The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-08-25
AND REST
STATIONS FOR TROOPS
IN FIGHTING ZONE

WASHINGTON. Aug. 25-Canteens
and rest stations for the French and
American troops viii be established
at once in France by the American
Red Cross.
The War Council has been trying
to find out Just what the Red Cross
could do most effectively to hearten
the French Army and to give to
French soldiers a token Of the fact
that America is with her ally with
all her power. The French Army Of
hcers have told the Red Cross that
canteens and rest stations would do
more for the immediate welfare and
OF the soldiers than any
thing else that could be done. There
fore, the problem is going TO be met
and at once.
The noilus come out Of the trenches
to so home on leave, mud stained,
vermin-covered. reeking with infec-
ton. They are marched to the near
ost raflhead in that condition. where.
perhaps. they find a little station with
scantx accommodations for dozen
passengers
The Red Cross Is going to put
shower-baths there. and 1aundries and
mending and disinfecting rooms. which
will 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
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
night. There will he dormitories at
such places and Iunchrooms at all Of
them where hot meals con be bought
at a price just above cost
Nearly nifty thousand soldiers are
passing through eleven Of these sta
tions every day They viii have a
convincing proof Of American friendli-
ness when they find American women
the Women's Bureau is now recruit
ing fifty Of them for such service
ready TO help them.
Just behind the firing line the Red
Cross will put ne1d canteens. Extend
ing the work already begun by the
French Red Cross. we shall see that
every corps Of the French Army. and
ultimately our own has ono OF these
stations. which viii supply hot and
cold drinks TO the men who are fight
ing Many of them now have nothing
to relieve their thirst except their
DAYS ration which they carry in con-
tafners which may be smashed at any
minute.
The canteen Is placed in or near the
second line. and refreshing drinks are
carried right into the front trenches
Each station can keep about 125 gall
Ions Of hot drinks at the boiling point
and has several thernos containers
holding six to twelve gallons apiece
-Four thousand portions-coffee. tea,
cocoa. houillon. lemonade. mint-are
sometimes served from one canteen in
a single day
Here. too. American workers will be
found. The 'convoyer' in charge of
the canteen viii be a Red Cross man.
with French soldiers to help him.
Many of the poilus viii get their first
of the American uniform in
this way. lust the cup Of coffee. or
the cold drink NAV make all the DIFF
ference between saEging morale and
spirited fighting.
To carry out these plans the War
Council has appropriated about s7oo-
600. which will serve TO esta olish the
canteens and maintain them for about
three months. Much of the original
equipment will be supplied by the
rench Army