The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-05

>~'AN6 49, N<NP>StSu pioNSo ~ uAA
expected ways. In all of our camp:
and environments and stationed a,
each naval base, there is man II
a uniform of forestry green, with q
red cross marking each cuff. HC
is field director of camp service
for the American Red Cross; ant
as his chief duty is the meeting OF
emergencies-both of the individual
soldier or sailor and the camp al
large-no one has ever yet been able
to make list of his activities.
Here is little naval tug, flying
the Red Cross flag, chugging out
among the schooners and steamers
and battle wagons around New
port News, on some emergency er-
rand
Here are young Indian and COW
boy soldiers who have DOTTED the
khaki and put on war paint and
eagle feathers or chaps and som
breros, charging around miles OF
open country about Camp Funston
in a glorious warfare got up by
liness out of an interned holiday.
Here is white house, set in a
fairy garden spot - Camp Sloane
named in honor of its donor, Mrs
William Sloane-near Norfolk. Va,
with the ragged edges of the Chesa-
peake jutting into rose gardens and
bits of woods, with summer houses
built over the water and white sand
bar within easy swimming distance
"A house which the Red Cross man
has just furnished and made ready
for the first houseful Of sailor CON
valescents from the naval base hos
pital nearby.
Mysteriously on the Jb.
To this day no one has yet found
out how the Red Cross field di-
rector at one of our naval bases
knew that a United States warship
was due in from the tropics on a
certain morning when the wind was
holding and the frost biting on one
of the bitterest days of winter. The
sailors were still in their white
clothes as they cast anchor; and
when the naval tug with the Red
Cross flag nosed up beside her, they
wanted to know what she wanted.
The answer was hustled up to them
an issue OF warm underclothing, a
sweater, muffler, helmet, socks and
wristlets for every sailor aboard. a
Nlctrola with records and maga-
zines.
This spring, when a transport full
OF soldiers from New Zealand on
their way to war came through the
Panama canal and up by way OF
Newport news, anchoring there for
a short time, the Red Cross man
was able to perform a service: and
another time the tug edged up to
the big ship, as crate after crate OF
fruit and green vegetables went on
oard. 1t was something more than
mere courtesy to the young allies in
our waters. There was a great i'm
promptu celebration on board, with
much singing. The New Zealander
commander told of it afterward;
these strapping young Anzacs sang,
OF course, Over There and when
they came to the line. 'the Yanks
are coming they stopped and
cheered like mad, throwing their
caps into the air in their enthusi-
asm-cheering as though they would
never stop. They sang their own
patriotic songs and then. as if to
mark Il ceremony, sent thrilling
into the air three long cheers for
the American Red Cross - Il
wished" ," said their commander. "ev-
cry American could have heard our
men,"
Take Care of French Sailors.
1t was a French secret service
man who told the Red Cross field
director about two French sailors
who were seriously i'll with pneu-
monia, and their ship about to
leave. The Red Cross man had
them taken to a hospital and sent
them warm clothes and various
things they needed - services not
more appreciated than the personal
calls and the willingness to help in
any possible way. In the 30 odd
days of their convalescense these
French soldiers made, with meal
culable patience and ingenuity, a
really marvellous thing such as
you have seen treasured in some sea
port town. 1t was, indeed. 4 four |
masted schooner, all sails flying. !
with hull OF about eight inches |
and the whole somehow got within |
Il narrow-necked quart bottle. Most
scrupulously painstaking were the
manipulationS of all the threads |
which accomplished this seemingly |
feat.
From the French ship which was
TO carry them back to their home
base, the sailors sent through the 4
secret service man TO the Red Cross
man. the one gift they had TO give:
1t was, OF course, their cherished !
bottle; yet they gave it troubled and
regretful; not at parting with what
would have been so wonderful a
trophy TO have taken home. bu. be-
cause the little schooner inside did
not fly the Red Cross flag, but the
Red Cross man got word TO them
that he was very glad and proud
that it flew the flag of our French
ally.