The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-08-17
DOUGHNUTS FOR vA
AMERICAN DOUGHDOYS
ADJT. sTARBoARD TELLS OF
ss SALVATION ARMY WORK III
~ ,4 IN FRANCE - a8
ssal PesssS. ~
Returned Salvatlonist Describes Ex-
psrieuces of American Salvation
lsrs in the Huts and Trenches
w. JkE1e = % q "

In our work in the war zone we
have received the greatest encour-
agement from military officers from
General Pershing down. The officers
manifest the fact that they believe
iii US and are glad that we are doing
what we can to make the lot of the
soldier easier. General Pershing has
called at some of our huts in his in
spections and in each case has ex-
pressed his pleasure at the cleanli-
ness, the general arrangement OF
things and the facilities we have
provided for the boys.
Before the American troops began
20 move to the support of the Brit
sh and French lines we had fou"
teen huts in full operation along this
front, grouped as follows -Four huts
well back of the firing lines in the
training camp, conducted by two or
thee persons each; four huts we'll
up toward the front, also conducted
by two or three persons; five huts
closer still to the firing line, each in
charge Of one Salvation Army Off
Ger, and the headquarters hut OF
Lieutenant Colonel Baker at Ligny
en- Barrios Attached to the head
quarters are a number OF men who
are driving automobiles and distrib.
uting supplies among the huts, and
other workers are scattered through.
out the field or assigned to various
huts
We have not as much to report on
the religious side of our work as
would like. The reason for this IS
that cur lime has been so complete.
ly occupied with other absolutely
necessary work. In addition to this
it is most difficult under existing
conditions to follow to an end the
Impressions made at our meetings.
You see, the meetings are held in
the big rooms where the boys have
been playing games. and hearing the
piano and victrola music, and eating
and smoking and writing letters, and
talking and singing, etc. Aisaough
we hold meetings twice week, and
sometimes more frequently, as soon
as we pronounce the benediction and
the meeting is over the hall becomes
play room again.
The influence of the Workers
But let me say that if seem to
be Understanding the religious
phase | am not really doing so, be-
s,,a nF
officers is purely and distinctively
religious For this reason they have
marked effect on the soldiers.
Our people are certainly not hav-
ing an easy life over there, but then
they do not expect that nor would
they want to be at ease in the midst
of so much suffering. Some of the
men, those up in the front line huts,
carry coffee to the men in the tren-
ches, and OF course in these cases
they are in as much danger as the
Soldiers We are in danger from gas
attacks, but we have all been proyid-
ed with gas masks and have become
most proficient in adjusting them.
We have also developed an ear for
Gas bombs These burst with
heavy thud, quite different from the
explosion Of the shfapnel, which is
sharp and energetic. The gas masks
are always hanging in front of our
workers, and as soon as the thud or
explosion is heard they must have
their masks perfectly adjusted before
they breathe again, These respifa-
tors draw the air through a certain
combination Of chemicals by which
the gas is neutralzed
! have spent great deal of time
in and near the front trenches and
have had some very narrow escapes.
One night the warning bell, the bel
which always sounds on the approach
of the gas wave. around us from
our slumbers, five times between two
and six o'clock in the morning. II
is the duty Of the men on watch.
at the approach of gas wave, to
awaken the boys in the dugouts who |
might be sleeping. II the warning
bell does not awaken them he mnst (
at once use other means besides
dropping the gas curtain over the !
mouth of the dugout. Our boys have
heen in the trenches many times. es-
Gaping without scratch There ie
really no very great danger If they
are moderately cautious and properly
use the appliances provided by the
authorities.
The Pies and Doughnuts
You probably have seen frequent
doughnut and pie stories which have