SALVATION ARMY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 18 November 1940, Page 7

SALVATION ARMY

WAR WORK IN BRITAIN A message received from international headquarters in London by Lieut.-Commissioner J. Evan Smith, territorial commander of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, announces that an evacuation home has been opened by the slum department of the Salvation Army in Wales, where East Londoners bereft of their homes by air bombardment can be received. Property losses of the Salvation Army are reported to be mounting, and the number of buildings damaged oldest royed is over 100. A large London maternity hospital is among the latest Salvation Army buildings damaged. There were no casualties, all patients being in shelters at the time of the occurrence. The nurses showed perfect coolness, continuing their ministrations throughout the bombardment. More men’s hostels in London and the Midlands have been hit. The Salvation Army War Department is now running a canteen service on the train between Perth and Thurso, in Scotland. Two well-equipped carriages have been placed at the Salvation Army’s disposal by the transport authorities. Air raid casualties include several Salvationists. The first fatality among the officers in England is Major Ashworth Pratt, the corps officer at Dover, who was killed when a bomb fell on the citadel. He leaves a widow and three officer children. A spiritual campaign with the slogan “Light at Midnight,” has been launched throughout Great Britain. The British Commissioner’s scheme for more fortunate corps to aid hard-hit corps is meeting with a ready response. The feeding of the enormous population in the air raid shelters is being extended. Rescue, relief and first-aid work in the raided areas continues.