Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-02
SAYS SOLDIERS WON'T
MARRY FRENCH LASSIES
Salvation Army Worker, Just Back
From Front, Brings Hope to
Worrying Maids

Ensign Helen Purviance. of the Salvation
Army, pretty as she is practical. sat in the
Service Mems Hostel. Broad street and Fair
how she baked the first doughnut for the
American soldiers in France.
"I had no idea that It was going to be
such an important doughnut." Ensign Pur,
viance said. smiling. OTHERWISE, should
have had 1t photographed. made the dou9h-
nut in an advanced training camp. In the
Toul sector. while they were exploding big
shells over our American boys In the
trenches so as to accustom them TO the
awful racket awaiting them at the front.
"Yes I made doughnuts, pies and fapjacks
by the thousand during my fifteen months
stay in France but the doughnuts were tho
favorites with the boys. They deVoured
them"
Ensign Purviance. who pleads guilty to
twenty-nine years and who spent ten years
in Salvation Army work before going 10
France, said the thing which most impressed
her in the war was tne hero'sh VI 's'e
American soldiers
1.-The French frequently crawled into battle
upon their hands and knees to escape the
deadly machine-gun fire. Ensign Purviance
explained. but not the Americans Iney
walked across the bulIet-swept fields upright.
as a result of which hundreds Of them were
wounded in the legs, They scorned to try
to protect themselves as their French soldiers
did"
cbiidren'' around the Salvation Army huts.
Miss Puryiance explained. They were
forever begging to 'clean pan," which
meant that they desired to lick the sweeten-
ing left there. III, A.. .u..
ambulance unit Of the First Division. United
states regulars and shock troops. who par
ticipated in all the heavy fighting In which
the American army engaged She was AT
Scissors and in the st. Mihiel sector with
these veterans At Mount Sec she witnessed
the barrage that opened the attack by the
Americans at 2 o'clock in the morning. stand
ing on a hill, three-quarters OF mile from
the combat - n,
"AII we could see was the great flare of
the guns. 1t looked JUST hAe 'o'c""o' '"o
said. A., ,x.
their watches, rings, money. photographs
and all kinds OF keepsakes with U.s.. Miss
pmr,iance continued "Our boys were espe-
ciaIlv kind to wounded Germans have
seen an American soldier. who was wounded.
lean over the stretcher on which German
Law and pull the Germans blanket up about
his shoulders No, we never shed tears at
,he sad scenes we witnessed daily. We had
no time for tears. Besides, We were there
to smile" ,,,
Miss Purviance said. and the man whose
tongue slipped and let out an oath apologized
L,in great haste. Indeed. 1t was necessary
4 because his comrades assumed threatening
attitude toward such an onender.
Now, don't worry American girls; your
heroes will not forget you and marry young
ladies in France that is Ensign Purviance
says they Will not.
MANY of our fellows discussed that ques-
,,on with me-" she said. "And In every case
thew said, AN American girl for mine"
pinned to the ensign's coat Is bar con-
tanning two service stars They stand for
her two brothers, both of whom are In
France, One is an ambulance driver In an
American unit with the French army, and
the other is with the Fffty-nnth Pioneer In
fantry.