The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-04
Roy Forbes Who Visited
Here Many Times Is Now
In France and Wildly De-
scribes Life There

Keokuk young people. who remem-
Der Roy T. Forbes of Fort Madison,
will doubtless be interested in the
following letter from France written
by Mr.. Forbes who is now in the am
bulance service. The letter is re-
printed from the Gem City:
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE, Sun.
day, June II, 1917.-Dear Folks: My
letters seem so hard to write and
very disjointed, and therefore unin-
teresting, because cannot give you
names of places visited and our
present location. know you like to
know all of the little details, but
names, dates, plans and locations are
forbidden and so | must do the best
can and conform to the rules Of
those who know best.
We arrived at our hospital the early
part of the week, and it Is the very
first opportunity | have had to write
to you for the last three days. I
have been working from 600 a. m.
until 1915 or 1920 at night, and the
long hours with the heat Of summer
have made me most awfully tired
when night comes, so l just get into
my tent and asleep as quickly as pos
sible You see we get up at $50 q.
M, which is really 4:30 as the
clocks have been set ahead one hour
and that makes very long day. AS
soon as we all become more familiar
with our duties and regulations,
things will go along more like clock
work and great deal more can be
accomplished.
A Talk Of Home.
Last night I got off duty at 1920
and upon coming to my tent found a
couple fellows here waiting for me,
so for an hour we sat on the grass,
and | know it must have been the
stiffness and the brilliantly star lit
heavens. that made us feel. as we
found the big dipper, that you could
all see the same big dip2er there at
home, and so the hour was spent In
talking OF home. Every evening so
far we have been able to hear the fir
ing, and the constant rumble of can
mons has become so familiar that We
do not notice 1t as we did at first, but
last night not a sound disturbed the
perfect quiet.
This has not seemed like Sunday to
me, for the first time in my life, I'M
til this evening, since l began writ
ing. in little, but near my tent, a
little group of people composed Of
nurses and patients are carrying on a
church service, it Is the Episcopal
service and the little organ they are
using Is not conductive to raising
ones spirit.
Enjoys the Work.
The work is wonderfully interest.
ing in all its departments, and as we
get settled into the routine and
place it will grow more 80 and l will
tell you all about the work later. Our
hospital Is SO different from what
had expected. It Is just small city
of tents nestled In a most beautiful
SPOT and the wounded come and go
constantly, from the field hospitals
and collecting stations they are
brought here to US. As soon as we
are through with them they are sent
to convalescent depots or to their
homes. Most Of the ambulance driv.
ers working in and out Of here are
English girls and their spirit Is won
derful, they seem absolutely tireless.
Two nights ago a convoy came IN
at midnight. then all Of the men were
supposed to get up and help with tho
work, get the wounded from the am.
bulance and into the receiving sta
ton where records are taken and
then distribute them to various
wards according to their wounds.
So far we have not had heavy con-
voy, but after big rush. UP on the
front, then we may expect to work
day and night. Just before we had
arrived a heavy push had been made
in which a certain hill was taken
from Fritz but the wounded were
taken care Of before our arrival SO
we are fortunate enough to take over
the work when It la not so heavy.
Proud to be American.
The English unit we are replacing
have one hundred more men, (priv-
ates) than we have, SO you can sec
we fellows will have some work to
do to handle the same work. But the
more see, the prouder I am that I
am an American, and with group OF
such splendid officers. as we have to
direct this little unit Of great
army, we can make ashowing. Maj
or Besley and Major Collins, our mil
itary men, and Captain MCGEE are
splendid types Of American men, and
would be proud to stand them be-
oRoerc nf aDy nation in thtS