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
Then a hearty voice called out: “Are you locating with us?” and the
military officer of the day advanced to meet them with a hand-shake and
many expressions of his appreciation of the Salvation Army.
“We are going to stay here if you will have us,” said the
Staff-Captain.
“Have you! Well, I should say we would have you! Wait a minute and I’ll
have a detail put your baggage under cover for the night. Then we’ll
see about dinner and a billet.”
Thus auspiciously did the work open in Montiers.
In a few minutes they were taken to a French café and a comfortable
place found for them to spend the night.
Soon after the rising of the sun the next morning they were up and
about hunting a place for the tents which were to serve for a
recreation centre for the boys. The American Major in charge of the
town personally assisted them to find a good location, and offered his
aid in any way needed.
Before nightfall the five white tents were up, standing straight and
true with military precision, and the two officers with just pride in
their hard day’s work, and a secret assurance that it would stand the
hearty approval of the commanding officer whom they had not as yet met,
went off to their suppers, for which they had a more than usually
hearty appetite.
Suddenly the door of the dining-room swung open and a gruff voice
demanded: “Who put up those tents?” The Salvation Army Staff-Captain
stood forth saluting respectfully and responded: “I, sir.” “Well,” said
the Colonel, “they look mighty fine up on that hill—mighty fine!
Splendid location for them—splendid! But the enemy can spot them for a
hundred miles, so I expect you had better get them down or camouflage
them with green boughs and paint by tomorrow night at the latest. Good
evening to you, sir!”
The Staff-Captain and his helper suddenly lost their fine appetites and
felt very tired. Camouflage! How did they do that at a moment’s notice?
They left their unfinished dinner and hurried out in search of help.
The first soldier the Staff-Captain questioned reassured him.
“Aw, that’s dead easy! Go over the hill into the woods and cut some
branches, enough to cover your tents; or easier yet, get some green and
yellow paint and splash over them. The worse they look the better they
are!”
So the weary workers hunted the town over for paint, and found only
enough for the big tent, upon which they worked hard all the next
morning. Then they had to go to the woods for branches for the rest.
Scratched and bleeding and streaked with perspiration and dirt, they
finished their work at last, and the white tents had disappeared into
the green and the yellow and the brown of the hillside. Their beautiful
military whiteness was gone, but they were hidden safe from the enemy
and the work might now go forward.
Then the girls arrived and things began to look a bit more cheerful.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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