Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-27
MISS MAHONEY WRITES
FROM COVER THERE

An interesting letter has been re-
ceived from Miss Jennie Mahoney,
who is now stationed at a base hospi-
tai Somewhere in France" Miss
Mahoney, who left here April 9Th to
join the base hospital unit, with
which she sailed. has resided here for
a number Of years and is we'll known
throughout the state, having been one
of the first members of the state board
OF nurse examiners. Miss Mahoney's
letter in part reads:
Il am no at my journeys end yet,
but want to drop you a few lines while
I may. Had a wonderful trip yer
Our trip across was not as thrilling as
some would like, for they were wish
ing all the time to see submarines. I
crossed on the sister steamer Of the
one I crossed on before, but things are
very different now. Every corner was
crowded. but only two civilians on
board. There were three hospital
units, all as large as ours, and a num-
Der Of troops. Met Lieut.. Traynor,
(Mack). of Grand Forks. Saw him
several times coming over, and he
looked healthy and seemed in good
spirits.
WE were on the steamer fourteen
days. Unit 26 was also on board, so
I saw several North Dakota nurses.
Miss Nyberg, who used to be at the
university, was with them, and it
seemed SO nice to have someone from
home. There was a regimental band
among the nurses and privates, and
we had a Concert every afternoon
when we were not in the danger zone,
though it seems now all the way over
is danger zone. We had "setting up
drill every morning at Z o'clock by
one Of u officers, and boat drill
every day at 10 and 4, and always we
carried our trusty life belts and sew
eral days we kept them on and prop
erly adjusted. We appreciated the
service they were to us, but we were
was with a hope that those who wore
them next and all those who followed
us, would be as safely kept as we had
been.
Three days out from England sew
eral destroyers met us, and we learn
ed to love those little boats that dart
ed around here and there looking for
trouble, and we knew II n trouble
came, they would meet 1t successful
~. We also learned to love the Brit
ish battleship that came across with
us. 1t vas a big. powerful looking at
fair. with guns bristlfng from every
nook and corner, and it gave me a
very comfortable feeling to look out
and always see It steaming along be-
side us. One evening at sunset II
steamed away from us, away off until
1t was only a speck on the horizon,
and we felt as though u best friend
had left US. When the nurses came
down to bed they all said. II wonder
ba~ttleshrfp Is gone. but when we
went up on deck early next morning,
there it was again, and we welcomed
1t back like an old friend. It was in
spring to come steaming in to ar
English port with our convoy, and If
l could tell you the splepdid humber
of troops and nurses we bought oyer,
you would feel more proud than ever
to belong to your good old U. S. A.
And the welcme we received made us
quite sure they were glad to see us
While waiting for u train, the Y. w.
Q. A. served us good hot coffee and
crackers, and gave US postals to write
back home. We were loaded into one
Of those strange little trains and q
24-hour army ration with each of US
and started across England. 1t was a
splendid trip. The vegetable gardens
and small farms, all very we'll kept,
were 80 restful. We made one -stor
for U e~ver-ready Y. w. c. A. coffee
6llU dITAVeu III Zig evening az AHOLN0l
seaport city, where we were marched
to q very fine hotel and q bed, water
soap, towels and q good dinner
+, (minus cream and butter), never
looked so good to Us before. In the
morning We got some English and
French money, and had lots OF fun
shopping with It. At noon we were
loaded on a hospital ship, and had the
interesting experience OF crossing the
channel Our unit was assigned ia
the ward marked mental" and In
spite OF discomfort. submarines
lbombs and enemies, We had lots OF
fun .diagnosfns each others cases. We
didn't mind discomfort because WI
were nearing "ovsr there" We did
not sleep, and went up on deck al
sunrise to get our first view Of France,
which looked 10 peaceful in the morn
Ing sunshine that 1t didn't ssem posi-
Bile that war WAs. only 76 miles away,
There WA q company OF American
soldiers theirs to attend Is our bar
g9ge and take ~ to the hotel, ana VI
surely rot . warm welcome from
them. We were packed into 1 bir
army an and taken TO : hotel. Gsy-
srai times on the way our drivSr told
~ how giaA he Wa 70 sse some real