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
During the day, the officer of Battery F wanted the Victrola and got
the use of it in their dugout for three days. In the meantime I had
furnished Battery D the use of the Victrola and the day I made the
promise, I found the boys without chow for twelve hours. When about to
serve it, the town was gassed and their food with it and no one was
permitted to touch a thing, they were blessing the Kaiser as only
soldiers can under such circumstances. When I arrived among them, after
finding out the way of things, I suggested to the officers that I
should be permitted to supply them with such food as I had. They
assured me it would be a mighty good thing for them if I would, and I
took four boxes of biscuits and six pots of jam and other things to
their trench in the rear of their batteries— they surely thought I was
an angel and I left them pretty happy. This was all done under fire and
at great risk. I chowed with Battery E and saw shell hole through
building which was new since my last visit—boys offer to teach me how
to work gun, their spirit is wonderful under the terrific strain which
they labor. I visited ruined church and went inside; here were some
graves of the French soldiers, some of the bodies being exposed. Could
not stay very long. Overtook soldier-boy limping, got him to stay
awhile and gave him hot chocolate; persuaded him to let his limb be
seen to, which he did, and was sent to hospital. I visited hospital
corps-fellows and arranged that in case of gas, they would visit and
rouse me at night. They are fine fellows. Doughboys bought lots of
goods and blessed the Salvation Army a thousand times. These lads come
in from the trenches and have some hair-raising stories to tell.
_Sunday, 19:_ Quiet till the afternoon when a gas barrage started. I
was driven out of my dugout. I had a narrow escape, while reaching the
hospital corps dugout. Lieut. Roolan (since promoted), of the Fifth
Field Artillery, was there for two hours and half. 480 shells, I was
informed, came down, averaging up three and four per minute. All night,
from 6 o’clock to 3 A.M., 3000 shells are sent into the town. I slept
in the Headquarters Signal Corps dugout with my gas mask on all night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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