Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-30
AMERICANS
SUFFER SILENTLY
Mere Boys Never Complain.
Writes Philadelphia
Banker, "Y" Man
WORD FOR BOND Y
Fortitude of Soldiers Makes
Investing in Securities
Look Like Nothing

All the way from the supply base. In
French ports to the front-line trenches.
o. Howard Wolfe, who resigned as
cashier Of the Philadelphia National
Bank to become a Y. NJ. G.. A.. secretary
in France, has seen American soldiers.
and this is the way he feels about them a.:
'"I challenge you fellows who think
you are overworked to show that YOU
are doing one-tenth as much as these
lads over here, who are giving their
all and are doing II with a smile"
Mr.. Wolfe was in field work among
the boys up In the first lines at first,
and It was this that he liked best. but
he was sent to Paris after a little while
to an administrative position, for which
his training as n banker fitted him.
His letters TO his friends at the oank
are interesting. and they cover many
phases of American army life in France.
Air Raids Quite Common
In an early letter he says air raids
on Paris and London now create little
more excitement than a heavy thunder
storm in America.
II have seen five days of battle" he
says In a later letter, with opportuni-
ties for service and usefulness. 1t Is one
thing to read of a mighty counter-of-
fensive in the PUBLIC LEDGER at home.
but another thing to be a part, however
humble, of that offensive.
1T was on duty forty-eight hours
under such conditions as would make
a long day ut the bank seem easy.
"Once during that time l tool advan-
tage of a lull to Walk over a part
of the battlefield. An anti-aircraft well
come directed at a boche %airplane di-
rectiy overhead sent me into a shell-hole
with a dead Hun. l took his rifle
from his hand as a souvenir. since
it was a good one. and I hope to
bring it home with me.
For two other nights and three days
I worked at a hospital just back of
the front. You who think you are
doing you bit when you give up a few
Ice cream sodas or cigars and buy
Liberty Bonds should see under what
conditions and with what fortitude our
wounded soldiers. mere boys. many OF
them, bear their suffering. Never a
word of complaint. and such gratitude
for n drink of water or a folded blan-
ket made more comfortable.
Let me say that every penny the
bank gave or may give to the Y. NJ.
c. A. or Red Cross work is serving
p" Pa PN'' ieAto as Nr'ioi Go my VIZ
tributions that could be made. | know
Of nothing that can do or is doing
as much for these fellows so far from
their homes, and they are deeply crate.
full"
Bertha" Attentiv.
The Indifference of the Parisians &c
the German long ang gun which BON.
rbarded Paris is described in another
letter. with a humorous account of one
shells falling about a block from where
he walked along the street n night.
Even though I am away from the
front for the present. Mr.. Boche sees tc
it that we don't forget there Is a wal
going on. Bertha, as everyone speaks
OF the long range gun. has been quite
attentive to us during the last few days
She generally begins about breakfast
and Keeps it up all day at intervals o.
say twenty minutes.
II wonder what would happen il