New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-05
trance Confers Coveted
necoration on Ambu-
lance Workers.
ruo ARE INJURED
RESCUING TROOPS
,..os Went Through a Gas Al
W ark on Last Night of Ser
vice at Verdun.

.A5uine story Of how four
''e Americans attached to the
F'-s .r volunteer Motor Ambulance
A france won the Croix dc
."Y. tor their bravery in caring for
w. go about Verdun is told by
'.s.rd Norton, commander commander o. Sara the
- !, a letter just received here
'' 'as, % division vas in the Dou"umon'
v. NJ Norton says, "and the
So - 20 the trenches snd postes
'n' .on-s vas entirely open to Ger
Gre. Due to this, the thorough
-, -. was closed to all traffic whether
% n,;,;on wagons, guns. kitchen
~ ambulanees, during the
S s's Of daylight. 1t could only be
"a . during the darkness Of the short
w. w. nights. This rendered our
"o,k unusually difficult
on;.. UNEXPECTEDLY, Mr.. Norton says
..,,.sxeited divisional doctor one
.s,.,noon issued an order Tor the
,~.-i,,n Corps Immediately to bring
:. ev. large smbulanees 70 the ad-
~.-,ss post Mr.. Norton was con-
,in,.d that some one had blundeTed'
-. ls wss likewise convinced that
-. were orders, and that his men
~n.t obey even at the cost Of their
-, lives Through hail Of shell and
'sr,nDel the FIVE American ambulances
Sc, out
Two Americans Wounded
Finally the FIRE became SO fierce that
.,.v were forced 10 turn into dis
gs.5 stone quarry. the high cliff OF
vbieb offered them temporary protec-
,ior from the guns. While they waited
messenger from the advanced posts
~ mn 10 tell Mr.. Norton that Wen
5sU and Hollinshed-the Christian
names are not given IN the letter
rad been wounded in poste de Sc
rours Both we're attached 70 the
American corps, and had gone into the
battle TO bring back wounded French
With the word that the two had
nee, wounded came advice from
french o.Rcers against sending any
cther ambulances 10 the advanced post:
Despite this warning, McCreary. and
Harden. two other Americans with the
corps. instantly volunteered TO plunge
into the rain Of she'll and TO bring back
their companions. Mr.. Norton at hrst
refused, but their pleading finally won
bis consent. Two hours later Wendell
and HOlinshed were on their way TO a
hospital far behind the lines, but they
had steadfastly refused 10 be moved
until every wounded Frenchman had
been carried % safety. All four were
awarded the Croix for their bravery.
The Road to the Front.
Describing the work of the corps al
Verdun. Mr.. Norton says:
might after night our way to the
firing line Law past the ruined and ST.
lent railway station, over the wooder
bridge. around Dead Mans Corner, pas
Shell Street end down Red Pepper Al
lev 70 the post beyond which flashed
the French guns on the hill forts ant
over which burst the Boche shells da!
and night. By dawn we never failed
% have emptied all the advanced posts
and 10 have brought back those doctor!
and barricaders who did not have Il
stav out during the day on twenty-foul
hour duty.
Except for our two wounded, we es
esped very we'll Several cars were
struck and one pretty well pounded tC
pieces, though, fortunately, the engine
vas not harmed.
"The night before we left Nerdur
was the most trying of any. We hac
had disagreeable experiences with teal
shells which for some hours had rem
dered work most difficult, their pres
en,e necessitating the wearing OF
goggics. But this last night there was
heavy gas attack, so that not only
goggles but masks were needed.
Besides gas, which was so thick
that men and horses were dropping
round about, the boches were throwing
ineendiary bombs along the road which
our cars had TO follow. Houses were
burning and falling in the roadway;
there was an absolute block Of all
traffic.
"The conduct of the French during
this time was striking; no one seemed
excited, no one raised his voice. Men
on foot marched steadily on, while the
drivers sat calming their horses, wait
ING quietly for the moment when they
could hasten to their destinations"
Mr.. Norton adds that the corps has
recently been cited before the army
which is equivalent 10 bestowing the
Croix de Guerre on an individual, and
gives the right Of painting the highly
priced distinction on the ambulances.