Evening star., 1918-02-17
BY-JUNIUS h WOOD.

Cablesram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. February 5.-The American
fighting unit in the front trenches is a
complete. orga nization. with all branch
es of the service represented. including
infantry, artillery, engineers, Hospital
Signal and Aviation corps Even the
organizations Frightening the social
side of the soldiers. life are working at
the front, aiding the army agencies IN
caring for the material comforts ana
health of the men. The aviation branch n
is the only one not running show.
The American observers who are di-
recting. the artillery fire and scouting
daily over the enemy's lines carry
French pilots The machines ordered
from the French which would make II
possible to use American piiots are not
vet available, and none made in Ameri-
ca has arrived.
unusual array of women working with
in range of the enemy's guns. the
lassies have dropped their tam oonrines
for the rolling pin and are engaged IN
the noble and gloriied task of baking
doughnuts and pies and sewing on but
tons for the soldiers. Cornets and
slide trombones, which del1ghted the
soldiers in the quieter camps OUTSIDE
the fighting zone, are too noisy for use
here, and the man Salvationists' officers
carry crullers and pastry to distribute
among the men where they are being
sheIled This is part of the days rou-
tine.
Women Sharing Hardships.
The huts are furnished with tables,
benches, pianos and monographs. In
the more important ones cooking out
fits have been opened by the women,
under the supervision OF the chlef at
the headquarters town. The women
who are sharing part of the soldiers,
hardshps are Mrs. Adjt. Hammond of
New York city. Miss Capt Gladys Nc
Intyre of Mount Vernon. n Y: Mrs
Ensign Edith Hickey of Rochester. N
Y; Miss Ensign Helen Purviance of
Oswego. n. Y. and Miss Cora Van Nor
den of New York city. Miss Van Nor.
den, who is the daughter of we'll
known banker. came to Europe to do
Red Cross work. She was decorated
for bravery in Serbia and Greece. When
the Americans came she took charge OF
a Salvation Army canteen.
Men and officers greatly appreciate
the efforts of the SaIvationists. When
one of the lassies was i'll Il gruff colonel
insisted on leaving comfortable billet
and sleeping in cold tent himself. so
she might get better care. Y. NJ. c. A.
huts are also near the front, but they
lack the picturesque feature of having
women in attendance. The Red Cross
comes in less direct touch with the in
dividual soldier The organization has
a big depot in a large nearby city. from
which the hospitals are furnished with
needed supplies.
One of the noticea BILE features in this
Army in recent weeks has been the
fact that the soldiers are the first
American fighters since the civil war
who are without the usual broad serv-
ice hats The dashing hat, like the
cavalry horse. has disappeared. and a
helmet fitting over cloth cap has
taken its place. In the zone of fire the
helmet. as we'll as the gas mask, is
worn constantly. The cap is carried
in the pocket Farther back from the
lines the heavy headpiece is dispensed
with and snug cap with two jaunty
wings projecting from front and back
takes its place.