The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-08-22
DOuGHNUTS FOR
AMERICAN DUUckb0YS
Adult. STARROARD TELLS OF
SALVATION ARMY WORK
IN FRANCE
A STORY FROM THE FRONT
Returned Salvationist Describes Elk.
re:isnces Of American Salvation
lists in the Hurs and Trenches


General Pershing down. The officers
manifest the fact that they believe
in 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
to move to the support of the Brit
ish and French lines we had four
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
three persons each; four huts well
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.
ont the field or assigned to various
huts.
We have not as much to report on
OF oe I
would like. The reason for this is
that our time 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. Ai.:sough
we hold meetings twice a week. and
sometimes more frequently, as soop
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 L seem to
be Understanding the religious
phase l am not really doing so, be-
cause the personal influence of our
officers is purely and distinctively
religious. For this reason they have
n marked effect ON the soldiers
Our people are certainly not bav-
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 provid.
ed with gas masks and have become
most proficient in adjusting them
We have also developed an ear for
cas- bombs. These burst with a
heavy thud, quite different from the
explosion of the shrapnel, which is
sharp and energetic. The gas masks
are always hanging in front of our
! workers, and as soon as the thud OF
explosion is heard they must have
their masks perfectly adjusted before
they breathe again. These respira
tors draw the air through certain
combination Of chemicals by which
the gas is neutralized
| 1 have srent a 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. Il
is the duty of the men on watch
at the approach of gas wave, tt
awaken the boys III the dugouts whs
might be sleeping. II the warning
bell does not awaken them he must
at once use other means beside.
dropping the gas curtain over the
mouth of the dugout. Our boys have
heen in the trenches many times, es
Gaping without a scratch. There i,
really no very great danger il the,
are moderately cautious and properl,
use the appliances provided by tn,
military authorities.
The Pies and Doushnuts
4 You probably have seen frequen
doughnut and pie stories which hav,
circulated through the American
press-stories Of the popularity o
these articles of food which ar,
made by the women Of the Salvation
Army and distributed to the soldiers
No one could overstate the popular
ity Of these American pastries.
have seen lines Of from two hundre,
to four hundred men waiting in tn,
pouring rain while the doughnut
were being cooked
The line officers also have foun,
these things not bad eating, and
have seen captain waiting on tn
steps Of hut begging In piteou
tones for few doughnuts. This i
not because the men are underfed
They are the best fed soldiers in q,