PRESS DELEGATES AT HOME.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1152, 21 December 1918, Page 2

PRESS DELEGATES AT HOME.

THE SALVATION ARMY. If the Y.M.C.A. lias risen to the height of greatness in the splendid work it has done for Hie soldiers of the. Allied forces, it may with truth be said that the Salvation Army in only less degree has earned their gratitude and their blessings. It. too. has carried out during the whole, of the war a line 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 nf civilised peoples. The, writer (if lhe.se notes, during his .short slay in London, was courteously invited by officers of Hie Army's headquarters' si all" lit visit Hie administrative. f|ti:irler.s, ouecn Victoria streel, and from there gu by uiolor-car on a lour of inspection of a number of Hie service, hostels and oilier places where the Army carries on its humanitarian work. An extensive lisl of visits had been mapped oul. but from the llrsl. it was obvious that this would have to be greatly modified, and in the result, although several hours were devoted to the tour, not a fifth part of the ground could be eovared. iin our arrival at the head offices it was a pleasant surprise to find thai, an opportunity was to be afforded for a short talk with General Booth. He, is an extremely busy man, but 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 Hh? Army's earnest e(Torts to help the nation's soldiers in every way it possibly could, and special inquiry was made by him as to the success of the Army's work in New Zealand. I was able to assure him that the Salvation Army was held in high esteem in the Dominion, whore- it commanded widespread respect and received generous practical help from the people. General Booth asked me to convey, as a special message to the people of New Zealand, bis 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. He aded that Japan and China were at the present time Holds that were having the Army's special attention, and he looked forward to a continuance and yet wider extension of the benefits the Army had, with Divine help, conferred on those who were in sore need of succour and comfort.

In London this great organisation has established hostels for soldiers and other service men in ten centres of population. These afford accommodation for 2i50 men, and in addition to them there are many hostels operating in the provinces, and extensive huts in many of the military camps. In the course of a long- afternoon's visit, we inspected a number of the Army's branches, all of them admirably conducted and rendering a line service to those whom misfortune has overtaken. But it is obvious that I cannot enlarge further on the social side of the Salvation Army's work. It is much too vast a subject lo discuss in detail here.

Nor willi respect lo work among the Iroops can r do more Ihan generalise. But at least, as regards this work, should I say that it is of a very valuable kind? It is, of course, obvious to a visitor lo London that Ihe Y.AI.G.A. holds a paramount position in the service il renders to the men of our forces (and in this connection T do not here refer to the Red Cross, which has its special Held of activity), hut the Salvation Army in many ways fills an appreciable gap. And not only does it do Ibis in respect lo its kindly solicitude fur (lie welfare of our soldiers, hut 'it has afforded help to the military authorities in ninny ways, such, for example, as the establishing of hostels and canteens for munition workers, and canteens for men employed in other national work. Two large places formerly titled up as homes are now equipped as soldiers' hostels, and are greaWy appreciated by those soldiers who make their homes while in London.

Standing out promincn'lv among the Salvation Army huts in military camps is that at Cod ford. In the course of a visit there, the New Zealand press delegates had the pleasure of inspecting this feature of Codfot'd camp 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 shape of concerts, etc., held 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, that it is a pleasure 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.