THE SALVATION ARMY IN WARTIME

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 67, 13 December 1918, Page 6

THE SALVATION ARMY IN WARTIME

GREAT ORGANISATION AT WORK FOR

THE SOLDIERS

INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL BOOTH

(By a Member of the New Zealand Pros Delegation which recently toured the War Zouo.) If the Y.M.C.A. has risen to the height of greatness in the splendid work it has done for the soldiers of the Allied forces, it may with truth be said that the Salvation Army in only lesser degree has earned their gratitude and their blessings. It, too, has carried out during the whole of the war a fine scheme of help for our soldiers, as well as performing for the unfortunates of the world the great services which have earned for it the respect and the gratitude of civilised peoples. The writer of these notes, during his short stay in London, was courteously invited by officers.of the Army's heartquarters staff to visit the administrative quarters, Queen Victoria Street, and from there go by motor-car on a tour of inspection of a number of tlio service hostels and other places where the Army carries on its humanitarian work. An extensivo list of visits had,been mapped out, but from the first it was obvious that this would have to be greatly modified, and in the result, although several hours were devoted to the tour, jiot a fifth part of the ground could be covered. On our arrival at the head offices it was a pleasant surprise to find that an opportunity was to be afforded for a snort talk with General Booth. He is an extremely busy man, hut was greatly pleased to be able to converse with a New Zealand sympathiser about the Army's world-wide work in the cause of suffering humanity. The General spoke of tho Army's earnest efforts to help the nation's soldiers in every way it possibly could, and special inquiry was made by him as to tho success of the Army's work in New Zealand. , I was able to assure him that tho Salvation Army was 'held in high esteem in the Dominion, where it commanded widespread respect and icceived generous practical help from p!ie people. General Booth asked me to convey, as a special message to the people of .New Zealand, his profound gratitude for their support, and also his belief that never in the history of the Salvation Army were its ministrations in Great -Britain and other countries more generously appreciated than they are at the present day. Ho added that Japan and China were at the present time fields that were having tho Army's special attention, and he looked forward to a continuance and yet wider extension of the benefits tho Army had, with Divine help, conferred on those who were in soro need of succour and comfort. In London this great organisation has established hostels for soldiers and other service men in ton centres of population. These afford accommodation for 2150 men, and in addition to them there are many hostels operating in- the pro- ' vinccs, and extensive huts in many of the military camps. In tlio course of a long afternoon's visit, wo inspected a number of tho Army's branches, all of them admirably conducted, and rendering-a fine service to those whom nlisl'ortuno has overtaken. But it is obvious that J cannot enlarge further on the social side of the Salvation Army's work. Jt is much too vast a subject to discuss in detail here. Nor with respect to work among the troops can I do more than geueralis.e. But at least, as regards this work, should I say that it is a very voluable kind ? It is, of course, obvious to a visitor to London that the Y.M.C.A. holds a pnramount position in the service it renders to the men of bur forces (nnd in this connection I do not here refer to the Red Cross, which has its special field of activity), but the Salvation Army in many ways fills an appreciable gap. And not only does it do this in respect to its kindly solicitude for the welfare of our soldiers, but it has afforded help to the military authority in many ways, such, for example, ;:s the establishing of hostels and canteens for men employed in other national work. Two large places formerly fitted up as homes aro now equipped as soldiers' hostels, nnd are greatly appreciated by those soldiers who make their tomes while in London. Standing out prominentlv among the Salvation Army liuts in military camps is that at Codford. In the course of a visit there, the New Zcnlnnd Press delegates had the pleasure of inspecting this feature of Codford camn life. It is in charge of Staff-Captain Winton, formerly attached to the Salvation Army in Dunedin. who has established himself as a great favourite with the boys, and is a power for good among them. He is indefatigable in his." efforts to promote their comfort, and supply them with amusement in the shaDe of eoncorts, etc., ''"Id in the large hall, which is usually filled with a cheerful crowd, sometimes numbering as many as 700 or 800 men. It need only be said, in conclusion. Hint if. is a plensuro to the Dominion's Press delegates to be able to testify to the valuable work the Salvation Army continues to do in Great Britain, among soldiers and the people alike.