The Washington times., 1917-11-11
WOUNDED MEN.
BROUGHTFROM.
FIRING LINE BY.
GIRL DRIVERS.

Over the sheIl-searred ground OF
Flanders. and in practically every
danger zone on the war map Of Eu-
rope, women ambulance drivers are
today winning laurels for the sex be-
cause OF their unfAiling courage IN
time OF danger and for their splendid
ability as drivers and mechanicianS.
In the ante-bellum days of 1914,
breaking the speed limit in q car
stripped to its best racing trim was
one of the chief outdoor sports OF
many OF the rich young women In
America and on the continent. but the
soidierly clad. patriotic girls, who are
doing their bit at the front today are
getting more thrills to the minute
than any speed enthusiast who has
paid thousands Of dollars in nnes for
the privilege.
Collecting the wounded is not the
simple thing of running over to the
station to meet the trains and trans
porting the wounded to the nearby
hospitals Indeed, not. Tho women
drivers OF the ambulancss 90 right
up to the clearing station within
reach OF the big guns.
They think nothing OF getting q
bit Of shell through the bonnets of
their cars. and It has yet to be re-
ported that so far any OF the girls
who have volunteered for this dan
gerouB branch OF the service have
pulled any Lydia LanEuish stunt IN
the face OF an emergency.
Drives an X-Ray Car.
Attached 20 the Scottish women's
Hospital, which, By the way, was
planned and is being carried out en-
tirsly by women, is an x-ray automo-
bile, driven by q woman. which has
saved many lives.
A the wounded are taken back
from the line, q picture is taken and
developed in the car on its way TO
the hospital In this way the women
surgeons realize the most critical
cRseE, and they are rushed straight to
the operating table, The picture of
the wounded being ready for the op-
Grating surgeon. she knows exactly
what she has TO deal with. Many of
the boys owe their lives to these 4
ray ambulances and the plucky girls
who are driving them.
Women of wealth all over the world
have found they could serve their
country best by using their knowI-
edge Of how to drive and care for a
car. Hundreds Of them have yolun-
teered.
Miss Maria Laurence-wetherill. a
New York society girl, has been drIv-
ing an ambulance on the French
front She Is accounted one OF the
most skillful operators in the motor
service She wears a new war uni
form, designed for women engaged in
this work The costume greatly re-
sembles the uniform OF the British
army officer. the Sam Browne belt
adding the necessary military touch.
IL an Expert Driver.
Miss Hilda 8. Amber. OF Bridge
port. has Joined the volunteer am
bulance division. She is also an ex-
pert driver and mechanic. Miss Am
bier has adopted the uniform worn by
the British royal flying corps.
There are many fair English lass
ies who are helping to convey the
convalescent Tommies through the
more peaceful districts of Europe and
there Is pictured here a bonnie Scotch
lassie, who has discovered that a few
puffs from her cigarette while she
waits her call to her daily work of
carrying the wounded, helps to keep
her nerves steady for the trying or.
deal.
Mrs. Blanche Shoemaker waEstaff
Is another prominent New York wo-
man who is quickly helping in the
rescue work Of the wounded boys on
the allied fronts. She heads a number
of women drivers from the National
League for Woman's Service. who left
early last month for France, and who
are stationed somewhere along the
lines. doing their share in the work
Of rushing the wounded to the hos
pitalE.