The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-04-24
Six American Girls Pass
Through Thrilling Experience
on Western Front.
PRAISED By OFFICERS
Stood Ground While Shells
Kissed and Roared.
Undaunted Courage Shown by
Girls of Salvation Army
Canteen During Battle.
international News Service.)

(Internatlonal News Servlce.)
With the American Army in France
April 23 (S P.M.)-Heroines as well as
heroes are emerging from the fighting
on that part of the western front held
by the Americans.
Six American girls, all ensigns in the
Salvation Army canteen back Of the
trenches. had narrow escapes from
shells during the battle Of Seicheprey
/ Gas shells and bombs of large cali
Der were kissing and roaring all about.
+, But despite these dangers the workers
| pleaded with the commander to be al
lowed to stay and serve hot coffee and
| cocoa to the men coming out of the
first line trenches.
| Although the commander admired the
| pluck Of the girls he was compelled by
| his duty to order them out Of the viii
lage.
Girls Tell Stories.
Some of the girls toda. told me how
they felt to be under shell fire, while
| near to the field of actual fighting.
All were cool and collected, but the
army officers are loud in their praise
of them. The daring of these Saliva
tion Army girls is a proud record. The
people in the United States are not
aware Of the dangers nor how close
these workers are to tlo zone of bat
tie and to the "Yanks in steel Stet-
sons" as the doughboys are coming to
be known.
Miss Irene Mcintyre, a graduate OF
Mount Vernon college, New York. said
that Friday night was the first in more
than week that the girls did not
sleep in dugouts. The German bat
teries were rather quiet that night.
"On Thursday evening we had de-
cided to go to our own beds for a
change said she. "We were billeted
In a quaint old cement house. formerly
owned by the mayor and the only in
tact one in the village. Downstairs
was occupied chiefly by hens and cows,
while my sister. myself and other girls
occupied the upper apartment.
Names of Heroines.
"In the house were Gladys MYRTLE
Huntington, of South Manchester
Conn; Stella Young, of Chelsea, Mass:
Gertrude Simmons, Violet Williams, Of
Racine. Wis, and Miss Williams, who
had arrived from the states about a
week before.
I'VE were awakened about 4 o'clock
In the morning by the ringing of the
old church bell. The shelling had
started and the first one struck right
under the clock. We grabbed our gas
masks and put them on. and 1t was not |
a minute too soon, for we certainly got
a Whit of the horrible stuff before they
were on. The girls were not a bit
frightened. They all took IL as a lark.
and it was certainly funny to see them
sitting on the high French beds with
their maiNs on.
After a while wo began to wonder
why no gas signal Lad been sounded.
but in short time the all clear sig
nal was given.
After a while the girls got restless
and wanted to take off their masks. /
agreed to take mine off long enough to
investigate and get a fashlight The
other girls he.ped me to take il off, but
no soone. had done so than got an
other Whit. Then more shells came
along.
Dead Mans Curve.
by daylight ambulances bearing
soldiers began to appear
around Dead Mans curve wanted
20 stay and serve refreshments to the
wounded soldiers. the officer in
charge OF the town held that it was no
II place tor women. We got out in a
ouckboard driven by a sergeant. 1t
vas an exciting ride. TO. The shells
we're bursting everywhere. II
''The soldiers hated to see us go. ,
They certainly showed great cour-
ge in saving our baggage, They sent
is away for a rest. but we felt like | .
ishes out OF water"
Miss Mcintyre at this point asked for :
and her companions gave
hearty assent. g
Miss Mcintyre has worked for sew I
raj months among the soldiers back OF
he first line trenches bailing pies and 4
Ioughnuts for the men and serving hot S
Office TO them. In her idle moments (
he placed wild violets on the graves \
4 the dead. v
The Salvation Army canteens are a
warming with men every time the h
roops ars on the move. other work. a
RS in this branch are Gladys Mcintyre h
nd Miss Coria Van Norden. the lat !
er being a member OF wealthy New j
'ork family.
With the American Army in France. 7
.pril 90 Is p.m.)-Private David &
riggs. of East Hampton, Conn, dis 4
nRuished himself in the battle of r.
eicheprey by carrying ammunition
through three lines OF barrage FIRE and e
)day he is the favorite among his Z
omrades. n
A Red Cross field agent told this G.
tory about tho Yankee soldier today: X
"Griggs. who is only 10 years old. o'
as carried into our canteen slightly v
ounded. After he had rested. ne be- u
----------------- 81
iaj. William Thaw IA