The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-11
THE GREAT RED CHoss.
What Was Done i'll Italy During the
Austrian Defeat in June.

What Was Done i'll Italy During the
Austrian Defeat in June.
Italian Front. July 4.-The full
story of the work Of. the American
Red Cross in Italy during the Aus
trian defeat of June 14-21 will never
be written. Some of II lies in the
experience of young American volun-
teers in canteens at advanced posts
who cooked for every combatant who
appeared until ordered to fall back
out Of fire. More is in the memories
of Red Cross ambulance men who
for ten days AID nights drove their
freight through continuous sEell-fire
and occasional machine gun attack.
The remainder is buried in columns
OF res at HEADQUARTERS IN Rome
from which, within. few hours OF
the first warning, supplies We're pour
ell along every road to the front.
Before dawn on the night of June
IA, the first Austrian shock came
Behind the waiting Italian army were
four sections Of American Red Cross
anlhu:ances Many of the Americans
on duty were new to italy, and to war
The others were veteran drivers from
the French front, some. OF whom be-
gan their service long before the Unit
ed States declared war. The curious
fact is that between the records OF the
veterans and the amateurs there
stands today little difference. Cool
headedness under fire is soon learned
il it can be learned a. all; and to bal
ance the veterans experience the new
man is frequently the more eager, IN
a career in which the val-.e Of eager
ness runs a close second to eXterity
and common sense.
A report made to the Italian Su-
preme Command by the Commander
Of American Red Cross Ambulance
Section No. 2, the largest Of the four
sections, takes special notice OF the
acts of a volunteer, Goldohwaite II
Dorr, Of Nutley, n. j., on the night
of June a. He was on duty at an ad-
vanccd post which was hit by an
enemy she'll. which Demolished part
Of the house, and completely covered
his ambulance. Returning to the
headquarters Of the section. he there
took charge Of another anbu-
lance and returned to the field Of bat
tie in order that he might continue
his work of pity.
The report OF Section NO. is full
OF similar instances OF bravery: John
Walter Miller, Jr. of KenOra, On
tario, Canada, and Frederic J. Agate
OF Scarsdale, New York, were order
ed to front post. Arriving at cross
road they found it covered with barb
ed wire obstacles and two machine
guns in place. With the help Of the
machine gun operators, they tore
down and opened the barbed Wire,
and advanced SEQ metres further. &nG
reached a house where the wounded
were being cared for while bullets
of the two armies were raining al
around them Having loaded their
automobile with wounded, they re-
turned to the stations where the in
;ured received first-aid treatment
AT 3 o'clock on the morning OF the
10Th, the Commander OF the section
judged by the intensity of the bonn
bardment that certain advanced
post required a reinforcement Of am
balances. Four volunteers We're de-
tailed for this duty. They were Clar-
ence F. Roe. of Chicago, Ill, Dudley
T. Wolf, of Irvington Hudson
New York. Lucius II. Davidson Of
Great Village, Nova Scotia, and John
A. Gordon, of Barre, Vermont. They
advanced to this post, j. spite Of q
violent enemy bombardnent of shells
Of
nen IS now in Milan, Being treated
For a serious condition of the eyes
due to gas) This medical post be-
came Sc dangerous during their work
there that it had to be abandoned but
they continued to carry wounded.
gathering them from the road. And
this task was continued and accom-
rlished by them day and night during
the entire offensive.
On the night Of the 18th, two Of the
new volunteers who had Just joined
the section distinguished themselves.
Walter J. FEEDER Of Cincinnati, Ohio.
and Robert C. Cory, of Newark. y. j..
went to a front post where fighting
was very fierce. and We're stopped by
a colonel, who told them it was i'm
possible to proceed. At this very mo-
ment. the colonel was struck and Sc
riously injured by a piece Of shell.
They carried him Immediately to a
surgical station: on their return they
were stopped at q bridge Of military
police who said It was fatal to so
further: but taking adrantaSe Of a
moments inattention cn the part OF
the guards. they went on in spite OF
this warning. and succeeded in car
rying great number Of wounded
from this area
Not long after the Grst ambulance
moved American Red Cross canteens
sprang up at favorable sites just be-
hind the lines Ten canteens had
been in operation under the Depart
n1cnt Of Military Affair for months:
seven more were added Immediately.
The GROIN Dlocp(i |