El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-11-16
ANE RIGANS AID
5000 WOUNDED
American Commander of
Ambulance Corps Tells of
Battle of Champagne.

New York. Nov. 16.-His impressions
of the battle of Champagne. containing
several hitherto unpublished details. is
given in a letter from Richard Norton,
organizer and commander Of the Ameri-
can motor ambulance corps with the
French army He states the French
government has turned over to the
Americans the whole ambulance ser
vice Of the 18th army corps. and adds
that the American cars have relieved
the sufferings of over 5000 individuals.
Concerning the battle Of Champagne,
he writes:
THE whole countryside had been
most carefully prepared. one main
road had been cut from st. Jean over
the rolling chalk hills TO the villages
Of Herlus and Mesnil, which were be-
hind the French batteries and the front
trenches and from which other roads
ran farther north Besides this main
road. there were many tracks and
trails over the chalk desert and these
as the DAYS passed became more and
more clearly marked Rain began 10
fall the first day OF the battle and con-
tinued off and on for many days ana
turned this ehalky soil INTO mixture
so slippery that car standing on the
crown Of the road wouIC not infre-
quently slide into the gutter
Describes Artillery Roar.
1T was on the oath that we receiver
final orders TO move up TO the lines 1
took one group on the night Of the 24th
up to the lines
'eThe country was absolutely packed
with troops and munition trains on
the rolling land, over which the
trenches cut through the chalk soil and
ran like great white snakes, the bat
teries of every sized guns. were innu-
merable- We tried 10 sleep on me
stretchers for an hour or two before
dawn Of the 25th, but when you have
battery Of 150's coughing uninterrupt-
eddy within less than Zoe yards OF
where you are resting 10 say nothing
Of other guns to right and LETT OF YOU
ones repose is decidedly syncOpated
Hazy Memory Of Hardship.
We are in no position TO tell what
troops did the best work, but everyone
knows that the cOlOnials, under Gen
Marchand, did splendidly, as did the
18th corps, which was alongside them
Only three or four incidents Of the L
hard days work stand out clearly IN
my mind The rest is but q hay mem
orv- Of indistinguishable nights and
days, cold and rain, long rows Of laden
stretchers waiting to be put into the
cars, watering lines Of less seriously
wounded hObbling along 10 where we
were waiting. sleepy hospital Orderlies,
dark underground chambers in which
the doctors were sorting out and caring
for the wounded. and an unceasing
noise Of rumblng wagons, Whirring
airplanes, distant guns coughing and
nearby ones crashing, shells bursting
and bullets crashing. All Of this
general tumble of memory, one feature
shines out steadily clear. It is Of the
doctors Patient, indefatigable, tender.
encoura ging and brave in the most per-
feet way, they were everywhere in the
forefront and seemingly knew not what
fatigue meant II the nurses are the
nn-aTE at This these doctors
he apostles who lift Up this world and
AIRY il TO God
Havoc in German Trenches
TN the lines previously held BY the |
Germans, I went over some Of their /
renches the other day and have never /
seen anything so horrible. Their |
trenches were very deliberately con-
structed. many of the dugouts being
fitted up with considerable furniture
After the bombardment there was moth /
ng left Of all this work The whole I
sarth was torn TO pieces 1t looked as |
though some drunken giant had driven /
MS giant plow over the land. In the
midst of an utterly indescribable med /
ey Of torn wire, wagons and upheaTed !
-imbers, yawned here and there chasms 8
ike the orators Of small volcanoes
where mines had been exploded
In the notice given out by the French 4
authorities Of the guns and arms and i
ammunition taken from the Germans, I
10 mention has been made OF certain
horton says in his letter: Z
The Gas Machines
These were OF two sorts. one for the /
production OF gas the other to coun- I
eract its effects The latter were /
-ather elaborate and heavy but very 4
Elective instruments, consisting Of two
main parts; one to slip over the head /
protecting the eyes and clipping the
lose. the other an arrangement Of bags
nd bottles containing oxygen which
he Wearer inhaled through a tube held 4
n the mouth There were several forms
f these apparatus, but the most inter-
sting point to note about them is that /
ne had stamped upon II the words:
Type Of 1914-developed from the type /
4 1912-developed from type Of 1905
hus showing that seven years ago the
iermans had decided TO fight with gas.
VictOrs and Vauquished-
"One last scene / saw I shall not for
ct There was a white chalk road be-
ween black pine trees and on II, NOV
ng towards US, two groups Of shuffling |
len. blOOd-red sunset at their backs /
Our car slowed down to pass be-
Ween them. but when We say, we |
let them pass.
'On one side moved q muddy, blood
tanned company where blue clad fig l
res dropped in saddles OF chung with
9th hands TO comrades stirrUp
Gather. 1 saw broken sword and Z
mpty carbine holsters and 1 saw. too, I
yes glazed with fatigue that stared |
rom dead white faces. On the other
ide passed a second company, muddy !
nd cloOd stained like the first but /
ere were gray clad figures, stagger-
lg in step, the stronger with their
rms around their comrades 7 saw the
ibbon Of the iron cross, and saw
gain eyes glazed with fatigue, that
Jared from dead white faces
so passed US by a remnant Of the
-ussars' charge and a group Of German
risoners- VictOrs and vanquished-
18th only the white road between
lem"