Evening star., 1918-01-13
Important Work Of American Salvation Arm

they do the cold nights. when It is i'm
possible to keep warm, or the winter
rains that keep them wet for days at
a time. Weather conditions on the f1r-
ing line have been very bad, and day
after day, SO close to the front that
they are equipped with gas masks.
the Salvation Army girls have worked
among the troops often ankle deep in
warm. They sleep in tents and live
on the same rations as do the soldiers.
darning socks. mendfng clothes and
doing anything that they can for the
ings held in the hutments twice week
" attract an average OF a thousand
men, and their singing is marvellous.
Already hundreds of American SOL
diers have been induced to become
active Christians.
'fI think I have neglected to say that
our War Service League has all such
work as this in charge and has long
the Salvation Army. There must not
be. and there is not, a single Stacker
among us. Did you know that here
and there over the world we have
nineteen military and naval homes for
men? We have made a motto of one
Of our members pronouncements,
Don't back up. dash up!' For certain
personal reasons we are not all asked
to defend our country at the point of
the bayonet, but we do not excuse our
selves from any part in the sacrifice
and responsibility. We will support
every organized effort to prosecute this
war and aid those who are moro to
the front than We.
"The usage of the s1.O0o,0O0, consid-
cred necessary, covers a wide range of
plans. Fifty more hutments is the first
and greatest consideration. Such a step
requires 100000. Already the Army
fifty depots in allied camps and has
given over a large number OF ambu-
lances directly to the United States. Be.
tween thirty and forty motors Of
mercy are being run by s. AS In poor
disturbed Russia and various parts OF
France. Considerably more than bO.0O0
casualties have been taken care OF dur
ing the last twelve months by our am
buiance service.
Col E. j. Parker is chief Of the Sal
walton Army War Department. He
works day and night. his duties oelng
of a variety numerically equal to the
colors of JoSeph's coat-getting pass
ports and exemptions for officers sail
ing for France. procuring clothing, sup
plies, Salvationist badges. kits. books,
magazines. khaki Bibles
"Ehakf Bibles?" was the gentle In
terruption of Mr.. Neill's listener.
Yes, we handle plenty of those. And
that reminds me OF a meeting conouct-
ed on board the U. S. S. st. Louis In the
Charlestown navy yard late last sum
mer. BY the courtesy of the command
ing officer the service was first made
possible, and evidently it was greatly
appreciated by the men or the snip,
since it is said to have been one Of the
best religious meetings ever held in this
navy yard or aboard a battleship. The
number of men present was aston!sh-
ing.
.fThe British Salvationists have done
such notable work that the French gov
ernment when first the American work
was talked of said that anything which
the American branch could do FOR
American soldiers IN France would be
welcome Gen. Pershing has shown an
earnest interest in or work, Offering
our officers much courtesy.
I wonder how many persons know
that we have colleges for our officers.
We have $500 students, here and there
over the world, each year, studying for