The War Romance of the Salvation Army Part 35

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. G.o.d will surely greatly reward them.

I heartily congratulate you on the cla.s.s of workers you have sent over here. I pray that your invaluable aid may be extended to our troops everywhere. G.o.d bless you and yours,

In His name, (Signed) THOMAS J. d.i.c.kSON, 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 a.s.sociated 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 pa.s.s.

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 ent.i.tled 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 sh.e.l.l- 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, sh.e.l.l 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 sw.a.n.ky 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 sh.e.l.l- 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 la.s.sies 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. .h.i.t 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 Hanc.o.c.ks. The Salvation Army la.s.sies asked no questions, but accepted the slips of paper as if they were Uncle Sam's gold.

"And one of the most useful inst.i.tutions 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."