The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-04-20
american Airmee In France Find
Red Cross cantssn Supplies All
the Comforts They
Require.
BREAKFAST AND SMILE
Chow is Good, But What 10 Vastly
More Important is Happy At
mosphere Which
Goes With II.
lBy Forbes Watson. i

lBy Forbes Watsonl
American boys are learning to Il!
IN France and American women ar,
brewing coffee and frying ham ant
eggs for the boys who are learning
10 f1y and making them little more
cheerful and comfortable than boys
three thousand miles away from
home could otherwise be- The Ameri
can Red Cross canteens tell the
story.
The ground was white with snow
when / visited one Of the United
states aviation camps. Early in the
morning, cold and hungry, ! walked
down the long line of barracks. Ar
officer overlook me, and I asked him
If he knew where the American Red
Cross canteen was.
.Do / know where that is? Why
boy, that's our home!"
His slender figure and easy move
ment indicated strength and agility
and on his coat he wore the insignia
Of the American flyer.
you'll get fine breakfast over
there" he said, "and what's more,
you'll get 1t with a SMILE"
We were walking on a typical
American board walk. The buzz Of
saw mill, the steady throb of a
power-house engine, the knocking Of
busy carpenters. the whirr of air
planes flying In battle groups and
singly, the German prisoners road
building, all were part Of the great
aviation camp on which the finishing
touches are now being rushed for
ward.
We turned to the right, passed
more barracks. Ahead Of US doomed
the steel frame OF an American water
tower and beside the road stood an
American steamroller. Beyond were
hangers and more hangers. At every
turn were signs of American energy.
! Crowds of soldiers passed US hurry
| ing to their appointed tasks. Looking
+ At their frank. courageous, high-bred
aces, was proud to be an American.
Here we are" said my newly
made friend.
We entered the canteen.
Specifically it is like those won
i derful canteens that the Red Cross
has established on the French army
lines Of communication, which have
won for the American women volun-
teer workers the highest praise OF
General Pershfng, of the French
military authorities and Of the
French press-praise which is abso-
lutely deserved.
At one end is the kitchen and the
officers mess, and beyond is the long
room for the enlisted men, But the
first moment makes 1t clear that
there is something different. These
American women who greeted the
young officer and me so gracfously,
are working for their own country
mer.
That group Of young soldiers stand
ing at the counter and hungry for
hot coffee, hot chocolate, delicious
ireshly-made sandwiches. has not yet
been through the fire of the
trenches. They are not poilus. Their
Khaki uniforms are not as picturesque
IN this interior light as would be a
corresponding mass of horizon blue
uniforms. But one knows that like
heir brothers, the Canadians. they
VIII make a magnificent record.
Above all they are our own, and the
aeart warns to them as 1T warns to
10 other soldiers.
Helps Out on Diet.
Here are men and women of the
same race. They understand each
other as only members Of the same
nee can do There is a little less
iofmality, freer intercourse
leard one Of the older workers, with
nursing experience to supplement the
work she has done in other can
.eens, talking to a young man who
cd not feel well:
Look here. my boy, know some
uing that you need. Now sit down
sau III give you a good bowl of hot
milk toast"
she hurried back to the stove.
Make that nice boy over there
sOme hot milk toast. He's of his
'eea' II he's not looking better to-
heels"
would be impossible for an
Sinerlcan worker to talk to a poilu
this way. No matter how friendly
Icy are. or how well they under.
ana each other, between the French
o,uler and the American women
olunteer certain formalities must
maintained.
! was introduced to captain, who
emarked:
Wen. l see that You found the
snt place to come for breakfast"
as captains voice was hoarse.
now are you today?" another OFF,
on asked him.
Much better, thanks to one of
sse ladies'. I was in bed all day
ss.erday. But she saw the doctor
sand out what was best for me to
= prepared 1T for me and brought
oser steaming hot. And that's
y I'm up today
~ this point breakfast was served,
oowi OF coffee that was real cot
i. TWO sizzling shirred eggs, q little
~ OF homemade jam, bread and
butter. And 1t was served, as
friend had forewarned me. with