The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-11
DOCTORS IN FRANCE
FACE MANY DANGERS
Lieut.. H. F. Kane Writes Of e.
periences at the Front.

Some idea of what doctors going to
France with the United States armies
Will have to contend with is described
In a letter from. Lieut.. Howard F.
Kane, formerly q physician in Co
lumbia Hospital. to J. N. Abbott, $500
Eighth street northwest.
Lieutenant Kane il now in Francs,
very near the hrst line OF trenches.
He left here last May after accepting
a commission in the Medical Reserve
Corps.
To Win Next Summer.
The letter just received is dated
June "a 1t says in part:
Almost every one out here thinks
that wen trim the Germans next
summer. but not before. I'll be glad
when we get a bunch OF United States
troops over here. The British officers
are fine to us, and have welcomed us
with open arms, but they all have q
way OF making US feel that they
think our country hasn't done its
part
AFTER several days in London.
where we saw some Of the sights, we
came to Boulogne and were stationed
at various base hospitals. We were
there only fve days, but in that time
saw an enormous amount OF surgery
and learned some OF the fundamental
points.
Getting Fat and Husky.
Then we were assigned to field
ambulance hospitals up at the front
It's wonderful up here, living in
tents and getting fat and husky. We
get plenty to eat, and I'm eating q
lot OF things l wouldn't touch at
home. Our camp Is about three miles
from the front line trenches. Then
we have dressing stations at inter
walls. right up to the line. At pres
emit I'm on duty at an advanced
dressing station. living in a dugout,
way underground.
Were about a mile from the
trenches. and get all the wounded as
they come back. The last few days
have been very quiet and we haven't
much to do. The wounded are ell
moved at night, and last night we
had only ten. One Of our Gtretcher-
bearers was killed and two wounded
last night. though.
81 really have quite a safe place
when we ar working: were well pro-
tected. The dangerous part Is moving
n ON one place to another. Today
couldn't get back to the hospital II
wanted to. unless. Of course, IL were
absolutely necessary. because the
Germans are shelling a village be-
tween the two places.
They're butting about 400 yards
away. I've gotten used 10 that.
though, and can usually tell whether
a shell 10 coming or going. We are
In front Of our own big guns, so
shells go over our heads In both d.
rections. Last night there Was q
bombardment for an hour or so when
the roar of the runs was absolutely
One battery IL within
900 yards of our place, and the noise
Is deafenInE. The whole sky IL light
ed at night.
"The other day two OF US took q
trim through the trenches. We were
under FIRE for several hours, but not
very heavy hGhtinE. 1t was awfully
The trenches are really
very safe, except during an attack
and there $ almost always warning. so
we knew we'd be all right. Every
thing in this war Is figured so accu-
rsteIy that there's almost no danger
OF getting hurt II you don't have to
go into an attack or stick by q gun
that's being sheIIed. Even though, as
I snid. shells are falling less than
quarter OF a mile away, / know they
won't get me-"