The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-12
SUBLIME COURAGE AS IT IS seen
IN The HOSPITALS BEHIND VERDUN
Spirit Of the French Soldier Is Manifested at Re.
ceng Stations Where Stir Of Battle and incentive to Brave
y Deeds Are Lacking-Day With Wounded Described
in Graphic Letter From Noted Writer.

Paris.Th uncomfortable spirit OF
the French soldier, as manifested in
the field hospital to which the Amerl.
can ambulance among others hurry
the seriously wounded from the relief
stations In the immediate rear of the
fighting lines At verdun. is told in
graphic fashion by noted French
writer, A. Voillis. as a result of trip
which he was permitted to make in
the fifth week Of the great battle.
"On the previous day." he writes,
"the great guns had been roaring un.
ceasingly, with a hoarse, thunderous
noise and with formidable explosions
Of fury which made the windows rattle
and caused the last OF the snow to fall
from the roofs. On this morning the
eilence 10 almost complete.
1t is q sign that the infantry is
7 attacking says the sergeant in charge
Of supplies. who is something Of a
strategist. We are soon going to be
busy
Very soon the duh roll Of the am
balances is heard. It can be recog-
nized among the bounding and tearing
noises OF the ordinary wagons.
The bell rings three times, which
means that there are three wounded
men, and the litters are hurriedly
brought out into the yard.
1.-THE stretcher is always the cause
Of q special touch Of emotion. Will
they be able to save the wounded
man? Is 1t life or is 1t death?
Glad to BE Alive.
In the case of the two first Corners
there is nothing serious to fear. They
are two sublieutenants, two boys, and
they have become acquainted on the
way. Although their looks are still full
of astonished stupefaction, they try to
laugh, happy at having fought well
and at being alive, even merely alive.
although thigh has been broken and
. lung pierced. One of them has his
helmet tightly pressed on his breast.
NO, don't take it away; don't take
It away he pleads. I shall take it to
bed with me; 1t is my friend. my
savior and he points to an enormous
slash in the blue steel. TO think that
] came of 30 easy! With only dam
aged leg
1.-THE other smiles gently as he
breathes heavily. He is blond, with
light down on his cheeks and his eyes
are blue. and his whole appearance
boyish.
Lieutenant says the attendant
49,. 60 nv, r<v{uO 1,{a nnoLa<o avon hovo
. military card and letters which are
not in your name
THE young man raises his eye
brows.
oh. yen. remember he says sud.
-dsnly had just Absea nit. and they
placed me against the bank; was
nearly frozen and my teeth were chat
ter!ng. In the neighborhood a COM
pany was about to start to the attack.
Then one Of the soldiers. an old fellow
with big mustache and kindly eyes,
leaned over me and said, You are
cold. poor boy" He took of his coat
and threw 1t over me- and then l saw
him running in his shirtsleeves to
catch up with the Others
Here is photograph Of his wife
and children said the attendant, and
also his purse.
1T was . worn leather purse, with
q gold piece. a few cents, and three
cigarettes in It, the entire fortune of
the poilu.
"fWhat q good fellow signs the
little lieutenant. Z don't know him
and it would not be easy to find him
now; 1t will be . case for the special
bureau
IA major and q captain announces
an ambulance driver.
The Dying Major.
The MAJORS gray head shakes with
the movement Of the carriers. His
eyelids are like dark cavities in face
frightfully discolored. His purple lips
continuously murmur words in spas
modic and touching way: 'Quick-Tel-
ephone-They are holding-More mu-
nitions-Ah, the fine boys!-They have
rot there-Fine!
Someone raises the covering, and
from the neck to the feet the great
OOQy OF Tic MdJOA Ao AOVCnAcO WOuuu
up in Redeemed bandages. like a num-
my in rusted strips. At the first re-
lief post they had not spared their
pains in dressing his wounds.
".Are you suffering. major" he is
asked. ss u.
Ellis eyelids slowly uncover the al
ready dimmed pupils. His distant look
turns to the fresh face Of the attend
ant ana to the white cap Of the nurse,
and then, with . peculiar accent Of
xentIeness and exhaustion, he says:
NO. my boy; no. my little girl
aIIis eyelids drop suddenly. closed
forever. .g,at.
55355.t IN adame, an attendant says to the
chief nurse, please tell the captain
that he ii not reasonable. He wants
Is ret into bed BY himself, and he has
/ : fragment Of shell in his side.'
s'The captain Is . young omcer Of
chasseurs, slender. vigorous. with his
cap On his ear. Seated on the stretch.
q. he IL making efforts to rise. and a
little grimacs twists his mouth.
!. Madame he says, ! present my
eompliments. / don't want to be car.
"a. . / am not 2 little girl What
\ would my cltasseurs say? All, madame,
ne ane boys. the fine boys! II you
had seen them climb out of the
trenches 10 attack the food Of Ger.
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