The War Romance of the Salvation ArmyHill, Grace Livingston
History
The War Romance of the Salvation Army
Hill, Grace Livingston
World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Salvation Army
Raymond B. Fosdick, chairman of the War Recreation Commission, on his
return from a tour of investigation into activities of the relief
organizations in France, gave out the following:
“Somewhat to my surprise I found the Salvation Army probably the most
popular organization in France with the troops. It has not undertaken
the comprehensive program which the Y.M.C.A. has laid out for itself;
that is, it is operating in three or four divisions, while the Y. M. C.
A. is aiming to cover every unit of troops.
“But its simple, homely, unadorned service seems to have touched the
hearts of our men. The aim of the organization is, if possible, to put
a worker and his wife in a canteen or a centre. The women spend their
time making doughnuts and pies, and sew on buttons. The men make
themselves generally useful in any way which their service can be
applied.
“I saw such placed in dugouts way up at the front, where the German
shells screamed over our heads with a sound not unlike a freight train
crossing a bridge. Down in their dugouts the Salvation Army folks
imperturbably handed out doughnuts and dished out the ‘drink.’”
War Department Commission on Training Camp Activities, Washington
45, Avenue Montaigne, Paris.
Commander Evangeline Booth, Apr. 8, 1919.
Salvation Army, New York City.
My Dear Commander Booth:
The work of the Salvation Army with the armed forces of the United
States does not need any word of commendation from me. Perhaps I may be
permitted to say, however, that as a representative of the War and Navy
Departments I have been closely in touch with it from its inception,
both in Europe and in the United States. I do not believe there is a
doughboy anywhere who does not speak of it with enthusiasm and
affection. Its remarkable success has been due solely to the unselfish
spirit of service which has underlain it. Nothing has been too humble
or too lowly for the Salvation Army representative to do for the
soldier. Without ostentation, without advertising, without any emphasis
upon auspices or organization, your people have met the men of the Army
as friends and companions-in-arms, and the soldiers, particularly those
of the American Expeditionary Force, will never forget what you have
done.
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) Raymond B. Fosdick.
From Honorable Arthur Stanley,
Chairman British Red Cross Society.
British Red Cross Society
Joint War Committee
83 Pall Mall, London, S. W.,
December 22, 1917.
General Bramwell Booth.
Dear General Booth:
I enclose formal receipt for the cheque, value £2000, which was handed
to me by your representative. I note that it is a contribution from the
Salvation Army to the Joint Funds to provide a new Salvation Army Motor
Ambulance Unit on the same conditions as before.
I cannot sufficiently thank you and the Salvation Army for this very
generous donation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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