The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-12
''NU0R JOHNNIE
HOME ON FURl0UGH
E4Ck TO TELL OF S. A.
WORK.
S. A. LhsS!E ALSO Returns
as Soon as They Have Recuperat-
ed From the Strain of Conflict.

ra Van Norden, of The Salvation
Army. who have been in France Ior
the last year, bring back to this
country some first hand information
OF the great successes of the dough-
boys in the recent fighting on the
Nesle-Marne front and the other sec
tors where the American troops iig1
ured creditably in the re-capture OIL
some French cities held by the Ger
mans.
Leaving this country with the tirstI
detachment of Salvationists forI
France to take up relief work at theI
front, Major Atkins and Miss NanI
Norden have been right up to thaI
first line trenches with the American
divisions for practically year. Theyl
both have been eye-witnesses tol
many of the exploits of the A. E. F. |
that have filled the American people
with pride for the last few months,
and both acclaim the American
boys the finest in the world, not!
excepting the troops that have been'
in the field from the very beginning
Of the world conflict
From the time the Salvationists
landed in France they have followed
the various divisions of American
troops from their hardening process
ses OF early training far back Of the
lines, to the finishing touches under
the guidance of the British instruc,
tor, and up to the time of the order
that sent the boys into their first real
trench warfare. Throughout the
whole business the Salyationsts say
that the morale of the troops has
been superb, not single man show
ing signs of weakening under the
strain and hardships of modern war
fare. Better still, these relief work
ers say the American boys grow
more ht day by day, their one pur-
pose being to get into the thick of
battle and do their part toward de-
feating the German
For nine months Major Atkins was
attached to the First Battalion of the
26th infantry, of which Major The0-
dore Roosevelt. Jr., is the command!
err. The work of the SalyatiOnists
with this outfit was of such natures
that Major Roosevelt has requested
the General of the First Division of
the A. E. F. in France to appoint
Major Atkins chaplain with the
rank Of Captain, and to be attached
to his division.
Major Roosevelt's letter to the
General is as follows:
Major Atkins has been with this
command during the entire active
service. He never stayed in the rear.
but went forward with The companies
in the front line trenches. He was
with the company repeatedly when
"straffling'' was going on. He in
numerous instances, cared for she
wounded under fire. He does num-
berless services for the men, getting
them writing paper, chocolate, water,
tobacco, etc. His influence is very
real with the men, and they like
and respect him. He is an ordained
minister of the Gospel. If possible.
| would like him commissioned in the
grade of Captain and attached to this
battalion. He would not accept Al
commission, should it entail his
transfer to some other command"
This letter from the gallant first
son Of Americas greatest advocates
of military preparedness is the chief
pride in Major Atkins collection OF
testimonials. 1t also gives clear
idea of the importance attached to
the work being done at the front by
the Salvation Army, an organization
lacking some of the press agent rep
resentation of other War Work bod
les, but which, from the Roosevelt
letter. does real work for the men
up at the front.
Returning to America several days
later, also for brief stay, Miss Van
Nordens enthusiasm about the valOr
of the American troops is little less
than that of her co-worker. AL
though stationed with the different
outfit ner experiences were veryI
similar to those of Major Adkins.
Their work was very much the same,
and their contact with men both att
the front and the men behind the|
lines, about equally complete
Being constantly under fire, all
sorts of funny things happen, some|
of them very tragic and others hui
morous," Miss Van Norden says. I'll
have Just returned from an American
Ambulance Hospital which has BEEN
turned into an evacuation hospital
and is now overlooking with wounded
men. Since this last drive began the
hospitals over there are rushed to
death. They simply force anyone
who can be of service of any kind
into the hospital for immediate work
In these emergencies is where The
Salvation Army and other kindred or
CARNATIONS show their best abilities.
for there is nothing to be compared
with the first aid work for the
wounded men who have gone through
the deadly trench gases.
Oath Moinr AtEi1e MI. W.