The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-08-31

| two miles from the automobile base
and were told that we may remain
here until August or 5. Wherever
we may be sent, I shall not be able
to tell the names of any towns, viii
lagos or cities we pass or what
troops we are with. Military censor
| quartered in a little village about
ship forbids such things and you
must wait patiently for further infor-
nation. The mail address is always
Frue Francois Premier, Paris, and it
is quickly forwarded to us in the field
Remember that our unit is Sec
ton Sanitaire, Unit Sixty" Should we
do anything of any Importance, you
may hear of it before my letters reach
you. Please do not confuse us with
the American ambulance, which OPP
crates in the rear, nor the American
Field Service, an entirely different
organization, transporting munitions.
| Caring For Wounded.
Briefly, the organization for caring
for the wounded is this: Wounded
men in field or trench, Brancadiere
French, Place du Secours, ourselves,
Hospital du Secours, Advance hospi-
tails, base hospitals. The wounded are
picked up by stretcher bearers and
removed to the place du secours.
| (first aid station) where we take them
in ambulances to the Hospital du Sc
cours. Here the American ambulance
takes men to the advance hospitals
and from there to base hospital.
These last two divide up the wounded
| and send them to specialized base
hospitals, one for instance treating
face and head wounds, another body
wounds and third leg wounds. The
| Place du Secours, our nearest point
| to the firing line, is a sheltered place,
protected against shell fire and ap-
preached by circuitious, sheltered
roads. The stretcher bearers are the
men who risk the most for they go
out to pick up the wounded and bring
them to a place of safety. There is
practically no risk connected with
our work so that there is no need
for concern on that point.
Went Through Hospital.
Ed and I went through a special
auxiliary hospital for face wounds
last Saturday. 1t was devoted to treat
ing wounded who had lost nose,
mouth and jaw and their work in
plastic surgery was nothing less than
miraculous. We saw men who had
lost practically their entire faces and,
thanks to the wonderful skill Of the
French doctor in charge, are now
normal. One poor chap had lost every
thing below his eyes including the
mastoid glands. A rib was removed
and converted into a jaw bone, fake
teeth attached with silver wire, flesh
taken from his limbs and buttocks to
make a new chin, nose and cheeks
and a new tongue built up. OF course.
it required time, great patience and
excellent nursing but the man was
making splendid progress. displayed
remarkable spirit and proudly showed
us his Medal Militaire. Dozens OF
men had no nose or mouth and were
using rubber tubes instead while the
treatment was in progress.
Frankly, it was like modelling In
clay, this rebuilding OF faces. The
sad part Of it was that treatment OF
so many cases had skilled the doctors
to so great degree. Plaster casts or
the patients faces had been made
when they arrived and the progress
indicated by additional casts made
every three to four months. If man
became discouraged it was necessary
only to show him his original cast
to cheer him, the progress was Won
derful. ...
Showed Deep Appreciation.
We took them some fruit and Gig
arets and their appreciation was
touching. One chap, who had been
there only few days and who had
practically no face, grasped our hands,
rather we placed ours in his helpless
waving palms, and finally succeeded
in making his nurse understand that
an American ambulance driver had
brought him to the rear. His appre-
citation was inarticulate but no words
could have been so sincere.
The head nurse who conducted us
through the wards, spoke excellent
English and her announcement to each
group that their visitors were "Amerl-
cans" brought every man to his feet,
his hand if he had any at salute. NO
enc ever shall be able to tell in words
the feeling of the French for Amerl-
cans. 1t is too deep, too sincere. too
remarkable for mere words. 1t is the
old. splendid spirit of Lafayette and
Pm gloriously proud to know that as
he came to help us in our hour OF
need, some few of us have volun-
teered to do our little bit in return,
that brave France has seen that
America has not forgotten. The ex-
periences of the last few days OF
contact with officers and men,
wounded and whole. stand out as one
of the really big things in my life.
I wouldn't have missed them for any
thing, Lord pity those who are con-
tent to remain at home, deaf to the
, call of their brothers in France who
are defending all that is worth while
| in this world.
| Proud Of Americans.
was proud to learn that the young
men at home had responded so well.
If had time to write all OF even
what little I have seen of the splen-
did sacrifice of France, it's publica-
ton at home would send every man
to a recruiting office. Thank God,
we've got a good start in the con-
scription idea and are business-like
and determined in our procedure to
Dust the Huns.
Now for the lighter side. The TEL