The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-06
NURSE TELLS OF labor
RED CROSS WORK CARRIED
ON ACROSS THE WATER
Interesting Story Related BY
Julia Stimson; Ride Over
BattlefieIdS

With The American Red Cross in
France, November 9.--[By MALL
Miss Julia Stimson formerly chief
nurse of the American Red Cross, in
France and now chief nurse, Ameri-
can EXpeditionary Forces, recently
was invited by Dame Mccarthy, chief
matron of the British nursing serv-
ice, to visit the American nurses
serving in British hospitals along the
front. These nurses, of whom there
are about 600 were members OF the
original units assigned to British
Croops just after American inter-
vention. Many Of them are in the
casualty clearing stations (Which is
British for evacuation hosDitals) five
or six miles behind the front lines.
Miss SQmsonS own account of the
~ rom her diarv, follows:
Thursday, arrived at B 7:15 a. m.
TAX n otor to house of matron-
in chief Tea and bath. At ten o'clock
car called for me and l Joined
Miss Mccarthy at her office. Asked
lUnch ny General Sir Murray Irwin.
Had lunch with four or five officers,
who waited on us and themselves
from side table and kept jumping
:, ard down. Pleasant talk about
''ctoIy that a. m. against picked Ger
-" divisions. including Branden-
burgers Also tales of General Byng,
an unusual personality charming,
- me 'dra~ about the war.
Hasn't gone to theatre nor con-
cert nor had smoke since the war
began. Says this is his own hair
shirt, but ne does not expect others
to wear one too.
Albert in Ruins.
Left at 2:15. Drove on through
Doullens and Albert. Albert is moth
ing but ruins. 1t has not single
building of any sort left standing.
There is not even a single wall. The
main street has been repaired SO that
it was passable, though many she'll
holes in it had not yet been filed. The
countryside between Albert and
Bapaume hasn't a tree on it.
"At G. G. S. Casualty clearing sta
ton, No. 43, there are two American
nurses. Both were we'll and happy
much interested in the wonderful ex.
periences they were having. This
and the neighboring casualty clear
ing stations had just returned to
their old quarter a short time ago.
In the interim, The hospitals had been
occupied by the Germans. What
they left was almost entirely demol
isbed huts, torn up duck boards and
ground full of holes; but repairs have
been hame and new huts put up and
everything was functioning as before.
The first thing the British hospital
authorities do after getting the hos
pital in running order is to make the
nurses comfortable, or at least as
comfortable as possible. Often the
tents are arranged on the revete-
ment system, which means that they
arc sunk in holes below the level of
the ground. This usually means
puddles and dampness as the price of
safety. But they have comfortable
wicker chairs with bright cretonne
nu"hiCns. The rest room is heated
and everything is made as attractive
rs possible. At first glance it looks a
little like summer veranda, and un-
doubtedly must refresh the nurses
when they come in for their off,
time away from the distressing
scenes in which they are always TAX :
ing part.
Drive Through Utter Waste
"No 10 G.. G.. S. was reached after
drive through an utter waste with
out sign of habitation for miles except
small scattered camps of soldiers.
Conducted between lines of huts
Conducted between line of huts along
muddy slippery duck boards. Were
each taken TO tiny single hut which
had been prepared for us. Bed soon
after dinner.
Saturday. Rain and high winds
all night. After breakfast in my hut
taken over hospital by matron
Visited No. 80 c. c. S. next door
seventeen to twenty sisters and
sometimes TOO patients
Long ride through wind and rain
No. 8 Canadian C. C. S. Had lunch
in sisters mess in. a French house
Everywhere ! find the American sis
tiers contented and their work appre-
ciated. At No. stationary hospital
there were five OF them They were
very glad to see me ard to see that
they were not forgotten by the Red
Cross. They are reported as doing
very good work.
Sunday. We left soon after nine
and were on the road all the morning
Visited Nos. Al ard As. At 4S We're
two American girls. Both happy and
enthusiastic. Said they We're not 60
! ing to mention leave for fear il
would be given them and something
might prevent their coming back
Matron gave good report of them,
said they were adaptable and plea
SAINT. 1t is interesting to note the
difference between the British girls
and ours. The British take every
thing in a calm matter Of course
fashion. They go to tea even if the
sky is about tc fall. Our girls are sc
full OF enthusiasm that they are
prone to neglect themselves in their
eagerneSs to serve and so do not
conserve their strength. l think ii
is very good training for them To be
with the British. | was interested in
Dame McCarthy's selection of nurses
, for the advanced stations There o.,
many nurses, she Jays, who's Cour-
age ard devotion arc most eXemp
larry who simply cannot stand the
strain Of life at the front. They
show it in little ways. The matrons
are in the watch for these signs and
back they are sent to the rear hos