The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-29

the shoulder straps OF American
which II Is impossible to say just 81
present
The origin OF this section has It's In
terest. F. 3. Tinkham. who was TO
lead Il next morning into the fringes of
battle, Is q Cornell man. He was
taking q course in forestry when In
1915 the call OF the war got too strong
for him and he ILlisted with the
field service OF the American ambu-
lance. He drove his car TO the dread
ed stations behind the advanced forts
during the hottest days Of the Verdun
fight. Twice cited for bravery and
for Intelligent work, he received
finally the War Cross. Last autumn
he returned to Cornell to finish his
course. But the lure OF the war was
too strong for him.
He recruited an ambulance section
Of Cornell men and started back 10
France. He arrived In the period last
spring when recruits TO the amou'
lance were pouring into Paris faster
than cars, when the directors decided
to begin taking over the form the
French not only ambulance work but
also the business OF transporting am.
munition to the batteries at the
front-work more dangerous and try
ing than ambulance driving. and also.
because OF peculiar conditions, no
less necessary.
Volunteer to . Man
TinkhamN and his Cornell men were
asked to volunteer. They did. to a
man. Others were added to MI out
the ranks, but Cornell graduates make
up about two-thirds OF this pioneer
corps.
They were slammed into hard work
as soon as they reached camp. They
were drilled and instructed and forced
to inspect the inner workings OF fve
ton motor trucks. when they were
not listening. to instruction in q lee
ture hall improvised from the mayors
office in the town hall OF the village
near by they were making runs on
the road.
This work was intensely practical.
The trucks were sent out loaded and
unloaded, through sunshine and driv-
ing rain. Much transport work Is
done at night and under conditions
which make lights impossible So
every other evening there was a night
run under battle conditions. All this
was explained while the deep gloom
OF the SpTlnB nlBul StAAicN oNSH NiS
trees of that Incompatible old forest.
and while the pioneer section. resting
up for the morrow, sang all the col
lege songs they know. In the inter
walls OF the singing one could hear
the French battery in the next neld
murmuring comments.
After a o'clock reveille next morn
ing the flag was raised-the Tricolor
and the Stars and Stripes together at
the gates of the camp. There was a
brief parade and a drill. Transport
drivers, having only occasional neces-
sity for lighting. carry a short car
bine. That. together with gas masks
and regulation "bidons" or water bot
ties and "musettes" or haversacks,
forms the equipment
For uniforms, they wear at present
the dress OF the American ambulance,
which resembles in color and cut the
uniform OF a British officer. except
that, to prove their belligerent inten-
lions and leave no doubt OF their
status, they have replaced their Red
Cross buttons by buttons OF the
French army. Their indispensable
helmets, however, are OF French pat
tern-shaped like a derby with the
brim turned down and a ridge over
the crown, and painted blue gray.