The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-03-18
CHAPTER ~.

OF on FLYING Auto Trip.
KNtHE next morning at we left
Paris. MadenoiseHe was brave
at parting-no scene, no tears.
She had already absorbed some
of che patient calm bravery of her peo-
PIE The driver proved to be French
ofhcers Lieutenant f., who had been
invaded and, not being able for active
duty, was doing good work in the Red
Cross The motor was a sixty horse
power machine, equipped as an am
bulanee. Ny few personal things and
supplies were quickly loaded, and I
climbed IN beside the driver, and we
were off. The streets were quiet, here
and there a tradesman's cart or a street
cleaner. but of real life there was none.
It was all new and unreal to ME, and
1Tfound myself engrossed in every in
significant detail.
At the city gate we were held up by
traction trains carrying men, wagons
and provisions to the front, but after
few words of explanation to the
guard we were passed ahead of the
long line, and then out over the great,
wide, magnificent boulevard we sped.
At Vincennes sentry stepped In front
of the car and barred the way with his
rife. We came to stop, and the Off
Ger beside me leaned out and whisper
ed, Constantine. 1t was the first
time I had heard countersign used,
and it gave me a thrill. It was the
magic word, and again we We're off
ike streak. I watched the speedom-.
eter climb up and up, flicker back mo-
ment and still mount until it reached
40 kilpmeters an hour. 1 am never
nervous In car, but ff I had been SO
inclined all traces of it would have dis
appeared, as Lieutenant f. handled his
machine with skilI that amazed me-
e learned later he had twice won the
amateur cup for endurance and
speed races
At noon we stopped at what he told
me had been an historic abbey. 1t was
now hospital completely officered by
Seotchwomen. They were orderlies
and even stretcher bearers. It was
very distinguished hospital as the ad-
ministratrix was General French's sis
ter.
These wonderful women were nurs-
ing not their own men, but the French
wounded. They were kind and gra-
cious, insisting on giving us hot lunch4
con, although their own meal was an
hour away. In return we were happy
to leave them a few hospital supplies,
which they sorely needed
From there on we began to be told
that we probably could not get through.
as the Germans were advancing on the
run. Along the railways we saw troop
trains going to the front, the soldiers
singing, and ambulance trains crowded
with wounded coming back generally
bound for Calais. Other trains carried
in cattle cars women, wrinkled bent
old men and babies.
-
tour to take dispatches to the etat ma
5jor of the retreating army Of the
French Even he felt it doubtful that
we could get through to -.
Soon we saw taul3es above US, bi1t
they were following the army and were.
soon lost to view.
Speeding along a straight white road,
we suddenly came upon little group
OF soldiers evidently signaling us. Sew
eraI of them came 1impfng hastily in
our direction. I jumped down and ran
to meet them.
They were wounded French, trying
to make their way to the nearest col
Letting station. With them, however,
was an English subaltern, whose
strength had given out and they were
not able to carry him. They had found
him among the debris OF q ruined bel
fry. He had been on observation duty
and had posted himself there only
few hundred yards away from the
Germans. For an hour he had regular
" telephoned his orders. Then he told
his men that he heard the Germans
coming up the stairs and not to believe
anything. else they heard. A moment
later he had been struck down and left |
for dead When we arrived he was
begging them to go and leave him, say
ing France needed all the men she |
hadr-one Life. evens was too precious