Page:Christian Science War Time Activities.djvu/193

 also came in a correspondingly increasing ratio, calls for assistance of various kinds from the many hundreds of Christian Scientists in the service. By adopting this plan of organization and method of work the Committee was able, with the numerically small group of helpers at its command, to render a remarkably efficient service and at the same time comply with the requirements of the French and American military authorities.

Both the authorities referred to at all times displayed the most generous and cordial spirit of cooperation. For example, instead of sharing with many other war workers the not uncommon experience of being delayed in Paris for weeks, while necessary travel and residence permits were slowly going through the mills of official red tape, the party was at work within ten days. This group was thus quickly established and at widely separated points, while the experience of the September party was equally satisfactory.

The succeeding pages of this chapter deal in detail with the establishment of the work and its conduct at the ten depots already mentioned. Beginning with the work at Langres, the capital of the Department of the Haute-Marne, where several important American military colleges were maintained throughout the war, the story will close with a record of the work done at Romorantin, the great aircraft production center, which was the last depot to be opened and the first to close. The work at Langres was undertaken as early as March, 1918, by one of the two representatives first sent to France by the Board of Directors. Next, the rooms in Paris were selected and the work of getting