SALVATION ARMY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 22, 21 October 1942, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY

Red Shield Service In New Guinea Welfare work carried out by Salvation Armv officers in the midst ot- the battle of Milne Baylis described in a latter from Ca “Within'soo°yards of where we pitched the Red Shield centre,” he writes, the invaders made their initial landing, and from that spot for 24 hours in the midst of the tumult we served hot tea and m cuits As the A.I.F. came into action thi. central dispersing point was another Red Shield centre was mmediate lv in action. Here thousands -of me a daily were served. Diggers returning from the fi"hting front came in footsore, wet through, and absolutely all-in. Our work was Sot limited to these points eithei, for, as each battalion came out of action, a Red Shield tea service was established in the unit lines so that these wonderful men, who had fought in indescribable conditions in jungle swamp and o oontm nous heavy rain, were cheered and help ed. U Moreover, in the front line itself, under fire, we cared for the wounded, getting them away to safety. ‘■There are now ten Salvation Miny officers in. Port Moresby engaged in Red Shield work. When the Australians advanced over the Owen Stanley run ges one of these officers pushed through the thick, rain-drenched jungle till he came up behind the front lines. Along this track —where men slowly strangled, where blood-sucking leeches drop from the wet foliage to torment the yeary and wounded soldiers—here the Red Shield services began to function and the fame of the coffee and comfort bar soon spread far and wide. Stores are carried by a team of 15 natives who are unfailing in faithful support. , “Fresh men going up to the advanced positions, meeting the stretcher bearers with their suffering burdens, hoping at every turn of the road to see the welcome Red Shield sign, cheer them with the magic words, ‘The Salvos are one, two or three hours (as the case may be) down the track with hot coffee and comforts for you.’ Down the slimy path'from the rugged heights to the valley, come the suffering to find the Salvationists ready to bathe their wounds nt the streams, and assist them as they sip their coffee before they begin again to negotiate the tortuous grade on the three, five or seven day (according to the soldier’s strength) struggle to the base. “ ‘Say, you could teach Robinson Crusoe a few things,’ said a padre as he gazed at the improvized structure made from bark and saplings, bound together with climbing vines, and serving admirably as a Red Shield centre. This is but one glimpse of the work being done in this island by the Salvation Army. “The Department of Information news reel shows the Salvation Army Flag full width from a tree in the jungle with the star in the centre displaying its old time motto ‘Blood and Fire’ and the voice of the announcer is heard, ‘And right in the front line is the banner which all soldiers salute of a gerat organization, the Salvation Army.’ ”