Salvation Army Hit By War

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1940, Page 6

Salvation Army Hit By War

[Per Press Association. Copyright j WELLINGTON, This Day. The Salvation Army has received a cable from its international headquai ters in London, stating that the rapid change in the military situation in the war area has compelled Salvation Army workers to abandon 17 destroyed centres of work, one accommodating 600 men and officers. Accompanied by thousands of fleeing refugees journeying towards the coast, Brigadier Mrs Climpson, wife of the DeputyDirector of the War Work in France, was killed by a bomb splinter while sheltering in a field during a raid on the road over which the party travelled. She was buried in a soldier’s cemetery outside Dieppe, two hours before the town was heavily bombed.

Workers’ Great Bravery. Salvation Army workers showed great bravery in returning to Arras to j give further aid, and finding troops defending their premises. The officers, although themselves hungry, struggled to provide food for the fleeing refugees. The staff of one building packed their belongings and left them in a conyoy just before the Salvation Army building was destroyed by bombs. The convoy was later bombed, and i all their belongings were destroyed. | They again escaped, and at J Boulogne the officer saw his own j building destroyed by a bomb, j Twenty centres remained safe in Southern France, with 120 officers waiting to move forward as the line is re-established. £25,000 Losses. The Salvation Army's losses arcestimated at £25,000. Britain now has 320 Red Shield Clubs, including seven opened this week. Fifty mobile canteens will be opening and there is a great demand for . more. At the request of the military authorities, the French Salvation Army has already opened 46 of tht* proposed' 100 foyers du soldat, six being near the Maginot Line. Aid During Evacuation. For the evacuation from Dunkirk, at the request of the military authorities, six mobile canteens were rushed to the South Coast to administer to thousands of British, French and Belgian soldiers. The naval and military staffs could not include the provision of refreshments, which were needed at once, and the Salvation Army canteens were ready for immediate action. Thousands of Cups of Tea They quickly began distributing tens of thousands of cups of tea, coffee, pies, cakes and sandwiches, free. The staffs, assisted by volunteers from the London headquarters, worked night and day. They also saw large groups of men fast asleep as they stood.

The London Salvationist centres were visited by thousands of returning men. The Paris Salvationists also assisted thousands of fleeing refugees from Northern France. Many of them, footsore and bleeding, had walked 120 miles. Hundreds were washed, bathed, bandaged and provided with beds. Nine children were accompanied by one woman, who was taken to a maternity home, where a tenth child was bcrn. Pitiable Human Suffering The pitiable human suffering seemed endless. Canteens in Southern France, staffed by English Salvationists, are meeting many needs among the troops. Their activities include The feeding of men not otherwise provided for, and the running of mobile canteens for men going up to the lines. The latest Canadian war work development is the opening of a London hotel by Vincent Massey, Commissioner for Canada.

Cancelled. —The Lawn Tennis Association of Australia has decided to cancel all Australian championship events for the duration of the war. Denial.—White House officials denied reports from Rome that Mr Myron Taylor, President - Roosevelt’s personal envoy to the Vatican, had offered His "Holiness the Pope haven in the United States.