The War Romance of the Salvation Army

l Secto

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 devas

reme sacrifice in the cause of lib

rkers, saying that she was sending American flags, one for every American soldier's grave, and that she wanted the gra

hey 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 t

w Commander Booth was sending enough American flags to decorate every American grave in France, and how

ved 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

r censorship, and soon the Salvat

rating the American graves," he said. "We would like to help in th

th two of the lassies from the hut went t

nd blue bachelor buttons from the hillsides, which they arranged in bouquets of red, white and blue for the graves. They

ed 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

old gray cemet

ommander's flowers on Lieute

hey had built a simple platform in the centre of

ed 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.

le enclosure where eighty-one wooden crosses marked the going of as many brave

wreath to do honor to the American heroes, and this

the thoughtfulness and kindness of Commander Evangeline Booth in se

ont and behind him walked the Salvation Ar

ing, 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

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 H

g 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 gr

an impressive moment with the deep thunder of the guns just over

e soldiers, and facing toward

u 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

ht, every man standing and saluting while

over to the Americans for a cemetery. The Military Major had caused an arch to be made over the gateway inscribed with th

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 chil

in the sun. Even the worst little hovel over in France is smothered in a garden and bright with myriad

nd one of the lassies of that organization which proclaims s

corated and bare on Memorial Day, and turning aside from the road she gathered great armfuls of scarlet poppies from the field

me that Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt had been shot down in

and a rude cross set up to mark the place. All around were pieces o

te cross set up beside the old one, and gentle hands smoothed the mound and made it shapely. On Decoratio

and laid them on the mounds an air battle was going on over their heads. Close at hand was the American artillery being moved t

flags until their service of love was over. Then they stood aside for the praye

ones in t

ting me

her death

their ho

ear nativ

and pea

g us all to

redeemi

e narrow track straight toward where he stood, and he h

ng after when the epidemic of influenza swept over the