The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-03-07
CANTEENS SERVE
HOT FOOD TO
MEN EN- ROUTE.
RED CROSS PROVIDES RE-
FRESHMENTS TO SOLDIERS
AT ALL HOURS OF
DAY OR NIGHT.
Troop Trains Halt in Dismal Sta
tons as Uniformed Women
Distribute Fruit, Sand
Wiches and Coffee.

The Atlantic Division of the Ameri
can Red Cross, which embraces New
covered with a network of canteens
for the benefit of soldiers en- route,
according to statement made public
by John S. Ellsworth, division direc-
tor of canteen service.
Canteen units are established at all
principal points through New York,
New Jersey and Connecticut where
trains stop or are delayed. The chief
point is naturally in New York city,
with its terminals and ferries, where
vast numbers of military men are
passing to their camps.
The division canteen headquarters
is clearing house for information re
gardlng troop movements, camps, etc.
Confidential advice is supplied by the
government to aid the direction of
canteen service throughout the three
states. The railroad companies also
cooperate, holding trains over If pos
slble until refreshments can be served
to all the men.
The division canteen service director
has two assistants and ten aides, all
of them women in uniform. They are
either at headquarters or on call by
telephone during the waking hours,
which are from 6 a. m. to II p. m.
These aides are ready to go to any Of
the nearby canteen stations and assist
the local women in serving the soldiers
during these hours
In fact, the canteen Is a twenty
four-hour service. If the Red Cross is
informed that refreshments are needed
at any time during the day or night
they are on hand to meet the needs of
the men. The hotels in New York city
generously give coffee, cheese, ETC., for
the Red Cross canteens.
Soldiers Given "Smokes."
Sandwiches, fruit, sweet buns, choc-
olate and hot coffee comprise the usual
fare. If the men are not actually hun
cry they are given chocolate and
smokes" II they are not in need of
food of any kind they are always given
the emergency" service. The Red
Cross supplies them with postal cards
attends to the censoring and posting
of their mail, relieves any sickness and
meets any need 1t can possibly ale
viate.
The emergency nature of the can.
teen service, the out-of-the-way spots
where 1t is often needed, the irregular
hours when 1t Is called for, the dark
wharves and crowded ferry houses
where the trains are held-all these
features make the work a difficult one
In spite of these difficulties, however.
the canteen is considered one of the
most efficient branches of the Red
Cross
An example of this efficiency was in
the service rendered the Three Hun
dred and Eighth Infantry just before
its recent parade In New York city.
Fifty minutes before the men left the
armory the Red Cross received word
that they needed a canteen service be
fore starting the parade, The RED
Cross responded Immediately In less
than an hour from the time theiy re
ceived the request they had sery ed
$500 men with sandwiches sweet buns
and coffee
Soldiers Laud canteen Service,
One of the many expressions of ap-
probation that came 10 the director
was from the colonel of the Three
Hundred and Eighth Infantry who con
cluded his letter of thanks with Al have
never seen anything surprising It or
nearly as efficiently done"
Another letter from a first lieuten
ant says of 1.-THE delicious coffee and
ham sandwiches" served on board n
troop train to 800 men early one morn
ing: "To say they were appreciated is
only half expressing the feelings of the
men, who spent the rest of the day
praising the Red Cross from top to
bottom"
From the postals of the men them
selves some less formal appropriations
have been culled as follows:
"On our way south the Red Cross
provided US with the dandiest lunch
just when we were as hungry as
wolves"
Started to write pop, but made him
a missus. Tell him to Join the Red
Cross or l will dlsown him."
1.-The Red Cross gave me this card
and also n swell dinner. They ora n