Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30
AMERICAN NURSE WRITES
of EXPERIENCES IN WAR
First Wounded Soldier Of United
States Sent to New York for
Artificial Limbs.
HUNS RAID HOSPITAL TOWN
Several Attempts Made to Destroy
Calais and Port in Which tmcrt-
can Wounded Arc Chartered.
Big Dinner Thanksgiving Day.

Big Dinner Thanksgiving Day.
The following letter was received by
Mrs .. Il. Sowcll, of Richmond. from
= friend who is nursing wounded sol
dtcrs in France:
II was so clad 20 get Your letter
aud thoroughly enjoyed ii. Yes. VIC live
in excitement ali the timc-neVer know
what these moonlight nights Will bring
us cspccially since Fritz raidcd and got
several OF our men.
II shall never forget that night. l
heard the plane for fifteen minutes be-
fore il got over our camp--thc bombs
were dropped. but not from far They
brought their machine down quite near
and got pretty good aim. Several bombs
went in officers quarters, ono in my
ward. taking half tho tent away. killing
and injurns several patients. one
bomb was dropped in the reception tent
twherc our enlisted men stay on guard
at night)--Sot three OF them ta!l en-
listed hoys); one was injured IN iect
and the infection was so violent that
both legs were later amputatcd at the
hodv He has started back to America
now-will stay in hospital in New York
TO he fitted with artificial legs. then
we expect him TO go back 10 college
and finish his education. When he lands
he will be the first American sent home.
wounded. in the world war.
I've arc no longer living and nursing
in tents. At present we arc in city
and are occupying a casino for pa
tIcuts (SoO. II was once most elabo-
rate French building, and We are able
to make our patients quite comfortable
IT Is divided into wards. forty-fvc pa
tieuts each staff OF nurses OF four on
each ward This sounds easy. but II
you could sec some OF the awful cases
We have YOU would wonder how We
ever get through. With all their suf-
ferinE and the unpleasantncss of 1t.
love the work and could not be happy
any place else now Omitted States. for
Ynstancc), knowing tho work We have
here to do. must stay and do my part
ON DUTY Ten HOURS.
OFF FOURTEEN HOURS
II am on duty ton hours day; the
otiicr-fourtcen l hardly know where to
20. sleep about six hours per day
InIchO, occasionally | 20 10 picture
show, then to dinner, hut this program
must be arranged so We arc IN our
rooms by at night. This is city and
a British seaport Il mean the French
have turned over the port 20 the Brit
ish for duration of the war;. All lights
arc out and the city is in utter dark
~
by $50. The Huns are determined to
get this port and Calais Had been
raided here several times before We
came up. We have been here since
November !, 1917. Before coming here
NC lived and nursed in tents We were
on the old noted grounds used q CEN
.ury ago by NAPOLEON 20 train ms
troops DO they need and want IA
pcIeon nov? This : a srea; question
n France.
while we we're in the country iiy-
any in tents W. had some wonderful
tTzlrrs across The hills The fields az
1cwers we-" lovely We were there IN
summer months l. did no; set car:
tifi quite LATE and It was not cold
hut i, rained eiN days week. We
never stayed in for rain. ] wore fiGh
rubber boots for DAYS and days. never
seeing sunshine. Sc when was Oft duty
4 had walk planned ! never le;
rain and mud interfere. Then. too ]
y-as more energetic when trSt came
over-I was fresh and well rested.
am not tired now BUT ! feel different
should never think Of long wall;
these DAYS
TWO WEEKS VACATION
EVERY SIX MONTHS
Our GIRLS are supposed TO set va
cation of two weeks every six months
Two of the unit are away all the time
go in February 81 Marth We will
70 to Paris and Italy il we can &c;
movement orders out OF France il
we cannot set movement orders VIC will
20 to Paris only. l shall DC happy
n Parisit is one o. my sirlhood
dreams.
''Thankssivins, We had q wonder
fui dinner, so ola our enlisted noys-
$50 in this uuit-aud officers twenty
frc). Thankssiving was celebrated