Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1919 — SALVATION ARMY VALIANT IN WAR [ARTICLE]

SALVATION ARMY VALIANT IN WAR

Having Served Gloriously in the Trenches, Is Coming Back From Overseas for Peace Time Activities. ASKS HOME SERVICE FUND. National Campaign to Replenish Resources Depleted by Long and Direct Contact Services With Our Boys Scheduled for May 19-26. New York (Special).—Like the 2,000,000 American boys whom It served so gloriously in the trenches of France, the Salvation Army is coining back from overseas, ready to put aside its khaki uniform of war service, don again the “Civvies” and embark once more on its normal peace time activities. And, Just like those doughboys, the Salvation Army has come out of the war victorious and with citations for bravery, decorations for gallantry under fire and golden chevrons indicative of honorably won wounds on its arm. The victory which the Salvation Army has won is a .victory over the obstacles that lay before it in its purpose of efficient service of the fighters of Pershing’s army. Its citations are the thanks, cheers and prayers of 2,000,000 doughboys. Its wound stripes are rightfully golden of hue, for they typify the unselfish way in which the Army threw all its resources —financial, spiritual and moral—into the effort to help the American soldiers in France. . Now the Army is asking the people of America to give it concrete evidence of the gratitude which has been so loudly, and so willingly expressed. From May 19 to 26 the Salvation Army will conduct in the United States a campaign to raise $13,000,000 for its Home Service Fund. The money is needed both to recoup the fortunes of the Army, shattered by its long service of the soldier and to permit it to carry on the work it has always done on the larger scale which the public now demands. Raising the money by this means, the Salvation Army explains, will eliminate, perhaps permanently, the necessity for the ceaseless solicitation of funds which has been a bugbear to the Army and the public alike, ft will permit the workers of the Army, who, forced to devote more than half i their time to gathering money, were in consequence only half efficient in their evangelistic and social service work, to devote all their time in future to the duties for which they have been trained.

The amount of the fund has been determined exactly and logically by means-«ff budgets prepared locally by workers of the Salvation Army in all parts of the United States. Already headquarters sos the campaign have been established In New York City’. A ready response tn encouragement and cheering wishes for success has been heard from all parts of the country, Men and women prominent In all walks- of life have volunteered their services as active participants In the drive. The Army’s 2,000,000 loyal rooters —the boys who went overseas in khaki —are all lined up ready to help. The Army not only helped them over there, but it found Jobs for many of them after they had been mustered out of service, helped them -get the cl vtll ftn clothing that was necessary if they wanted to take those Jobs, fed many of them, gave them shelter and furnished them with transportation to their homes. For the war service of the Salvation Army is still under way. Its workers are still, many of them, In France, and Its huts, clubhouses and hotels for the reception of the boys returning from abroad are In full swing here. Neither, the Salvation Army asserts, will its war work be abandoned until the last boy is out of the khaki of the army or the blue of. the navy. The larger activities which necessitated the coming campaign* will exist and be financed independently of the service of the fighters from abroad.