The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-08-18
HOW AMERICANS
AND DAY
activities Of Volunteer Motor
y Ambulance Corps vividly
Described by a
Member.
M VILLAIN Il. BERRY, a Prince

49, IlLLlAM X. BERRY, Prince
Nv ton graduate. has written
w from the field vivid and
interesting description Of the
work of the American Volunteer Motor
Ambulance corps, which has been do
ing effective service with more than
twenty cars for the wounded of the
French army.
The American Volunteer Motor Am
bulance corps was organized at the out
break of the war by Richard Norton.
son of the late Professor Charles Eliot
Norton. 1t is supported almost entire
ly by American subscriptions, and
prominent society and humanitarian
leaders of Washington have carried on
campaigns for its support.
1t is composed principally of Ameri.
cans. though some Englishmen who
could not fight from physical disabili
tiles also have Joined it. Most of the
American volunteers are college grad
yates.
A Day at the Front.
"The American Volunteer Motor Am
bulance corps, attached to the Second
French army in the north of France
since October, has removed to new
basis less than six miles behind the
lines" Mr.. Berry writes. 'An immedi.
ate result has been the establishment
of single guard cars at three points
directly on the line and in front of the
guns.
, perhaps can best give you an idea
of the kind Of work the guard cars do
by a description of my first twenty
four hours at post less than half II
mile or so behind the trenches.
"Two of us on two stretcher, three
sitter De LauneyBellvile ambulance
arrived at the appointed village lit
m'after midday. We found the doc
tors and stretcher bearers of two OF
the four regiments we were to serve
installed in a one story farmhouse. the
covered barnyard entrance to which
was the shelter our car was to occupy
while awaiting orders.
Called to the Trenches.
"At 2:3O .. m. there came a telephone
order from the Premier Post de Sc
cours' at the trenches for the 'VOiture
Americaine' to report there Immediate
ly. Slowly we crawled through streets
Uttered with the debris Of shell shat
tered houses and walls, and by sentries
who demanded the password at the
bayOnets point Further on a cluster
of supply and ammunition trains in a
country lane kept us back, but sud-
den turn to the left showed a white
ribbon Of empty road that wound up
oyer a high ridge before us. Innocent
q fooked and inviting.
rive opened the throttle wide and
rushed to the summit to find our
selves in full view of the German guns
and trenches. while in the surface of
the road we jolted over old shell marks
gaped at us like manholes. Down the
far side Of the ridge We dropped at full
speed. holding our breath. But no
shells fell. and no bullets, and we in
wardly congratulated ourselves as we
drew up near the dug out shelters hid
den in hollow behind the French
second line. where we found an orderly
waiting for us beside final sentry.
"Here the ear was turned around and
the stretchers shouldered. for we had
reached point beyond which the am
bulance might not go, since the road,
which led straight on to the German
lines, was heavily barricaded at inter
walls of fifteen meters.
"The Premier Poste de Secours was
some way down the road, and we hur-
ried toward it with the orderly. When
we reached 1t this first aid dressing
station proved to be dugout chamber
five feet below ground. reached by an
inclined plane much as one enters to
the tomb chamber of the great pyramid
of Cheops.
Wounded Men Waiting.
"Here we found our men. wounded
but fifteen minutes before, ready for
us. One had u rifle bullet through his
head; the other was riddled with shrap-
mel. Both were in pretty bad shape.