Evening star., 1915-12-27
BACK FROM SERVICE
ON FIELDS OF WAR.
John Lyon Donates Six Months
of Time to Ambulance
Driving in France.
CONVEYING INJURED MEN
AWAY FROM FIRING LINE
Was Member of Volunteer Force
Operating in Connection With
American Hospital in Paris.

After an experience of six months on
foreign battlefields. John Lyon. son of
Frank Lyon of this city and Lyonhurst,
Alexandria county. Va. has returned
home and will enjoy the remainder OF
the year with his parents. John Lyon,
who is twenty-one years old. left this
city last May, going to New York, and
thence by steamer to Paris. France,
where he volunteered his services with
out pay. Prior to his departure from
this city he was engaged in the news
paper business. to which profession he
will return after January 1.
He paid his own expenses, and on ar
rival at Paris was appointed driver
on one OF the motor ambulances in that
city. He was connected with the
American ambulance, a volunteer or
ganization, which operates large mill
tary hospital in Paris in connection
with the American Hospital. The am
bulance branch forms large part OF
the work at the present time.
For about a month after his arrival
In Paris he was stationed in that city,
acting as orderly to Prescott Fay or
Boston. Mass, who was driver of a big
Daimler motor ambulance. Young
Lyon says that his duties consisted of
transporting the wounded soldiers from
the firing line to the dressing stations,
and thence to the various railroad sta
ttons. where they were forwarded by
train to the hospitals In the branch in
which he was engaged there were about
200 American-built-- Ford ambulances,
donated in most instances by individual
Americans. All Of the outside field
work was done by these machines.
American Drivers Donate Services.
Nearly all of the drivers were Ameri-
the cause. Their rations and uniforms
were furnished to them. All Of the
work was OF volunteer character In
speaking OF his experiences abroad
with the automobile editor of The Star
q few days ago. he said that each man
had entire charge Of the machine which
he was driving He was required to
keep 1t in first-class condition at all
times. There was only one man to a
car, except when engaged in night
work. when a representative of the
French medical corps always went out
with the machine.
The chassis were fitted with special
equipped with three stretcher cases and
four sitting cases. for carrying the in
jured soldiers. The machines never
carried more than four persons at a
time. The roads, he said. were kept
up remarkably well, being called
chemins, corresponding to the Ameri-
can highways or pixies. The roads
were. for the greater part. paved with
Belgian blocks and were especially
good in France. AS soon as the border
line into Belgian was crossed there
was a noticeable difference in the
roads. During his long stay abroad he
spent most of his time on Belgian
The runs in which he was engaged
daily were from three to eight or ten
miles An length. Most of the travelling
was done at night, without any lights
on the machine, one of the require
ments. This travelling was from the
second line back to the field dressing
stations. in the rear Of the firing lines.
The injured men were carried back to
the second line of defense and given
first aid, awaiting the arrival Of the
ambulances. which conveyed them to
the field dressing stations.
In the day time these same injured SOL
diers were transported from the field
dressing stations to the nearest railroad
station. The work in the day time would
require driving cross country through
narrow lanes, which had been cut up by
the artillery and ammunition and supply
trains. These conditions only existed
after leaving the main highways, but
were always taken In order to save time
The ambulances were provided with
two extra tires and four inner tubes
all the time. All repairs had to be
made by the drivers. Arriving in Paris
TO remain in the ambulance service for
three months.
Uniforms Of Khaki Type.
The uniforms worn were of the
khaki type. with the usual Red Cross
insignia on the sleeves OF the Uniform
The drivers were on duty. he con-
tinued. practically twenty-four hours
day. but averaged between eight and
ten hours day of actual service. The
day and night runs were alternated.
Most Of his time was spent in Belgium
with the French army
Mr. Lyon arrived in Washington a
few days ago. having crossed from
France to England. via the English
channel. taking the American line
from Liverpool to the United States.
He said that it was rather an ex-
pensi~e experience for him. but he does
not regret the time spent abroad and
the knowledge which he acquired of
conditions during a war struggle such
as that is in which nearly every coun.