Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-06
.HONOLULIpS FIVE AMBULANCE MEN
. ARE ACCEPTED FOR Attention UNIT

HonoIuIu's five ambulance men,
who sailed from here over a mrlth
ago. have passed their examinations
and ben accepted at the United Sta'es
army ambulance camp al Allentown,
. Pa. The five Honolulu young men.
Ernest Podmore, FranCts Brown. Fred
Bivens, William Noble and William
Jones, who were sent 3ut from here
by the National Lawn Tennis asso-
citation, have severed connections
with that organization and are row
enrolled in a regular army ambI-
lance unit. This unit has been in ac-
tive training for three months aid is
awaiting sailing orders Tor France.
The unit will be detailed with the
French army, IL is understood.
Because of the decision OF the gov.
eminent not TO accept any more units
from the tennis association, the 10
nolulu unit, after conference with
the officials, decided to sever con-
nections with the tennis people and
enlist on their own accord as Homo
lulu unit. The fact that they had
Travelled all the way from Honolulu
I'm record time, had weight with the
government and they were enrolled.
Following are two letters from II.
Z. Podmore and Paul 3. Williams:
New York, Sept. -, 1917.
"a. J.. Castle. Esg,
Honolulu, Fl. /. ,
Dear Al: We have had consider.
able trouble in getting lined up for
this ambulance proposition. When
We arrived in New York the Natiogal
Lawn Tennis people told us that Il
would be impossible for them to or.
2anize their unit for some two or
three weeks. II seems that the gov.
eminent has changed its policy sew.
eraf times since we left Honolulu III
regard to accepting ambulance units.
or course, Mr.. Williams understood
that We had come long way and az
fast as we possibly could, and he
promised TO do everything In his
power to get some definite action
from the Red Cross people on our
behalf. Mn. j
"Mr. Boyd, head OF the Red Cross
In New York, at once took up the mat
ter with the authorities at Allentown,
which is the training camp for the
medical and ambulance branch OF this
service. As result OF his good offices
the authorities at Allentown agreed
TO accept the five of US without wait
ing for the balance Of the Tennis
unit. You will understand that the
situation had changed entirely since
we left Honolulu. We left home with
the understanding that we would be
In New York a week, or maybe two
weeks, and. would then be sent to
France, and when we reached New
York we found that the Tennis propo.
sition was up In the air and that the
tennis people were unable TO come
across in accordance with their prom.
ises-this through no fault of theirs,
but owing to changes at Washington.
In view Of the above, the five OF
us decided that we had better 60 on
20 Allentown and tlnot wait to see
what happened TO the tennis PROPOSE.
lion. At Allentown we found a very
fine bunch OF fellows, many profes.
sional, and nearly all college men. We
were treated very well by the authori.
ties at Allentown, due, no doubt, to
the fact that we had come SO Tar, and
were consigned to section which had
been In training for three months and
is now waiting transportation to
France. The commanding officer told
US this section will be attached to
the French army. This section is
complete in regard to equipment and
men, and the men in 1t tell us they
expect to be moved very shortly
There is no doubt that by joining q
unit which has been in training for
so long we viii get to Europe Quick
er than we could in any other way.
Today, Mr.. Williams, Mr.. w. G.
Cooke and went over the whole
thing and we can see no objection
to our breaking away from the Ten
mis- association and going to Allen
town on our own responsibility. There
will be no difficulty in transferrins
70 the Tennis section later on II thai
would be advisable, because we made
u Plainly understood at Allentown
that we were the representatives from
Hawaii for that particular unit.
Il believe that we have done the
best thing that we could and will, nc
doubt, get much quicker action this
New York for the government to take
over the tennis unit, and i hope tina,
you win approve of what we have
done.
In talking with Mr.. Cooke and Mr.
Williams today, the question Of Ha
waits $1,000 subscription to the ten
mis- was brought up. Mr.. williams
was very fair about the thing and
said he believed that. as the Tennis
association had been unable to fulfil
its promises to you. It was entirely
up to Honolulu whether or not the,
wished to donate $1,000 to his associa
ton. However. that is a matter fol
sou 10 decide, though think i,
would probably be good policy fol
the Honolulu tennis people to make
tho donation.