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
_Monday, 20:_ Visited Y.M.C.A. and found their dugout had been struck
and the Secretary’s eyes were gassed after a man took his place. I saw
Colonel Crane to try and get out of my dugout and get the one he had
left. He gave me permission, assuring me that it was not a very good
one at that. I took my Victrola with two of the battery boys from F
Battery. I carried the records and they the Victrola. We dodged the
shelling all the way and I had the pleasure of hearing the “Swanee
River” song at the same time as the firing of the big guns much to the
enjoyment of the boys. I understand that General Summerall visited and
heard the Victrola soon after I had taken it to the boys. I placed
about fifty books among officers of the Hospital Corps, Infantry
officers, Battery officers. They were highly appreciated. I slept with
Signal Corps boys again as Fritzy decided to continue the bombardment
of the town which he did from 5.30 P.M. to 5.30 A.M. I slept with mask
on and had no ill effects of the gas at all so far; but about five
o’clock a terrific crash just outside of my dugout followed by a man
shouting as he rushed down the dugout steps, “Oh, God, get me to the
doctor right away.” That shell nearly got me. I was only eight feet
from it. I sprung up and rushed him from the dugout over to the
hospital. I had to chase around from one dugout to another and finally
landed my man (his name was Harry), who was taken to the hospital.
_Tuesday, 21:_ After taking the man to the doctor, I went to my own
place and found a nine-inch gas shrapnel shell had burst 15 or 20 feet
from my dugout, about fifteen holes were torn through the door, the top
of the shell lay six feet from the top of the steps, pieces of the
shell were scattered down the steps, and my dugout to the gas curtain,
was full of gas. If Staff-Captain and Billy had been visiting me that
night, the shell would have hit the Ford right in the center. Fierce
bombardment all the day. Houses were struck on the entire street from
end to end. Shells fell in the yard, one struck the corner of the
house. The soldiers next door have gone, and my place can only be
opened in the evenings. Things are pretty hot, I started out visiting
the batteries to-day, but was driven back and could get out only by the
back entrance to the yard. I am told by a soldier of the Intelligence
Dept., that their bombardment is what is known as a “Million-Dollar
Barrage,” and that all were fortunate to have passed through it, he
also told me the number and nature of the shells. I served hot
chocolate this Tuesday night and noticed that my hands were very red.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account