New-York tribune., 1918-06-23
Picturesque Evangelist in
American Tour Found
Country Doing Wonders
To Be Deciding Force
Was Especially Impressed
With the Great Progress
Made in Shipbuilding

In few days Gypsy Smith. who has
diverted his magnetic eloouence from
soul-ssving to patriotic propaganda
will return to England to report to the
British Ministry Of Information his
Impressions of America at war. Eleven
previous visits to America have made
lin familiar with America at peace
but it was very different nation ne
found on his twelfth tour. which
touched fifty cities of tho United
States.
Since his arrival here last March,
clad in the uniform of the y. M. e: A.
and wearing the bit Of ribbon King
George himself pinned on him IN non
oring him with membership IN the Or
der Of the British Empire, the Glpsy
orator and his companion. w. Gordon
Sprigg. have appeared before sixty
three audiences and delivered to more
than 100000 persons the good wili OF
the British comrades arrayed against
the common foe.
ee7tres. training camps and shipyards
tha t,yo British ENJOYS concur in these
conclusions:
America Deciding Factor
More than ever we feel conhoent
as to She issues of this great st1use'e.
The American nation is going to prove
the determining factor. AS we have
moved from point to point. travelling
nearly 10000 miles by railroad, we
have witnessed America shaking her
self together. She has become thor
oughly aroused and has earnestly and
unitedly resolved to do her whole duty
in relation to this fight for liberty and
righteousness Everywhere we saw and
felt that the tide of activity, convlc-
ton, eagerness and preparation was
rapidly rising. -,
people have been most noteworthy and
inspiring, this being specially noticeable
in the shipyards, munitions and other
establishments and in factories where
definite war work is being done. Your
shipbuilding programme is magnit'-
cent and we have seen sights in this
line which are little short of marvel
lous.
I'VE shall have big story to tell
the British people of the splendid and
valuable contribution which the Ameri-
can nation is making with view to
Fastening the day of victory for right
eousness and freedom"
Qualified to Judge
Gypsy Smiths unique and varied ex-
perience in both the British and over
seas camps, and more particularly
within the war zone on the Western
front, have specially qualified him to
tell the story which has inspired,
charmed and thrilled capacity audi
ences in half a hundred cities in the
East, South, Middle West and North.
While the programme of the tour
was arranged by the military depart
ment of the Y. NJ. C. A, the Red Cross
campaign and the third Liberty Loan
drive both profited by his patriotic
appeals.
One Of the memorable incidents of
the tour was at Cincinnati, when, at
the close of Gypsy Smiths address, the
Mayor Of the city, acting on the in
spration of the moment, conducted a
sale of Liberty bonds totalling $780,
900. Then. in return for a song from
the evangelist, several members of the
audience made an additional subscrip-
ton of S12,500.
In Kansas City, the extreme western
point of the tour, 1900 persons at
tended his scheduled meeting, and 5000
more came to hear him at a second
meeting hurriedly arranged At Chi
cago, $4,000 persons heard him, and
admission to the auditorium.
Gipsy Smiths only address here be-
fore his return to Europe will be to-
night, at the Grace Methodist Episcopal
church, 131 West 104th Street.