New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-31
Halls Death and DOyle's
Wound Move French
CO-WOrkerS.
TRAGIC. BUSY DAYS
ON VOSGES FRONT
Ambulances Keep Coming Day
and Night and Wounded
Are Always Waiting.
By NINE. JEAN ALCIDE PICARD.

Pari3, January Z.
Pence on esrth, good will among
men, How ironical these words sound
amid the CHATTER of arms. the thunder
o. guns. the din Of battles, the cries
OF agony and death. the moaning OF
the many sufferers. which continually
rise from all countries involved In the
monstrous struggle.
On the difrcrcn. fronts in France,
instead OF the suspension of hostili-
tics for which many had hoped, there
has been during the holidays re
vival OF activity. In the Nosges es-
pccially Christmas and New Years Day
were tragic. Attacks there ever since
December u have been conducted with
such tcnacity by both sides that the
price OF few trenches taken, lost and
retsken has been awful.
If our losses have been great. those
Of the enemy have been appalling. Day
after day the mountain slopes have
been covered with bodies. Indeed,
there is hardly a square foot Of the
Wei Armand that has not been turned
into a grave.
Even a victory, viewed from a few
miles back of the firing line in a field
hospital, is SAT. depressing thing.
Ambulances carrying wounded arrive
increasingly. The very badly wounded
only are kept. while the others arc
sent to the interior OF the country.
Day and night they cone. The hos
pital doctors and nurses have more
than they can do, and yet more wounc-
ed are always waiting.
in connection with the hospitals OF
this region works the American am
bulance No. g. The Americans are on
hard duty, and they have paid their
tribute TO suffering and death. One OF
them. Mr.. Doyle. was brought in with a
shattered elbow some time ago, and on
Christmas morning Mr.. Hall. OF Ann
Arbor. Mich. was killed by German
shell on his motor ambulance. ms
was sad news for the hospital star,
where the work OF the American boys
is highly appreciated.
In all other parts Of France both the
wounded and the fighters celebrated
Christmas. Everywhere gifts OF all
kinds were prepared and sent. The
military authorities also took cspccial
care Of the menus on Christmas and
New Years Day. Christmas trees were
lighted The Mahometans had their
"cous-cous" and roast lamb. The Sen.
egalese had the little trnkets and
brightly colored scarfs which make
them happy.
Some Of the New Years gifts were
original. One big Senegalese in a hos
pital was asked what sift he wanted.
He had been sulking enviously ever
since he had seen the nurse put cup
ping glasses on the back Of one OF his
comrades. Now his face lighted up;
For New Years day he wanted scariiied
cuppings. In vain his nurse tried TO DIS
suade him. Nothing would satisfy him
till few cuppings had been applied on
his back ard chest
The children in France have learned
this yer the happiness Of giving.
Many Of them begged 81. Nicholas 70
leave their stockings empty so that he
might have more TO give 10 the soldiers
and destitute children. The following
letter was found in letter box by a
postman in one OF the most poverty
stricken quarters Of Paris, written on
the cheapest paper:
"My Dear Little Noel: wish, in
stead of bringing me toys, you would
give warm things TO the soldier, so
that he might be comfortable in the
trenches. for he is defending the coun-
try for US. Well. dear little Noel,
don't forget my errand, and | beg OF
YOU don't bring me anything at all;
take it to the soldier Here Is my ad-
dress. Answer, dear little Noel, be-
loved"
This touching letter is really the eI-
preston Of the feelings of all French
children, who. in these troubled times,
have learned the great lesson OF un-
selfishness.