The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-08-22
GIRLS CANTEEN
IN BAR ROOM
GETS ORDERS TO MOVE JUST
1t LIKE THE DousERqYS. III
IN SMALL TOWN OF LORRAINE
Salvation Army Workers Take Over
Canteen.-Houses Are Battered
In New Sector-Leases House
For 80 Years.
(By Miss Irene McIntyre.)


Salvation Army "Doughgirl" in France.
With the American Troops at the
Front, Aug 1. (By Mail.)-We dough-
girls get sudden orders for movements
too, sometimes, much the same as the
doughboys do. Our most sudden one
came few days ago-or rather 1t was
night. Most of the army movements
are at night, and ours was a midnight
one.
Gladys and | had finished a long
days work and were tired after max
ing an unusually large batch of dough
nuts. So we turned in early, for the
front. Early is about eleven o'clock.
We had no more than fallen asleep
when our commanding officer arrived
with several other Salvation Army
workers. When we had awakened
enough to dress and see him, the Of
ficer informed us we would go in half
an hour, and that the new arrivals
would take our canteen over
We hustled to get our affairs togeth-
err throwing them into our trunks.
Then Gladys grabbed her dog and
caught my pet fox who was out In
the bushes. and We were off. We rode
almost all night, and about daylight
came to the Salvation Army headquar-
tiers, where we rested for while.
Of For New Sector.
BY noon We were off again, bound
for a new sector which had never had
a Salvation Army hut. 1t was more
than 100 miles down the line from
headquarters. We rode in a Ford
which was used for carrying supplies
to the canteens. Seats were put in the
box for us.
By night we had not arrived at our
destination and to avoid arriving at
the front too late to be able to get
! place for the night We stopped in a
small French town. 1t took lot OF
diminishing around to find hotel &C
commodations so near the front but
we finally succeeded.
Next morning bright and early, our
party arrived in the new home, a lit
tie town of Lorraine, very near the
|
the result of the boches work when
they invaded this area in 1914 and
1915 Our place was store room, and
the sign over it read Modern Bar"
So we made our Canteen out of the
bar room.
We were in new party of eight
who were opening huts in this new
hilly sector of Lorraine. We had not
been at the Modern Bar" long when
our commanding officer assigned us
! to a village nearer the front, where
we had to begin a new hut.
Picking Out a House.
We went out to pick out house
among those in ruins for a new home.
Most all of the houses were battered
! and many had holes in them. We
finally chose one which had not been
used since the war started, except for
stable 1t had a big loft and the roof
leaked 1t was terribly dirty.
But we saw fine possibilities in it
for doughnut kitchen, a canteen for
| the boys, and place for them to
read We put in bid for 1t with the
town major. and he soon informed us
he had leased ii from the original own
err for 80 years, for a pocket full of
francs. He refused to take our money
to pay the lease, saying the boys had
heard of our coming, had taken up a
collection to pay for it. We suspect he
had a lot to with 1t.
Next day We came back, and the Of
ficers assigned us details to clean up
the place. 1t was a big job to under.
take, but the boys went to work, and
the place soon began to look respect
able. Some whitewash and curtains,
and lots of scrubbing added to its ap-
pearance.
We are glad to have the new place
open and running now. and we take
lot of pride in having made 1t our
selves, or rather having directed the
work that made it. You h We a sort
of pioneers feeling after you create
Workshop for doughnuts making
out of an old Lorraine ruin.