The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-23
PRESIDENT VISITS HOSPITAL

precede all except the King ana the President.
 PRESIDENT VISITS HOSPITAL Paris, December 22.-(By the Associated Press. )-President Wilson today visited the Red Cross hospital at Neuilly, where he shook hands individually and talked with 1200 badly wounded Americans for the most part survivors of the Chateau Thierry action He spent more than four hours in the hospital, visiting every ward and stopping at every bedside. Later he visited the French hospital Val De Grace. Speaking of his experiences at the American hospital the President said:
 "I went through the American hos pital at Neuilly with the greatest inter est and the greatest satisfaction. found the men admirably taken care of and al most without exception in excellent spirits.
 "onIy a very few of them looked really ill and I think that their mothers and their friends would have been entirely pleased by their surroundings and by the alert look in their eyes and the keen interest they took in everything about them.
 CT am sure that they will go back to their loved ones at home with a new feeling of joy alike in their recovery and in the fine service they have been able to render"
 Going to the American, hospital with the expectation of remaining an hour. the President found four hours all too short as he felt that he could not leave without speaking with every man, and he expressed regret only of his inability to clash the hand of every American sol- der in France.
 PRESIDENT TIRED AND WORN
 The President looked tired and worn when the ordeal was finished, for not withstanding the cheerfulness of the men and the care which they were receiv- ing. there were many affecting cases Ill the wards.
 When he came to one very badly wounded the President sat on the edge of the cot for moment and asKeo where he was from and where he had been wounded He admired his war crosses and decorations Noticing that many of his wounds were in the leg. tbe President asked: Why have we here no men wounded in the upper part of the body?"
 "Men who are wounded above the waist are not here they have gone on, answered the soldier simply.
 One of the men the President came to stood proudly erect with medals on ms x blouse and one arm outstretched in an appliance for restoring it's usefulness. He looked suggestively like a traffic DO. liceman on duty. '.I'm glad to see you look so cheerful said the Presidentl
 You have seen me many times be. fore MT President" responded the sol dier. T used to be a traffic policeman at the Grand Central station. Don't you think I look natural?'
 The President laughed softly. It prob. g ably was the cnly merry moment he had ir the hospital. <
 Another strapping fellow gave his name as Private Wilson.
 q am proud to know have name- sake like you" said the President-
 sIt is a very honorable name. l only tried to do it proud.' responded the soldier.
 One soldier had lost both legs by a she'll T am thankful they didn't get an arm he said. cheerfully.
 More than $500 wounded Americans from the battle around Chateau Thierry have passed through Neuilly hospital. The <12OO remaining are the most serious cases whom miracles of modern surgery are rebuilding to resume their places in civil life, though some will probably never leave the hospital.
 The President abstained from attend ance at church in order to make the visit He was accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and ;, Rear Admiral Grayson and was met al the entrance by the commandant and his staff. But he made it plain that he wished no ceremony
 WANTED TO CHAT WITH BOYS
 1T just want to go in and visit the bovs and have a chat with them,"' he said.
 Beginning with the first ward, thu President went down one side of the room. and Mrs. Wilson the other. stop hing to chat here and there with th< < wounded and grasp hand for a momen1 or say a word of cheer and encourage n,ent The President himself, where il was possible, took the hand of every mar
 s.We hope to have you back with u' soon or .I wish you the best of luc1 and a speedy recovery
 So the President went from ward tt ward. always asking each mans nam' ana saving something intimately per sonal. As he left each room he turned for moment and said:
 Fl wish you hoys as merry Christ- 6centa taruea op Page ssxs