The War Romance of the Salvation Army

oul S

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

our the field range was set up, and a piece of tarpaulin stret

ghnuts. The Adjutant went away a little while and returned to find some of the same boys standing in line as when he left. Some h

y 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

o 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

neral, who asked him where he would propose establishing a hut. The Salvationist told him the only suitable place in the town was

not permitted to repair the roof because the German airplane observers would notice it and know that some activity was going on there w

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

es every little way, so that it was impossible to see down the streets very far in

ommanding 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

ved with a side car and dismounted. He stumbled i

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 str

ter of pots and pans in preparation for breakfast.

kindly. "Sleep a little longer. You are not in my way."

ing to chow?" ask

s allowed that t

insisted the chief cook. "We eat three times a

after a good breakfast the two started

kindly and made them

bout the barn he

t 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

lly. 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 morn

f for a distance of forty or fifty feet. It smoked terribly, but on thi

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 fe

anything about him, but no one did. Once in a while a brief note would come from him up at

the former chief doughnut dipper stumbled into the hut. He looked tire

" he said, sinking down in

nd all the doughnuts he could eat and wa

asked one of the girl

t, thanks," h

s your c

ine in so

far i

ten m

not getting on very fast

l that way in th

ometimes I was

on watch l

e-

idn't have

N

u come over

There was a sound of a

o see you, surely. Is there

his eyes, a deep undertone of reverence in his voice, not

k at you--and---

"And cook so

ly, "but you must lie down and sleep aw

id the soldier determinedly, "

be wasted. You

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 t

as not thinking what impression his words would ma

hen he looked at his watch and said it was time to go, as it was quite a walk back to hi

d their prayers went up for the faithful soul who was doing his duty out there under fire, and for the anxious wife and

s the chief doughnut dipper stumbled once more into the hut

ou I'm all right," he said. "I was afraid you

miles. "You go out there under the tre

ing now. Say, you don't think I'm crazy, do you?

d. 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 ex

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 ha

ged desperately for the comfort of a woman of his own people and, sitting in the drafty, damp room, he wished that these two Salvationists

way. Walking through the mud was out of the question. He stumbled down, the street, once falling headlong into a muddy puddle, final

. 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 as

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

t. 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

lside which overhung the field was e

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

red 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

ptain explaine

of signaling to an enem

o cold to vent

hrugging his shoulders. "Hold on, though! What are you goin

, unless I take him down to the Salv

--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 wo

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 t

had visited that rainy night happened over to his Officers' Headquarters, and by chance learned of his unhappy fate. It to

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 reac

e valley. At first a wooden building was secured. It had nothing but a dirt floor but lumber wa

barrage; they hit the hut, destroying one end of it, scattering the supplies, ruining the victrola

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

tion as a pan-cake maker. Here was a place where the soldiers felt at hom

e to them. Very wonderful meetings were held in this spot and many men found Chr

and 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

ring overhead, but the room was packed and a great many men

in the old wine c

n exceptional day that passed without from one to

ters written by the Ensign from

ere in

15,

el, 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,

, 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. W

ear

letter I received from you full of love, Christian admonition

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 s

ht. A glorious time we had, indeed. Praise God for th

at 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 A

ront. They came over and asked if they could help out, and so instead of taking their day

ome reason. The soldiers stood about swearing at the Staff-Captain and his helper as they worked, and saying the most abusi

ever know anything about

ted that t

if we are like what you say we are. Wait until we get our hut do

e was no more trouble, and it wasn't long before the soldiers were

one might suppose. It was surrounded by swamps everywhere. And it had been raining, of course. It always seems to have been raining in Fra

y dangerous

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 en

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

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 w

ered to safety; but over in Sanzey and Menil-la-Tour their frien

is 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 bri