Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-29
A vERMONTER IN FRANCE
willard Taylor. Middlcbury, go. Writes
Of Life in Ambulance Corps.

I have hesitated before writing this let
ter for the main reson that I feel all
magazines and papers contain so much
war material and editorials that the
readers of the college paper may prefer
to have their paper left only for coinage
notes, but on the other hand / cannot
help feeling that all papers Of every type
should contain war articles, for IL speech-
es, personal appeals, letters, and every
casualty list cannot wake up our Dig ma
ton, what is going to move us as peo-
pie?
Friends. as start this letter find 1t to
he one of the hardest things ! ever at
tempted. have SO much to tell you, SO
much to try and make you see, and with
such a very small power to reveal It, as a
member of the class of 1920 of M,dd1e-
bury College / appeal to you as studeht
body to do some one thing for your
country, to raise money for an ambulance
or do some thing that will help In this
great war. Other colleges have given
ambulance Fords (Which, by the way, are
best, and you can do II. How would
like to be driving my 1911" with sign on
the side. "Given by Middlebury College.
Vermont" instead of the sign. THE Tavern
Club Of Ohio' 1t would he one Of the
heights of my ambition to see that car In
the thick Of the she'll fire through which
we have to drive
No human being can make the people
in the good old States Of America realize
what this war Is. America is asleep. You
may feel that you can quickly refer to our
training camps, our Liberty Bonds, and
our preparations, but cannot help laugh
ling at any argument any one In the states
could put UP to me. now that have been
here and seen. What will America do
when the casualty lists Of thousands
come back across the water? Then 10
when the people will start to be aroused.
That will bring everything closer home;
but as It Is now, they read the newspapers
telling Of the attack of the English at
Ypres, the French at Scissors, ETC.. with
losses Of thousands. yet 1t means nothing
to them only that there is q big war on.
This is true, every word Of 1t, and II only
these readers could be here, could only
open their eyes and see, that would be all.
My eyes were closed, for 1 was like the
rest, simply interested as an American
and not inclined at first to believe news
paper articles or editorials I felt they
were exaggerated and not real proofs of
the war. But from the time that step
ped onto French soil at Bordeaux and en-
tered the railroad station at three o'clock
in the morning I have realized, and II
could say 1t, would say have now more
than realized 1t all. Men were lying on
seats or bales or radiators and in every
corner Of the place, just dead to the world.
tired, torn wretches, their faces drawn
out almost inhuman looking. Some had
not even unslung their packs from their
shoulders but simply fell down and slept.
I walked around the dimly lighted place
with a man from Cornell. We looked over
these men. and to some who were aroused
as our group of boisterous Americans en-
tered we gave cigarettes. Some didn't
even seem to have the strength to hold
cigarette, yet they looked on as If they
wanted something. and were glad Of any
little thing to give them pleasure: for
these men had just come out of the
trenches, and Of this hell that has ragged
thre long years. They were to go en-
repos for 10 days and then back again.
We left this station at $3.50 and Travelled
third class to Paris which took us until
10 o'clock Sunday afternoon. We stayed
in Paris four days then went into training
at there the censor butted in), in the val
ley Of the Marine for one week. From
there we were sent again into Paris for a
few days to join our section. which is IS.
This section was a section which had seen
actual service at Chemin- des-D Danes since
May and has been cited as section for
the Crolx-de-Guerre. 1t had come into
headquarters to be recognized and to be
given new workers. I Joined this section
with 10 other new men, and left Paris on
September q for a trip Of LIS miles through
a beautiful part Of France. We travelled
in convoy of "a machines and stayed
the first night at Censor again). Here
saw the statue Of Urbion H.. which Is sit
uated on hill overlooking 'carrion"
camp of 600 machines The next day we
travelled about 25 miles to - where
we camped four days. From there we
went to - and were assigned to the
46th division Of chasseurs (Blue Devils of
France). This division was en- repos for
10 days, and during that time 1 did evac-
uation work at base hospitals about IS
kilometres back Of the lines. My first
sight of the wounded made me feel sick,
and I am not afraid to own up to 1t. for
even the stretcher bearers never get used
o it themselves. There were men that had
lost arms and legs, just as they had been
taken from the Post secours. and had only
received the first aid. Even after first aid
had been administered to them they were
horrible sights. All could think of was
Germans and oh how I regretted that I
had ever spent a minute looking up one
word of that language; but lot me say
here hope this feeling Of mine will leave
me, for one can't or should not make
known his feelings. But to see these
human beings so mangled and MANNED for
life raised hatred in me for that "Ale-
mand" race. The faces of these men Oft
en- come before me and suppose 1t Is be-
cause they were the first ones had seen
: that looked so terrible.
After / had spent my first 4S hours on
duty I rested and looked after my ma
chine which must always be ready to
go at any time of the day or night. I
walked over to the old Notre Dame
Church which was built In the 18th GEN.
fury and half destroyed during the French
Revolution. AS / was walking down one
of the aisles several French soldiers en-
tered and went through their prayers and
songs as II this church was In some city or
town. 1t was very pathetic to me, for the
men never know when they can enter any
church again. and they only live for the
Few hours they have on leave. Such
sights and many similar ones that you see
through all the quaint little French ham,
lets all help to make you feel the sadness
and the awfulness of the war. Thou
sands OF widows were seen In mourning
with the pictures of their husbands hang
ing on gold lockets around their necks to
how he died for France. o. friends! 1t
changes man to see these things. to see
them often daily. to pass field or or
chard and have It marked with little black
crosses. all signifyiEg another human
soul gone for France. These things make
you feel the seriousness of life. and no
man can ever be the same that has seen
TINS. And as for me, / wouldn't have
missed coming to France for all / ever
hope to own. / could write you pages Of