Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-05
DR.. 1urkhart. osteopath. IL w. Main
&it sN >o-~--~~-
Put want ad In the Tribune Phone
observation-disclosures
ROLAND sREERs IN FRANCE.
Former Marshalltovtn, Boy Writes Par
ents Of Experiences in France.

i, ents Of Experiences in France.
Roland Speers, young medical stu
dent, and son OF MIR and Mrs. /. G..
Speers, formerly of this city, but now
Of Santa Monica, Cal, has written his
parents of experiences since reaching
France. where he is now at work with
the American ambulance service. The
Santa Monica papers print the letters.
Altho he is not permitted to tell
where In France he has been assigned
to duty. young Speers Is keeping a
diary for further and more complete
reference when he returns home.
Speers and his companions are un-
der the command OF French lieu
tenant who speaks good English. and
1 he explains to them the differen.
phases Of warfare and tells them Of
the country thru which they have
passed. TT Is the most beautiful /
ever saw" he writes. s"and don't Won
der that the French fight for it, tho
a very depressing sight was the count
less thousands, of soldiers graves. They
fairly cover the landscape, for It was
in this section that most of-the early
lighting occurred. The graves were
very simple, and but few bore any
names. Most of them had simple
cross or marker, a Soldier of
France"
Telling OF his first work Mr. Speers
| says: Il found myself shaking with
excitement for this was my first trip
and u very interesting one it proved to
be. had to run without lights. and
consequently lost the road several
times on my way to * but there Were
wagons creaking along toward the
front all night long, and finally got
to the city, whore i found signs posted
for our benefit, and where could turn
on the headlights Discharging my
cases / followed them to the cellar OF
an old, roofless hotel, where doctors
and nurses work night and day. The
blesses are only kept in X until they
can be moved, and then sent to an in
land base hospital for recovery.
surely felt we'll repaid to hear that all
Of my first cases would probably
i've"
The unit in which Speers is servin.
is, according to DR.. Piatt Andrew, heat
of the American ambulance corps. thu
"best equipped and neatest section tina
ever left for the front" The friend
of France provide unusually we'll 70
the Americans who volunteer their ser
vices, as Speers writes that he ant
his companions have, besides the!
uniforms. extra socks, blankets, t0"
els, sleeping bag, wash basins, Cog
giles, ralncoats, shoe grease matche!
and plenty of athletic equipment ant
games.
There are twenty five cars in Speers
unit, comprising twenty one ambu
lances. a reserve supply car, a tow ant
mechanics car, cook tent car tina
cooks as the men go, and staff cal
for the section leader and the French
lieutenant who accompanies the sec.
ton,
Just before leaving Paris the Amer,
lean boys were given a fine send OFF
writes Speers, when Mr.. Muir, leader
OF the section. treated them to dime,
at Maxim.s Muir is an American
cattleman who has live6 twelve years
In France, and was put in charge ot
the section because Of his familiarity
with the work The food at the from
10 not at all fancy. for there is no SUI
gar, butter. fresh meat or. milk, but thu
open air will do us good and they say
we will not catch cold"
Young Speers drew No. 13 in the or
der Of running when the, ambulance
left for the "fronGstsf but he states tina,
he does not mind that in the least. and
expects to take many pictures along
the way. Don't worry he writes
his parents, Il will take good care Ct
myself and am glad / am doing some
thing worth while" .aat.