THE SALVATION ARMY AND WAR WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 7

THE SALVATION ARMY AND WAR WORK

Sir, —As the Salvation Army campaign- lor funds lor military, work ig jibout to couimeuco 1, would Uku.to ask tiiem to explain more lully where thoy intend to expend tlm funds. It is well known thaUhe Salvation Army do not possess a single, hut on the front where New Zealand soldiers are lighting, and 1 doubt very much whether General llussell would give his consent to them erecting any, as ho considers the 1'.11.C.A. a most efficient institution. There is one S.A. hut at Etaples where New Zealand men may got occasional benefit; but the S.A. have no huts at Codford or Walton-on-Thames, or at any hospital for New Zealand soldiers. The point I wish to raise is that if it is proposed to spend this money collected for comforts on our New Zealand men, then a large sum must be expended to provide the necessary machinery, assuming that the military authorities gave their consent. This, in my judgment, would be quite wrong whan the Y.M.C.A. already, has all the machinery for this work, and is purely interdenominational. If it is proposed to spend the money where the Salvation Army have their huts and where New Zealand men (outside of Sling camp) can receive 110 benefit, then it should be .moro clearly indicated by the Army authorities. Tho assumption at present is that our New Zealand boyg are going to be benefited by this campaign; while on the other hand there is a presumption amongst men who know the Army work that our New Zealand men. cannot get any benefit outside Sling Camp and the Salvation Army chaplains. So far as the latter are concerned any denominational chaplain could give' tho same help and so any denomination would be entitled to make a similar appeal. I hold 110 brief for the Y:M.C.A., and am in 110 way connected with their work, but knowing that they have been ontrusted with this kind of work among the Australnsinn troops I feel that money for the New Zealand soldiers should go through them in the interests of economy. It would be wrong to. spend more money on new machinery.—l am, etc., R,O. [The above letter was submitted to Commissioner H. C. Hockler, of the Salvation Army, who, after perusing its contents, said that it was quite correct to say that the Salvation Army had 110 huts right up in the front trenches. The military authorities had permitted tho Y.11.G.A. to go light up to the front line and dispense what comforts they could there for the benefit of the men, but they did not want too much ''machinery" so close to the fighting line, and the Y.M.C.A. were doing what they could splendidly. But, Commissioner Hodder bid, the bulk of the men were not in tho front-line trenches. Thoy wore a good way back at rest villages and base camps, and that was where the Army was established, and had been at work ever since tho first year of the war. "It would not be saying too much," said the Commissioner, "to say that our organisation has been the means of helping tens, aye, hundreds of thousands of men, morning, noon, and night in Prance, London, and the principal cities of tho United Kingdom." And is tho money to be raised in tho pending campaign to be used for New Zealand troops only? "If you put. the. question that way. I could not say that it is," replied the Commissioner. "Not for a moment would we think of denying help to any troops that are fighting under the British flag! At Etaples we have a large hut, built by money sent from New Zealand—£looo, or was it £1400? That is the site of a big base camp, but .we have moved forward from'there and have Army tents and huts established at most of the other bases, doing splendid work. But I wouldn't say that we would confine our efforts to the New Zealand troops. That would be impossible with us, tho Y.M.C.A., or any other institution, but the New Zealand troops would he our first and best consideration. We are not going to ask a

'man'to put a label oil his back beforu we heip nun. . uur work is to help all, aud, lo ut, uno witisiiur is a guild a* another, uur General knows exactly the state ol tilings and Hie needs ac the front. IVe aie establishing moveable kitchens as near tne Uont as possible; wo are sending another six ambulance motor-cars which will _be labelled 'Salvation Army. _\'ew Zealand,' but I can't say that, mey will only pickup ' New Ze.iland?ro. e are also establisnnig additional hostels in trance and England—are doing, in fact, the things which our \\ ar Department, knows want doing." Then this money will be handled by the Rome authorities of the Salvation Army ? "Yc«," said Commissioner Hoddor, "all except that which is spent on soldiers in New Zealand!" In conclusion Commissioner Hodder mentioned the splendid testimonial to the Army's work so recently given by Brig.-General Richardson (London), and handed our representative the following extract from a letter received from Major-General Sir Alfred Robin as late as Thursday of this week. This read as follows:— 1 have been advised by the Conoral Commaiiuing tne Aew Zealand troops in Jiigiand or the magnm- 1 cent work that has been clone by tne Salvation Army, both in England and at the front, aud you will prouaOiy have seen among tne news m the daily press the eulogistic terms in whicu General Richardson refers to that noble band of . workof the Salvation Army who have sacrificed so much in order to bring comfort to our sick and wounded soldiers. , it is .on record that eighteen months ago the Salvation Army wa6,oporating from 22 centres in France, and according to the statement of Commander Eva Booth, in her appeal to tho American public, there were at present 550 hutments, rest-rooms, hotels and tents in France directly under the control of the Salvation Army. In anticipation of the big German offensive, the Home authorities recently sanctioned the erection of 50 additional huts in Franco, and instructed a hundred additional officers to go to the front. During this week the Salvation Army has forwarded £1000 to its chaplains for comforts for the benefit of the New Zealand troops in France, this on top of £500 sent a fortnight a!go, in view of .the urgency likely to be occasioned by the great battlo still raging in Northern France.]