Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-29
VISITS AMERICAN
CAMPS IN ENGLAND
Secretary Baker Pleased
With Various Red Cross
Enterprises in Area.
FINDS SOLDIER COUSIN
BY EDWARD PRICE BELL.
Cablegram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.

EDWARD bELLs
Cablegram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1918.
LONDON. September 26.-Secretary
Newton D. Baker, now in France,
paid a flying visit to England last
week and devoted one day to visiting
American military camps and in
speeding a number of American Red
Cross. activities in the area. He was
accompanied by Gen. Biddle and
Joseph Hosteiler Of Cleveland. The
party was met in London by the lord
mayor and number of American
Army officers, including Brig. Gen.
w. F. Martin, Col. Samuel Jones and
Mai. F. ]. Rogers of the American
Red Cross.
The party travelled by automobile
and Secretary Baker took advantage
of the frequent stops to walk around
among the soldiers and talk to them
about their work and life in camps.
In the Red Cross hospitals he went
through the wards and had a few
group Of soldiers whom he en-
countered in a camp near Winchester
had a pleasant surprise for him.
Finds Cousin In Camp.
Ibid you know, Mr.. Secretary" said
a New England, infantryman, "that
your cousin is in the camp here?"
my cousin?' repeated the Secre-
tary, astonished.
Eyes, your cousin-Sergt. Harry
Chisholm Of Cleveland-he is some
where about here now. I just passed
him as he was coming out of the
Red Cross bath over yonder."
The Secretary hurried in the direc-
ton of the baths and encountered
young Chisholm.
well. how are you, Harry" he
called out.
Chisholm was surprised and pleased.
This is my lucky day." he explained
to Mr. Baker. 81 run into half dozen
fellows from Cleveland today and re-
ceived a bunch of letters from home
that have been trailing me around
for weeks. And now 1 come across
you"
Gets Excellent Impression.
Secretary Baker carried away an ex-
cellent impression of what the Amer
lean Army authorities have been able
to accomplish in preparing comforta-
BILE and sanitary camps for the ap-
preaching winter. He dropped in on
the soldiers at mess time and lunched
tent beside a little woodland. strea J.
He looked over scores of barracks al d
living quarters, inspected kitchens,
tried on kit bags and spent ten min
utes in watching group of men play
ing scrub game of base ball. In the
kitchen of one of the Red Cross hos
pitfalls one of the soldier cooks showed
him a great soup tureen.
whats in there?" asked the Secre-
tary.
"Beans," said the soldier. Boston
baked beans right from the old coun-
try"
Sees Various Enterprises.
Mr.. Baker saw bathing houses in OPP
Grafton with long lines of raincoated
soldiers waiting their turn at the
showers, saw dental huts with Red
Cross dentists busily at work. visited
several Red Cross recreation huts and
listened to a Red Cross jazz band at
practice. At the camp hospitals he
talked with the nurses and men of the
staffs as well as with the patients. A
nurses club at one of the camps
pleased him. He particularly admired
a new brick hospital. just completed.
at one of the rest camps. capable of
caring for 800 men.
This is the best thing the Red
Cross has done in England" the Off
Ger in charge proudly told him, ex-
planning that every brick and stone in
it had been laid by American soldier
labor, the completed work being the
embodiment Of versatility and artis-
tic effect.
I'VE haven't gone outside our own
amp for a. single bit of labor on this
whole building" continued the Of
fcer. 1--WE believe that we have the
and most magnificent
hospital in Europe. There may be
larger ones, but we stick to it this
is the best. Every soldier who has
been: through this camp will back US
up on our claim"
That is the kind of talk like to
hear" said the Secretary with
smile. land that is the spirit 1 like to
see.'
Later Mr.. Baker said that the
thing which impressed him most in
his inspection of the Red Cross
activities in the district was the sub
stantial manner in which the Red
Cross had been able to assist the
Army in bringing aid and comfort to
the troops.