CHAPLAINS DESCRIBE THEIR WORK
Church of England Army Chaplains' Work at the
Front--Permanently Commissioned Chaplains--Hospital
Ministrations--Six Parade Services on one Day--Holy Communion
in Strange Places--Services under Shell Fire--Tonic Effect of
Difficulties--The Work of the Free Churches--The Salvation
Army and the War--One Hundred and Thirty Best Rooms--A
General's Testimony--He Plunged down on his Knees--In
Belgium--At Hadleigh--Send them to the Salvation Army--S.A.
Patrols.
Readers of this book will be glad to have first-hand reports of
Christian work among our soldiers. I have therefore asked
representatives of the different churches and religious organisations
to give their own statements of the work attempted and accomplished. I
do not purpose, therefore, in this chapter doing more than presenting
to my readers the statements received, merely introducing them with a
few explanatory words.
The first is the Church of England report. It is written by the Rev.
J.G. Tuckey, one of the senior Church of England chaplains at the
front, and has been prepared for me at the request of the Rev. E.G.F.
Macpherson, the senior Church of England chaplain. Mr. Tuckey has had
long experience of army work. He served through the South African War
with distinction, and has served throughout the present war. Few know
the British soldiers better than he.
I preface his report with a brief extract from a letter received from
the Rev. E.G.F. Macpherson and dated March 8, 1915. He says: "We are
kept very busy. In addition to my work in Boulogne, I have to keep in
touch with Church of England chaplains at the front, and on the lines
of communications. I went up to Ypres the other day, they were
shelling the place, and I nearly got a shell in my car.
"The Church of England has a large number of chaplains at the front,
and they are doing splendid work for God. Their number, though, makes
it difficult for me to keep in touch with them all."
But now for Mr. Tuckey's report.
"You ask me about the Church of England work. Where am I to begin? How
tackle it? It is so vast. As to number of chaplains, all details can
be seen by reference to the _Army List_. It will be noticed that the
very vast majority of permanently commissioned chaplains belong to the
Church of England. The Presbyterians are now the only other body which
has permanent commissions. The Roman Catholics do not now allow their
men to accept them. They are only appointed temporarily for five
years, and even if re-appointed can never rise above the rank of
captain. This, of course, makes no difference to the Roman Catholic
chaplains appointed before the new regulations, but they will
gradually die out. As no doubt you know, the Wesleyans were offered
four commissions and refused. But though we have such a relatively
large number of chaplains to the forces, the work is so great that it
has to be supplemented by a very considerable and increasing body of
acting chaplains.
"Permanently commissioned chaplains are divided into four classes,
the chaplains therein ranking as colonels, lieutenant-colonels,
majors, and captains respectively.
"Now as to the distribution of Church of England chaplains on active
service. They may be roughly divided into two classes:
"(1) Those with hospitals at the Base or on lines of
communication--these hospitals being of three kinds, namely, general
hospitals, the largest which are not moved; stationary hospitals,
which are supposed to be mobile; and casualty clearing stations for
receiving the sick and wounded from the front and forwarding them to
stationary or general hospitals, whence they can, if necessary, be
conveyed to England in hospital ships.
"(2) Those with Field Ambulances. By this term we should understand
Field hospitals which receive the sick and wounded from their advanced
dressing stations, which in their turn receive them from the First-Aid
Posts just behind the firing line.
"To these two classes have recently been added another, namely, Senior
Chaplains of Army Corps, whose duty it is to advise and direct
chaplains of the divisions composing the corps in their work. For
instance, I am now senior chaplain of the Third Army Corps.
"I have now been in each one of these three classes, for I came out
with number four general hospital, though I was with them subsequently
for only a very short time.
"The work of class (1) consists principally of ministering to the sick
and wounded, holding services when possible, especially on Sundays,
and giving the patients and staff frequent opportunities of the Holy
Communion and other ministrations. It may often happen that chaplains
of this class may find troops near to them, who are away from their
own chaplain. It will then be their duty to minister to them so far as
they possibly can. They, of course, also have to conduct many
funerals.
"As to the chaplains of class (2), the Field Ambulance will be the
centre from which the chaplain should work in his brigade, and such
divisional troops (R.A., R.E., &c.) as are included in the brigade
area.
"I was for some time with the Eleventh Field Ambulance in the Fourth
Division, and as I was the senior chaplain in that division, the
general asked me to take over the arrangement of things. My plan was
that each chaplain in his area should endeavour to hold five or six
large central parade and other services on Sundays, with perhaps
celebrations of the Holy Communion after two of the ordinary services.
"Then, chaplains give special attention to particular units on
weekdays. Here all days are alike and so are all times. So I would
arrange with the commanding officer, and would set out on horseback
carrying the requisites for the Holy Communion, for I always, when
possible, had a celebration after the ordinary service. My servant
would ride behind me with the service books. In this way it was
possible to cover the ground in the division fairly well, and to see
that each unit had its due.
"The ordinary services were taken usually in the open air, though
sometimes some large building, a barn, schoolroom, or shed was
available. Whenever it was practicable I had the Holy Communion
indoors, and for this service I invariably put on my surplice. I have
had to celebrate in many strange places--in lofts, kitchens of
farm-houses, engine sheds, stables, and even in a slaughter-house. But
there has been a devotion and a spiritual uplifting in these most
unwonted surroundings which have been good to see, and officers and
men have come to the Holy Communion in large numbers with a reverence
and an evident longing for communion with God which one does not
always see, even in the most splendid churches at home.
"When my stay in the Fourth Division was drawing to a close, Mr. Hall,
whom you probably know, the Wesleyan chaplain at Chatham, was posted
to the Eleventh Field Ambulance, and came to live with me at my
billet. He and I did a great deal of work together, and he would tell
you about it, for he is at home now. I shall never forget how we went
together one night to a certain battalion which was going into the
trenches the following day. We first had the ordinary evening service
in an underground place, and afterwards there was the Holy Communion,
to which came 122 officers and men. The room in which we were gathered
was very dim, and we felt very deeply the immense solemnity of the
hour.
"It was all very wonderful and very beautiful. During the actual
administration, the commanding officer walked behind me with a
lantern, up and down the rows of kneeling men, so as to make sure that
all were cared for.
"We did not reach our billet until after eleven o'clock that night.
The next day some of those who had made their communion on the
previous night were killed in action.
"Very often our service had to be conducted under shell fire. I recall
one amongst many instances. I was taking a service one weekday
morning for a battery in the garden of a house at Houplines. A great
number of shells went over us while the service was proceeding.
Afterwards we had the Holy Communion in the house. During the service
the houses on either side of ours were struck, and, finally, at the
close there was a deafening crash and we found that the house in which
we were had been hit, though not much damage was done.
"These circumstances of difficulty and danger seem to bring out the
very best that is in men, and I have been immensely impressed by the
craving for spiritual help shown by both officers and men, and their
gratitude for anything I could do for them, as well as by the humble
reverence and real devotion of all ranks.
"There are, of course, many other sides of a chaplain's work: the
ministrations to the wounded and dying in the hospitals, and advanced
dressing stations of the Field Ambulance, the burial of the
dead--often at night and in strange weird circumstances--the visiting
of men in the trenches when feasible, the writing of letters to
relatives, the censoring of letters, and a number of other duties.
"It is often in a strange sort of place that one witnesses a poor
fellow's last dying testimony, in some cellar possibly, where a
wounded man has had to be conveyed so as to be safe from shell fire.
"In times of comparative quiet, and when troops are resting, I
consider it most important that chaplains should try to organise some
directly spiritual work, and also recreation daily during the trying
hours after dark, until men have to be in their billets. For instance,
in this place we have a room and a hall; in the room we have a
Bible-class each evening, while in the hall there are papers and
games, coffee can be procured, and there is an impromptu concert every
evening. We have a stage with footlights, and a serviceable piano. On
Sunday evenings there is a well-attended voluntary service there. Both
places are well warmed and well lighted, with plenty of seats and
chairs. This is most important.
"One great difficulty under which the Church of England has to labour
in this country is that, with very few exceptions, the Roman Catholic
ecclesiastical authorities will not allow us to use their churches.
This is, I think, to be deplored, and I cannot understand how people
can worship comfortably in their churches, while they know that
fellow-Christians are obliged to hold their service in the open air,
in cold discomfort, or in some quite unsuitable and mean building.
"Possibly, however, it is for our good that we should have these
difficulties. These difficulties and trials are perhaps a tonic for
our spiritual life. And after all we learn what every campaign has to
teach us, and what I was first taught in South Africa, that often the
truest worship can be offered in most uncongenial surroundings; and I
have been myself strengthened and helped, and I have marked the
reverence and devotion of officers and men at some service beneath the
sombre skies of Flanders, or it may be in some comfortless or even
squalid building.
"Out here one realises more what things really matter, and how to
distinguish the essential from the unessential. One has so much to be
thankful for and so much to help, strengthen, and inspire."
Hitherto I have given Mr. Tuckey's statement in his own words. Nearly
all the rest does not concern the public, but ere he closes he
acknowledges gratefully the kindness of the Archbishop of Rouen in
allowing him the use of two churches or chapels, and speaks most
appreciatively of the hospitality of some of the _cures_. We may hope
and pray that he may be long spared to do such glorious work as his
statement indicates.
Our next report is from the pen of the Rev. E.L. Watson.
Mr. Watson is the senior chaplain at the front representing the United
Army and Navy Board. This Board, recently formed, comprises the
Baptist and Congregational Unions, and the Conferences of the
Primitive Methodist and United Methodist denominations. Until the
outbreak of the war, Mr. Watson was minister of the Baptist Church at
West End, Hammersmith. His report has been written at the request of
the Rev. J.H. Shakespeare, M.A., Secretary of the Baptist Union of
Great Britain and Ireland. I omit from it a few sentences covering
ground already dealt with.
"The task that Great Britain has in hand is of such magnitude that the
demand for fighting men is without parallel. Proud we are of the fact
that every individual man now in the greatest army that Great Britain
has ever raised is serving of his own free choice, and happy indeed to
be of service to his King and country in the hour of need.
"This great body of men is necessarily composed of many types, drawn
as it is from all quarters of the British Empire, and representing
every political opinion and all religious denominations, but
co-operating in perfect unity.
[Illustration: A FIGHT IN THE AIR.
_Drawn by Christopher Clark._]
"Every provision has been made for the material comfort of the men,
especially those in the firing line. Transport arrangements are in
themselves a marvel, every modern appliance being requisitioned for
the purpose. Letters and parcels can be received and posted every day
if necessary. In like manner, also, is fresh food supplied, thus
saving any unnecessary privation.
"Equipment is also as perfect as British science and common sense can
make it. In these and many particulars the British Army has the
reputation of being one of the best fed and equipped armies in the
field, whilst the spirit of the men is recognised as second to none.
"Not only has the War Office spared neither expense nor pains to place
everything that is essential within the reach of the average soldier,
but it has also recognised the necessity of keeping the men in touch
with those spiritual influences that count for most in the British
soldier.
"To meet this spiritual need a new army of chaplains, in addition to
those already in the regular list, has been appointed and sent forth
with befitting rank to minister to their respective denominations. The
field is a wide one and unreservedly open to the individual chaplain
simply to care for his men as he may see best. Where desired and
possible every facility is given to the men to attend the means of
grace. It is also placed on record in the King's Regulations that,
without distinction, every assistance is to be given to the chaplains
in the performance of their duties.
"Regimental work where possible is always a satisfactory task, for the
fortunate chaplain is then always identified with the men of his
regiment, thus getting to know each individual as in a regular
congregation.
"Brigade work is more difficult because of the number of regiments and
width of operations, but even in this the work is within the reach of
the brigade chaplain. The most difficult and almost impossible task
falls to the lot of a Nonconformist chaplain who has charge of the
whole of a division. Besides the three brigades there are the masses
of men in the divisional troops. Under some circumstances the division
may have an area of some three miles of front and reaching back some
ten miles to the rear.
"To cover this ground and get into touch with my men scattered
throughout the whole of the division and keep in touch with them is my
task. The demands are so great upon time and capacity that I simply
have to shoulder as much of the work as strength allows and pray God
that my very best may count for most.
"For instance, there are three large and active field ambulances
operating in the division, where it will be remembered that most of
the collecting of the wounded is done under cover of darkness.
Consequently the dressing and operations are carried out immediately
upon their arrival, the cases rarely remaining more than a few hours
in a field hospital, being of necessity hurried away to the base
hospitals. Thus the time for visiting the sick and the wounded is
limited.
"There are letters to be written for the badly hit men to the loved
ones at home. There are the dying to be comforted and pointed to the
Saviour. A word of cheer to be spoken to all. It is indeed in the
field ambulance where valuable service is rendered to men and staff
in a hundred ways.
"To keep in touch with most of our men thus passing through the
ambulances, each ambulance operating in a different centre,
necessitates from four to six hours' duty each night.
"Besides the work of the hospitals there are pressing day duties to be
performed. Burials must receive attention. Regiments must be visited.
Many calls are received from anxious and troubled men. Even the firing
line claims attention at times in the performance of duty. Wherever
the men are standing to their duty and where the greatest service
could be rendered there I have striven to be. Identification with the
men is the key-note of a chaplain's work. He shares in the
recreations, pleasures, dangers, and sorrows of his men, and is looked
upon as the soldier's best friend.
"The strain is incessant, but the work is most encouraging and filled
with unequalled opportunities.
"The men prove responsive to the spiritual touch and take full
advantage of the means of grace and communion afforded.
"The circumstances of the front bring one into closest touch with the
men in such a way as is not possible at home, and it is indeed a joy
and a reward to feel that one is helping to keep the men in touch with
the faith and spirit of their fathers."
* * * * *
The public imagination has been touched by the part the Salvation Army
has played in this great struggle. Its contribution to the fighting
line and to organised works of mercy has been striking. I am grateful,
therefore, to General Booth for the opportunity of including in this
volume an authorised account of the Salvation Army's war work,
prepared by Brigadier Carpenter.
"It is impossible to give in the brief space available anything
approaching a comprehensive idea of the work the Salvation Army is
accomplishing in the various new situations created by the war. The
more outstanding features of its activities can be summarised, but
such a statement appears--as do statistics to a lay mind--cold,
lifeless, uninteresting, whereas the tangible facts which they
represent glow with life and beauty and inestimable worth.
"On the outbreak of hostilities General Booth held conferences with
his chief officers at headquarters in London, to determine upon what
lines of action Salvationists would be of most service to the
authorities and the people in the national crisis.
"Our naval and military homes at Harwich, Chatham, Plymouth, and
Dover, and as many of our social institutions and halls as might be
found necessary, were placed at the disposal of the government; those
not taken for military requirements were offered to local governments
for use as relief and industrial centres.
"With the formation of the Expeditionary Forces, General Booth
dispatched to the continent a contingent of officers to minister to
the troops in any way that might be found possible. These officers
were placed under the direction of Brigadier Mary Murray, Secretary of
our Naval and Military League. It might be mentioned that the
Brigadier is a daughter of the late General Sir John Murray. Miss
Murray went through the South African war at the head of a Salvation
Army Red Cross contingent, and for her services was awarded the South
African medal.
"When the Prince of Wales Fund was inaugurated, Salvation Army
officers were appointed to most of the local committees formed in the
country, their close touch with the poor and their willingness and
practicality rendering them of great assistance in the wise
administration of the funds. In many centres, Leagues were formed for
looking out and caring for the wives and families of soldiers and
sailors. The women are visited in their homes, difficulties concerning
their allowances and other matters are straightened out; they are
invited to cheerful meetings held at regular intervals at the Army
halls, and when the sad news of disaster or death comes with its
paralysing sorrow into their homes, the Salvationist is at hand with
words of comfort and deeds of helpfulness.
"One of our first calls to serve the troops of the new Army was in
Wales, when the men poured in from the valleys to enlist. Until these
men passed the final attestment and had been enrolled, they were not
under government responsibility, and arriving in such numbers as they
did they could not be immediately dealt with. The Military Commander
at Cardiff, explaining the difficulty in an evening paper, requested
help. Within an hour of the edition leaving the press the Salvation
Army had offered to cope with the emergency, and by six o'clock the
next morning had actually commenced operations. The Council Cookery
schools were handed over to us, and during the following days hundreds
of men were suitably provided for. Not only were their temporal needs
supplied, but our officers did much in the direction of advising and
helping the men in an endless variety of ways. New Testaments and
religious literature were distributed amongst them and their letters
despatched to friends at home.
"More than 13,000 Salvationists have rallied to the Colours. Knowledge
of the temptations and discomforts to which these men, in company with
hundreds of thousands of their comrades in arms, are likely to be
exposed in camp strongly appealed to General Booth, who determined
upon providing as far as possible 'home away from home' for them. Thus
there are over 150 halls and rest rooms provided for the use of the
troops.
"During the warm weather the work was carried on under canvas, but
with the approach of winter the marquees were replaced by wooden
buildings. The men may procure wholesome refreshments, read good
helpful literature, write and converse with the officers in charge;
and in the evenings bright, interesting meetings are conducted.
Attached to many of these rest houses is an authorised post office. At
some of our huts bathing accommodation has been provided. The rest
centres are in charge of experienced married men, and the presence of
a good sympathetic, practical woman amongst the troops is of untold
value. The wife, ready for any emergency, 'mothers' the men,
corresponds for them with wives, parents, and sweethearts, advises
them on a multitude of questions. She prescribes for their minor
ailments, does bits of mending and various other little kindnesses,
which all appeal to the best side of the men. These officers, as a
rule, have some knowledge of First Aid, and cases of slight mishap are
frequently ordered to the Salvation huts.
"The troops bear hearty testimony to the blessings these havens of
rest and happiness have proved to be. Lord Kitchener himself has
expressed appreciation, and there have been many other most generous
expressions from highly placed officers regarding the Army's efforts
on behalf of the men. A general commanding one of the great camps
said, 'Please do not thank me for arranging sites for your buildings;
it is for me to thank General Booth and the Salvation Army for
rendering us such service. I know the value of the spiritual and moral
influence which the workers of the Salvation Army exercise over the
men.' The senior chaplain of a great camp applied for Salvation Army
officers to go and work amongst the troops, and himself defrayed the
cost of supplying and equipping a marquee for the purpose. 'Your men
go for the soldier's soul; that's why I want them,' he said.
"The value of over 13,000 Salvationists scattered amongst the troops
and the fleet can only be faintly suggested here. A Salvationist is
trained, from the moment he kneels at the penitent form, to confess
Christ by his life and testimony; and never has he taken a braver
stand than he is doing to-day in the barrack-room, on ship deck, and
in trench.
"The following incident, which has been multiplied a thousandfold,
illustrates the power of example. A rough, illiterate Salvationist
found himself in a barrack dormitory for the first time. Cursing,
swearing, and ribaldry were going on all around him amongst a crowd of
half-drunken, hilarious men. He knew he should kneel and pray, but
never before did he understand the full significance of the Salvation
Army song he had so often lustily sung: 'I'll stand for Christ, for
Christ alone.' Surely it would be easier to go into action than to
kneel and pray in such company! He turned hot and cold by turns, then
decided: 'Here goes,' and plumped down upon his knees. A few whistles
and jeers, a boot, a pillow followed, but he did not move. The
cursing gradually died away and there was silence in the room.
"Next day several men sought him out to confess that they, too, were
Christians, but had not dared to face that fire alone. Next night
several of them knelt to pray unmolested, and by degrees the
Salvationist became the conscience of the company. A military officer
of high rank remarked to one of our leading men the other day: 'I
really did not know the Salvation Army until the war, but I have
watched your men. Now I deliberately place Salvationists with the
wilder of our spirits, and invariably find that after a week or two
the tone of the company has noticeably risen.'
"During rest time at the front, Salvationists hold meetings behind
their guns and at their trenches. These 'unofficial chaplains' have
won many souls for Christ. During the coldest weather of this winter
some took off their greatcoats for their mates to kneel upon, and
there, within sound of the enemy's fire, they pleaded with their
comrades to turn from sin and seek the Saviour. One night twenty-two
men responded to this invitation.
"The authorities in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have appointed
Salvation Army officers as regular chaplains to the troops and
conferred military rank upon them. These officers are serving with the
Expeditionary Forces in Egypt and elsewhere.
"In this country and at the base on the continent special facilities
have been granted to us for visiting the wounded in hospitals and also
the prisoners of war. Services are conducted in the German language,
and literature of that tongue is distributed amongst the German
prisoners by Salvation Army officers who have been engaged in our work
in the Fatherland.
"It is an interesting fact that sufficient men to form an entire
battalion were recruited from our social institutions. Without
exception, these men came to us in a state of complete physical
unfitness. Drink and exposure, and in many cases other vices, had
robbed them of all the spring and confidence so necessary in the
soldier. After several months of good food, steady occupation, and the
message of cheer which our homes bring to their inmates, these men, so
recently the country's waste, marched out to serve their King and
country. Two of the number from one Home formerly held commissions in
the regular Army, but lost them through intemperance. Both were
Reinstated. One clever fellow, speaking several languages, was
attached to the Intelligence Department.
"To our home-loving nation one of the saddest circumstances of the war
is the depopulation of Belgium. General Booth with his officers was
among the first to come forward with offers of help when the destitute
and stricken people poured into our country. Three of our homes in
London were at once thrown open to receive them, and at port towns,
such as Folkestone and Cardiff, where the refugees arrived in such
numbers that they could not be distributed, accommodation was provided
for thousands in buildings adapted by the Salvation Army officers. The
refugees sheltered in one of our London homes despatched a message in
French to His Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace, expressing
profound thanks for the kindly reception they had been given in
England, and for the way the 'Armee du Salut' was caring for them.
"The value of this effort has been fully recognised by the government,
and a communication from the Local Government Board on the subject of
the Army's work was expressed in the following terms: 'I am directed
by the Local Government Board to express the Board's appreciation of
the action of the Salvation Army, and its officers, which has been of
great assistance to them in dealing with the situation, which for a
time presented considerable difficulties.'
"The assistance to the Belgian people was not confined to those in
England. General Booth despatched an experienced officer to Belgium
with orders to visit every centre of Salvation Army work in that
country. He succeeded in his mission and placed financial help with
the brave officers who had refused to leave their posts, though many
of them were right in the battle area, and had been exposed to the
utmost personal danger. Thus assisted, they were enabled to succour
hundreds of most deserving and starving people, and to continue their
spiritual ministrations to the people who clung to them for comfort
and support in their terrible experiences.
"A work of first importance was also undertaken by the Salvation Army
at the request of the Belgian government, viz. the care of the wounded
Belgian soldiers in this country. When fit to leave the hospital ward,
the hospital authorities in whatever part of the country the soldiers
were being nursed--from Aberdeen to Plymouth--communicated with our
headquarters in London. The men were brought to the Metropolis under
Salvation Army escort and provided for by our officers until they were
fit to return to military service, or to civil life should they be
permanently incapacitated. Our land and industrial colony at Hadleigh
in Essex has proved to be a veritable boon as a convalescent depot for
these brave men. More than 8000 Belgian soldiers in this way have
passed through our hands. The efficiency of the arrangements for the
comfort and well-being of these men has earned unstinted praise from
the officials concerned of both the Belgian and our own governments.
"On one of the worst nights of this winter a party of 200 Canadians,
Belgians, and a number of Russians arrived from across the Atlantic to
join the forces. They had no place to go to. 'Send them to the
Salvation Army' said the military authorities, and to the Salvation
Army they came. Coming in such an unexpected number in addition to the
hundreds of Belgians already under the Army's roof, they presented
something of a problem, but a little rearrangement soon enabled us to
warmly house and feed them all. The next night seventy more arrived
and were similarly cared for.
"Salvationists are a poor people. Their only riches consist in love
and power to serve. Nevertheless, out of their scant means they
contributed between three and four thousand pounds to the Prince of
Wales Relief Fund, and also raised a further L2500 for the purchase
and equipment of a Motor Ambulance Unit consisting of five cars. The
unit is manned by Salvationists. It is no new thing to send ambulance
brigades to the front at war time, but it _is_ a new thing to see that
they are all conducted by Christian men.
"The cars have splendidly stood the severe tests imposed upon them,
and the men in charge have borne themselves so well that they have
become known as 'The White Brigade.' No drinking, no smoking, no
swearing amongst them; always on time and carrying out the orders of
the medical staff with the utmost satisfaction, it is not to be
wondered at that our officer in command of the unit was promoted to
the charge of a section--with the management of twenty-five cars. A
second unit of six cars was despatched to France in February, with
which Her Majesty Queen Alexandra was pleased to identify herself by
personally dedicating the cars--now known as the 'Queen Alexandra
Unit.'
"Apart from the work of the ambulance party, Salvation Army officers
are exerting themselves for the comfort of the troops in the battle
area and at the base hospitals. At Boulogne, Rouen, and Paris our
women officers are continually visiting the wounded. In Paris alone,
they visit seven hospitals for the British wounded. Hundreds upon
hundreds of letters have been written to anxious relatives and
friends, and where husbands have been in distress about their wives in
ill-health or poverty at home, a swift message across the channel has
been sent to our officer in the town mentioned, who has gladly gone to
comfort and assist the distressed ones concerned, and our Army sisters
have received scores of 'last messages' to wives and children as the
brave fellows have been passing away. Testaments, papers, stationery,
and chocolates are distributed, and a thousand and one of those gentle
heart ministries peculiar alone to women, whose hearts are filled with
love to Christ, are performed. Every week two large sacks of clothing
made by Salvationists in England are sent to the visiting officers in
France for distribution amongst the men.
"At Boulogne, Le Havre, and Abbeville rest rooms, similar to those in
Great Britain, have been established.
"Passing mention must be made of the patrols of Salvation Army
officers at the great London railway stations, such as Waterloo,
Victoria, &c. The special work of these officers is to care for men
stranded on Saturday and Sunday nights. Rooms have been opened in the
neighbourhood where the men are provided with blankets and
refreshments. Some of the men, whose troubles have resulted from
drink, have been led to renounce their drinking habits.
[Illustration: _Drawn by Paul Thiriat._
IN THE FORET DE LA NIEPPE.
An English private and a French sergeant bind each other's
wounds, and then faint from loss of blood. Both were rescued,
being discovered by a dog.]
"In this brief review reference has largely been confined to the
Salvationists in Great Britain in connexion with the war. This serves
as an index of similar efforts which are being actively carried
forward by Salvationists in every part of the world, especially in
France, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and
even in Germany. They are caring for those reduced to poverty as a
result of the war, caring for the wounded, succouring the refugees,
and lending the hand of help in many other ways.
"We are unable to more than mention the splendid service rendered by
Salvationists in the United States, who organised what was termed an
'Old Linen Campaign'; 300,000 articles for the wounded--comprising
bandages, pads, &c.--in a large variety have already been made up, and
after being sterilised and labelled, sent forward to France, Belgium,
and Germany."