The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-09
Sacrifice
Bravery Of Red Cross
Nurse in Italy.
Edna Howell in Leslie's.

l EuIa ffD"eii III i-sSbS o.
| The Red Cross hospital, number
eighteen, at Buttrio. is very beautiful.
1t is one of the country villas of the
Countess Florlo a most beautiful wom-
an Of Rome, though Sicilian by birth.
/ Ruttrio lies in II green garden of the
Friuiian valley a favored spot of
earth The hospital was perfectly
equipped. with many gifts from
: America.
4, The hospital ran serenelS. The work
went on like the swift little river run
! ming at full tide through the gardens.
| At noon the telephone rang from
Idine with the order to abandon the
hospital at once, Then-~at the door
suddenly appeared a soldier. His toes
were through his socks, his shirt was
I! in shreds, though large circle en-
hroidered with IA red cross was per-
feet on his breast-the shirts had been
! a gift from New York.
VIA. via. via" he cried, balancing on
| his feet like Il ballet girl on a rope.
| Where" whipped out nurse,
where"
| Il don't know, but | Tedeschi'-the
the Buleari.'
He was gone like an apparition, that
hoarse, seminude figure in his bare
feet.
| The wires still trembled with their
| message that the director had not yet
had time to transmit further, when the
semi nude figure cried out to the
| wards Can you see every man leap
do,
| and then, the crumplins of the grave
! ~ wounded
| The two nurses, Donna Blanca, and
Lima pileri-she, who stayed--moved
quietly about their work. and swiftly.
though their hands trembled as they
| worked bandaged legs into overnight
trousers and boots, and aided the
wounded onto stretchers. The director
and surgeons were gathering up pa
pers, seeing to the camions. and giving
orders.
These two women, volunteer Red
Cross nurses, worked very quietly.
Like Florence Nightingale. they were
| inspired God gave them the Supreme
| Force. for no ordinary mortal could
have done their work. There were
men to care for. seriously wounded,
who could help themselves very little
Lieutenant Atrio of Naples lay on the
operating table, with an internal hem
| orrhaEe swiftly bearing his life away
Every one, nurse, surgeon, orderly,
carried men down on stretchers to the
cannon; they had but two. The order
had come at noon, and at o'clock
the last addio was given to the little
hospital, with darkness settling rapid
lily down. At 9 o'clock the next morn
ing Udine was in the enemys possess
sion.
There was only a moment when those
two women paused--they kissed each
other I'VE shall stay" they said
softly
! A big srenadier overheard them. He
raised his bandaged head from his pill
low. "Oh. you can't stay. sister" he
said Think of the responsibility for
us--to defend you against the barba :
rian,"
Such are the sacrifices of war A
wounded soldier would defend two
women. while they In turn would de-
|fend their wounded. Glorious silent
ANNALS writing themselves down on the
Book of God. How busy the recording
ranger must DE these uayS.
The beds were quivering under the
Intense bombardment, the window
lpanes and doors shuddering under the
hurricane of noise,
Suddenly In the door where the
Isem- nude messenger had appeared. a
tall silhouette stood, filling the door
completely with the dignity of per-
lsonality.
Donna Bianca," commanded the
duchess. most OF the men are ont
come. Signorina Piicri. take the"
The words were cut off by a terrific
noise. as n shell, a sos. burst over the
hospital. crashed through the operat-
ing room--and harmed no one,
The duchess Of Aosta. the active
head Of the Italian Red Cross had come
las she always had--to the outmosi
post to look after the welfare of hel
nurses Her commands were iinpera
tive for the nurses to take their places
lat once in her car. Donna Riauca
would have liked to remain. only sh,
had a small son. Then it was tina,
Lima Pileri spoke:
| II have no one To depend on me, M
old mother to care for. no children
am quite alone, 1t matters to M
lone If anything happens to mel stay
IL cannot leave these gravely -wounde,
men, your royal highness,"
Edith Cavell aclin--the same in
stincts in this plain looking Red Gross
nurse.
The duchess and the simple schoo
teacher nurse looked like thorough
hr"ds. You stay. yes. cara, with thes'
wounded men,
| -.~--~-~tar--