Evening star., 1917-10-01
WAR THRILLS COME
TOAMBULANCE MEN
John K. Cloud, Star Athlete Of
Gallaudet, Writes of Lurid
Scenes at the Front.

Scenes at the Front.
TIRED BULGARlANS DESERT
ys>. an an ambulance driver in France
IL described In letters received here
from John K. Cloud. former star atm
lete Of Gailaudet College and now en-
Eaeed In driving an ambulance given
by the deaf people of America to the
French republic.
The movement to send anlbulances to
France started at Gallaudet The
drivsr Of the first ambulance Is not
deaf but Is the son of deaf parents.
Start on Friday the 18th.
Letters telling Of Mr. Clouds trip
across the ocean and his first days In
Franco were published recently in The
Star. the new letters follow:
-AT THE FRONT. FRANCE.
July 10, 1917.
pear IT, We left Paris Friday the
18th (lucky day, eh y and Travelled con-
tinuously Tor four days. Went first to
Fiat ambulances, then we rode north to
tho front. The Fiat car is an Italian
make and very powerful The ride TO
tho front which we made was over the
prett!est part of France-thaf is. the
country was quite pretty all the way.
except in the war zone. We have seen
some sights which I'll tell you about.
OF course. you understand that 1t is i'm
possible for me to give definite names
and places This would not be exactly
right, because we have promised not to
do so, and besides It Is not in accord
ance with the military regulations The
French officials trust us not to do so
often they pass our mail out un-
censored-so you see there is only one
thing to do.
There are two fellows on each car.
Eether, but when business picks up
they work In twenty -four-hour shifts.
That Is how We arc working now. Be
tween the two fellows the car must be
kept up properly and kept ready for a
cali at a moments notice. We are at
the scene of the big offensive which
you all are reading about now in the
papers Most of the wounded which are
brought in to this base are Boche (the
favorite French term for the Germans).
They are well treated by the French.
There was a load which came in yes
terday of six fellows, and among them
there were two who, l am sure, were
no more than sixteen years old. Have
seen very sad cases among the wound
ed. There are two American ladies here
doing Red Cross work. and they do not
They have collected a number Of but
tons from the Boche wounded which
they passed out to US yesterday. Ill
have some for you when I get back.
Sad Looking Bulgarians.
There were several hundred Bull
garian prisoners brought through yes
terday. They were a sad-looking lot.
Many Of them talk and understand
French. so we talked to them. They told
US that they had not been captured,
but had deserted their army and coun-
try. They said they were tired and sick
of the war. This fact alone Is char
acteristic of the Hun cannot imagine
country during the time of war just
because he was tired. l am sure he
would die first.
The bombardment is fierce A con-
tinuous roar day and night. At night
the flashes of the gunfre make the sky
look quite red. This was especially no
et!ceable last night. There is an avia-
0on base near here. The stunts of the
cans} are very thrilling. Looping-the-
loop Is slow compared to what they do
now. They fly overhead all day long
They brought down three Boche planes
here the day before we arrived. There
were three American aviators here
visiting yesterday. They formerly were
with the Ambulance Corps. They prom
tsed to fly overhead this afternoon but,
will come. -
"At the place where we received our
amDulances we were given the bal
ance OF our outfit. Steel helmet, gas
mask. mussette. canteen. etc. The hell
met must be worn during calls with
the ambulance and the gas mask must
De kept on our person at all times A
gas attack is very sudden and can over
come a man in thirty seconds The
worst is that there is no warning of
an attack They also gave each OF us
sheepskin. fur-lined, waterproof auto
cSat. You can easily see that we are
very well equipped. satisfied and happy
in our work.
Il am going to mention another word
or two about one of my favorite topics
the eats Our section carries cooks.
mechanics. etc. besides the forty-fve
fellows. They are old French soldiers,
but. oh. how they can cook. For break
fast g a-m.). coffee (reaD with bread
ana jam; lunch d2 m.) soup. salad.
wine; dinner tS p.m3, regular beef
steak with gravy, new potatoes and
more JAM The American Red Cross
allows each man 1 Y francs $50 cents)
day for food and the French govern
ment gives us more. We are very
US much better than they do at the
Hotel du Palais in Paris I really think
III get fat / know 1 would il could
combine the good eats with regular
sleep: That is what is SO uncertain
our sleep must be had whenever we can
get 1t. 1t depends entirely upon the
action of the armies
1t might interest you to know that
the deaf ambulance will be ready and
In the field at the opening Of the schools
TOT the deaf of the United States
about September To-
Observe Airplane Battle.
rrrru