The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-14
SICK AND LONELY SOLDIER

Harry T. Howard, director or the pu-
 reau of military relief of the gult oi-
 vision, tells in most interesting man
 ner Some of the things being done by
 this department to relieve the monot-
 ony of camp life and cheer sick ana
 lonely convalescent soldiers, even to
 writing letters for him and reading stories. His statement follows:
 "The bureau of military renef ln- cludes the first aid bureau, the can teen and motor corps service ana the bureau of camp service. There are Tour , large camps in the gulf division, ana at each one of these the Red Cross IS represented by field director and an associate field director. The directors serve the soldiers in innumerable ways. It is their duty to cheer the SICK ana lonely soldier, to write his letters TOT him and to read to him. The field dlrec- tors supply the attentions that cannot be offered by nurses and physicians. "A field director shows this in thls quotation from a letter; It might ln- terest you to know that on one Of my visits through the hospital wards, asked one of the patients, who IS par alyzed from the waist to his toes, what could do for him. At first he made no requests, and, as I was about to leave
 he said: "If you will just try to come and spend half an hour with me each day, it will make me feel so much bet ter, as I am in little room all alone, I get so tired of reading"
 CAMP SERVICE BUREAU Records of the camp service bureau show thousands of sweaters, mufflers wristlets and helmets have been sup piled to the various camps in the gulf division. The bureau also furnishes the necessary medicines and other articles k,I fiYrYrl a ri a "rhe Red Cross houses are being erected at the various camps, the one at Camp Sheridan having been com pleted and dedicated as has the one at Camp Shelby. These houses will provide many new comforts for the convales- cent soldier.
 "Pianos at the camps keep the sol diers happy. Field directors say piano keeps the men together and their minds on clean thoughts. A great many sol diers are learning how to play the piano and other vocal instruments, by practicing at night. Music affords di- version and recreation of inestimable value in keeping up the spirit of the | men as well as their morals. At some ! of the camps there are flower days about twice a week, when books and flowers are distributed to sick and con valescent. At Camp Shelby band- |
 and concerts are given here,
 COMFORT OF TROOPS
 '"The canteen service is under the direction in the gulf division of Mrs. Rufus E. Forbes. It supplements pro- viding for comfort of troops en route, Refreshment units meet troop trains and supply soldiers with coffee, fruit, post cards and other things. However the chief purpose of this service is to minister to the welfare of the soldiers by giving them the glad hand of fellow ship and send them cheerfully on their lway to points of authorization tc Somewhere in France
 with Mrs. Edith Haspel as com- Imanding officer, and with the rank oi lcaptain. the emergency motor corps lservice has been started.
 First aid work in the gulf bureau lcomes under Dr. B. A. Ledb etter. He will be of material assistance in stimu. Hating interest in the formation of first aid classes throughout the chapters 1T the gulf division"