Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-24
NTH THE AMERICANS, Aug. 26.-"Do you
~ want to assist at a social event? asked the
Major Doctor. "A real social EVENT.?

u
w Major Doctor "A real social event.?
His suggestion sounded like madness. We were
visiting a little pine shack hospital back OF the
lines On ahead the bend of the River Marne
in which the - American division hao Iahen
all the Boche could give and then handeu 1t oacA
to him full measure, pressed down and running
over. Down the dusty road came line OF am ia
lances Some were the familiar FLY bouncing
along iauntily through the holes worn in the ROAD
surface by the wheels of gun carriages anu tue
great camions. Some were ambulances OF ldIs
er. and more discreet type which pore tnemseN i
with dignity. Still others we're PLAIN TRUCKS III
which the men who had suffered mild injuries hdu
piled themselves. 80
We were standing at the door of the. recep-
tion room which in other days had been the sale
de reception of the Marie of the tiny village IN
the room from which the mayor issued on lete
davs silk HATED and frock coated, with huge
tri.coored scarf disposed across his ample breast
surgeons were operating. One of them mao sIeP
ped out a moment before to smoke clgarette' IL
was his substitute for rest and sleep, ne Sdlu AH
hour or two before he had eaten breakfast: -
"One loses all count of time. said ne casuall!'
II thought it was lunch. What day is it, any
how , - -. rror,,
without rest. - - -
"Nost of us have been working steadily for
from forty-two to forty-efght hours was his re-
ply Then he added, still with that air detach-
ment. that we are getting organized now. The
rush is beginning to let up Tomorrow we VIII
begin working twelve hour shifts
Twelve hours at operating?
ct is much SAID ne. we Jnlnh no man
can give his best if he works more than ten hours
without sleep-and these men deserve the best
that any man give them.
The orderlies we're beginning to unload the
ambuIances The sitting cases" and the walk
ing wounded" were directed to the pine shacks
across the road--long pine barracks with four
walls and a roof and dirt floors-which are per
feet for the rapid disposal of the lesser cases me
stretchers were carried in through the door oy
which we standing. Most OF the men upon
them had closed their eyes, from weakness or as d
watched US as they were carried past Now ana
then one smiled family. as though to say that II
is all right with me-" Others looked at us with
composure Sometimes the great question appear
ed in a mans eyes. . ,,.-
Come over to the reception said the Major
We crossed the road into the pine shack where
the slightly wounded men had walked or had oeen
carried. Through the door widely enough , open
to admit wagon if need be- there came clatter
of voices The sitting cases" were all talking
at once They were all smoking at once, too, Tor
some Red Cross man had contributed cigarettes
They said that pretty little French girls IN
some sort Of gray uniform had been stand
ing at the bend of the road with cigarettes plied
in their bOnnets.
peaches" was the universal verdict. They
handed us cigarettes as we went by. Gee. wish
| could talk French!
cited and CHEEKY and talkative. Every one had
story to tell of the fight he had gone through in
the bend OF the River Marine where Mezy had
been half German for little time and Fossoy had
been German. and from which the Boche had been
elected On this side Of Mezy and Fossoy there
had been new No Mans Land for time, too,
where Americans chased Germans with sort of
JOYOUS anger They had fought in this open
ground-WO miles square, perhaps and spotted
here and there with houses and hedges and trees
and trenches and everywhere dotted with small
THEY WE'RE ALL FOR CASEY
Here's Casey" half dozen shouted
Casey came in quietly He a tall young
fellow who carried himself jauntily in spite of
arm in sling. But in his eyes there smouldered