Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-31
Red Cross Meeting Tells
of War Work in France
Meeting of DELEGATES Branches and Auxiiaes in All
Parts of the Addressed by Lieutenant Truslow
and Mrs. Coleman du Pont Who Tell of Work of the
American Ambulance and 7. w. c. A. in France

American and English war workers who
must be cared for, and for whom homes
under the control of responsible women
must be provided, and there are great
numbers of French women working in
munition plants and refugees who have
been driven into the cities of France who
must be cared for
Many hostess houses have been open
ed, where many of the women working
for the Red Cross or for other organiza-
tions live and find congenial surroundings
and occasional entertainment that helps
keep them In condition for their work.
Many Signal Corps girls, the telephone
operators that have been sent overseas
from this country, and 5000 of the English
women, known as the Tommy W. A. A.
G. >, who drive trucks and do all sorts
of skilled work for the army and who
are also cared for by the Y w c. A.
Mrs. du Pont told of seeing a transport
come into a French port crowded with
the stalwart, happy American troops, who
quickly recognized the American women
in their uniforms. From the ship these
men marched through the streets Of the
city to the old French barracks, built in
the time of Napoleon, where they were
Quartcred. Nurses, attached to the hos
pItal here were quartercd in Napoleon s
headquarters. For these nurses, who are
confined rather closely to their duties, tho
y. ". c. A. provides entertainment, and
is of great value
There arc vCr-ending possibilities
for helping the women of France. who arc
working so hard in the munition plants
and in the cultivation of tho farms With
these women, and with the French girls,
the American u w c. a. is doing a
most important and necessary work.
Classes of instruction for the girls are
very popular, especially the English
classes, for while the American women
are all ANXIOUS TO study French the
French women arc wild to study English,
and the classes are ALWAYS ovcrcrOwdcd.
The work Of the English and French
women las set pace for the women of
America that Will be hard to equal. In
Englan,i the women make three-Quarters
OF the munitions turned out IN the fac
tori C and have shown an aptitude for
ma r jnerv that astonishcs the men in
ch ,rpe Of the work One officer said that
sfteran air raid that dlsturhs tho work in q
factory. the women are at work and pro
ducing NJ their normal rate within three
davs. while the men will need three weeks
To return to their ordinary efficiency.
or the condition Of the mon in camps and
in the hospitals. Mrs du Pont could not
speak too highly The men are healthy
and in the finest possible shape, and except
for the most severely wounded all seem to
be in the best possible spirits The finest
hospitals and the most sklllful surgeons,
doctors and nurses have been provided
for the care Of all sick and wounded that
can possibly be expected, and the people
AZ home can feel comfortable in the
knowledge that every possible attention
F, will be gwen to the men who have gone to
France to fight our battles for US.
OF the work of the Red Gross, and the
Y.M. c. A, which are found everywhere
it is impossible 10 say too much. Their
work Is beyond all praise