WORLD-WIDE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 17379, 15 June 1920, Page 4

WORLD-WIDE WORK

SALVATION ARMY'S ACTIVITIES. IMMIGRATION SCHEME. GENERAL BOOTH INTERVIEWED. General Rramwell Booth, head of the Salvation Army, interviewed by a ' Star' reporter this morning, furnished some particulars of the Army's work in various parte of the world. The general dealt more particularly with the Army "a operations during the war.' ARMY LOSES SPLENDID MEN. In referring to the Army's work on the various fighting fronts, the general said they had lost some splendid men, especially of those from the United Kingdom. Many of the baads had been i-omuletely wiped out by the bandsmen beiiT* killed or disabled." The losses in Franca had been just as large, and -also in Belgium. In Germany, on the other hand, the Army had not suffered ro a very great degree. Considerable loss had also been eustaine, in theso countries by the destruction of property ; but in spite of the loss by the war the Salvation Army stood high in ths world to-day. A reason why they Should be grateful was that the Army had through the war come in contact with a large number of men who had known them only by repute, but who now un.le r 'tood the spirit of the Army, whose influence had reached the souls of thousands of men. The war also gave tho "Army an open door to new work. WORK IN THE FAR EAST. As a result of the war the Army had invaded Russia. In this vast country the Government had giv<m every fa-rility to carry on their work in the "way of free carriage over the railways, desirable rescue homes, and training colleges. The Government had given them a disused college as a traininsz establishment for men. A week after the armistice was signed a, deputation from Berlin, consisting of three prominent representatives, waited on the Army officials and asked that a new leader be appointed, and made a request that the Army carry on. The deputa- ' tion promised every assistance and pro- ! faction. As a token of 'heir faith in the ; Army a cheque for £5,000 was sent, and j a new leader, in the person of Sir Johaun ! Ogran, a hiehly-educated man, was apj pointed, with a German as his second ia command. These requests from the German authorities were a very remarkable testimony of an international character. GERMANY AND RUSSIA. The Army suffered considerably in Germany in the way of the loss of property in the first onward rush of the German Army. They, however, had not lost to any extent in numburs, and the work had been tarried on in other ways. They had doubled their numbers in many German j cities, so that the Army Lad" actually gained. They began their operations in Russia in a quiet way before the war through the influence of a young student. He started an open slum post in Petrograd. This was suspected,* like all such organisations or societies in Russia, by the police, and after being suppressed was allowed to continue. The municipality were so pleased with the work of the Army that a sum of money was voted to nay the rent of other slum posts A newspaper was then founded, the student beine appointed editor, a position which ; lie filled most creditably. Po was found, j however, that almost every avenue of communicating tho news to the people was blocked, bit one of the two Russian women enraged to sell the paper discovered that there was no by-law in force to prevent the sale of newspaners on the tramcars, and these two women spent their time riding backwards and forwards, and disposed, of thousands of papers. On the day of the outbreak of ihe original revolution the Armv also opened fire, and within sis months had 2.000 | soldiers and adherents enrolled under the banner._ A trailing home was opened, but as Lenin and Trotsky were opposed to all religious organisations, the Army's troubles began. The people were scattered as a result of the revolution, and only two slum nosts rsmnined open. Eventually everv other religion was suppressed entirely, but the Armv were allowed to cam- on. and,nltho"-h the revolutionary lenders had taken tha Army's su ■ away, they were' still allowed to teach. There were then 50 Army offi"Cs in Petrograd, and the Bolsheviks behaved very well to the Army. The leader 6aid hi wns sorry for thorn, as they were, carry ing on under great difficulties. BELGIUM. The Army had suffered considerabli loss in Be'ginm, but they had not closet one single place in that devastated coim try. Their men had been taken by tin German. 1 !, but the Army women had carried on, attending the sick, closing tho eyes of the dead, and even helping in burials. The Army had received help from New Zealand and Australia during the trying days in Belgium, and IV- were thankful to the good people t!r those countries. They were hopeful that tho .Army's work in Belgium would increase beyond, all brand?. PRISON WORK. In speaking of the Army convict prison work, the general 6aid they were very active in the prisons of America. They had their own convict corps, with officers and bands. The convicts wore the Army uniform, and when their sentences were fhr'shed, instead of being turned out into the cold world, they went to friends, and : consequently did well. It was hoped to i cany out this good work in every convict i prison in the world. The Army were also doing a noble work in regard to j insane prisoners. They had taken 40 j women insane prisoners" from one State i in America, and under their treatment within a year a fourth of the 40 had j come to their right senses, and wefe now I taking service in the various Army in- ! stitutions. Ten of the others were im- , proving, hut were not yet quite clear in ; their minds, while tho other half were ; more ready to he'.p themselves. The Army , went to the asylums with the word of '■ Gc 1 the patients' spirits were healed, and j then: salvation was sure. The general j and the Army were watching this class j of work with great interest. | in referring to Prohibition, tho general said ho was for temperance tooth and "Tiail." Slore than half the crime and misery in the workl to-day was caused by tho i ravages of strong drink.' ISIMIGR/.TION. Tho general had a few words to say on , the question of immigration. The Army, i he said, did not send anyone to any country where they were not welcome." Thev ' liad sent 140,000 people to Canada during ; tho three years before the war. " You I have a land of milk and holiey in New Zetland," said the general,-"but no people. I like to send people to New Zealand il encouraged." The general -went on to say that they had sent about 20,000 splendid women to Canada, and 70 per cent, of there were married within three years. Out of the 140,000 people sent to that Dominion only 1 per cent', had proved unsatisfactory. He would like to send thousands of children to New Zealand. Ho could despatch within the nest few years 10.000 children who would be a credit to this young country, but who will never have a chance to "rise in the world in the country where they are born. They were not the children of paupers, but of decent working people, from five years of • age upwards. They would grow up into splendid men and women in this land of plenty. They would have to put the children in training institutions to start off. The Army could cany out such a scheme at very little cost. The Army's scheme was to send immigrants only to those countries where they, were welcome. l In conclusion the general said he was sure tho Army would go on doing even nobler work. The signs were very hopeful for the future. It was not going to depend on any particular nationality for leaders. He hoped the people would always put things pertaining to the soul first, and thus find themselves always ready to alleviate suffering of every kind.