Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-13
GUY P. GANNETT WITH
RANK AS FIRST LIEUT..
Is Made Assistant Divisional Field
Representative for the Red Gross IN

Representative for tho Red Gross in
France
The following letter, written july 1th
to ". II. Gannett by his son Guy, now
doing Red Cross work IN France. VIII
be of interest to mis- many friends in
Maine.
Dear Father: About a wees after our
arrival in France l was successful IN
landing the very job | desired ! found
the work l did at home in organizing
the different drives helped me lot il
getting this JOB. and as there vera
many others after the place | think |
was very fortunate in securing 50 i'm
portant position at the start. ] will
be first lieutenant attached 10 dlvis-
ion headquarters. over east of here N
the American section. At first will be
an assistant and Just as soon as ! fnd
out about the work viii be in charge Of
all Red Cross work with a division o.
troops. which is 1000 men. Frequent
visits will have to be made to all field
hospitals and dressing stations to see IL
they have everything that the Red
Cross can furnish.
| will have a covered Ford carrinoette
truck to go about in and IN which l can
, take the supplies as well as my little
folding bed. etc. There are under me
canteen workers, casualty searchers
and home service men. and I guess I
VIII be busy all right. But that is just
have to return home IN December. hut
the spring and enlist for the dura ton OF
the war.
The Red Cross supplies troops with
coffee. chocolate. etc. right up to the
front line as the men go in and out at
night. And one of the men who came
over with us is going to do that He
not only has to do this work at night
but is under shell fire and gas a lot Of
the time. Ny Job will be TO see that this
| service is done as well as other things,
and have my gas mask and helmet go
am prepared to go right up TO the front.
| AS assistant division representative l
have to know all the Red Cross work
that is or can go on with that division
Of troops. and they are increasing the
work all the time. The principal activ-
! tiles are the canteen work home SER
vice. information of casualties, hospital
supplies and the general supplies OF
| knitted goods. comfort kits. etc Each
one of these sub-heads has one organ
ization Of its own, and any one depart
ment is enough to keep one man busy
Found out today where the boys In
the old Second Maine are, but will not
be able to see them yet awhile They
are in the section nearest Paris. the
place I am going to is where they were
last winter. at least that is where I
shall report, then will be assigned from
there.
We had good trip coming over on
the ship. Were not bothered BY the
submarines The only difference travel
ing now ard in peace times is that all
the windows and ports are covered al
night with heavy coverings. and smok-
! ing is not allowed on deck. About ev-
/ cry day there was a lifeboat drill and
everyone. soldiers anil all, got to the
different boats already 10 step into
them.
The first and second day out from
New York all the officers had TO put on
! life preservers and they have to wear
them all the time. Everyone Is sup
posed to do the same but we got sick o.
them shortly and were constantly leav-
| ing them around
While on the steamer we Joined
class under the instruction of a British
/ drill sergeant who gave us an hour IN
the morning Of all kinds Of exercises.
and believe me II was certainly good.
! There were no lights allowed on
! re shin. We took turns going on
| Guard for an hour at night walking
-. and down the decks to see that