Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-22
BASE HOSPITAL
DEVELOPED BY
BIG OFFENSIVE
Fierce Fighting Of Recent
Days Taxes Resources
to, Utmost.

Days Taxes Resources
to Utmost
Paris, Aug. 22.-The fierce fighting
| Of American troops around Cantigny,
Chateau-Thierry and other centers Of
the big enemy offensive, has brought
in its train a sudden Transformation
, n development in the great An1ert-
can military hospital at Neuilly in the
Paris suburb and others like 4 in the
suburbs of Auteuil, Joinville and 9TH
er points, which are now In truth
American institutions not only in
name. foundation. staff and equip
ment, blu in that grimmest element
| OF a hospitals work, wounded men
American wounded borne back from
the fighting front.
The Americanism of these hospt-
tails has proved a timely blessing to
the young American heroes who got
out alive from the furnace sof fire,
giving them American surroundings.
American surgeons and nurses, their
own language in which to hear and
express their cares, American food.
and something Of that spirit Of home
which people Of the same blood car
The Big Neuiiiy establishment has
been taxed to its utmost to meet this
sudden influx from pthe great often
sive. It's capacity was suddenly s@ol-
len from 500 to 1900 or 1900. with a
considerable part Of the arrivals
Americans. F1vej hundred cases ar
rived in a single day of the June
fighting. Most Of them were original
cases; direct from the field and not
yet operated on. They had come in
ambulances. two days on the road.
remote storm centers where the enc
my strikes his surprise blows. But
great as the emergency was, it was
successfully met and in the first call
made upon it to care for American
wounded. the big American instttu-
ton added another page Of devoted
service.
At 10 O'Clock this morning the
directing surgeon started on his daily
inspection of the cases under his care
and going with him. one had the OPP
this work. the s~moothness with which
1t was proceeding. with here and there
a glimpse OF the American wounded
marines, artillery-men, infantry and
machine gun men. The war surgeons
with their stats Of nurses had cared
for the cases through-the night and
day, and now the chief surgeon Of tn,
section was making his our to see
how each case a progressed and to
direct the further course Of treatment.
Ahead stretched the long corridor,
with cots filed with wounded lining
n side, while the wards opened from
the other side. The corridor was
bathed with sunshine from the long
row Of windows, and many of the men
had their windows open taking a un-
bath. One of them had the idea that
the sunshine would be a healing balm
for his wound, and the ugly opening
In the. left arm was laid out so as to
get the full slant Of the sun. There
was little or no odor Of anasthetics OF
drugs, such a. one is apt to associate
with hospitals. Everything wa1
scrupulously clean, floors. windows
ing every nook and corner imfhacu.
late: vases Of bright flowers were or
all the nurses tables to give an air Of
cheer. and the whole place had the
stamp of comfort.
These corridors have had to be used
as wards during the heavy influx OF
wounded from the big fights Of early
June. when every available corner, OF
the building was suddenly called into
use. doubling n trebling its beds
within W days. Gradually, however
the French cases are going to French
hospitals, and all the American case,
will % be installed in the regular
wards.
Entering one Of the wards witt
American cases, the wounded mer
were sitting up removing their band.
ages in order that the directing sur.
geon might note the progress. Some
of them were far enough on the road
to recovery to be up and dressed, ant
with soldierly instinct they stood
rigidly at attention as the chief sur.
geon entered. But every man O.
them, in bed or standing at attention
was smiling and apparently happy
These smiling faces gave no evidence
OF PAIN, n of 500 cases this morninf
only two complained Of pain. Wher
inquiry a. made of the head nurs,
as to this absence of pain among hun
dreds of men with compound fracture!
and ugly gaping wounds from shrap,
mel and shell. she said there was com
paratively little pain after the first few
days, and then only when the WOUND
was handled.
The youth of the Americans has
lot to do, said h surgeon, with Thu
lcheerfulness and proof against pain
Most Of the French .poilus are oide,
men, 35 and 40, with boards ant
wrinkled faces, and besides their ag'
this is not their first experience a
wounded, as 1t is with the Americans
Some Of them have been wounde,
three and four times before and afte
successive recoveries have gone bacl
to the fighting line. This is wha
tends to war weariness, after fou
years of such business. But witt
their age and repeated wounds, TIL
French faces are still lighted with tn
fire Of patriotism and the inexhaustibl
good-nature Of the French poilu. TIL
Americans have none Of the draw
backs of their French brothers, an,
hardly a man is over 80 while mos
of them are % and rs. This gives
buoyancy which even love Of countr
cannot supply. and the doctors find
more of a tonic and restorative tina
all the medicines.
One of the American marines VIII
twas in The fierce, engagement earl
in June had the remarkable recor
of IS separate wounds, most Of ther
small from splinters Of shell. bu
each separate wound needing atten
ton. He smiled with pride a. til
surgeon spoke Of the unusual mum
Der Of wounds. Like all the other
he was anxious to be up and get BAG
Ito the fighting. It seems to be
common instinct, not through brava
do, says the doctors; but a genuin
expression Of red-blooded America
lyouthfulness and enthusiasm to ri
VI hi oil infn tho Aoo ma thu ~aN~k %~k~R,