The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-09-03

To the people of Minnesota and
North and South Dakota, the recent
nationwide reorganization OF the SAL
walton army Is Of particular interest,
and far more than q mere matter of
periodic shifting of personnel within
O religious body, for 1t brings to Min
neapolis, as commanding officer Of all
the army's work n these three states,
Colonel William s. Barker, the man
who, as director of the work Of his
organization for the American Expedi-
tiOnary Forces throughout the war,
really, fathered all the tens of mil
lions of "doughnuts for doughboys"
which made the Salvation army and
its LAssies famous In both France and
America
For his war services to the French
as well as to the American Army Col
onel Barker was recently cited by the
French government, and to him has
Just been awarded the French medal
of Honor. With Mrs. Colonel Barker,
who will actively assist him, the Col
onel has this week taken up his new
duties in the Minneapolis Salvation
army headquarters. OF the famous
Salvation army doughnut, Of course
all the world knows, bat OF the early
war days In 1917 when the first
ing but In the imagining a well, COM
paratively little has been written.
The story was related recently by the
colonel himself, to whom those excit-
ing times In France win ever remain
q fresh memory.
That Apple Pie.
As q matter Of fact, according to the
colonel, the first Salvation doughnut
was not doughnut at all, but "a
apple pie. Shortly after Colonel Bar
ker reached France subsequent to the
was comforting with Major General
George B. Duncan, afterwards com.
mander Of the 77th and later Of the
Sand Divisions, and had mess with the
General and his stan. The French
chef. after much urging, had essayed
pie, but It was disnal failure and
resembled nothing In the world 80
much az q downcast napjack. From
the General down to the youngest
shave tatf every one was disap-
pointed.
Never mind. said Colonel Barker,
when our Lassies get here promise
can home made pies"
Much enthusiasm Was evoked at
the Ssivationist's promise, and all
the officers swore they would hold
him to it-or have him court martial.
ed and shot ut SUNRISE
Many weeks later Mrs. Adjutant
Edith Hickey, Of Marion, Ohio. made
good the Colonies promise and saved
him from summary execution by pre-
pairing q great batch Of apple pies for
the Generals mess, but meantime
Salvation army and doughnut history
had already been made by two other
Lassies.
Early in the summer of 1917 the
ammunition train Of the First division
was located at Monitor sur Saulx, and
with 1t were stationed Ensigns Mar
garet Sheldon and Helen Purviance.
Almost their only equipment was
some primitive utensils and balky
French stove. which they had set up
in the open. In the oven Of the stove
they were baking pies. but this took
a long time and the stove would hold
but two pies at time.
Thoughts Of the Douuhnut.
Suddenly the girls bethought them
selves OF frying doughnuts atop the
stove while they were waiting for the
pies to bake inside. No sooner said
than done, and In short while the
famous wartime doughnut, favorite
tftbit and reminder or home and
mother OF the A. e. F., was launched
All the world now knows the rest Of
the story and the glory and popularity
that soon came to the doughty dough
nut makers.
"Thus the doughnat Just happened