Evening journal., 1917-08-28
TEA OR Lemonade
IN FIRST TRENCHES
Food, Rest and a Cleanup,
Offered Troops at Front
by Red Cross
CANTEEN AND REST
STATIONS PLANNED

Canteels and rest stations for the
French and American troops will be
established at once in France oy
'he American Red Cross.
The War Council has been irving
20 find out just what the Red Cross
could do most effectively to heerten
lhe French Army and to give TO
French soldiers a token of the fact
hat America is with her Ally with
an her power. The French Army Of
icers have told the Red Cross that
,anteens and rest stations would do
more for the immediate welfare and
-ontentment Of the soldiers than. any.
thing else that could be done There
fore the problem is going to be met
thoroughly and at once.
The poilus come out of the tren-
ches, to go home on leave, mud
stained, vermin covered reeking with
infection. They are marched to the
nearest railhead in that condition
where, perhaps. they find a little sta
lion with scanty accommodations for
4 dozen passengers
The Red Cross is going to put
shower. baths there, and laundries
and mending and disinfecting rooms.
which VIII remove the menace OF
dirt and disease which these men
carry TO their homes. Then there will
be rest rooms where they can read
and write and play games. to make
the transition to civilian life easier.
and small stores where they can buy
timed delicacies, tobacco and odds
and ends.
Similar canteens will be opened at
the railroad functions where the men
must wait en- route At some Of them
now these men, still trench-stained.
have to lie on station platforms all
light. There will be dOrmitor'es al
iuch places. and lunch rooms at all
Of them where hot meals can be
bought at a price just above cost.
Nearly fifty thousand soldiers are
passing through eleven of these sta
lions every day They will have a
convincing proof Of American friend
.iness when they find American
women-the Women's Bureau Is now
recruiting fifty Of them for such ser
7ice-resdy to help them
Just behind the firing line the
Red Cross will put field caLteens Elk
tending the work already begun by
the French Red Cross. We shall sec
that every corps Of the French Army
and ultimately our own, has one oil
these stations. which viii supply hot
and cold drinks to the men who are
fighting. Many OF them now have
nothing to relieve their thirst excep
their days ration which they carry II
containers which may be smashed a.
any minute
The csnteen Is placed IN or nee
the second line, and refreshing drink
are carried right into the front tren
ches Each station can keep about 12i
gallons of hot drinks az the boilinl
point. and has several thermos con
tainers holding six TO twelve gallonl
apiece Four thousand portions-cof
fee. tea. cocoa. bouillon, lemonade
mint-are sometimes served from on
canteen i'm a single day.
Here too. American workers vii
be found. The "convoyer" IN chsrgl
of the canteen will be a Red Cros
man with French soldiers TO hell
him Many Of the poilus will get thei
first glimpse Of the American uni
form in this way. Just the cup o
coffee. or the cold drink. may max
all the difference between ssggini
morale and spirited fighting
To carry out these plans the Wa
Council has appropriated about 500
600. which will serve to establish tn
canteens and maintain them for ahou
three months. Much Of the orlgins
equipment viii be supplied by IN
French Army