The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-05


pARIs, Nov. a0.-The correspondent or
THE SuN has received the following let
ter from a member Of the American Am.
bulance Corps at the front:
IL was on duty last Sunday At s..
a typical French front town Just be-
hind tho woods in which most or the
ighting Of the section IL carried on.
There the two ambulances on the watch
acre lined up In the usual place at the
telephone bureau along the side OF the
road most protected against sudden
%shrapnel bombardments Shrapnel shells
exploding into the street usually land
their contents into the side OF the street
facing the German lines.
All was quiet in the trenches: only
an occasional crack OF "a rife, the sharp
d~etonatiUl of a grenade now and then
aud a constant far away booming de-
roting an attack in a distant 'secteur.'
once tho 1855 on the hill Mt the fa- end
OF town opened UP for n few shots,
srousing the surrounding hills in ru-
n,erous reverberations. and then shut
down, leaving nothing bu; the monoto-
nous. draws out rattle and runibling
OF the long train Of 'ravitailiement' into
town. with the supplies and equipment
for the men In the woods and the sub
eeauent mufied confusion OF noises as
the arrivals systematically dispersed to
various posts in the night.
Darkness had settled without aUy
wounded being brought IN. This was
unusual. The 'pos,e secours' of the vari-
GUS regiments along the street were
empty gave for a few sick soldiers being
held over until the light of the early
morning. An ugly rain Ind set In. max
ing difficult the run OF eleven kllomeiers
IN total blackness without even the
guidance Of Il feeble oil lamp among
the never ending wagons and conrriv-
ances OF the road. 1t appeared uuneccs-
EARLY long 10 the men in the vehicles.
who were those not needing attention
at The hospitals back.
stealing = Little sleep.
1--WE turned into the telephone bu-
reau 10 Sc; what sleep we could. using
stretchers from u ears. Tn" blanket
tolls un;olded over these masking beds
not half bad. Before retiring the men
take of their shoes, leggines and coats.
These. placed on stools or on tho ;,oor
IN order. ind their proper places be-
fore n man. responding 20 4 call. IS
fully awake. Usually \ couple %: min
utes after u cali comes In the. owner
10 in his car ard the motor running.
the incessant rumble OF wagon
wheels and the rattle and clirk O;
CHAINS outside were beginning t. blend
with the distant booming IN the o;he,
'sec'eur' as ] irowsed when I was
awakened by the telephone bell. Bran
cardierS' az b. = dressing station
about "a k'loreter on the other Side %
town at the edge Of the woods. were
Nl'linc GOT an ambulance.
"ccst urgent, said the operator, and
then rang Off. Th-y had fen.led tina.
y Mas pressing.
after . quarter of an hours driving
! arrived nj the post Il WAS nrcess.r,
to go exceedingly slow and stop fire.
Cuently 81 avoid runniug into some
thinG In the h~'ackncSs Al the post. two
brancardiers cam out; - meet me.
- door opened or the side away from,
Ne trenches. throwing enough ligh' or
the road 10 turn ,ha ear ruu"d. 7 waiSeI
toward the dour 10 500 - the wounded
were inside, or sin ou the road down.
~ - ufte" the Ease. Before I had gone
~ the attendants came uN aud solcmn'y
placci th"i~ fingers over the Nns.
"GrayC.' ! asked.