New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-02-19
DIR. MEL SAYS KNIT,
and THE WOMEN DID
Clergyman Back From France
Tells Of "Our Boys"

months of Red Cross work in the
battle zone of France, addressed an
audience of almost 1000 people at
| the Center church last evening,
| sneaking under the auspices of Es-
| Their Stanley Chapter, D. A. r., and
for the American Red Cross DR..
| MiePs talk was not SO much a re
sumo of the fighting along the battle
front as it was a personal glimpse
into the every day life Of the New
Britain boys who are serving over
there and his words carried much
comfort to the mothers. fathers and
friends of the New Britain soldiers.
Knit, Keep ON Knitting.
Preceding DR.. Mie1's talk there was
a musical concert. Theron w. Hart
rendered several organ selections and
q violin solo was given by Herbert
Anderson. Mrs. Howard Horton also
sang and the congregation likewise
joined in singing patriotic airs, the
strains of @'America" and the Battle
Hymn of the Republic" sharing
honors with the stirring music of the
--MarSeilleS.' Many of the women
who attended DR.. Miels talk brought
their knitting with them and as he
looked over the audience the speaker
smiled. He then referred to a Bibli-
cal phrase which said and David
kept on knocking." personally"
DR.. Mel said, 81 should advise you
women to keep on knitting And
they did. In this connection DR..
Mel told of the wonderful work that
is being done by the American Red
Cross. He told of the great hospitals
that have been set up across the
seas and financed by the American
Red Cross. He told Of the Red Cross
army auxiliary work where this So
ciety helps outfit the soldiers when
their baggage is lost and they have
not sufficient clothing. He told how
the Red Cross cares for the thou
sands of refugees from the war zone
and in speaking Of the recent Italian
collapse when 100000 Italian refu-
gees swarmed into Italy, he said that it
not be needed, the speaker said. This
was the great work of the American
Red Cross in rushing supplies there
that helped save the day and at
least established these refugees on a
living basis He gave only words of
praise to the thousands of women
who are knitting socks, sweaters, he'll
NETS, mlttenS, etc, for the soldiers,
and also had words of praise for the
firemen and the BARRIERS who have
volunteered to utilize their spare
time in knitting. Many people think
that there has been enough done al
ready, or that the summer is coming
and these wooden knit articles will
not be needed, the speaker sair. This
is not SO however, for vast stores of
things are needed all the time. He
also said that summer time in
France is not as warm as many ina
CINE and wooden socks. wooden sweat
ers, blankets, ETC., are needed there in
summer almost as much in winter.
The air in France at night is damp
and chilling, he said, and explained
that while he~was there all last sum-
mer there was only one night and
that during the latter part Of July,
that he slept without his blanket and
many times he slept with his steamer
rug over him as well.
Surgical Dressings Needed.
The great and urgent need of SUR
gical dressings and bandages was
Impressed upon the audience by DR..
Miel. He told of the thousands Of
small hospitals throughout France
that need them, as we'll as the big
ger hospital units, and all are look
ing to the people of the United
States to keep them supplied with
surgical dressings and bandages.
While he did not go into detail about
it, DR.. Mel admitted that vast guam
Titles of these dressings and band
ages never reach their destination
but are lost. Thus, he said, it is i'm
perative that the American people
keep a steady flow Of these things go
ing to their Allies. AS a closing and
clinching argument DR.. Mel said:
Now my friends, don't delay. Don
delay so that when some poor young
soldier is brought in suffering from a
terrible wound the surgeons will have
to shake their heads and say We
can't operate as we have no dress
ing ones and ones during which these
the life of any soldier that might be
saved but may be lost because there
are no bandages or dressings" In
this connection the speaker said that
| the coming months are sure to be try
ing ones and ones durig which these
will be needed as never before.
Tells OF Conn. Boys.
During much of his time in France
DIR. Mel was in the vicinity of the
| places occupied by the members of
| the 102nd Z. S. Infantry and the
101st Machine Gun Battalion. The
102nd Infantry is the old First and
| Second Connecticut, recruited from
| New Britain and other places near
| here. The 101st Machine Gun Bat
| TALON is the former Troop 3 and al
lied troops of cavalry. Although GEN.
sorship prevented DR.. Mel from tell
| ing exactly where these boys are To-
| Gated, he traced their situation on a
! verbal map and said that they are in
| as comfortable quarters as are posi-
| BILE. He said their barracks are old
| artillery barracks and are quite sub
| stantiaL He also said that friends Of
| the Connecticut boys over there
| should look up the French town of