?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why did you come over here then?"
+
+"I wanted to see you." There was a sound of a deep hunger in his voice.
+
+"Well, we're awfully glad to see you, surely. Is there anything we can do
+for you?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Just let me look at you--and----" he hesitated.
+
+"And what?"  "And cook some doughnuts."
+
+"Why, of course!" said the girls cheerily, "but you must lie down and
+sleep awhile first. We'll fix a place for you."
+
+"I don't want to lie down," said the soldier determinedly, "I don't want
+to waste the time."
+
+"But it wouldn't be wasted. You need the sleep."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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:
+
+"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."
+
+The girls received him with exultant smiles. "You go out there under the
+trees and go to sleep!" they ordered him.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+On the storm-swept, night-hidden hillside which overhung the field was
+established an anti-aircraft battery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Briefly the Captain explained the situation.
+
+"Caught him in the act of signaling to an enemy plane, sir," he said.
+
+The boy was too cold to venture a protest.
+
+"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."
+
+"Don't know what to do with him, sir, unless I take him down to the
+Salvation Army... they have a fire there."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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
+_wasn't_ 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+That meeting was in the old wine cellar in Mandres.
+
+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.
+
+Here are some extracts from letters written by the Ensign from the old
+wine cellar in Mandres:
+
+   "Somewhere in France,"    May 15, 1918.
+
+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, etc. 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.
+
+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.
+
+My dear Major:
+
+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.
+
+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, etc.,
+and this will be sold and given out in a very few days.
+
+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!
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"See here, boys, did you ever know anything about the Salvation Army
+before?"
+
+They admitted that they had not.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+It was a very dangerous place, also.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 detonations 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IV.
+
+The Montdidier Sector
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+They were just lost to the land of reality when a soldier roused them
+summarily, saying:
+
+"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."
+
+He was grinning at them cheerfully and they roused to the occasion.
+
+"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!"
+
+"I haven't got a truck but I guess we can turn the trick all right!" said
+the soldier.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Gee! We shall miss you like the devil!"
+
+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:
+
+"Well, now, you know what I mean. I don't know just how to say how much we
+shall miss you!"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+The next day they went on to Tartigny, where they were to be located for a
+time.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Bowed beneath the garden shades,
+  Where the Eastern--sunlight fades,
+  Through a sea of griefs He wades,
+    And prays in agony.
+  His sweat is of blood,
+  His tears like a flood
+    For a lost world flow down.
+  I never knew such tears could be--
+    Those tears He wept for me!
+
+  Hung upon a rugged tree
+  On the hill of Calvary,
+  Jesus suffered, death, to be
+    The Saviour of mankind.
+  His brow pierced by thorn,
+  His hands and feet torn,
+    With broken heart He died.
+  I never knew such pain could be,
+    This pain He bore for me!
+
+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!
+
+  Love which conquered o'er death's sting,
+  Love which has immortal wing,
+  Love which is the only thing
+    My broken heart to heal.
+  It burst through the grave,
+  It brought grace to save,
+    It opened Heaven's gate.
+  I never knew such love could be--
+    This love He gave to me!
+
+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?
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ The following is a brief excerpt from his diary when he manned the dugout
+hut in Coullemelle:
+
+                                                      May 12
+
+"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.
+
+_Tuesday, 14:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 15:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 16:_ 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.
+
+_Friday, 17:_ 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.
+
+_Saturday, 18:_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_Sunday, 19:_ 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.
+
+_Monday, 20:_ 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.
+
+_Tuesday, 21:_ 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.
+
+_Wednesday, 22:_ 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.
+
+_Thursday, 23:_ My eyes are very red and becoming painful and also my
+throat and nose, etc. 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.
+
+_Friday, 24:_ Am all ready to move to a new dugout when Staff-Captain
+arrives and tells me I am ordered out by the military."
+
+Here is the Military Order received by the Staff-Captain:
+
+
+"To Major Coe,
+
+"Salvation Army:
+
+"(1) Major Wilson, Chief G1, directs that the Salvation Army evacuate
+'Coullemelle' as soon as possible.
+
+"(2) He desires that they leave to-night if possible.
+
+"(3) This message was received by me from the office of G1.
+
+                    "L. JOHNSON,
+                    "1st Lieut., F. A."
+
+
+Orders also arrived soon for the removal of the Salvation Army workers in
+Broyes:
+
+
+                 "Headquarters, 1st Division, G-1.
+                 "American Expeditionary Forces,
+                                " June 3, 1919.
+
+"Memorandum: To Mr. L. A. Coe, Salvation Army, La Folie.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"By command of Major General Bullard.
+
+                             "G. K Wilson,
+                             "Major, General Staff,
+                             "A. C. of S., G.-1."
+
+
+In Tartigny they found a house with five rooms, one of them very large.
+The billeting officer turned this over to the Salvation Army.
+
+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.
+
+"Gee! This is just like heaven, coming in here!" one of the boys said when
+he first saw it.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+The soldier registered deep agitation.
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+A sign was put out announcing that pie would be served at seven o'clock,
+but the lines formed long before that.
+
+[Illustration: "Ma"]
+
+[Illustration: "They had a pie-baking contest in Gondrecourt one day"--the
+renowned "Aunt Mary" in the right-hand corner]
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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, _anyhow!_"
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"I know the Salvation Army," he said with a faint smile, "I knew I should
+find you here."
+
+She asked him his division and he told her he belonged to one that had
+been co�perating with the French.
+
+"But how can that be?" she asked in surprise, "we have never worked with
+your division. How do you know about us?"
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: A letter of inspiration from the commander]
+
+[Illustration: The Salvation Army boy truck driver who calmly went to
+sleep in his truck in a shell hole under fire]
+
+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 _pray!_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: _"What did you say?_"
+
+The soldier stared, and grew red and unhappy:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Here is the poem which Pte. Joseph T. Lopes wrote about "Those Salvation
+Army Folks" after the Montdidier attack:
+
+  Somewhere in France, not far from the foe,
+  There's a body of workers whose name we all know;
+  Who not only at home give their lives to make right,
+  But are now here beside us, fighting our fight.
+  What care they for rest when our boys at the front,
+  Who, fighting for freedom, are bearing the brunt,
+  And so, just at dawn, when the caissons come home,
+  With the boys tired out and chilled to the bone,
+  The Salvation Army with its brave little crew,
+  Are waiting with doughnuts and hot coffee, too.
+  When dangers and toiling are o'er for awhile,
+  In their dugouts we find comfort and welcome their smile.
+  There's a spirit of home, so we go there each night,
+  And the thinking of home makes us sit down and write,
+  So we tell of these folks to our loved ones with pride,
+  And are thanking the Lord to have them on our side.
+
+
+
+
+V.
+
+The Toul Sector Again
+
+
+
+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.
+
+The first Americans to pay the supreme sacrifice in the cause of liberty
+were buried in the Toul Sector.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The letter went to the Captain for censorship, and soon the Salvation Army
+woman had a call from him.
+
+"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."
+
+The day before Memorial Day this woman with two of the lassies from the
+hut went to the cemetery and prepared for the morrow.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The centuries-old gray cemetery in Treveray]
+
+[Illustration: Colonel Barker placing the commander's flowers on
+Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt's grave]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The Commanding General then came to the front and behind him walked the
+Salvation Army lassies bearing the flags in their arms.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The General then addressed the soldiers, and facing toward the West and
+pointing he said:
+
+"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!"
+
+It was a wonderful, beautiful, solemn sight, every man standing and
+saluting while the flags fluttered softly on the breeze.
+
+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: "NATIONAL CEMETERY OF THE AMERICAN
+EXPEDITIONARY FORCES." There were over two hundred graves inside the
+cemetery.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  My loved ones in the Homeland
+    Are waiting me to come,
+  Where neither death nor sorrow
+    Invades their holy home;
+  O dear, dear native country!
+    O rest and peace above!
+  Christ, bring us all to the Homeland
+    Of Thy redeeming love.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+VI.
+
+The Baccarat Sector
+
+
+
+Baccarat was the Zone Headquarters for that Sector.
+
+Down the Main street there hung a sign on an old house labeled "MODERN
+BAR."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, if you only knew what it means to us!" one of the men tried to tell
+them one day.
+
+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.
+
+ 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.
+
+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?"
+
+"Oh, no," said one of them brightly. "The Lord wouldn't let that fellow
+get us."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+ Some most amusing incidents came to the knowledge of the Salvation Army
+workers.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+The village was several hundred miles inland.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+As the soldiers had to work in the night, so the Salvation Army men and
+women worked in the night to serve them.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, no! It's great!" she replied eagerly. "I'm the luckiest girl in the
+world."
+
+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.
+
+There were signs all over everywhere: "ATTENTION! THE ENEMY SEES YOU!"
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was said that they were the only women ever permitted to remain in
+these underground passages.
+
+
+
+
+VII.
+
+The Chateau-Thierry-Soissons Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The next day the girls opened up the canteen at Menilla-Tour as calmly as
+if nothing had happened the day before.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+That day the rest of the outfits arrived, and they all pulled into Morte
+Fontaine.
+
+Morte Fontaine was well named because there was no water in the town fit
+to use.
+
+The girls felt they were needed nearer the front, so they went to Major
+Peabody and asked permission.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"Why, what's the matter, Colonel?" asked the Zone Major innocently.
+
+"Matter enough! You had no business to bring those girls up here!"
+
+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:
+
+"Dog-gone you, Major, where've you been keeping yourself? Why haven't you
+been around?" and he put out his hand affably.
+
+"Why, I didn't want to see a man who bawled me out in the public highway
+that way," said the Zone Major.
+
+"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.
+
+"Why not, Colonel, didn't they do fine?"
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Let's give them each one," proposed one of the girls.
+
+"No! Give them a punch in the nose!" said the boys.
+
+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?"
+
+"Aw, well! The poor sneaks looked so longingly!" said one of the boys,
+grinning sheepishly.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"Say, Cap, you see we didn't go up."
+
+"I see," she smiled happily.
+
+"Say, Cap, won't you have another farewell meeting to-night?" he asked
+with an appealing glance in his dark eyes.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, say, Cap, you can have that later, can't you? We want another meeting
+now."
+
+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:
+
+"All right. Go out and tell the boys."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"That's nothing!" he cried. "Tie it up!"
+
+But they forced him back lest he would bleed to death. In the hospital
+they told him that now he might go home.
+
+"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!"
+
+He went to the Major and the Major said also that he must go home.
+
+The boy looked him straight in the eye:
+
+"Excuse me, Major, saying I won't. But _I won't let go your coat_
+till you say I can stay," and finally the Major had to give in and let him
+stay. He could not resist such pleading.
+
+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.
+
+The doctors said to the girls: "It is wonderful to have you around."
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army women worked all that drive.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+When the drive was over orders came to leave. The following is the
+official notice to the Salvation Army officers:
+
+
+G-1 Headquarters, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, July 26,
+1918.
+
+_Memorandum._
+
+To Directors, Y.M.C.A., Red Cross, Salvation Army Services, 1st Division.
+
+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.
+
+2. Time of departure and routes to be taken will be announced later.
+
+3. Secretaries attached to units may accompany units, if it is so desired.
+
+By command of Major-General Summerall.
+
+                                      P. E. Peabody,
+                                      Captain, Infantry,
+                                      G-1
+
+Copies:
+YMCA
+Red Cross
+Salvation Army
+G-3
+C. of S.
+File
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+After the dinner they took the boys to their divisional headquarters,
+where they found their outfit.
+
+They went on their way from Senlis to Dam-Martin to stay for a week back
+of the lines for rest.
+
+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.
+
+Then orders came to move back to the Toul Sector.
+
+ Those were wonderful moonlight nights at Saizerais, but the Boche
+airplanes nearly pestered the life out of everybody.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At Bullionville the hut was in a building that bore the marks of much
+shelling. The American boys promptly dubbed the place "Souptown."
+
+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.
+
+They started the canteen, made doughnuts and pies, and gave
+entertainments.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+The next day the girls followed in a truck, stopping a few days at Pagny-
+sur-Meuse for rest.
+
+
+
+
+VIII.
+
+The Saint Mihiel Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+The field range was outside in the back yard.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 "_go away_" and rest.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said the doughboy nonchalantly.
+
+"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."
+
+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!"
+
+"She's got my number all right!" said the red-headed one, grinning
+sheepishly as he dropped back.
+
+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.
+
+On the evening of June 14th they made fudge for the boys who were going to
+leave that night for the front lines.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+"Here's a real, honest-to-goodness American woman in the trenches!"
+exclaimed a homesick lad as they came around a turn.
+
+"Yes, your mother couldn't come to-day," said the motherly Salvationist,
+smiling a greeting, "so I've come in her place."
+
+"All right!" said he, entering into the game. "This is Broadway and that's
+Forty-second Street. Sit down."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+Strange and sad and wonderful sights there were to see as the soldiers
+went forward.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Dead Man's Curve was between Mandres and Beaumont. The enemy's eye was
+always upon it and had its range.
+
+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.
+
+Everyone had to travel a hundred yards apart. Only three men would be
+allowed to go at once, so dangerous was the trip.
+
+Out of the night would come a voice:
+
+"Halt! Who goes there? Advance and give the countersign."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Not until after the St. Mihiel drive when Montsec was behind the line
+instead of in front did they dare enter Bouconville by day.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: Map]
+
+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 _us!_" as though that were
+something unexpected.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: "It was just outside of Bouconville that the famous
+doughnut truck experience occurred"---and this is the Salvation Army boy
+who drove it]
+
+[Illustration: Bullionville, promptly dubbed by the American boys
+"Souptown"]
+
+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-Cotes 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+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 CAN.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"Madam, how many troops are in this town? Where are they? Where can we get
+any billets?"
+
+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:
+
+"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
+SPY! Madam, we are from Field Hospital Number 12, and we want to find a
+place to rest."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It rained for two weeks in Roulecourt. The soldiers slept in little dog
+tents in the woods.
+
+The meetings held the boys at the throne of God each night, they were the
+power behind the doughnut, and the boys recognized it.
+
+"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."
+
+It poured torrents the night of the drive and nearly drowned out the
+soldiers in their little tents.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+One boy came to one of the Salvation Army men Officers and said: "Pray for
+me. I have given my heart to Jesus."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Then up spoke the other man:
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Within thirty-six hours after the first gun was fired in the St. Mihiel
+drive seven Salvation Army huts were established on the territory.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army hut had been turned over to the hospital, so they found
+another old building.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+  There's a spot in me heart that no colleen may own,
+  There's a depth in me soul never sounded or known;
+  There's a place in me memory, me life, that you fill,
+  No other can take it, no one ever will;
+  Sure, I love the dear silver that shines in your hair,
+  And the brow that's all furrowed and wrinkled with care.
+  I kiss the dear fingers, so toil-worn for me;
+    O, God bless you and keep you!
+      Mother Machree!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Abide with me; fast falls the eventide,
+  The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!'
+
+There had been rumors that Montsec was mined and that as soon as a foot
+was set upon it it would blow up.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At five o'clock they went sadly back to the hut.
+
+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.
+
+Then at last there came one bearing a message. There _were_ 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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 "KAMERAD, tritt' ein."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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: "THIS JAM FURNISHED BY THE SALVATION ARMY!" 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.
+
+Evening brought enemy airplanes, but the lassies did not stop for that and
+soon their own aerial forces drove the enemy back.
+
+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 _d�bris_
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+Here is one of the many popular songs that have been written on the
+subject which shows how the soldiers felt:
+
+  SALVATION LASSIE OF MINE.
+
+  "They say it's in Heaven that all angels dwell,
+    But I've come to learn they're on earth just as well;
+  And how would I know that the like could be so,
+    If I hadn't found one down here below?
+
+  CHORUS.
+
+  A sweet little Angel that went o'er the sea,
+    With the emblem of God in her hand;
+  A wonderful Angel who brought there to me
+    The sweet of a war-furrowed land.
+  The crown on her head was a ribbon of red,
+    A symbol of all that's divine;
+  Though she called each a brother she's more like a mother,
+    Salvation Lassie of Mine.
+
+  Perhaps in the future I'll meet her again,
+    In that world where no one knows sorrow or pain;
+  And when that time comes and the last word is said,
+    Then place on my bosom her band of red."
+
+                        _By "Jack" Caddigan and "Chick" Stoy._
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+IX.
+
+The Argonne Drive
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+News came to the girls after they had been for a week in Nonsard that they
+were to make a long move.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The girls who came down to help in the St. Mihiel drive]
+
+[Illustration: Here they found a whole little village of German dugouts]
+
+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 _beaucoup_ 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.
+
+They only had a canteen here one day when they were called to go on to
+Neuvilly.
+
+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.
+
+Just before a drive, close to the front, there are always blockades of
+trucks going either way.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+When night came on the question of beds arose again. The cellar seemed
+hardly possible, and the military officers considered the question.
+
+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 _d�bris_
+and wreckage. It had been used all day for an evacuation hospital.
+
+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.
+
+The military officer stood on the steps of this ruined church, and,
+looking around in perplexity, remarked:
+
+"Well, I guess this is the wholest place in town." Then stepping inside he
+glanced about and pointed:
+
+"And this is the most secluded spot here!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked house in Neuvilly where the lassies went to
+sleep in the cellar and woke up to find the soldiers watching]
+
+[Illustration: The wrecked church in Neuvilly where the memorable meeting
+was held]
+
+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!"
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+  Beautiful Jesus, Bright Star of earth!
+  Loving and tender from moment of birth,
+  Beautiful Jesus, though lowly Thy lot,
+  Born in a manger, so rude was Thy cot!
+
+  Beautiful Jesus, gentle and mild,
+  Light for the sinner in ways dark and wild,
+  Beautiful Jesus, O save such just now,
+  As at Thy feet they in penitence bow!
+
+  Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+  Fairest of thousands and Pearl of great price!
+  Beautiful Christ! Beautiful Christ!
+  Gladly we welcome Thee, Beautiful Christ!
+
+Before they had finished many eyes had turned instinctively toward the
+picture in the weirdly flickering light.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+"And you used to have family prayers, too, didn't you?" she asked eagerly.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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----"
+
+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:
+
+ "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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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 _got_ 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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _must_ leave, that it was
+no fit place for women so near to the front.
+
+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:
+
+"General," he said, with a twinkle, "my girls say they won't go."
+
+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:
+
+"Well, if the Salvation Army wants to stay let them stay!" And so they
+stayed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 _d�bris_ 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.
+
+The shelling continued for six hours.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Company H. Advance! See that hill over there? It's full of Germans, but
+_we've got to take it_!"
+
+Then he turned over and began to sob and cry, "Oh God! Oh God!"
+
+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'm the only one
+left_!"
+
+Thus the heart-breaking scenes were multiplied.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Often the boys, just before they went over the top, would come to these
+girls and say:
+
+"We're going up there, now. You pray for us, won't you?"
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+"I did" said the boy weakly, "I did the best I could."
+
+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.
+
+"What is it?" she asked, looking at the book.
+
+"My Testament," he answered with a smile.
+
+"Are you a Christian?"
+
+"Oh, yes," he said with another smile that meant volumes.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+And then the prayers would be said once more, and another song sung.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+_The first quality_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+_The second requisite_ 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.
+
+_The third requisite_ 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.
+
+
+
+X.
+
+The Armistice
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+It was planned to proceed with a religious campaign at these Base Ports,
+holding Salvation meetings in these extensive departments.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+President and Mrs. Wilson were present, accompanied by many prominent
+American officials. Representatives of the various War Work Organizations
+spoke.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"I told you! I told you! We've just been waiting for eight months to pull
+this off! Now, you see!"
+
+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.
+
+The chaplain paid a tribute to President Wilson, finishing with these
+words:
+
+"President Wilson was not man-elected, but God-selected!"
+
+
+
+CHAPLAINS.
+
+ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The effort was wholly directed to the uplift of the men and God commanded
+His blessing in a most gratifying manner.
+
+
+
+
+XI.
+
+Homecoming
+
+
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+All right! _All right!_ Did she call it all right? He looked down at
+his one foot with a dubious frown. She was quick to see. She understood.
+
+"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.
+
+But still he hesitated.
+
+"I don't know," he said, looking down at his foot again. "Mother's gone,
+and------"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+He saw her again before he left the wharf. She gave him a card with two
+addresses written on it:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+[Illustration: Right in the midst of the busy hurrying throng of Union
+Square]
+
+[Illustration: "Smiling Billy" "One Game Little Guy"]
+
+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.
+
+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?
+
+Then he came around toward the side, and there in plain letters was a
+sign: "SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN UNIFORM WELCOME." What? Was it possible?
+Then he might go in? What kind of a place could it be?
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+ "Dear Billy (It was a regular letter!):
+
+"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!
+
+                                              Signed "Jean"
+
+ 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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"But can't you tell her about your girl?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, yes, but I want you to tell her." he said. "You see, whatever you say
+mother'll know is true."
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+Looking up into the man's eyes the Salvationist said: "I am ready to die
+if God sees fit to call me."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+The Captain could not help being interested and thoughtful. When she left,
+after a little more talk he put out his hand and said:
+
+"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."
+
+Sad things are seen on the docks at times when the ships come into port,
+and the boys are coming home.
+
+A soldier in a basket, with both arms and both legs gone and only one eye,
+was being carried tenderly along.
+
+"Why do you let him live?" asked one pityingly of the Commanding Officer.
+
+The gruff, kindly voice replied:
+
+"You don't know what life is. We don't live through our arms and legs. We
+live through our hearts."
+
+Some of our boys have learned out there amid shell fire to live through
+their hearts.
+
+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:
+
+"Hello, Sister! _You here?_"
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+Forty miles west of Chicago is Camp Grant and there the Salvation Army has
+put up a hut just outside of the camp.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!"
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+In Des Moines the Army has an interesting institution which grew out of a
+great need.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 caf� 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.
+
+[Illustration: Thomas Estill Commissioner of the Western Forces]
+
+[Illustration: The hut at Camp Lewis]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+In her alcove out of sight the visitor found refreshment for her own soul,
+and a vision also.
+
+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:
+
+"See that thou do all things according to the pattern given thee in the
+Mount"
+
+But the stories multiply and my space is drawing to a close. I am minded
+to say reverently in words of old:
+
+"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?
+
+
+
+XII.
+
+Letters of Appreciation
+
+
+
+MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+Nov. 30,1917.
+
+
+MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
+The President of the United States of America.
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+Paris, 7 April, 1919.
+122 W. 14th Street, New York, U.S.A.
+
+I am very much interested to know that the Salvation Army is about to
+enter into a campaign for a sustaining fund.
+
+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.
+
+Cordially and sincerely yours,
+Woodrow Wilson.
+
+
+British Delegation, Paris, 8th April, 1919.
+
+DEAR MADAM:
+
+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.
+
+Yours faithfully,
+W. Lloyd George.
+
+
+General J. J. Pershing, France.
+
+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!
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth.
+
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, New York City.
+
+"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."
+
+General Pershing.
+
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) Pershing.
+
+
+Salvation, New York.
+Paris, April 22, 1919.
+
+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,
+
+John J. Pershing.
+
+
+Marshal Foch, Paris, France:
+
+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.
+
+
+[Illustration: Western Union cablegram (transcription below)]
+
+WESTERN UNION
+ANGLO-AMERICAN DIRECT UNITED STATES
+CABLEGRAM
+34 Broadway N.Y.
+Received at 16 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK
+
+193 F8 PZ
+FRANCE 31
+
+EVANGELINE BOOTH
+COMMANDER SALVATION ARMY
+IN AMERICA NEW YORK
+
+TR�S TOUCH� DU SENTIMENT �LEV� QUI A INSPIR� VOTRE
+T�L�GRAMME JE VOUS ADRESSE AINSI QU'� VOS ADH�RENTS MES
+SINC�RES REMERCIEMENTS
+
+        MARECHAL FOCH
+
+
+I am deeply touched by the high sentiment which inspired
+your cablegram, and I tender you and your adherents sincere
+thanks.
+
+        MARSHAL FOCH
+
+
+
+Letter from Sir Douglas Haig
+
+
+Just before leaving London on Thursday for his provincial campaigns,
+General Booth received the following letter from Field Marshal Sir Douglas
+Haig. The generous tribute will be read with intense satisfaction by
+Salvationists the world over:
+
+
+General Headquarters, British Armies in France.
+March 27, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+The huts which the Salvation Army has staffed have besides been an
+addition to the comfort of the soldiers which has been greatly
+appreciated.
+
+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.
+
+D. Haig, Field Marshal,
+Commanding British Armies in France.
+
+
+The Following Message from Marshal Joffre:
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+Apr. 9, 1919.
+New York City.
+
+"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."
+
+
+From Field Marshal Viscount French.
+
+"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."
+
+
+June 16, 1918.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"Faithfully yours,
+
+"(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt."
+
+
+
+April 21st, 1919.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+Dear Commander Booth:
+
+I have known the Salvation Army from its beginning.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) John Wanamaker.
+
+
+
+Cardinal's Residence, 408 Charles Street, Baltimore.
+April 16, 1919.
+
+Hon. Charles S. Whitman, New York City.
+
+Honorable and Dear Sir:
+
+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.
+
+I trust, therefore, your efforts to raise $13,000,000 for the Salvation
+Army will meet with a hearty response from our generous American public.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+James, Cardinal, Gibbons.
+
+
+
+Commissioner Plenipotentiary of the United States of America.
+
+Paris, April 7th, 1919.
+
+My Dear Commander Booth:
+
+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.
+
+I congratulate you and, through you, your associates, and I wish you the
+best of fortune in the continuance of your splendid work.
+
+Very sincerely yours,
+L. M. House.
+
+
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Salvation Army.
+
+Evangeline Booth,
+Salvation Army Headquarters, New York.
+
+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.
+
+Leonard Wood.
+Camp Funston, Kansas.
+
+
+
+Brigadier-General Duncan wrote to Colonel Barker the
+following letter:
+
+December 7, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+G. B. Duncan, Brigadier-General.
+
+
+
+The Salvation Army is doing a great work in France and every soldier bears
+testimony to the fact.
+
+Omar Bundy, Major-General.
+
+
+
+Headquarters First Division,
+American Expeditionary Forces.
+
+France, September 15, 1918.
+
+From: Chief of Staff.
+
+To: Major L. Allison Coe, Salvation Army.
+
+Subject: Service in Operation against St. Mihiel Salient.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+3. The Division Commander wishes me to thank you for the Division and for
+himself.
+
+CK/T.        Campbell King, Chief of Staff.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E, Booth, 120 W. 14th St., New York.
+
+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.
+
+L. P. MURPHY, Lieut.-Colonel of Cavalry.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York City.
+
+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.
+
+J. L. HINES,
+Colonel, Sixteenth Infantry.
+
+
+
+In sending a contribution toward the expenses of the War Work, Colonel
+George B. McClellan wrote:
+
+Treasurer, Salvation Army,       July 24, 1918.
+120 West 14th Street, New York City.
+
+DEAR SIR:
+
+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.
+
+Will you accept the enclosed check as my modest contribution to your War
+Fund, and believe me to be
+
+Yours very truly,
+GEO. B. MCCLELLAND Lt.-Col. Ord. Dept., N. A.
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17,1917.
+
+Commander Miss B. Booth,
+120 West 14th Street, New York City, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+F. G. LAWTON,
+Colonel, Infantry, National Army.
+
+
+
+To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
+
+
+
+The following letter was sent to Major Atkins of the Salvation Army:
+
+Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry,
+France, December 26, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Wishing you a very happy and successful New Year, I am
+
+Yours sincerely,
+(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT, JR.,
+Major (U.S.R.), 26th Infantry.
+
+
+
+When Captain Archibald Roosevelt was lying wounded
+in Red Cross Hospital No. 1 he wrote the following letter
+to the same officer:
+
+Red Cross Hospital No. 1.
+
+July 10, 1918.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+Before leaving France for the United States, two Salvation
+Army lassies received the following letter:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I thank you and your organization for all of this, and assure you of the
+respect and gratitude of the entire division.
+
+J. I. MABEE, Colonel, Medical Corps,
+Division Surgeon.
+
+
+
+CABLE.
+
+January 17, 1918.
+
+The Salvation Army, New York:
+
+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.
+
+CONRAD S. BABCOCK, Lieut.-Colonel,
+Inspector General, First Division.
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+Headquarters, Third Division,
+September 5,1918.
+
+MY DEAR MR. LEFFINGWELL:
+
+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.
+
+I am glad to express my feelings for your work. God bless you in it, and
+always!
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+LYMAN BOLLINS, Division Chaplain,
+Headquarters, Third Division, A. E. F., via New York.
+
+
+
+At the Front in France, June 12, 1918.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill,
+Salvation Army, Chicago.
+
+MY DEAR COMMISSIONER:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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,
+
+In His name,
+(Signed) THOMAS J. DICKSON,
+Chaplain with rank of Major,
+Sixth Field Artillery, First Division, U. S. Army.
+
+
+
+An appreciation written concerning the first Salvation
+Army chaplain that was appointed after the war started:
+
+Camp Cody, New Mexico,
+
+January 16, 1918.
+
+Major E. C. Clemans,
+136th Infantry, Camp Cody, N. M.
+
+Commissioner Thomas Estill, Chicago, Ill.
+
+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.
+
+The Salvation Army may be well pleased that it is so well represented in
+the Army as it is by Chaplain Kline.
+
+Sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) EZRA C. CLEMANS,
+Senior Chaplain, 34th Division.
+
+
+
+July 11, 1918.
+
+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 co�peration 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.
+
+MAJOR EDWIN F. GLENN.
+
+
+
+TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+ALBERT J. MYERS, JR., Major, National Army.
+1st Div., A. E. F. (Captain, Cavalry, U.S.A.)
+
+
+
+Extract from letter from Captain Charles W. Albright:
+Q. M., R. C., France.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I am proud to have a sister in their ranks."
+
+
+
+An old regular army officer who returned to Paris last week said:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _toute de
+suite_, forty-eight hours after it arrived.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+First Lieutenant Marion M. Marcus, Jr., Field Artillery,
+wrote to one of our leading officers:
+
+October 9, 1918.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+EXTRACT FROM LETTER.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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 have yet to meet a sour-faced cleric behind the counter_. 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?
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 _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_. 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.
+
+"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 _boys over here are really back of it and we want
+you to continue your good work_."
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+"The Salvation Army over here is doing wonderful work. _They haven't any
+shows or music, but they certainly know what pleases the boys most_,
+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).
+
+"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:
+
+  Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;
+    Lead Thou me on;
+  The night is dark and I am far from home,
+    Lead Thou me on.
+  Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
+    The distant scene--
+  One step enough for me.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+CABLEGRAM.
+
+Paris, December 17, 1917.
+
+Commander Miss E. Booth,
+120 W. 14th Street, New York, N. Y.
+
+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.
+
+CLINTON SPENCER,
+Private, Motor Action.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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. _That is the boys' mother
+and father here. It is our home_. 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."
+
+"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 _pair of shoes_ 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."
+
+
+
+LETTER OF COMMENDATION RE SALVATION ARMY.
+
+U.S.S. Point Bonita,       15 October, 1918.
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth, Commander,
+Care of Salvation Army Headquarters,
+14th Street, New York City.
+
+DEAR MISS BOOTH:--
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+We all would like to thank Mr. Leffingwell for his great kindness in
+helping us.
+
+The undersigned all have the warmest sort of feeling for you and the
+Salvation Army.
+
+Many, many thanks, from the ship's crew.
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+FROM LORD DERBY.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+STATE OF NEW JERSEY
+EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
+TRENTON.
+
+MY DEAR MR. BATTLE:      December 27, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+I sincerely hope that the campaign will be very successful.
+Cordially yours,
+
+(Signed) WALTER B. EDGE,
+
+Mr. George Gordon Battle, Governor.
+General Chairman, 37 Wall Street, New York City.
+
+
+
+GOVERNOR CHARLES S. WHITMAN'S ADDRESS AT LUNCHEON
+AT HOTEL TEN EYCK, ALBANY, NEW YORK, DECEMBER 8, 1917.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"The sphere of the Army's operations has now been extended to the
+battlefields of Europe, where its consecrated workers will co�perate with
+the Y.M.C.A., K. of C., and kindred organizations.
+
+"It gives me pleasure to commend the work of this beneficent organization,
+and to urge our people to remember its splendid service to humanity.
+
+"Very truly yours,
+"ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
+"Governor."
+
+
+
+Endorsement of January 25, 1918.
+Governor Hugh M. Dorsey, of Georgia.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+
+
+STATE OF UTAH
+EXECUTIVE OFFICE
+
+Salt Lake City, January 21, 1918.
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) SIMON BAMBERG,
+Governor.
+
+
+
+FROM A PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOR BRUMBAUGH.
+
+To the People of Pennsylvania:
+
+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.
+
+[SEAL]
+
+GIVEN 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.
+
+By the Governor:
+Secretary of the Commonwealth.
+copy/h
+
+
+
+The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
+Executive Department,
+State House, Boston, February 15, 1918.
+
+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.
+
+(Signed) SAMUEL W. McCALL,
+Governor.
+
+
+PROCLAMATION.
+
+To the People of the State of Maryland:
+
+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.
+
+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, etc., in every camp in
+France.
+
+Now, THEREFORE, 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.
+
+[The Great Seal of the State of Maryland]
+
+IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, 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.
+
+EMERSON C. HARRINGTON.
+
+
+By the Governor,
+THOS. W. SIMMONS, Secretary of State.
+
+"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.
+
+"Of course, any agency which can in any way ameliorate the condition of
+the boys at the front should receive encouragement."
+
+(Signed) FRANK C. LOWDEN,
+Governor of Illinois.
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) Governor BROUGH of Arkansas.
+
+Lansing, Michigan, June 13, 1918.
+
+
+
+TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+ALBERT E. SLEEPER,
+Governor of the State of Michigan.
+
+MARK E. McKEE,
+Secretary, Counties Division, Michigan War Board.
+
+
+
+STATE OF KANSAS
+ARTHUR CAPPER, GOVERNOR,
+TOPEKA
+
+August 8, 1917.
+
+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.
+
+Very respectfully,
+(Signed) ARTHUR CAPPER, Governor.
+
+
+
+"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."
+
+(Signed) MILES POINDEXTER,
+Senator from Washington.
+HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
+WASHINGTON, D. C.
+
+
+January 8, 1918.
+
+Colonel Adam Gifford, Salvation Army,
+8 East Brookline Street, Boston, Mass.
+
+MY DEAR COLONEL GIFFORD:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With kindest regards, I remain,
+Very sincerely yours,
+
+(Signed) GEOEGE HOLDEN TINKHAM,
+Congressman.
+
+
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration (Condolence Card):
+GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT
+
+122 W. 14th Street New York
+
+My dear Friend:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Believe me when I say that we are praying and will pray for you.
+
+Yours in sympathy.
+
+(Signed) Evangeline Booth
+COMMANDER
+
+A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS]
+
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+With deepest gratitude,"
+
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"I have just seen your picture in the November _Pictorial Review_ and
+I do so greatly admire your splendid character and the great work you are
+doing.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"May the Lord bless you abundantly in your own heart and in your world
+wide influence and the splendid Salvation Army."
+
+
+
+"DEAR FRIENDS:
+
+"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?
+
+I am
+Yours truly,"
+
+
+Enclosure:
+
+"November 16, 1918.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+  "In My Father's House are many mansions,
+  I go to prepare a place for you;
+  If it were not so, I would have told you.
+
+"Your Baby boy,"
+(Signed) PAUL.
+Chatereaux, France.
+August, 1918.
+
+N. B.--Written on back of the envelope:
+"To be opened only in case of accident."
+
+
+"COMMANDER EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+"Miss EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"Thanking you for your helpful message,"
+
+
+
+"Miss EVANGELINE BOOTH:
+
+"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.
+
+"We do indeed appreciate your thoughtfulness in sending words of comfort
+to people who are utter strangers to you.
+
+"Accept again, the gratitude of my parents as well as the other members of
+our family, including myself.
+
+"May our Heavenly Father bless you all and glorify your good works."
+
+Miss Evangeline Booth,
+
+Commander of the Salvation Army, New York City,
+N. Y.
+
+DEAR MISS BOOTH:
+
+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:
+
+"Somewhere in France, Jan. 15, 1918.
+"MY DEAR MOTHER:
+
+"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, etc., 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.
+
+"Your loving son,"
+
+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.
+
+
+
+December 10, 1917.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, New York City.
+
+MY DEAR COMMANDER:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+With ever-increasing interest in the Salvation Army, I am,     Cordially
+yours,
+
+(Signed) J. WILBUR CHAPMAN.
+Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
+Church in the U.S.A.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY IS THE MOST POPULAR ORGANIZATION
+IN FRANCE.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'"
+
+
+
+WAR DEPARTMENT
+COMMISSION ON TRAINING CAMP ACTIVITIES, WASHINGTON
+
+45, Avenue Montaigne, Paris.
+
+Commander Evangeline Booth, Apr. 8, 1919.
+Salvation Army, New York City.
+
+MY DEAR COMMANDER BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+(Signed) RAYMOND B. FOSDICK.
+
+
+
+From Honorable Arthur Stanley,
+Chairman British Red Cross Society.
+
+BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY
+JOINT WAR COMMITTEE
+
+83 Pall Mall, London, S. W.,
+
+December 22, 1917.
+
+General Bramwell Booth.
+
+DEAR GENERAL BOOTH:
+
+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.
+
+I cannot sufficiently thank you and the Salvation Army for this very
+generous donation.
+
+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.
+
+Yours sincerely,
+
+(Signed) ARTHUR STANLEY.
+
+
+
+Extract from Judge Ben Lindsey's picture of the Salvation Army at the
+Front:
+
+"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 _Tribune_ 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.'
+
+ "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!'
+
+"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!'"
+
+
+HARRY LAUDER'S ENDORSEMENT.
+
+In speaking of the Salvation Army's work before the Rotary Club of San
+Francisco, Harry Lauder said:
+
+"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."
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Mr. David Lawrence, special Washington correspondent of the _New York
+Evening Post_ 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:
+
+"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.
+
+"_The policy of the organization_ 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.
+
+"_The success of the Salvation Army_ is attributed by commanding
+officers to the fact that the workers know how to mix naturally. _In
+other cases there had been sometimes an air of condescension not unlike
+that of the professional settlement house worker_."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In a recent issue of the _Saturday Evening Post_, Mr. Irvin Cobb, who
+has just returned from France, has this to say of the Salvation  Army:
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+MY DEAR COLONEL JENKINS:
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+I saw many evidences showing that the unselfish, sometimes reckless,
+abandon of your workers had a great effect upon our men.
+
+I am sure that the Salvation Army also stands in high respect for its
+religious influence upon the men.
+
+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.
+
+Faithfully yours,
+
+CHARLES S. MACFARLAND,
+General Secretary.
+
+
+
+The _New York Globe_ printed the following:
+
+HUNS DON'T STOP SALVATION ARMY. MEETING HELD IN
+DEEP DUGOUT UNDER RUINED VILLAGE--MANDOLIN
+SUPPLANTS THE ORGAN.
+
+By Herbert Corey.
+
+JUST BEHIND THE SOMME FRONT, May 3l.--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:
+
+"Jesus, Lover of My Soul."
+
+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:
+
+"By gollies, brother, you're getting it! I actually believe you're getting
+it, brother. We'll have a swell meeting to-night."
+
+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:
+
+"You keep on, brother," said he, "and we'll have a fine meeting for the
+Brigadier when he comes in to-night."
+
+
+TAKING HIS CHANCES.
+
+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."
+
+Bull turned a pair of inflamed eyes on the musician.
+
+"You keep on a-talkin', and I'll hang somep'n on your eye," said Bull,
+hoarsely.
+
+Then he replaced his head in his hands. The Salvation Army man laughed at
+the interlude and then returned to the player.
+
+"See," said he, "it goes like this----" He hummed the wonderful old hymn.
+
+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.
+
+"Aw, brother," said he. "We've got to take our chances along with the
+rest."
+
+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.
+
+
+NO MONEY, BUT GOOD CHEER.
+
+"Just our luck," said some morose doughboy, "if a shell hit the fliv. It's
+a hell of a road----"
+
+"No shell has hit it yet, brother," said the Salvation Army man, cheerily.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+  While the nearer waters roll,
+  While the tempest still is high.
+
+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:
+
+"I can lick any man's son who says THEY ain't all right."
+
+
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!
+
+"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!
+
+"I remain, faithfully yours,
+
+"REMY MEERSMAN."
+
+
+
+THE "STARS AND STRIPES" SPEAKS FROM FRANCE FOR THE
+SALVATION ARMY.
+
+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:
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+
+
+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:
+
+"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."
+
+
+THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MAY 17, 1918), QUOTING FROM THE
+ABOVE, ALSO SPEAKS EDITORIALLY.
+
+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.
+
+The evidence of the Salvation Army's excellent work comes from many
+sources.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+A Few Facts about the Salvation Army
+
+
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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:
+
+"Hello! Salvation Army!" he cried. "Are you taking those men to heaven?"
+
+Amid the derisive laughter of the officers on the sidewalk the
+Salvationist replied pleasantly:
+
+"I cannot say I am taking them to heaven, but I certainly am taking them
+away from the other place."
+
+One of the good British Salvationists wrote of meeting our American boys
+in England. He said:
+
+"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 fa�ade 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+In 1877 the name of the Christian Mission was altered to the Salvation
+Army, and the Reverend William Booth assumed the title of General.
+
+December 29, 1879, the first number of the official organ, "The War Cry,"
+was issued and the first brass band formed at Consett.
+
+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.
+
+The Army commenced in South Africa, New Zealand and Iceland in 1883.
+
+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.
+
+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 Kepublic, 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.
+
+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.
+
+On August 20, 1912, General William Booth laid down his sword.
+
+He lay in state in Congress Hall, London, where the number of visitors who
+looked upon his remains ran into the hundreds of thousands.
+
+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.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY WAR ACTIVITIES.
+
+77 Motor ambulances manned by Salvationists.
+
+87 Hotels for use of Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+107 Buildings in United States placed at disposal of Government for war
+relief purposes.
+
+199 Huts at Soldiers' Camps used for religious and social gatherings and
+for dispensing comfort to Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+300 Rest-rooms equipped with papers, magazines, books, etc., in charge of
+Salvation Army Officers.
+
+1507 Salvation Army officers devote their entire time to religious and
+social work among Soldiers and Sailors.
+
+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.
+
+80,000 Salvation Army officers fighting with Allied Armies.
+
+100,000 Parcels of food and clothing distributed among Soldiers and
+Sailors.
+
+100,000 Wounded Soldiers taken from battlefields in Salvation Army
+ambulances.
+
+300,000 Soldiers and Sailors daily attend Salvation Army buildings.
+
+$2,000,000 Already spent in war activities.
+
+45 Chaplains serving under Government appointment.
+
+40 Camps, Forts and Navy Yards at which Salvation Army services are
+conducted or which are visited by Salvation Army officers.
+
+2184 War Widows assisted (legal and other aid, and visited).
+
+2404 Soldiers' wives cared for (including medical help).
+
+442 War children under our care.
+
+3378 Soldiers' remittances forwarded (without charge).
+
+$196,081.05 Amount remitted.
+
+600 Parcels supplied Prisoners of War.
+
+1300 Cables sent for Soldiers.
+
+275 Officers detailed to assist Soldiers' wives and relatives; number
+assisted, 275.
+
+40 Military hospitals visited.
+
+360 Persons visiting hospitals.
+
+147 Boats met.
+
+324,052 Men on board,
+
+35,845 Telegrams sent.
+
+24 Salvationists detailed for this work.
+
+20 Salvationists detailed for this work outside of New York City.
+
+
+SALVATION ARMY WORK IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
+
+1218 Buildings in use at present.
+
+2953 Missing friends found.
+
+6125 Tons of ice distributed.
+
+12,000 Officers and non-commissioned officers actively employed.
+
+11,650 Accommodations in institutions.
+
+68,000 Children cared for in Rescue Homes and Slum Settlements.
+
+22,161 Women and girls cared for in Rescue Homes.
+
+30,401 Tons of coal distributed.
+
+175,764 Men cared for in Industrial Homes.
+
+342,639 Poor families visited.
+
+399,418 Outings given poor people.
+
+668,250 Converted to Christian life.
+
+984,426 Jobs found for unemployed poor.
+
+1,535,840 Hours spent in active service in slum districts.
+
+6,900,995 Poor people given temporary relief.
+
+40,522,990 Nights' shelter and beds given to needy poor.
+
+52,674,308 Meals supplied to needy poor. Constituency reached with appeal
+for Christian citizenship.
+
+132,608,087 Out-door meeting attendance.
+
+134,412,564 In-door meeting attendance.
+
+
+NATIONAL WAR BOARD.
+
+Commander Evangeline C. Booth, President.
+
+EAST.
+Peart, Col. William, Chairman.
+Reinhardsen, Col. Gustave S., Sec'y and Treas.
+Damon, Col. Alexander M.,
+Parker, Col. Edward J.,
+Jenkins, Lt.-Col. Walter F.,
+Stanyon, Lt.-Col. Thomas,
+Welte, Brigadier Charles
+
+WEST
+Estill, Commissioner Thos., Chairman
+Gauntlett, Col. Sidney,
+Brewer, Lt.-Col. Arthur T.,
+Eynn, Lt.-Col. John T.,
+Dart, Brigadier Wm. J., Sec'y.
+
+FRANCE.
+Barker, Lt.-Col. William S., Director of War Work.
+
+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 COMMANDER EVANGELINE C. BOOTH
+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.
+
+The National Board is greatly strengthened through the adding to its
+special councils all of the Provincial Officers of the country.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War Romance of the Salvation Army
+by Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR ROMANCE ***
+
+This file should be named 8warm10.txt or 8warm10.zip
+Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8warm11.txt
+VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8warm10a.txt
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we usually do not
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance
+of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing.
+Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections,
+even years after the official publication date.
+
+Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til
+midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.
+The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at
+Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month.  A
+preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment
+and editing by those who wish to do so.
+
+Most people start at our Web sites at:
+http://gutenberg.net or
+http://promo.net/pg
+
+These Web sites include award-winning information about Project
+Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new
+eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!).
+
+
+Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement
+can get to them as follows, and just download by date.  This is
+also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the
+indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an
+announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter.
+
+http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or
+ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03
+
+Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90
+
+Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want,
+as it appears in our Newsletters.
+
+
+Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)
+
+We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work.  The
+time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours
+to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright
+searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc.   Our
+projected audience is one hundred million readers.  If the value
+per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2
+million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text
+files per month:  1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+
+We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002
+If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total
+will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end.
+
+The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks!
+This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers,
+which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users.
+
+Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated):
+
+eBooks Year Month
+
+    1  1971 July
+   10  1991 January
+  100  1994 January
+ 1000  1997 August
+ 1500  1998 October
+ 2000  1999 December
+ 2500  2000 December
+ 3000  2001 November
+ 4000  2001 October/November
+ 6000  2002 December*
+ 9000  2003 November*
+10000  2004 January*
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created
+to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium.
+
+We need your donations more than ever!
+
+As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people
+and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut,
+Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois,
+Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts,
+Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
+Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
+Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
+Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West
+Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
+
+We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones
+that have responded.
+
+As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list
+will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states.
+Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state.
+
+In answer to various questions we have received on this:
+
+We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally
+request donations in all 50 states.  If your state is not listed and
+you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have,
+just ask.
+
+While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are
+not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting
+donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to
+donate.
+
+International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about
+how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made
+deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are
+ways.
+
+Donations by check or money order may be sent to:
+
+Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+PMB 113
+1739 University Ave.
+Oxford, MS 38655-4109
+
+Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment
+method other than by check or money order.
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by
+the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN
+[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154.  Donations are
+tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law.  As fund-raising
+requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be
+made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states.
+
+We need your donations more than ever!
+
+You can get up to date donation information online at:
+
+http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html
+
+
+***
+
+If you can't reach Project Gutenberg,
+you can always email directly to:
+
+Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com>
+
+Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message.
+
+We would prefer to send you information by email.
+
+
+**The Legal Small Print**
+
+
+(Three Pages)
+
+***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START***
+Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers.
+They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with
+your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from
+someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our
+fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement
+disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how
+you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to.
+
+*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK
+By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
+eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept
+this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive
+a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by
+sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person
+you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical
+medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request.
+
+ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS
+This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks,
+is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart
+through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project").
+Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright
+on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and
+distribute it in the United States without permission and
+without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth
+below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook
+under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.
+
+Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market
+any commercial products without permission.
+
+To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable
+efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain
+works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any
+medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other
+things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
+intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged
+disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer
+codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.
+
+LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES
+But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below,
+[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may
+receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims
+all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including
+legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR
+UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT,
+INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE
+OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE
+POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
+
+If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of
+receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any)
+you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that
+time to the person you received it from. If you received it
+on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and
+such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement
+copy. If you received it electronically, such person may
+choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to
+receive it electronically.
+
+THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS
+TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
+PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or
+the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the
+above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you
+may have other legal rights.
+
+INDEMNITY
+You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation,
+and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated
+with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
+texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including
+legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the
+following that you do or cause:  [1] distribution of this eBook,
+[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook,
+or [3] any Defect.
+
+DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm"
+You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by
+disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this
+"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg,
+or:
+
+[1]  Only give exact copies of it.  Among other things, this
+     requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the
+     eBook or this "small print!" statement.  You may however,
+     if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable
+     binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form,
+     including any form resulting from conversion by word
+     processing or hypertext software, but only so long as
+     *EITHER*:
+
+     [*]  The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and
+          does *not* contain characters other than those
+          intended by the author of the work, although tilde
+          (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may
+          be used to convey punctuation intended by the
+          author, and additional characters may be used to
+          indicate hypertext links; OR
+
+     [*]  The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at
+          no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent
+          form by the program that displays the eBook (as is
+          the case, for instance, with most word processors);
+          OR
+
+     [*]  You provide, or agree to also provide on request at
+          no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the
+          eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC
+          or other equivalent proprietary form).
+
+[2]  Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this
+     "Small Print!" statement.
+
+[3]  Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the
+     gross profits you derive calculated using the method you
+     already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  If you
+     don't derive profits, no royalty is due.  Royalties are
+     payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation"
+     the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were
+     legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent
+     periodic) tax return.  Please contact us beforehand to
+     let us know your plans and to work out the details.
+
+WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
+Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of
+public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
+in machine readable form.
+
+The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time,
+public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses.
+Money should be paid to the:
+"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or
+software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at:
+hart@pobox.com
+
+[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only
+when distributed free of all fees.  Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by
+Michael S. Hart.  Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be
+used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be
+they hardware or software or any other related product without
+express permission.]
+
+*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END*
+
diff --git a/old/8warm10.zip b/old/8warm10.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfc571a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/8warm10.zip
diff --git a/old/8warm10h.zip b/old/8warm10h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..929b8b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/8warm10h.zip