THE OTHER ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 245, 17 October 1939, Page 3

THE OTHER ARMY.

GENERAL'S ELECTION.

SALVATIONISTS CONFER. LEADERS VISIT AUCKLAND. Two of the most distinguished leaders of the Salvation Army to visit New Zealand for a considerable time, Lieu-tenant-Commissioner W. R. Dalziel, who was one of the six nominees in the ballot held by the Higli Council of the Army on August 24 to fill the position of General, and Commissioner Robert Henry, commissioner for southern Australia, were in Auckland to-day. They recently attended the cuincil meeting in London.

Lieutenant-Commissioner Dalziel is at present commissioner for eastern Australia. Others who went to the ballot were Commissioner George Carpenter, Territorial Commander for Canada, an Australian, who was elected General to succeed General Evangeline Booth, who will retire from active service 011 October .'sl ; Commissioner Catherine Branrwell Booth, who is in charge of women's social work in Great Britain; Commissioner Benjamin Oraines and Lieutenant-Commissioner Albeit Orsborn.

Commissioner Oraines is an Australian who, until recently, wan in charge of the Western States of U.S.A. He has now been appointed to succeed General Car|>enter as territorial commander for Canada. Lieutenant-Commissioner Orsborn was Chief Secretary for New Zealand for a nuinWr of years and at present is Commissioner for Scotland.

Commissioner Henry came from Australia to New Zealand in 1902 to take charge of the Auckland Corps, and he remained in the city until 1909. He returned 13 years later as the Chief Secretary for the Dominion, leaving in 1920 for Canada, where he took over the office of Chief Secretary and Territorial Commander. Work in New Zealand. The High Council is the legal body of the Salvation Army responsible for the appointment of the General. Commissioner Carpenter secured the required two-thirds majority in the ballot and will take over the world command on October 31, being the first Australian to hold this office. His wife is an Australian also.

The appointment would be very acceptable throughout the Army, said Lieutenant-Commissioner Dalziel to-day. "General Carpenter inspires confidence and has a splendid record during his 40 years' association with the Army in many parts of the world," he said. "He takes over the Command at a most difficult time, but the Salvation Arm}' will be ready in all parts of the Empire with war services, based on the experience gained in the last war. Alreadv ''he Army is to the forefront in war activities in England, Australia and New Zealand."

Leaving England on the day that war was declared, Lieutenant-Commissioner Dalziel had an interesting story to tell of the reactions of the passengers on the huge liner in which he crossed the Atlantic. "One of the unforgettable incidents of my life was hearing the King's S|>eech at sea," he said. "It was on .Sunday and the passengers were gathered in the saloon. Their expressions were tense and there were tears in many eyes. There was no panic, but the utmost self-possession and sense of responsibility." Adventurous Voyage. Immediate precautions were taken on the ship, which was steering a zig-zag course, with all lights out, at a speed of 32 knots. There were no escorting vessels. Xo passenger was allowed to go to a meal without wearing his lifejacket. Throughout the five days the ship was at sea the behaviour of officers, crew and passengers was wonderful and in accordance with the highest British traditions. But they were anxious days and nights. Canada was well prepared for war,' said the commissioner. There were soldiers on ©very bridge as a guard against sabotage. Inspectors maintained a constaht watch on every mile of railway track between Quebec and Vancouver. Both in England and Canada one felt that the Empire was prepared as never 'before, and that there was an even greater unity among the people than in the last war. There was a sense of responsibility, and the impression he had gained was that in this crisis Great Britain and the Empire could be relied upon to the last man. The same spirit was in evidence among non-combatants, especially the women and those who would perhaps be called upon to take over the less spectacular •parts of war. Commissioner Henry also had an adventurous return trip across the Atlantic and he was one of those on board who witnessed the sinking of a German submarine by escorting destroyers when the sJiip was only four hours out from England.