The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1918-11-15
FIRST TO SERVE
LAST TO ASK
SALVATION ARMY WAS THE
FIRST AMERICAN ARMY TO
LAND IN FRANCE.

Ten days after Germany stared
On lit rulhiers march through peace
lormg Belgium. British troops were
Ia the field 1 with them went the
advance gusll OF ,ho Salvation Ar.
my q small force OF only fourteen
men and women. They landed In
France on August II, 1918. Just as
the bis kupp suns began to pound
Che fortress Of l.ose
one afternoon a column Of Tom
mics, tired and parchad from the
hot summer SUN wero ordered to
march along o. FrlHch road nolr tho
coast Some of Tho boys we've
lmpIng Hero and there was seen
d bandierd bead or arm In splIni8.
The ,mil village through wnltn
thoy were lrlmp.ns seemed desert
ed Until suddenly O gn IN qi.ot un'
form OF blue. rushed into the road.
Sergeant sergeant" she called.
I'VE have hot ten ana biscuits nnd
some lrpsh bandagcs Bring ln yout
men"
"Bly'me. boys, shouted the scr
geant, startled out Of his wolrinass,
Here's the salvation Army on the
job and some 'ot tea Fall out"
In this unconyont onal manu'f
the British branch started rs work
with trained women In the nsld
took ITS position In tho front hne
trenches and by common consent.
based on the demands Of the mcn
aud later ratified by Official action
u has been there ever since
rhe American Branch moved o..
quickly as did that Of Great Britain
for during the week that preslden,
Wilson officially declared our ma
ton vas In a state OF war with Ger
many Commander Eyangeino
BOOTH as leader Of The Salvation
Army In the United States, prefer
cd to the government the total force
aud equipment OF her organization
The President accepted and gave
formal recognition to her plan.
b before the first expodlllonary
force had landed "oyer there" Com
mauder Eyangeline Booth had dis
patched Lieut.. Col. W. s, Barker
Of New York, to France 10 look owe,
the ground and armngo for the
work
within few days he reported and
"a number nj officers. all experts
were sent across 10 assist him 4
number Of women were appointed
II was IN Innovation and ON account
Of the dangers and priyations iacIng
them. an effort was made to dis
suade Commander Booth from send
Ing them but ner wisGom in rofusnb
to change her plans has boon abuh
dainty proved by the effectiveness
of their work
First TO serve-Latt TO Ask
The Salvation Army is not large
organization compared to some VI
the other relief associations but &.
is composed OF trained men aud
women It is q mobile body so
formed that II can turn It's full
strength into any movement Within
o leW hours. II is an army a.ways
under orders, used to discipline
hari,' and priyatIons, aciua,ed b.
the hlhest principles and ready to
go 10 Tue ends Of the earth at q mo
mcuis notice
This made II exceptionally yilu
able TO The military forces oi The
Allied Nations and enabled Il to be
The First to Serve"
There was no t.me to walt for %.
naucos To be raised from public
appeal 800 funds were borrowed iu
America. London and Paris and the
work uf building hus opening can.
teens. equipping and sending work
crs and securing auto trucks and
csWoeu supplies went forward immc
diattly
The financial problem was an in.
ciuu. The constantly growing oX.
pondiiures soon forced II Ia make
u public appeal for aid, but It WAS
flC last 10 do 50