The Washington times., 1915-02-21
Returns TO Home Here
TO Plead for French
Miss Cora de Wilhorst Asks Aid
for Red Cross Hospitals in
Isolated Village.

Miss Cora de Wilhorst has returned to
her home here after three months as a
lied Cross nurse in the hospitals at Ar
cahon. In the South of France, with a
tale OF how the hospitals are overrun
with wounded. the town swarms with
refugees and the townspeople are a.
much In need Of succor as the Belgians.
THE Red Cross is wonderful" says
Miss de Wilhorse. ''the American Red
Cross has done incalculablc sood; but
to such out-of-the-way places as Ar
cachon comes little help. They are far
from the headquarters at Paris and
money and supplies are absorbed by
the hospitals near by.
Typical of Villages.
"Arcachon is typical of hundred other
villages scattered through France;
want, misery. and famine stalk abroad
In the land; but l have come home to
plead the cause OF this one place, be-
cause have labored there. I have seen
with my own eyes the splendid work
mendous work that remains to be done
If money and supplies can be raised to
carry 1t on
Miss de wilhorse was born in Paris.
the daughter of Frenchman. who
afterwards became an American citizen:
enc Henri de Wilhorst. who married
Miss Cora Withers, of New York, sister
of Durham Withers. vel, known known
Withers, director of the old New York
Bank during the COS.
Their daughter WAS educated In
France and was grown before she came
made her home in Washington with
Miss Emily Mason. her godmother, who
lived we'll beyond her ninetieth year. be-
coming a well-known and beloved figure
in the social world
Knew Nothing of War.
When she sailed for France in August.
Miss de Wilhorst knew nothing of the
war. She learned of 1t by wireless on
the way over and reached Arcachon
after some difficulty, to throw herself
heart and soul into hospital work. Two
hospitals were improvised at once in the
school houses, linoleum was tackled over
walls and floors, an operating room was
rrigged up after the best ashton possible.
every drop of water having to be car
ried into the wards.
The people of the town gave up their
own bed linen, their table linen, even
their own clothing, so that the wounded
might be properly cared for. At last
everything was complete beds were
ready for 500. Then came telegram
announcing that 1000 wounded would
to care for them-and yet they were
cared for.
Since the hospitals opened. 5000
wounded have passed through Aracahon.
and with only 3 per cent mortality, al
though many were grievously wounded
and some in frightful condition from
their long journey with wounds un-
tended.
Nurses Gentlewomen.
The corps of nurses, women of gentle
birth, some Of whom had before scarce
ly lifted a finger, counted nothing out
side their province. They changed Dress
ings and tended wounds, helped the doc
tors with operations, trying operations.
when an anaesthetic was not to be had
for love nor money, scrubbed tho floors
and did the work of orderlies when
necessary. That Miss de Wilhorst her.
self did her share and more of the work
is shown by the fact that among her
treasured possessions Is a medal present.
ed to her by Monsieur Escarraguel,
president Of the Arcachon committee of
the Societe Franchise de Secours aux
.Besses Militairses.
And on top Of the wounded" con-
tinued Miss de Wilhorst. came the
refugees. people driven from Il section
of France larger than all Belgium. wom-
en- and children, mostly, without money.
without luggage, without food, without
clothes besides the ones upon their
backs. Mothers were there without their
children. children without their mothers
and all must be cared for. To the
Red Cross fell the task.
"They found homes for them. clothed
them, fed them. and many an hour las
been spent keeping minute records and
endeavoring. If possible, to bring to-
eether scattered families
when ! left there were over twenty