Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-12-20

had been 50 long with the Tommy,
! told them they were not forgotten
and arrangements would soon be made
to evacuate them. One man | so well
remember He told me he had been
prisoner for three years, working in
the coal mines, and during that entire
time his wife and three children did
not know he was alive. He had a
nurse write home telling them Of his
whereabouts. Think Of The JOY in that
home. This, in a small way, will make
up for the tremendous sorrow in the
homes of so many who will not be able
to look forward to home cmings. |
can't wonder there were tears III his
eyes when he was talking.
I'VE made our way back u the old
fort that contained the men and as
| wandered about the subterranean
passages that had been constructed
by the Germans and had only so few
days ago been used by the troops, it
seemed like dream. After finishing
our visit we had a cup OF cocoa and
some biscuits, the first had tasted
since breakfast. After all was finished
we made our way back to the car and
then to the Hotel We had some OF the
delightful dishes of vegetables that the
German people can prepare. While
eating, in the kitchen below girls were
singing the Marseillaise and hymns
For E months that was the first wo-
I haI haaV1 To ~
sounded good is but to put it mild
ly. After supper | had "A good tub
bath. Those of you at home can never
know how to appreciate a bath until
you have been out here minus heat
and hot water. | then had room all
to myself with even a stand light, 1t
seemed such waste OF space, and
how good it seemed 20 crawl into a
real bed and between sheets | will
leave you to imagine | found myself
awake early. got up and had breakfast
with French officer He had been the
day before to take charge of German
town but the Burgomaster had mis-
understood the terms Of the armlstice.
He said he had given them unul y
to vacate and if not out by that hour
he would assist him with a company OF
infantry. AS he left and shook hands
he remarked now for the war"
II had promised to return to the
hospital so went down and watched
the French surgeons dress the cases.
An awful sight Nearly all the wounds
were infected. and the condition Of the
patients were "beggars descriptions"
They had been left by the Huns and in
the meantime before the French had
taken it over the work had been done
by the civilian physicians. Soon | saw
major and colonel making rounds,
Then the major put on his gown and
asked me to act as his scribe in classi-
flying the American prisoners for
evacuation. The work of that morning
well repays me for the little | have
lived of hardships in my stay here in
France. / thought | knew what foul
wounds are but l find | will have to
reclassify my knowledge, There we're
men who had not been bathed Tor a
months. | will leave you to imagine
their condition. The nuns and Amer-
the midst of it all group of entertain
cans were busy cleaning them up. In
ers that had been in France Q months
giving entertainments were brought in
and for 80 minutes the men enjoved
the entertainment while we won ked,
and as they went around to speak to
the patients, the tears were rolling
down the checks OF the men in bed
l had to work hard to keep mine back.
To be frank my eyes were bit moist
One poor officer who was severely
wounded in the abdomen was in bad
shape and it will be only good sur
gerry and nursing that will ever get
him home. Some Of the walking wound
ed said they had been quite well treat.
ed
Il neglected to say that one Of the
doctors helping the French told me
of his interesting experiences. He was
from Lorraine and had been compel
led to serve in the German army. He
had been in a prison camp and when
the Revolution broke out he returned
to Metz wearing civilian clothes. He |
caid he had NOT tasted flesh since