The War Romance of the Salvation Army

nt Mihi

arbed wire entanglement. The woods all around was filled with our guns. To the left was the enemy's third line trench. Th

was outside in

t resting, and scarcely stopping for a bite to eat. She fried seventeen hundred doughnuts, and was away from the stove only twice f

stood at the range lifting out doughnuts and pl

oughnuts. Let me help you. You go inside

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 bur

y, Cap, I can help you. Loan me an apron." And soon t

e 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 t

ght," said the dou

get more doughnut. You always give us thr

alvation Army woman grew indignant over a noticeably red-headed boy who had had three helpings and was lining up for a fourth. She

said the red-headed one, grinni

ls 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. Howev

fudge for the boys who were going to

to loved ones at home, and the women and girls had sheets of paper filled wit

votees who were not going up to the front yet, placing them outside at a safe distance from the hut. A soldie

eart 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. Tho

ut into the night and fell into line. A few minutes later the steady tramp of

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 electr

e 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 whi

le hurried up to Raulecourt from near-by huts to find out how these bra

going to the front, and after it the weary workers slept soundly the w

into the trenches. The muddy, dirty, unpleasant trenches! Sometimes with their two feet firmly planted on the duck-board, so

round!" It was an intense moment as they crept into the narrow housings where the men had to spend so muc

can woman in the trenches!" exclaimed a

said the motherly Salvationist, smiling

the game. "This is Broadway and th

ches. But he hunted about till he found a chow can and

low ever married and the darlingest little kid ever a man was father to!" He fu

he went on, "I wouldn't leave till we've fought this thing throug

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

ack to the hut, and when they returned they found th

ys 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

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 i

ere 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

nds over at Raulecourt had been watching the shells

onder what had become of his brother, for all were

nthusiasm, 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 ev

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 on

l sights there were to see a

shed with the enemy, and to this unit was attached a certain little group of Salvation Army people. Three lassies, doing their bes

s soon as possible. But instead of obeying orders these indomitable girls set to work making doughnuts and before ni

arby shell holes when they heard them coming, but the lassies paid no

it there was left no civilian nor any whole house. Nothing but shot-down

es and Beaumont. The enemy's eye w

only at night. As soon as it was dark the supply outfits on the truc

apart. Only three men would be allowed

ight would c

re? Advance and giv

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 p

Bouconville, in the Salvation Army hut, that the raids on the enemy were organized, the men were gathered together and instructed, and tr

ontsec was behind the line instead of in fr

he 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

a

cided 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 noti

re into the town with shells breaking about it. Having escaped thus far

ck. 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

e shells dropping all around on either side, but not actua

famous doughnut truck experience occurred"---

ly dubbed by the Ame

ey 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 Bo

it a shell went over it exploding about twenty-five feet away, and one hit

on Army truck, they were unwilling to leave it to the tender mercies of the enemy as every

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

tached 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 shell

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

he 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 frig

rt was the first town back of the front lines. The men were relieve

fifty Frenchmen would be going through from the trenches at five o'clock

ere, 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 th

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

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

She happened to be alone in the building at the time and when she opened the door and found several strange offic

n this town? Where are they?

uch with the town Major. The visitors grew impatient. Then three more men knocked at the door, also in u

ind out something from a Military Police outside and he took me for a spy! Mad

isitors were not spies; all the same, they were not going t

ce to sleep. On such occasions the Salvation Army hut wa

Then the military authorities insisted that the girls should leave town, but the girls refused to go, begging, "Don't drive us away. We kno

lecourt. The soldiers slept in

f God each night, they were the power behi

back from the front, speaking about the time of the St. Mihiel drive. "We couldn't say how many

he drive and nearly drowned out t

the girls; to leave their little trinklets and ask for pr

ench had suffered the fearful loss of thirty thousand men trying to hold Mt. Sec for fifteen minutes

Army men Officers and said: "Pray for

e to the Salvation Army Adjutant and said: "When I

re 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

ying for them and the elder of the two, a doctor, said how much he appreciated that, and then told them how he had promised hi

poke the

st 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

hem in a vase on the table in the hut, making it look like a little oasis in a desert, and no do

s fired in the St. Mihiel drive seven Salvatio

hed Raulecourt, which was a little village half a mile from Montsec

turned over to the hospital, so

ome 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,

ept to roll up in their blankets and let the heat of their body dry their clothes while they slept. It wa

d 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, tho

me heart that no

in me soul never

n me memory, me l

take it, no o

ear silver that sh

s all furrowed and

fingers, so to

ss you and

r Mac

thinking of mother, brought the tears to the eyes of the girls who had been mothers

mother. A little interval and the jolly swing of "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile!" came float

; fast falls

eepens; Lord,

was mined and that as soon as a foo

th to fight. But they could not sleep. It was as though they had all the burden of all the mothers and wives and si

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 a

they went sadly

any 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 t

ly 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 twen

ought of his job. He looked up with a pearly smile and a gleam of his eyes a

d 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 gr

nd a building that twenty-four hours before had been a German

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

never thought of stopping until everybody was served. In t

m, 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 fine

lassies did not stop for that and soon th

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 wome

g lines of soldiers were already patiently waiting to be served. The girls wonde

always gave everything with a smile." Yet they were not smiles of coquetry. One had but to see the beautiful earnest faces of th

s that have been written on the subj

n Lassie

in Heaven that

learn they're on

know that the

found one do

or

Angel that we

blem of God

ngel who brou

f a war-fur

er head was a

f all that

ach a brother she's

n Lassie

future I'll m

ere no one knows

e comes and the l

my bosom her

ddigan and "

dropped next door to the canteen; another took seven men from the signal corps right in the stre

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 f