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 authorities took entire possession of the town and the civil population in great part moved away in order that the houses might be available for sailors or soldiers. Dover soon became a veritable fortress, into which no one could enter without a passport. The Workers in the Rooms there found themselves, to all intents and purposes, in a war zone, and constantly had the opportunity of helping men who were actually engaged in some of the most important and dangerous operations carried out during the war.

Among the soldiers stationed at Dover from time to time, some were already interested in Christian Science and these became regular frequenters of the Rooms during their stay. But at the same time, out of the 31,582 visits paid to the Dover War Relief Rooms between August, 1917, and the end of November, 1918, it is probable that many men paid only one visit, as the troops were constantly changing, and it is known that over four million men passed through the town.

The work next opened up at Chatham, which is a large naval base on the south coast, with barracks for the naval forces and also for the Royal Engineers. Many soldiers were also quartered there during the war, and the streets of the town were so crowded that it seemed a very suitable place in which to start the work. A large hall was offered to the Committee and proved to be very satisfactory.

Many soldiers who had made use of the Dover Rooms were transferred to Chatham and in this way