Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-19
AMBULANCERS OF
PROVEN MATERIAL
Tulsa Company Organized and
Maintained in Face OF
Great Difficulties.
CAPTAIN LAREAU A LEADER
Local Physician Succeeds When
Regular Army Officer
Gives Up Fight.
CAPTAIN LAREAU A LEADER

Tulsas ambulance company has
been ordered to France, and already
is on its way TO II fort where II Will
receive the equipment which will be
used on the battlefields This is a
recognition that but few organiza-
tons have received but the days which
passed from the time Tulsa was first
called upon to organize such unit
and the final orders calling it mao
service are days of effort, labor ana
sacrifice on the part of the officers
and men with which but few are ac-
quainted.
Tulsa first heard of an ambulance
company in the early spring OF last
year. The Mexican border was at
tracing the attention of the war az
partment, and in due course OF time
the adjutant general of this state AT
nounced that he had received author
ity to have an ambulance company
organized.
Red Tape Obstructs.
Hugh Scott, one of the pioneer NM
tla ana ndllOHdl
Oklahoma and Indian territory came
to Tulsa and attempted to organize IA
unit Ills efforts failed because of an
abundance of red tape which seemed
to tie his hands at every turn ana
which held him back from offerire
any inducement to the men he sought
to enlist in the company.
The efforts OF Captain Fred Boso.
a local physician who holds a com
III "a,
the company failed for similar rea-
son, and because he could get no sat
isfaction from the adjutant generaFs
department, which was then laboring
under the pressure of too much poll
tics.
LaRcau Succeeds.
Then came into action Captain ~.
G.. LaKeau, willing to sacrifice every
thing he had to give Tulsa an am
bulance company, of which not only
the city and state, but the war de-
partment would be proud. Realizing
that there was work to be done, Dr.
LaReau brought about him yUun.,
vigorous physicians and surgeons.
who had known practical military eN-
perience in connection with their pro-
fesson and these men he made his
assistants his lieutenants. Here be-
gan the fight, some times heart
breaking fight, to organize an ampni-
ance company, but fight when
early this morning saw the unit en-
train for n journey which can nave
but one observation-disclosures.
After preliminary work had been
done. and some official standing had
been gwen the officers ny the war de.
partment, call was issued for those
desiring to enlist in an ambulance
company to assemble at the Chamber
1at nj n | "A stated
the purpose of the organization. Lieu
tenant Ferguson told of his eXper-
lences in the base hospitals of France,
and I.ieutenants Nabhan and Capps
expressed again their Willingness TO
sacrifice practice and home to or
eanize the company. without uni
forms. without rations, without tents.
or place to sleep, the men needed
for the company came forward and
volunteered their services.
No Draft Talk Then.
No draft had been rhot OF at this
time. Volunteer enlistment was the
only means the war department had
20 fill its army, and Tulsa was among
the first cities in the state to offer its
Volunteer unit to the government AT
last the call came for the ambulance
company to depart for the border.
Ragged, some hungry, they clambered
aboard their train and went 10 fort
Sill where they received small
amount of equipment. That there
were enough men to answer roll at u
guard mount WAS surprising TO those
who had watched the organization
from the start.
Many of the boys had given up good
positions to volunteer. They were fed
at the expense of captain LaReau and
his lieutenants who drew on their own
bank accounts until they were de-
pleted Suits to collect for meal