The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-26
SALVATION ARMY
SENDS NEWS FOR
BOYS THAT LAND
Organization Puts Wounded in
Touch With Family When
He Reaches Home Port on
Return From War.

NEW YORK, May 26.--Armed with
telegraph blanks, Salvation ARMY
lassies are out these days to meet every
returning boat packed with soldiers.
~ y me form OF welcome, according
10 the men-one OF the most popular
yet devised.
Eats are all well enough, but the
llrst thing the average soldier wants
AFTER he passes Sandy Hook Ia n mo-
ment to himself so that he can send n
llne to the folks at home. When the
men line up TO com down the gang
way a lassie slips along the line OF
eager men and asks each man In turn:
want to send a telegram to the folks
and tell them you're homer"
EVERY boy knows she has read the
wish In his heart and the answer in
Varlably flashes back:
You bet | do-only-," And before
no can finish q telegraph form has been
thrust into his hand and tho next man
IL being asked the same question, There
on the printed forms are convenient
hks 20 .,..t.. street ..,.o,, place
"''"'' arrived Iii" temporary camp
|. II a mar Is wound or I'm a great
hurry all he has to do is designate what
blanks he wishes filled In and the mes-
sage Is on its way. homeward bound.
Down at the bottom OF the hit OF paper
are printed the owrds! Charge the
80 army war lleDQt.
These are busy days at the NATIONAL
headquarters OF the Salvation, Army in
New YORK, One thousand kilograms a
DAY Is about the average daily output.
Very often the girls work until long
past midnight getting out the messages.
BESIDES the kilograms there are postal
cards ready for them all stamped. and
stationery for those who want to com
port. ~
Not long ago Hugh ]. Ross came into
port listed among the wounded on the
great troop ship. over at G%reenhurt' s
Ross Is one Of the mcn who admits he
simply couldn't get along without the
salvation Army, and it's partly because
one little telegram saved the day,
When he landed a few days ago a
iassie went up to him. Did he want TO
send q telegram--he surely did. His
tolks lived at Long Beech, Cal, and
landed and was on the high road to re-
covery reached them. Two days later a
sinister packet from France reached
Long Beech with a brief message from
one OF The comrades OF the boy, The
packet contained some OF his personal
effects and q bundle Of unopened let
tiers, which had accumulated since last
August. With the parcel came the in.
formation that the boy was listed
among the missing.
With frantic haste the family wired
the Headquarters OF the Salvation Army
asking for particulars. A few hours
and the boy was again located, wounded
nut not seriously, n within an houi
his own cheering message was again In
the hands Of his family: Getting alons
fine, riding the top Of the world"
within the last few days II seems as
I me boys IN some way had learned
that the salvation Arms we're sendins
out these kilograms, The demand ha,
jumped within n week 10 nearly 800 ,
day, Eight Of the lassies from head.
quarters are ass'"ned to meet trans
ports as they arrive.
They carry Nlth them besides the
kilograms chocolate for the incoming
troops. Every telegram Is copied. re
corded and registered al headquarters.
Many kilograms sent by the boys ar,
such messages, Take down your ser
vice flag, your sons in New York" o
"Scrape up the pots. Love to all" on
sent To the sweetheart of one OF tn,
boys out in ST. Louis was short and I,
the point, Fire the other guy, alb
sence makes the heart grow fonder,"
The salvation Army does not finish
Its postwar with the boys when 4
sends these kilograms OF welcome, a
series OF follow-up letters are sent (,
the boys home town, One is mailed a
the time the telegram Is sent. Thi
letter congratuiates the boys family OF
the return of their boy and offers an,
help within the power OF the S~alvatio,
Army, The second letter il sent to tn
salvation Army comrade in the boy
town, telling him of the first letter sen
TO the family, and asking him TO com
muntcate with the mother II necessary
When the telegram is returned undeliv
cred, a letter OF regret is sent by head
quarters.
The Salvation Army viii 20 before IN
= American public with a request 10
slS,ooo, 600 May 1926 TO help carry o.