The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-17
Voice Of the People

fThe Gate City does not assume re-
sponsibility for views expressed by
correspondents. Writers of communl-
cations must furnish their names
not necessarily for publication, but
fo- the information Of the editor.J
To the Editor Of The Gate City:
Your readers may be interested to
know something of the moving pic
lures which are to be shown Friday
evening of next week, under the aus
pices of the Keokuk chapter, D. A. r.,
for the benefit of the American ambu-
lance field service, operating IN
France. This service is given in SYM
pathy with France and in recognition
of the invaluable aid which France
gave to America in the revolutionary
period.
All the equipment OF the 'Ambu-
lance Americaine" in men. ambu-
|lancSs. hospitals and maintenance 10
q gift from America. The men OF the
service are not only volunteers, but
they provide their own necessary
clothing, etc, pay their own trans
portation to France, and also serve
without compensation. They are all
college men OF q fine type. the major
ity from Harvard. with Yale and
Princeton next, and about fifty col
leges represented. Iowa has three
men in the service, two from Cedar
Rapids and one from Marion.
) It should be understood that the
service on the front and in the hos
pitfalls knows no distinction between
the wounded. German or Austrian
wounded are given the same attention
as the French.
The films to be shown deal entirely
with the service rendered at the front
by the Americans in the ambulance
and aviation sections, and do not COW
er general war conditions. They
were prepared under the personal SUI
pervision of A. Ptatt Andrew, inspec-
tor general of the ambulance service,
for exhibition as an aid in securing
men and means for the work. They
were first presented in Paris, at a
great occasion at which the chief OFF,
Gals of the government were present.
as we'll as prominent representative
French and Americans. One lady
made a gift Of more than $4,000 for
the equipment OF an entire field sec
ton; other generous gifts were made
BY men and women. At a recent show
ing in one of our American cities
there were eight $1,000 pledges for
the purchase and equipment OF as
many .autoambulances and other gifts
amounting to almost as much for their
maintenance for a year.
The films have thus far been shown
only in few of the leading cities of
America. In New York, Boston, Phila-
delphfa and few other cities, they
have been shown usually in private
halls or galleries, with admission by
invitation only. and tickets at fancy
prices, and have been followed by
generous pledges to the work. At
Harvard recently they stimulated
about nifty additional enlfstments. All
receipts 60 to the benefit OF the work,
and no private gain comes to any
body.
Keokuk is especially to be congratu-
lated on having the opportunity to
see the films, secured by direct ap-
plication to the New York office of
the ambulance. It Is to be hoped that
a generous sum may be realized for
this great cause by the local d. A. R.,
whose interest grows out OF the fact
securing Of American independence.
There is no other opportunity to see
the films, as they are not shown COM
mercia1ly In the moving picture thea
tiers.
Keokuk has not been called on as a
community for help to any OF the war
sufferers since the gift OF corn to the
Relpians more than a year ago. r.
would be very fitting II there should
he some special individual gifts of
size to this cause now
e. B. NFwCOMB.
Keokuk Iowa, Jan. II, 1917.