The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-26
ARTHUR N. TAYLOR, OF
CHARLOTTESVILLE, WINS
CR0|X De GUERRE
One of Six Americans Whose Services
Are Described by French As
Unsurpassed in War.
DROVE THROUGH HAIL OF
SHE'LL TO SAVE WOUNDED
Story of Bravery and Devotion Such
As Shows How Modern Americans
Act Under Fire. Risking Lives to
Save Others.
pondent of the International
News SerytCe.)

Paris July tBy mail Back OF
the award of the Croix de Guerre to
six Americans serving with the Amer
lean Red Cross all members Of the
Norton -Harjes unit, is a story of hrav-
cry and devotion that has not been
surpassed in the war. The names OF
the recipients of French military hon
ors are. Norman c. Lee. of New Y ork,
son of the publisher. John Briggs. OF
New York sea captain who was
formerly captain of n. Mex. Twom-
bly's yacht; Arthur NJ. Taylor, OF
Charlottesville, Va; G.. Stuart Forbes,
of Boston. Sidney Fairbanks, of Bos-
Boston Fine Arts Museum. and DR..
Charles Briggs. a prominent physician
of Schenectady, n W.
A division order Of the French
Twentyfrst infantry contains the fol-
lowing descriptions of the Americans
service, but does not begin TO describe
what they suffered and endured in
various sectors of the front while taxi
ing out the wounded:
Heroism Unsurpassed.
The courage and devotion of these
Americans, volunteers in the amhu-
lance service, has never faltered for
an instant amid the most trying cir
cumstances. In the most perilous
situations they secured the transpor-
tation OF the wounded with a calm
ness and devotion 10 their duty which
has been the admiration of all.
At the conclusion OF the French Of
fensive last fall that drove the Ger
mans out OF Forts Faux and Doua-
mont, all six of the men found them
selves situated In the Nerdun sector.
They stayed on while the French
were still cleaning up the sector
living in the cellar OF an abandoned
monastery in Verdun by day and driv-
ing their amhulances loaded with the
wounded by night.
The night of December FL. the six
began to make preparations to go on,
with their cars as usual. Their way
lay from the city of Nerdun toward
what had been the town OF Bras
through which they were forced to
drive. and then on to the field dress
ing station over a mile and a halt
of as dangerous road as could be
found in the country. The thermome-
ter registered twenty degrees below
zero and the road was choked with
snow and debris Of the battle that
had just been fought over it, AS the
Americans reached the walls of Yer
dun they were stopped by the nigh,
patrol who told them the Germans
Had shelled a convoy that tried to &c,
across the road at twilight and had
blown 1t to pieces. A considerable
stretch OF the road had been blown
away also.
Shells Still Falling.
AS the Pruss!an shells were still
falling the commandant Of the post
ordered the ambulanses to proceed
one at a time to the field station, a
mere hole in the ground to which
the wounded were brought from the
first line trenches None OF the other
cars was to leave until the first one
would have had suficient time to ar
rive at the feld station.
To Taylor fell the lot of taking out
the first machine. He left Verdun
and proceeded along the way to Bras
In the darkness he lost his way and
passed through two feet of snow and
ashes directly over what had been the
town of Bras with never an obstacle
to stop him. Out Of the whole viii
lage there was not stone left stand