Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-28
TELLS STORY OF WOUNDED
American Woman Describes Red
Cross Work in France.
PATHos OF THE SITUATION
German Soldier. Suffering from In
juFies ON Field Of Rattle Given
Proof Of Enemy's Hos-
pitaIity.


WASHINGTON. Nov A--work of the
Red Cross nurses IN France and the
handling OF wounded is graphically de-
scribed in a letter received here from
Mrs. peming-Jarves, an American woman
now living In France. who is serving
with the hospitals at Dinard. Brittany.
She describes the movements of trains
from the front thuss ~
"A train of wounded IL disappearing In
the distance as another arrives with Its
! frelght OF injured n en-. All the resources
OF the railway station are called into ac-
] ton. Soldiers quickly sweep the dust
and cinders from the platform: Red Cross
nurses hasten forth with cups OF beef
tea and cordlals. The nuns cut slices OF
bread and butter an6 prepare cups OF
steaming coffee. while the Red Cross
doctors and military surgeons hurry
about. preparing Tor the weary new
comers Military assistance comes. too;
men with stretchers, soldiers with first
aid 20 the injured the major commando
ing keeping strict order among these
willing workers. on all sides hurry, ac-
tivlty. energy are devoted to ease the
Rgopies OF the wounded, helping them on
20 the longed-for rest In some distant
hospital.
! Train Draws Up.
''The train draws UP gently. soldiers
appear at the doors, silently and pa
tiently waiting. some with foreheads
swathed in reddenlng bandages. others
with their arms IN sllngs. again others
leaning on crutcher
''one could not Judge OF the number,
rs more wounded were lying on the seats.
One saw only black and white and yei-
| low faces peering anxiously forth, and
one understood that these soldiers had no
words to express their sufferings; they
only wait for help
! "A young doctor. iust commencing his
life OF aelf-sacrifiee, his eyes heavy with
fever, his shoulders dropping with ia
tiKue. seeks the military doctor In charge
at the station and hands him list Civ
| Ing him some information, brief and milf
tary, on the wounded hundreds behind
him. Some are 30 injured they must
have instant help. Others may travel
farther. seeking from station to station
the promised assistance.
Removed ON stretehers.
The more desperately wounded are re-
moved on stretchers; the nuns bring cool
ing water TO wash their fevered hands
and faces: the nurses bring them food
and hot coffee, kind hands replace their
| sllngs awry; boys and girls bring them
newspapers. cigarettes and candles. All
wish 10 express their admiration and de-
Hotlon 10 these humble defenders OF
! France.
| IAN along the vast platforms are rows
of strotehers, each laden with its suffer
| ing humanity. One counts tho men by
the upturned bootsoies. Alas, those
wounded In the legs hang hrokeniy down.
Here wrenched man with n broken
shoulder wanders toward the operating
| room installed in every railway station,
| There a feeble conrade leans on the
shoulders Of nurse as he struggles to-
ward the doctors awaiting HIM
"rhe more seriously wounded must re-
| main on the spot. The medical director
inspects them, taking their number and
encouraging them with few words.
Now. my brave one. you will not travel
further; "A look at your wound and then
10 a comfortable hospital The wounded
! soldier touches his cap. lifts his covering
ana shows a dressing spotted with yell
low ana brown, but has the strength to
say 20 the bearers Carefully. gently, my
friends; suffer much, and he looks
with msElvings on the ambulance. for
they are moving him again. poor fellow,
who has suffered so much
Lift HIN TendeFIy.
"They lift him tenderly and he disap-
pears beneath the Red Cross ambulance,
I there 20 find nurse who whispers to
I him, MY little soldier, another moment
OF patience and you will find yourself
| amidst cool sheets, far from noise ana
! confusion; thou shalt find rest ana peace,
and thou shalt be we'll
an the midst OF this 'empressement.'
! this 10y OF helping. the German prisoners.
! wounded and far from home. are not for
! gotten. At the door OF one OF the wagons
J a little brown chap is leaning. silent. but
with shining, anxious eyes. The odor Of
| good coffee and warm bread are waited
/ TO him, but he dares not make a sign;
but how hungry he is and those good
! canarades' behind him. who Tor so many
DAYS faced death and famine In the
trenches. How they hunger. He glances
| behind him Here man lies on his
! back. his eyes closed. Another is gasping
( with his hands clenched. Others are
crouehlng in the obseurity. How hungry
they Arei How they thirst But one must
! not ask mercy of ones conquerers.
| suddenly young doctor with nun
| at his side appears at the window. Coffee
] bread and meat are offered and II IL
! the little brown wounded one kneellng
Mt the window who brings to his Fellows
| the hospitality Of France
Crowded Together.
Tho officers are crowded together.
heads swathed IN hlood-stained bandases.
legs and arms enclrcIed In spotted bands.
hut their voices are lowered as they thank
the kindly nuns ana they squeeze them
selves together TO allow a freer space
to the more injured eompanionA Tha
papers brought TO them tell them OF the
battles IN which they have fought aud
In the list Of those fallen on the field Of
honor appears the name OF many chez
ished friend.