New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06
THE AMERICANS AT VERDUN

fields beyond US other batteries played con-
tinuously. Some of the men put cotton in
their ears.
We ran through devastated wood The
green forest has been raked by high ex-
plosive into dead stumps, and looks like
New Hampshire hillside when the match
trust has finished with it. The road IS
thing of mounds and pits, blown up and
dug out by a four months rain Of heavy
shells. The little American cars are like
rabbits. They dip into an obus hole, bounce
up again and spin on. They turn round on
their own tails. They push their pert little
noses up hill, where the road is lined with
famous heavy makes, stalled and wrecked
They refuse TO stay out of service.
There is certain Detroit manufacturer
who has large and legitimate advertise
ment coming to him. II he will collect the
hundred fervid and humorous comments
written into the records Of the field service
he will have publicity pamphlet which will
outlive "A Message TO Garcia" For this
job Of the jtneys is more than carrying
orders; it is bringing wounded men over
impossible routes, where four wheels and
motor were never supposed TO go.
We rode back through the partially de-
stroyed city Of Verdun, lying trapped and
helpless in its hollow Of hills. We drove
through its streets, some Of them a pile OF
stones and plaster others almost untouched,
with charming bits of water view and green
lawns and immaculate white fronts. The
city reminded me of the victim whom pro-
al
window, where he leaves him lying motion
less in the trance for exhibition purposes.
Verdun lay seemingly dead inside the range
OF German fire. But once the guns are
forced back the city will spring into life.
Then we returned 20 the ambulance head
quarters and in an open tent shared the ex-
cellent rations which the field service pro-
vides for its workers. We were sitting with
the French lieutenant and discussing the
values Of rhythm in prose when the boys
shouted to US from the next field. An aero
plane was dipping over an anchored sausage
shaped observation balloon. The aeroplane
had marked It's victim, which could not
escape, as bird darts for a worm. The
balloon opened up intosfame and fell through
thirty seconds, burning with dull red
/ The hours we had just spent Of work and
excitement seemed to me fairly crowded, but
they were mild in the life of the field ser
vice. They pound away overtime and take
ugly hazards and preserve boys humor
More young men OF the same stuff are needed
at once for this American Ambulance Field
Service. The country is full OF newly made
college graduates, wondering what they can
make Of their lives. Here is the choicest ser
vice in fifty years offered TO them. Let them
apply TO William r. Hereford, Ia Wall Street.
New York.
Even jitney wears out. Bump it in the
lcarburetor enough times, rake IL with shrsp-
mel. and il begins to lose It's first freshness
Three more full sections Of ears should be
given. One hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars is needed. Funds can be sent in care
Il Lee Higginson & Co., bankers, Boston
\ Such subscriptions marked For the Fle1d
Service) The work over here is in charge
Of Piatt Andrew, who used 10 teach political
economy in Harvard was later Director OF
the Mint, Assistant Secretary Of the Treas
ury and secretary of Senator Aldrich's None
tary Commission.