Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-06
Ambulance Inspector Didn't
Know Whether They Were
Coming or Going.
SHOULD HE GIVE A CHEER
OR HIDE IN THE CELLAR?
Americans Make World Record in
European War in Handling
Hospital Patients.
Copyright, 1915, by Herbert corey)

Copyright. 1915, by Herbert CoreyD
PARIS. June CA. Piatt Andrew,
VINO once was assistant secretary of
the United States Treasury, is an in
spector of the American ambulance
lie may not be the inspector of this
story. 1t was told last night at VANS
Whlle some of the drivers were re-
pairing the ravages caused by a high
ly intermittent diet of soup meat for
some days past
The inspector" said they, was at
Pont- Mousson last week"
Some of the trenches at Pont "a Nous
son are only twenty feet from the
German lines. The town is under con-
tinuous fire. The losses there on both
sides have been appalling. When the
inspector reached the Point a house
was pointed out to him in which the
drivers of the American ambulance
sleep. 1t was only 300 yards from the
German line.
Don't show a light after dark" the
inspector was told. Because then the
Germans would fire on this house. Now
they do not know it is occupied"
The inspector promised. He wanted
to know what to do in case the house
were fired on.
I'VE always go to the cellar"
over the house. The inspector lay
awake for time. Then he awakened
a peevish subordinate.
81 have been listening to these
Shells said he. but 1 can't tell
whether they are coming or going.
want to know whether I'm to cheer or
to take to the cellar
loot Of the National Horn.
This is a small but audible toot Of the
national horn. The motor ambulances
operated by the American organization
are distinctly better than the motor
ambulances of either the British or the
French hospital departments. The reg
ular army ambulances were planned
by experts who graduated from Sand
witch or ST. Cyr, and haven't thought
of anything but war since they bought
their first pair Of spurs. The American
ambulances were developed by young
sters from college. who regard war
somewhat as a revel. They are simple,
compact and light.
The ambulances Of the armies carry
four men lying down in two upper and
two lower cots. The American ambu-
lance carries but three lying down,
two below and one swung in the center
overhead. But 1t is so conveniently ar
ranged that the American ambulance
can be loaded and unloaded in about
one-half the time of the French or
English cars. That is Of prime inn
portance on busy days. when shell-torn
men are lying on the grass under fire,
praying for the wagon that shall carry
them where their wounds can be prop
erly dressed. The American ambulances
stand up better than the French or
English cars, too. They trot over
plowed fields like foxhounds and ne
gotiate any sort of a road. The wound
ed are more comfortable in them.
Americans Make Record.
Perhaps a worlds record in evacuat-
ing a hospital was established by the
American ambulance men when Pop
eringhe was bombarded. It is possible
the hospital was deliberately shelled,
but not at all probable. Both sides
make these charges. but they have
never seemed convincing. In any event,
a town under bombardment is no At
place in which to keep wounded men.
Those responsible ordered them cleared
out.
In five hours 5000 men were taken
from the hospital. raced along roads
peppered with dropping shells. and put
in place of safety. Surgeons who as
sisted in the operation said that it
could not have been done in such time
ordinary class of hospital help.
These Americans said they. did
not need orders. They knew how quite
well-and they hurried"
Gen. Putt of the Belgian army wrote
a letter to the heads of the American
ambulance, thanking them for their
work. He placed stress upon the grace
and sang froid" of the Americans.
Most medical men seem to be jealous
of most medical men. The surgeons Of
the regular army establishments here
do not like the Red Cross. There is a
very peppery English colonel in charge
of the English hospital at Versailles.
The other day an American visitor
asked some question which Col. Smith
misunderstood.
DO you think this is a Red Cross
hospital?" he snapped. The visitor
fastened to clear himself of this unjust
imputation.
because If you did," continued the
colonel, I'D have you put out"
Grudge Is Personal.
Likewise there is a certain profess
sional grudge against the American
ambulance visible here and there.
There was a squad of ten American
ambulances over at Dunkirk some time
ago. The English established a squad
of fifty cars there, and suggested that
the Americans go away. BY and by the
English suggested that the Americans
come back.
I'VE can handle more cases with our
ten cars than they can with their lfty,"
the Americans say.
No doubt this Is a particularly de-
testable indication of a prejudiced state
of mind on the Americans part 1t
must be violently irritating. though.
The Americans say they want to bet on
II.
"I saw a thing today that made me
shiver," said one of the ambulance
drivers. He had been out near Meaux
with his car. 1t was on this ground
that part of the battle of the Marine
was fought. Even today in Paris one
can sometimes hear the guns thump-
ing at scissors. With a fast car one
could-if permitted-run out to the
fire trenches in an hour and half
Women were blowing the fields
with teams of oxen," said the driver.
They had to pillow crooked courses in
order to keep from tearing up the
fresh graves. One could see crosses
everywhere in the growing wheat"
According to the official report of the
French ministry of war for the first
six months of war, 10000 German
bodies were buried in these fields when
the battle Of the Marine finally ended in
the defeat of the invaders.
KNOBLESDORF A SUICIDE.