The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1918-09-04
SALVATION ARMY's
WORK AT FRONT.
American Soldiers Wonderful in
Their Treatment Of Us, Writes
Girl From Battle Zone.


Hopkinsville, Ky.,--The Ameri-,
can soldiers are wonderful in their
treatment of us. They couldn't be
more courteous, and, in fact, Their
attitude is almost reverent." That
is the way Miss Alice McAllister,
Salvation Army girl, who, with her
sister, is now working right up at
the front in France, writes to
friend here in Hopkinsville, where
she has visited many times and
participated in services and exer-
cises held under Salvation Army
auspices. Her letter, dated July
10, is very interesting, detailing as
II does from woman's viewpoint
the experiences she has undergone.
But her enthusiasm over the Ameri-
can soldiers is the best of all. She
tsays:
Alice and have been over here
for quite some time in charge of one
of our Salvation Army huts, and we
have been closer to the front lines
than any other women have ever
been. Right under shell fire, where
things are lively, and where we can
be of most service to the boys as
they come out of the trenches all
hot and tired and weary and ready
almost to die.
Delicacies for Soldiers.
IF you could see us dealing out
gallons and gallons of hot chocolate
and cakes or orangeade or lemon
ade of something of the kind, and
dealing out all kinds of things that
boys love to eat, making doughnuts,
ETC., and doing all this comprising
about fourteen hours day, then
you can realize just how very tired
we must get and how little time we
have for writing letters.
Our boys have been wonderful
and l only wish you folk at home
could see them as l see them every
day. They are so gentlemanly, so
big and brave and fearless, and so
absolutely American that ones heart
fairly jumps with pride.
"Alice and l have been all alone
up here, where no civilians (all>fami-
lies have evacuated the place., and
only hundreds of soldiers live. Here
we work all day doing all we can
for the boys and in the. evenings
having special entertainment for
them. Sometimes it is a musical
program, and sometimes music and
readings combined, and sometimes
it is an evening of child-games and
it would do your heart good to see
these big fellows playing and hearth
ly enjoying blind mans buff
Mike, where are you, and Jacob and
Rachel. Other evenings we have
services and the boys enjoy them as
much, if not more, than the enter
tainments. They seem so anxious
TO attend and are so attentive and
interested and many of them have
been converted. !
These things put new life into
the boys. The change after spend
ing days and days in the trenches,
where they can't even lift their heads
above the trench in the day time, is
wonderful and seems to revive and
hearten them for the next siege. 2
Sleeping in Dugouts.
"Then after this strenuous day is
over we retire to a couple of army
cots that are placed in a cellar I'M
der the house for everybody here
sleeps in dugouts on account of
shells and bombs. The Boche aero
planes are quite active in dropping
bombs all over the country. But
can you imagine us, the only two
women up here with only soldiers
around us! Well, that is true and
to vivid imagination, but do you
know that we feel as safe as in our
own sweet home? The American
soldiers are wonderful in their treat
ment of us. They could't be more
courteous, and in fact their attitude
is almost reverent They wouldn't
allow any harm to come to us for
anything in the world, and l know
il anyone ever tried to say word
out of the way he wouldn't last long,
they'd simply mob him. i
Il wish / could tell you all about
this wonderful place and the war
and all connected with it, for / know
just how intensely interested in it