Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-08-28
THE RED TRIANGLE.
v. VI. c. A. Activities with the Allies
ia France.

| Jan. 3. at the foyer Yesterday was a
beautiful day here, cold, bat clear and
sunny. As ne came out Of our dark little
hut after breakfast ~e looked up in the
sky and saw tao objects like great birds,
moving rapidly. Tten suddenly al around
them little white clouds appeared and
slowly disappeared, aud We heard noises
In the distance. Then from a different
direction anoihrr big bird approached
rapidly. The little white clouds ceased TO
appear. and ws heard a noise like the
quick, sharp beating OF drum. After
awhile the first two birds few away and
We Lost sight OF them in the distance. IL
was quite exciting to watch. / wohder u
you eau guess = hat It wasf
Jan. S.--Iast night ana the nigh, before
1t was bitter cold. Everything was tryzen
in our cabin, and in the middle Of the day
and evening also, when the men came to
ask for ink in the foyer 90 that they
could write, we could not give them any
because it vas all frozen solid
Early this morning there was q tremeu-
dous noise. q great deal bigger than any
you have heard on New Years eve. II
lasted for about halt an hour, without
stopping Tor an instant, and we kaew
that something vas happening not far
away.
Yesterday afternoon. after the exercises,
as the French call their practice. | took
long walk to see some of the country
round about. This great forest is very
beautiful now with the white snow on
the ground, but will be even more beauti-
fui in the spring time. n 1t were not tor
the constant roar of the distant guns and
the frequent sharp reports OF practice
fsring round about, one would not dream
OF there being war as one walks among
the forest recovered hills and the charming
wooded ravines with little brooks flowing
soldiers are everywhere, bat the horror OF
the war is not here.
have been in camp nov eight days, and
am becoming accustomed TO tho life. I
am very welt. There Is no strain and no
extra long hours here as at Camp Dcvcns.
can sleep all need TO, aud have some
time to myself during the day. aud yet
the work is very much more vital. These
men need every Kind Of help &C can give
them.
Jan. IN. Tsillant reported that he had
secured no, only piano, bat also stoves
and everything necessary for the canteen,
from the divisional headquarters at
Chalous. We had our coffee early this
morning, aud started OF for the station
shortly after to get the things, a horse
and two " hesied cart foiiowing US TO take
the things back. The opening OF the
csnseen Was announced Tor Thursday.
This viii mean a lot OF work, bat am
delighted, for the men drink great deal
too much OF something else, even In the
foyer. The chocolate and coffee and tea
will not only Dc much better for them,
but having these, we can absolutely pro-
hioit the other. That will be great step
IN advances and a very real service to our
men in the army. We shall also prohibit
the playing Of cards for money. And. that,
white many will not like IL, will also be
service OF real value.
Tonight the itinerant cinema visited
Us again. and we had an excellent enter
tsinmeni. / ~ish you could SEQ our foyer
on such an occasion. The men crowd In
until you think the foyer would burst
nearly a thousand OF them at once in
building which normally accommodates
100.
Jan. s-This evening made my first
speech IN French 10 the men. | an
nouncsd the opening oitbe canteen for to-
morrow evening. / told the soldiers that
had come 10 express tne good will which
America bore to France, and the good Will
between the American army and the
French army, and added that during these
cold days of winter could best express
that good will in the form OF hot chocolate
ana coffee. went on to tell them a little
about my plans and hopes for the WORK,
letting them know that there was no
profit in the canteen, that everything was
sold at cost, and that through It hoped
to be OF service to them well as in other
ways. Then NJ. Tsillsnt made the an
nounceuent I had planned and urged
from the irst that as soon Is the canteen
was opened no wine would be allowed in
the foyer, and no playing of cards for
money.
Jan. 10 "A busy day spent in prepare
ton for opening the csntsen. You should
see our kitehenette--s corner of our foyer
roughly p@rtitioned of, pile OF poor,
powdsry coal in the corner, three small
stoves In row and two large boilers with
faucets for the chocolate and coffee.
window and sill we're laid In the partition.
After 3 hurried dinner ! was ready to
open the esnteen as / had promised at
5.45. There was great crowd waiting to
get into the foyer as arrived, as cinema
was expected in addition TO the opening
OF the canteen. The cinema failed TO sp-
pear, as it had broken down somewh here.
Therefore, from the time we opened our
window the two orderiies and myself were
kept busy, can tell you. We gave out
rs cups OF chocolate and 10 cups of
coffee in two hours and five minutes, and