The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-05-24

Continued From Page One.)
of the American Red Cross, called
some aids together and made his
plans. Of course the first problem
was to assure the safety of all the
workers in the field anu that Incl
Xdentally has been assured. But 1t
was not just question of rushing
back to safety. No such simple
ignominious plan occupied for an
instant the thoughts of any relief
worker. They were to retire in good
order and work every second for the
refugees and the soldiers. Other
workers and a great mass of ma
terial were to be rushed forward from
Paris.
"Just as the German drive tested
the resources o: the allies, so in
directly, it tested every relief organ
ization. 1t was necessary to connect
the relief work under a field general,
to keep the transportation lines be-
tween all the various stations of the
Red Cross in the field connected, to
work on a big plan so that the work
instead Of decreasing could grow.
Plan of Withdrawal
eff you will take map showing
the present territory affected by the
great battle you can follow the plan
o. withdrawal which Major Perkins
and his staff worked out. The Red
Cross workers who were nearest the
battle when it broke were those in
Ham and at Croix Molignaux, north
east of Ham. From Ham, Croix-
Molignaux Nesle and Grecourt, where
there were construction warehouses
and staffs and medical relief workers.
including small hospital for babies
they drew back on Roye. And Oh
Sunday an organized Red Cross line
was formed which stretched from
Amiens to Montididier, Lassigny.
Noyons and scissors.
"The next withdrawal was to the
present line where perfected chair
of stations to help refugees has beer
developed From Beauvais on the
west it passes through Clermont
Compiegne and scissors.
Where There Are Headquarters
"Compiegne is where field head
quarters have been established, Al
the most advanced Red Cross workers
withdrew from their posts, reinforce
ments were sent from the rear. Wher
the first accommodating party arrived
there, they found that there wa
work to do helping the refugees
with whom the roads were crowded
Back they dashed to Paris to give
the word And back again to Com.
piegne with orders and supplies. Blu
the refugees were no longer alone il
lc oil
Though the first plan had been tt
help the refugees at this point, the
assistance was also turned over tt
the soldiers.
"The Red Cross men arrived fol
their second visit to Compiegne on g
moonlight night. Uncouth German
aviators were flying low and then
machine gun were beating tattoo
on the town while from time to time
a bomb dropped. AS one man sale
while his car sped through the moon
light, There was just a piece OF
canvas between men and hell"
Bomb On Army Trucks
"a bomb had dropped on three
army trucks standing close together
Their gasoline tanks exploded and
a flame shot up through the clear
night light. Compiegne was not g
pleasant place that night. But the
relief workers were stuck there ir
spite of machine guns and bombs
Finally they found the hotel which
had been abandoned and taken over
as emergency Red Cross head
quarters.
"a Red Cross hospital at Anne
fifteen miles north of Compiegne hao
been evacuated, but the American
doctors stuck to their posts which
was most fortunate for there the
Red Cross had a fine supply of ma
terial which was transported back tt
Co1npiegne not only for the soldiers
passing through but also for the
emergency canteen at the station
which the Daily unit, unit of hospi.
tai aides affiliated with the Red
Cross, had established at that point
- Line Back From Beauvais
$50 the line drew back from
Beauvais to Soissons and with the
field organization establishing itsel
solidly and calmly. Fine work is be-
ing done at Beauvais and the move.
ment of supplies is now fully organ
lied. The refugees problem has only
begun for the Red Cross because
that organization has the intention
of following the great body of the
refugees to their final destinations
further south and continuing to hell
them.
1.-THE Red Cross kept it's field
organization intact but some ware
houses and construction work was
destroyed. The stores were partly
saved and partly given over to the
soldiers to take, the rest being
burned so that the barbarians shoult
not benefit by them. Every one
worked his hardest and the drivers
especially. deserve the highes
praise. The spirit of the armies
caught hold of all the other workers
The refugees were resigned but un.
complaining and throughout those
twelve days of crisis a spirit was
shown by all concerned that should
teach even the Germans that though
they may have taken some territory
they have not conquered one bit O
the spirit of the allies"
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