Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-18
BIG AMERICAN
HOSPITALS NOW
FILLED BY YANKS
Military Institutions Built in
France Are Put to Use
After Recent
Battles.
BY Associated Press.

Paris. Aug. 1.-THE fierce fighting
of American troops around Cantigny'
Chateau Thierry and other centers OF
the big enemy offensive, has brought
in its train a sudden transformation
and development in the great Amsri-
can military hospital at Neuilly in the
Paris suburbs and others like it in
the suburbs of Auteuil, Joinville and
other points, which are now in truth
American institutions not only In
name, foundation, staff and equip
ment, but in that grimmest element OF
a hospitals work, wounded men--
American wounded borne back from
the fighting front.
The Americanism of these hospitals
has proved a timely blessing to the
young American heroes who got out
alive from the furnace of fire, giving
them American surroundings, Ameri-
can surgeons and nurses, their own
language in which to hear and express
their cares. American food, and some
thing of that spirit of home which
people Of the same blood carry across
the sea.
The big Neuilly establishment has
been taxed to its utmost to meet this
sudden influx from the great offensive.
Its capacity was suddenly swollen
from 500 to 1900 or |, 500, with a con-
siderable part of the arrivals Ameri-
cans. Five hundred cases arrived in
a single day of the June fighting.
Most of them were original cases,
direct from the field and not yet op-
Grated on. They had come in ambu-
lances, two days on the road, for there
are no railroads linking the remote
storm centers where the enemy
strikes his surprise blows. But great
as the emergency was, it was success
fully met, and in the first call made
upon it to care for American wounded
the big American institution added an
other page to its record of devoted
service.
Magnitude of Work.
At TO- o'clock this morning the d.
recting surgeon started on his daily
inspection of the cases under his care.
and going with him, one had the op-
portunity of seeing the magnitude of
this work, the smoothness with which
it was proceeding. with here and there
a glimpse Of the American wounded
marines. artillerymen, infantry and
machine gun men. The war surgeons
with their stats OF nurses had cared
for the cases through the night and
day, and now the chief surgeon Of the
section was making his tour to see
how each case had progressed and to
direct further course of treatment.
Ahead stretched the long corridor,
with cots filled with wounded lining
one side, while the wards opened from
the other side. The corridor was
bathed with sunshine from the long
row of windows, and many of the
men had their windows open taking
sun bath. One of them had the idea
that the sunshine would be healing
balm for his wound, and the ugly
opening in the left arm was laid out
so as to get the full slant of the sun.
There was little or no odor of anas-
thetics or drugs, such as one is apt
to associate with hospitals. Every
thing was scrupulously clean. floors,
windows. bed linen; women were at
work making every nook and corner
immaculate; vases of bright flowers
were on all the nurses tables to give
an air of cheer, and the whole place
had the stamp of comfort.
Use Corridors as Wards.
These corridors have had to be used
as wards during the heavy influx of
wounded from the big fights of early
June, when every available corner Of