New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-18

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of transportation has gone for nothing. For
il is in the base hospital that the final and
greatest work with the wounded man is
wrought out, which will let him go forth a
whole man, with limbs his own and face
unmarried, or will discharge him wrecked
creature, crippled, monstrous, because OF
bungled treatment
So begin my story with the work OF the
Scotch American at the entrance or the
American Ambulance Hospital at Neuilly-sur-
Seine He is the man that gives every enter
ing wounded soldier bath and he does it
thoroughly in four and half minutes. He
can battle twelve inside the hour. He has
perfected devices so that fractured leg
won't be hurt while the man IS being
scrubbed He has worked out foot rests and
body rests and neck rests in the tub. This
man has taken his lowly job and made it into
one Of the important departments Of the hos
ptal.
Novel Hospital Appliances.
And with him begins, too, the long tale
Of inventive appliances which are lessening
suffering The hospital is full Of them in
you go in relief work Of this war, you sec
devices little things that relieve pain, and
save time and speed up recovery. That IS
one of the things diferentiating this war
from the oldtime slaughterers, where most Of
the seriously wounded died; the omnipres-
ence of mechanical electrical devices In
ventive skill has wreaked itself on the sud
den awful human need. The hideously clever
bombs and big guns. all the ingenious in
struments OF torture, will shoot themselves
away and pass But the innumerable ap-
planes of restoration, the machinery Of
welfare. suddenly called into being out Of
the mechanic brain of our time, under press
ure of the agonizing need, will go on with
their ministry when Lorraine is again green
The ambulance is the cheeriest, the clean
est, the most efficient place which | have
visited since the beginning of the war. There
is no hospital odor anywhere. Fresh air
and sunshine are in the wards. vagrant
from Mars or the moon who wanted an
answer 10 some of his questions about the
layout Of things would find his quest short
ened by spending an afternoon at the Amer
lean Ambulance.
What does America mean? What is it
trying 90 do2 How does it differ from other
sections of the map?
The swift emergency handling of each sit
uation has been American in its executive
efficiency. Things have been done in a
hurry. and done well. In eighteen days this
building was taken over from partially
completed school with the refuse Of con-
structon work heaped high and made into
an actively running hospital, ready for 175
patients that, too, in those early days Of
war. when workmen had been called to the
colors when money was unobtainable, trans
portation tied up and Germany pounding
down on Paris.
The skilful surgical work, some Of l.
pioneering in fields untouched by former
experience, has been a demonstration of the
best American practice.
All Types of Volunteers.
The extraordinarily varied types Of per
sons AT work under one roof in a democracy
Of service presents just the aspect Of our
community which is most representative
Milhonares and an impersonator, Harvard
Dartmouth, Tech Columbia, Fordham, Mich
gan, Princeton, Cornell and Yale men,
ranchers, lawyers and newspaper men-all
are hard at work on terms OF exact equality
A
wanted to help with the wounded He was
tried out, and proved himself one of the
best helpers in the organization. He re-
ceiyed the same treatment as all other help
ers eating with them, liked by them. Some
weeks later one of our wealthy high life
young Americans volunteered his services
After the first meal he came wrathfully to
the surgeon.
'I've had to eat at the same table with a
negro. That must be changed What will
you do about t|"
"Do about it," answered the surgeon.
"You will do one of two things 20 and
apologize 10 better man than you are, or
walk out Of this hospital"
Recently this black helper came 70 the
director in distress of mind.
Have to leave you" he said lie held
out letter from the motor car firm, near
Paris, where he had worked before the war.
Il was request for him to return at once.
II he did not obey now in this time of need
it meant there would never be any position
for him after the war as long as he lived.
A day or two later he came again.
my old woman and l have been talking
it over" he said land just can't leave this
work for the wounded. Well get along
some way
A little more time passed. and then, one
day. he stepped up TO the director and said:
Il want you TO meet my boss"
The superintendent Of the motor car fac
tory had come He said to the directors
81 have received the most touching let
ter from this darby, saying he couldn't
come back 10 US because he must help here.
Now | want to tell you that his position is
open to him any time he wants it, during the
war or after it."
Only Serious Cases Treated.
Visitors. after walking through the wards,
smelling no odors, hearing no groans, seeing
the faces Of the men smiling back at them,
ara constantly savinQ Ia the director: