The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-08
Lieut.. Bicdrd of France
Tells What Women Can Do
To Aid in Winning War
Brings Message to America From Women of France
Write Plenty of Letters to Boys Over There But
Make Them Always Cheerful Letters" He Says

slant ovations have been given this
week to Lieut.. Jean Alcide Bicard, both
at Camp Mcclellan and in Admission.
| Lieutenant Bicard has come direct
from the bloody battle fields of
France to bring messages of hope and
! inspiration to the patriots of America.
He possesses most magnetic person
ality, speaks English fuently with
| just enough of the foreign brogue to
add fascination to his speech. He is
fired with enthusiasm over prospects
of victory, which he imparts to his
audience in a most wonderful man
ner.
The boys are simply wild over him"
said Secretary Graham Young Mems
Christian association director as he
introduced Lieutenant Bicard to the
council of national defense on Tues
day morning., when Annistonians first
enjoyed the privilege of hearing him.
On Wednesday evening, in a message
delivered to the officers wives at the
Admission inn, he gave practical advice,
and brought cheer and resolutions for
bravery to these women who are of
fering on the altar of their country
their most priceless treasures, their
pearls without price-their husbands
and sons.
Why are you in America" l asked,
as | obtained some of his precious
time for an interview this week. Il
was relieved from active service on
account of physical disabilities, suf-
fered after 2S months of service in the
war; he replied.
80 you are doing your bit over
here" l remarked
There is no such thing as doing our
bit in France" he replied. Everyone
of our men, women and children are
doing their full share--not their Bit
or course could not bear to give my
time to personal business affairs or
pleasures when every able bodied man
in my country is fighting for my free
dom, so | came over here, under the
auspices of the national war work
council of the Young Mems Christian
association to bring messages from
France to your American boys and to
the mothers and wives of America"
DO tell me some of the messages to
our women 1 requested
This is the message that / was told
to deliver in the name of the mothers
of France: They will welcome your
American boys as if they were their
own sons! Your boys will be kept as
much as possible under the influence
of good women, and given the joys of
home life. Speaking of home life you
woman cannot realize how your boys
hunger for letters from home. Urge
the women to write, but above every.
thing else urge them to write cheerful
letters. Nothing breaks a mans spirit
like a blue letter from the states
Write with smile. II you are MAX
ing a sacrifice, let it be q joyful sacri-
flee with a smile
How can it be done? Why, convince
yourselves. Know that we cannot be
beaten. Germany must be licked, and
we are going to lick her! Think OF
your little children, be glad that you
have a man to fight for them!
Il have a wife and little boy over
there. I know what I'm talking about.
Our French women are ready to go
ahead as long as necessary. With all
the hardships they have to stand, with
all the horrors they have seen, with
all the sacrifices they have been called
upon to accept, they keep on smiling. Oh,
you women of America must keep up
the spirit of your boys. Keep them up
with bright cheering letters!
Tell the women of America not to
send the boys so much money Every
dollar sent usually represents a dol
lars worth of trouble to the men in
France. One dollar over there buys as
much as five dollars over here. They
have all they need. They can't take
joy rides in France because we are
using all of our cars and all of our
gasoline for war purposes. Liquor is
forbidden the boys, but light wines and
beer are not called liquor and some OF
mo hnx han, ,1,a, ,n1
with too much money, are inclined
to imbibe too freely, and drunkenness
brings heavy punishment. For many
other reasons, it is best not to send
your boys money"
mo wonder you are proud of your
French women" / remarked.
I'VE have every right to be- he re-
piled. II hope the American women
will never be called upon to face the
issues that have confronted our wom-
en-. In one business / have. in mind
there We're 20 men working Every one
of the 70 men have now gone to war.
and their jobs are being filed by 70
women, and the business is kept rum
ming better than ever before. Our
women must save food, because they
can't get enough to waste. Every time
see you cast aside a half eaten sand
wich. | feel like crying out, oh, there
Is another Frenchman's life gomez Oh
yes, you work you say. Don't tell me
knitting is work. 1 imagine you knit
as we smoke, but go on with your
knitting, and be loyal to your Red
Cross. Remember that your Red Cross
Cross rooms, whore she was the first to
receive a cross for finished course in
surgical dressing. She spent manv hours
there sewing knowing that her bit
p1 q t,an 70 mt n L