The Washington times., 1918-04-17
D. c. MAN TELLS Of
'DEVEREAUX'S OWN
IN ACTION At FRONT

Tho Washington ambulance. section
bIS. better known as "DevcreauN
own,".and composed Of the flower OF
Washington youth, including some OF
the most noted athletes in the Ma
tionaI Capital, is in action On the west
crn front.
So writes Private V. Raymond Cra-
ley, formerly a clerk at the Hotel
Powhatan. here. now in France with
section 5I5, "llivvering a. the front.
Private CraIcy writes Of a German
gas attack-how every ambulance" IN
the unit was in use FOR twcnty-four
consecutive hours removing gas VIC
Tins from the ficld-the work OF the
anti aircraft guns on the Bochc planes
and the explosions from the big guns
which rock the dugouts where the am
bulance men are quartered.
Letter From CraIcy.
Tho letter, mailed from the front In
March, and received by The Times to-
day. follows:
Il am member OF the Washington
ambulance, section 5l5, or better
known as 'Dcvercaux's Own The
major is not with the section now. as
We are attached to a division of the
French army and fliyvcrinS at the
front
I've assembled our cars at a certain
point and Travelled to our base. dis
tance Of 200 miles. The scenery was
quaint and very interesting.
1--WE passed through Versailles and
spent several hours in front OF the
palace while waiting for an inspcc-
tion. We also came through Meaux
and had q glimpse OF the cathedral
there.
Three Miles From Trenches.
zone OF our posts is situated about
three miles from the Boche trenches.
and when on that pOst-well, we
know that the Germans are around.
At times when on the road 10 the
station shells often drop with a radius
OF sixty feet of us, and there Is
always a chance of 4 smell making
a call on you.
$50 far we have not had any very
serious trouble from that source. The
closest a shell has been to a machine
has been about fifty feet. And. OF
course. not dangerous. We find 1t
more TO our comfort. at this station,
to remain in the dug-out dressing
STATION. as 1t is much more safe. We
spend forty-eiGht hours on 4 post.
The BoChe made a gas attack in
this sector about ten days ago. We
were called out in the evening about
$50, and every car and man was
utilized until the following evening.
During that time we carried more
than 200 gas victims, and in two lays
our machines had a record OF more
than 400 'blesses and malaGcs.'
Car Hits Barbed Wire.
Several of the cars came to ErIof.
sS the night was so dark that one
OF the machines ran off the road and
into the barbed wire The csr remain
cd there until morning. The driver.
Francis Elder, OF Baltimore. showed
great coolu"ss. and walked to the
post de SerOurz.'
I'VE have had no casualties. ana
the boys are in the best OF health and
condition.
At present things are quiet in this
sector. There are occasional attacl.S !
Y hich the French call small ones The
CAylO.ioHS. however, shake our quarters.
watching Arches At Work.
"Nc rJoy watching exploding shells
frc - lnti-aircrsft guns when the
= S are around. Last night there
~ .rr raid near here. and the
> hts played ab"ve us from al
q JrS a. tn" Bo-ho passed over our
b.. which : about five miles from the
front. Ne could see the SHELLS flash and
burst IN the air and hear the wnirr.
Uhirr. oc tee motors.
We hav" Ogr gas masks and carnegie
der5ys with Us when on post. ami our
mask IL u"ytr from over our shoUder.
The sQuir. cls are quit" 4 pest 10 US.
T7"y afford plenty Of exercise and DIVER
son in locking them Up. Also scratch
iMS from their b'cs.
= am Tines reader and a Washing