The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-29
HOSPITAL
FOR AMERICANS
Prepared at Southampton, England, I'm
der the Supervision of the American
Red Cross-Fine Place for the
Wounded to Recuperate.

SUM hhu WdltiiR Ioi LneHl HbdI DOubu-
ampton a military hospital which, built
under the supervision of the Red Cross
authorities of their own land, is situated
on one of England's most magnificent
country estates, Known as Salisbury
court, comprising 1856 acres.
Woodland, pasture land and ample
gardens, with half mile frontage on
Southampton waters which afford good
fishing and splendid boating, comprise
the site of this American institution.
Southwark, the eonvalescing soldiers will
look across the water to the busy harbor
of Southampton, with the shores Of the
Isles of Wight in the distance of the
hospital jetty they will see anchored an
ancient British frigate, now used as a
training ship her decks sNarming with
young midshipmen at their first lessons
in seacraft.
Conferred in these surroundings is an
old manor house which, erected as a pri-
yate residence 35 years ago by wealthy
British land owner, will serve as the cen
trail hospital building. From the tower
of this structure one may have an I'M
INSTRUCTED view for 20 miles. The cen
trail corridor of the hospital viii be 900
feet long, and wards on either side will
accommodate from go to 100 patients
each. Here, and in neighboring hutments
which will cover nearly 10 acres, viii be
room for 1900 wounded to be cared for
comfortably There will be separate
buildings for the medical and nursing
stats and other employees, and for kitch-
ems and operating rooms AT some dis
lance from the main buildings will be a
large isolation hospital, with its own
kitchens and equipment.
This estate, located at some distance
! from the main roads SO that the ambu-
lance traffic viii not be interfered with
| by the regular business Of the central
highways, was purchased by the Red
Cross. Capt f. Harper Sibley of the
Red Cross, formerly president of the
Chamber Of Commerce of Rochester, N
Y, is supervising the construction work
Capt. Sibley has been in charge Of the
American Red Cross work at Southamp-
ton since his arrival in England last
April.
By mid August the hospital should be
opened to the extent that there will be
accommodation for about 400 beds. Some
Of these will be located temporarily in
tents of the Bossoneau type, with win
dows set in the walls to make them light
and airy and double roof with all
chamber between to insulate them from
the heat of the sun.
During the pleasant English summer
these tent wards will be very comfort.
able and agreeable, and long before the
| first chilly weather Of autumn comes
the frame hut wards, steam heated, viii
be ready 1t is possible that some OF the
tents will be retained for the use Of con
valescents or for overflow purposes in
the event Of big offensive on the north
ern part of the western front
The hospital win have its own electric
| lighting plant and water supply. There
probably will be double system Of wa
ter supply, water from the river being
used for ordinary purposes, while speeia
| distilled or spring water will be used fol-
drinking purposes and in the kitchens
and operating rooms.
The manor house is large and hand
some building of what Euglishmen cal
modern construction, inasmuch as il
dates back only 35 years. 1t is in th'
Tudor style, standing on level plateau
on the highest point Of the estate. 1t IL
built of brick with Portland stone dress
ings and has a slated roof with artistic
red -ridged tiles, while the chimneys o.
brick and stone are made a prominent
architectural feature. The most notable
parts Of the exterior are the magnificent
carved stone main entrance and the stone
balustrade.
| An American housewife would perhaps
be the most impressed by the kitchen, .
room large enough to be used as a ball
room, white tiled and with a ceiling 81
feet high. 1t Is said that the builder o.
the house planned to use 1t as hom'
for poor boys, where they could b
trained to make themselves useful In thu
world, and the kitchen would undoubt
eddy be able to provide adequately for {
large number of youthful appetites
stimulated by the fresh country air anC
the invigorating work of an Englisl
farmstead.
The ambulances which will bring thu
American wounded from the piers a
Southampton will approach the hospita
by long carriage drive through pic
turesuue woodland and we'll kept lawns
At the entrance to the estate they viii
pass a gabled stone lodge in the fines
type Of English country architecture
which probably will be used as the resi-
dence of the superintendent and chic
medical officers of the hospital. TIL
wounded man, If his cot faces southwark
will look out over the river toward
Southampton, with an occasional view
of warships and transports. If his be,
faces north he viii still get river view
this time across the estates tennis court
and cricket field, to where the narrowing
river disappears amid the gray shadow
of the hills.
The eonvalescent soldier will find sew
eral miles of sunny or shaded walk
without going outside the hospita
grounds. Strolling southwark, he vii
cross a broad meadow and little pate
Of woods to the hospital piggery an
! chicken farm and just below this he vii
come to the boat house and the jetty
where he may dangle his legs jvst abov
the water and sit, fshpole in hand, wit
good prospects of a profitable catch.
he chooses to stroll northward from tn
r main hospital buildings, he will find tn
forest denser and wilder, and at the othe
side of the forest he will come upon tn
hospital vegetable gardens and green
houses.