SALVATION ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 60, 8 September 1931, Page 11

SALVATION ARMY

ITS WORK ABROAD

NEW ZEALANDERS RETURN

Some interesting impressions of Salvation Army work in England and on the Continent were given by Commandant Nellie Newton and Ensign Mabel Newton, who returned to Wellington yesterday by the Monowai after an absence of two years. Commandant Newton served for ten years as a missionary officer in China, and her sister was for a considerable period a women's social officer in New Zealand. . The tour included visits to Belgium,! Holland, . Germany, Czecho-Slovakia, Switzerland, Italy, France, and .the Holy Laud. As the opportunity arose, (ho two officers took services at the various places visited, and also spoke on the Army's work in China and New Zealand. In- Switzerland and Holland the Salvation Army was fairly strong, they told a "Post" reporter, and in Germany it was regaining the ground, lost through-the war. There was a wonderful work in operation in Holland among prisoners and ex-prisoners. Women, girls, and men were visited in prison and cared for when they were discharged. Ensign Newton was particularly interested in the women's Borstal work in England, which was having splendid results. Both were at Home when General Booth passed away, and they took part in the procession, which was several miles long. They also had an interview with General and Mrs. Higgins, who appeared to be a wonderful couple. General Higgins had a great personality, and he was greatly respected, and admired "by the people generally. He and Mrs. Higgins hoped to come out to New Zealand next year in the autumn. The work being carried ou by Mr. Hugh Eedwood, author of "God in the Slums," was eulogised by both officers. He was devoting his life to-helping the poor folk, and they loved him for it. Commandant Newton was present at the death-bed of Adjutant Hine, who was described by Mr. Redwood in his book as "the little sister" of the Chinese in Limchouso. While in Scotland the sisters visited the burial place of Earl Haig, and were impressed by the fact that the simple headstone was the same shape and design as those on the war graves in Prance and elsewhere, and bore the inscription: "Earl Haig. He trusted in God and tried to do the right." The graves of unidentified New Zealand dead were also impressive. On eacli was a headstone inscribed: "A soldier of the Great War." A cross and a fcrnleaf followed, and then the words, "But known to God." The commandant and his sister were delighted to have the opportunity of meeting Commissioner Hay, Commissioner and Mrs. Hoggard, Commissioner and Mrs. Richards, and Commissioner Mapp, all of whom were well known in New Zealand. Many events of unusual interest; coincided with the visit of the New Zealand ers to cities in England and on the Continent. At Prague they witnessed the celebration of the anniversary of the country's freedom from Austrian rule. They also were in Prague when the people celebrated the one thosandth anniversary of the death of "Good" King Wcneeslas. In Geneva they saw the delegates arriving for a meeting of the League of Nations Assembly, and were privileged to listen to one of the sessions. Mussolini's rule had nmdo travelling in lta.ly very comfortable for tourists. Fascist patrols saw to it that travellers were not pestered by beggars and such people as hotel agents. "The public buildings had all been opened up for inspection and the palaces and other places of historic interest were available for the sightseer. Rome, where the sisters spent two months, was a wonderful place with associations that made it one of tho outstanding features of the tour. In the Holy Land there wore many interesting tilings to see, and the travellers met a number of celebrated pnople. At Nazareth they met a New Zealandcr, Dr. Bathgate, of Dunedin, who was in charge of the Edinburgh Medical Mission, which was doing great work.