The Little River news. (Ashdown, Little River County, Ark.) 1897-current, 1917-12-19
AWE R|CAN WOVEN
OPERATE: RED CROSS
Ch.ITEE.II|55 ABROAD
CARE OF u. S. SOLDlEDS AND SAIL
ORS ORGANIZATIONS FIRST
AND SUPREME OBJECT.
MEAL COSTS ONLY 10 CENTS
Shower Baths, BARRIERS, Movie Thea
ter Everything Free Except
Fcod-Work Near the
Firing Line.

First and supreme in the work OF
the American Red Cross, which will
launch Christmas membership drive
for 100000 more members in The
Southwest Monday. Dec. IT, continuing
until Christmas eve, is the care OF
Uncle Sans own army and navy.
The safety, health and comfort of
the men who are fighting the coun-
try's battles 5000 miles from home
will at all times lie the prime object
OF the organization $ attention.
When French army officers were
asked what the American Red Cross
could best do to learten the army and
give the soldiers concrete token Of
American co operation they said:
Give US canteens and rest stations"
The Red Cross is accordingly estab-
fishing canteens at II important rail
way stations in France for the special
use Of soldiers on leave, who are con
atantly passing on their way to and
from the front The woman's bureau
undertook to recruit 100 women to
serve in canteens and rest rooms in
Franco. Only women of robust health,
EetWcen the ages of 80 and so, were
considered, and applicants we.e re.
CURED to show that they had worked
for the American Red Cross or in reg
Hiar occupations requiring a high Or
Ger Of service and a capacity for self
sacrifice Fifty-tWo of these women
already are in France.
Serves 2,ooO Troops Daily.
The first of these canteens was
opened in September and began inn
lncliately to serve large numbers OF
French soldiers and some American
,roops. 1t has been used by an aver
age of 1890 men daily. The first visi.
tors were troop Of chasscurs who
had been inStructing the American
troops. ard on the same evening
large number OF American engineers.
leaving by train at l O'Clock in the
morning, were given a warm welcome.
There are Is women who serve day
and night. The menu includes soup,
Tread, meat, vegetables, salads.
tea.
ArraEg e.aents for announcing the
departure OF trai<ls have enabled he
tween 300 and 400 men to catch 4 few
hours OF much-noeded rest in COM
Portable, clean quarters. without fear
OF missing their trains. Six hundred
men can be so accommodated. Show
ers and wash basins also are provided.
Everything Free Except Food.
The picture presented by such l can
teen when il is filled with soldiers is
described in cable from Junius b.
Wood, American war correspondent.
in part as follows:
Back Of long porcclsin-t:lod counter Amer.
lean women il win.r caps aud white aprons
wee pouring coffee, ladhug soup and handing
cut sandwiches rs fast as theiT arms could
work. In front WAS Al Lnen;t:nS llae Of sol
d.crs, American aAd f'renrh, vita bowls q
soup or coffee il one hand and sandwiches,
sansages and tobacco III the other n,.:&tas t..cir
way Gingcrly through TIE crowd from iLs
counter to seats at the tables Ia the b,; ROOM
This Can!cen seats 60 an hour in the dining
room, which Is "a pable of handling 5000 suesIs
daily. There are tweuty-One shower baths.
barber SHOP, clothes s,cri!@er and bonn proof
movie thea;cr. All is free except the food for
SIDE Of the railroad tracks IL garden has been
laid out where, in akiosk, the French Govern
H.Gnt dispenses wine to IT'S own troops. While
waiting for trains the soldiers relax and rest.
Every hing is sold at cost, allowance be-
ln:: made for tie big overhead expenses. In
a ,l,!i lion. much IS distributed free. a bowl Of
soup, which is quite different from tie usual
.iiion flavoGred greasy hot water, costs J cents,
and other things are sold NJ proporiunatc!y
low prices Soup and coffee are both served
In bowls.
There are spoons. cups, knives foras,
.Gr these never return. Fer II cents enc setI
It dinner consisting; OF soup, beef or lamb. vese-
chocolate boullion. Tea is brewed especially
for passing British troops.
Near the firing line the American
Red Cross is establishing field can
teens. Extending the work already
begun by branch OF the French Red
Cross, it will provide one Of these can
teens for every corps Of the French
army and later for the American army
as we'll.
A field kitchen is maintained there,
from which the refreshing drinks are
distributed along the front by wagons
and light motor truCi:s. -Four thou
sand portions-coffce, tea, cocoa, boul,
lion, lemonade, etc.-are sometimes
served from one canteen in a single
day.