The national leader in the United States, Commander Evange line Booth, daughter of the founder and first general, William Booth, assumed her high command in 5904 after serving for nine years in a similar capacity in Canada. The 24 years that have intervened have witnessed great advances in every phase of Sal vation Army activity. Commander Booth has shown herself a leader possessed of many outstanding qualities. She has endeared herself to all sections of the nation by her simplicity of purpose and her devotion to the ideals she sets forth so vividly in her pub lic addresses. Faced at the onset with overwhelming problems of money and personnel, she has revolutionized the financial system of the organization, and strengthened its resources.
The work of the Salvation Army in connection with the World War endeared the organization to the nation in general. Com•. mander Booth realized that extensive welfare work amongst the American troops would be required. With a rare courage, she placed the whole resources of the Salvation Army at the dis posal of the Government. The resultant work at home and in France, where the Army women ministered day and night to the soldiers' comfort right up to the front-line trenches, is known and appreciated throughout the Union. The President bestowed upon
the commander the Distinguished Service Medal as a mark of his appreciation in this connection.
Much attention has been given by the Salvation Army to the youth of the nation. Movements for boys and girls of varying ages, ranging from cradle rolls to courses of study for Army officership, with clubs for boys and camps for both sexes, have been inaugurated. The statistics for 1927 give some idea of the ramifications of Salvation Army activity in the United States; corps and outposts 1,704, officers 4,67o, combined circulation of War Cry hotels and residences 83, with accommoda tion for 9,002 persons, io6 industrial institutions, 9 children's homes, 34 rescue homes and maternity hospitals, 13 settlements and day nurseries, general hospitals and dispensaries 15, patients treated 47,642. Converts for the year numbered 7,088 mothers and 35,453 children were given summer holidays, and 2,335,292 persons were afforded temporary relief.