New-York tribune., 1918-12-23
Shakes Hands and Chats
With 1000 Heroes in
Hospital at Neuilly
Spends Four Hours
Cheering g Up Men
Many We're Injured at
Chateau Thierry; Mrs.
Wilson With President

PARIS, Dec. % (By The Associated
Press president Wilson to-day Wis
tied the Red Cross hospital at Neuilly,
where he shook hands individually and
talked with 200 badly wounded Amer
cans. for the most part survivors of
the Chateau Thierry action. He spent
more than four hours in the hospital
visiting every ward and stopping at
every bedside
Later he visited the French hospital,
Val de Grace.
Speaking of his experiences at the
American hospital the President said
~ went through the American hos
pital at Neuilly with the greatest in
terest and the greatest qualification.
found the men admirably taken care OF
and almost without exception in excel
lent spirits
"Only very few CT them looked
really i'll, and think thai their mothers
and their friends would have been en-
tirely pleased by their surrounding:
and by the alert look in their eyes arc
the keen interest they took in every
thing about them.
II am sure that they will go back te
their loved ores at home with a new
feeling of joy, alike in their recovery
and in the fine service they have beer
able to render"
Going to the American hospital with
the expectation of remaining an hour
the President found four hours all too
short, as he felt that he could not
leave without speaking with every man,
and he expressed regret only of his
inability to clasp the hand of every
American soldier III France
The President looked tired and worn
when the ordea! was finished, for not
withstanding the cheerfulncss of the
men and the care which they were re-
ceiving, there were many affecting
cases in the wards
Questions Soldier.
When he came to one very badly
wounded, the President sat on the edge
of the cot for moment and asked
where he was from and how he had
been wounded He admired his war
crosses and decorations. Noticing that
many of his wounds were in the leg,
the President asked: "Why have we
here no men wounded in the upper
part of the body?"
"Men who are wounded above the
waist are not here, they have gone on"
answered the soldier Simply
One of the men the President came
to stood proudly erect with medals on
his blouse and one arm outstretche
in an appliance for restoring its use
fulress. He looked suggestively like a
traffic policeman on duty.
"Im glad to see you looking so
cheerful" said the President.
"You have seen me many times be-
fore Mr.. President" responded the
soldier 81 used to be traffic police
man at the Central Station. Don't you
think look natural %
The President laughed softly. 1t
was the only merry moment
he had in the hospital.
Another strapping fellow gave his
name as Private Wilson.
81 am proud to know have a name
"It is a very honorable name | only
tried to do it proud" responded the
soldier
One soldier had lost both legs by a
shell. 81 am thankful they didn't get
an arm," he said cheerfully.
More than $500 wounded Americans
from the battles around Chateau
Thierry have passed through Neuily
Hospital. The 1920 remaining are the
most serious cases, whom miracles of
modern surgery are rebuilding to re-
sumo their places in civil life, though
some will probably never leave the hos
pital.
Wanted No Ceremony
The President abstained from attend
ance at church in order to make the
visit. He was accompanied by Mrs.
Wilson and RearAdmiral Grayson and
vas met at the entrance by the com
nandant and his staff But he made it
olain that he wished no ceremony.
II just want to go in and visit the
boys and have chat with them,' he
said
Beginning with the first ward, the
President went down one side of the
'oom, and Mrs. Wilson the other. stop
)ng to chat here and there with the
wounded and grasp a hand for mo-
nent or say a word of cheer and en-
The President himself
where it was possible took the hand of
very man, saying: "We hope to have
you back soon with US" or wish
;ou the best of luck and speedy re
,overy."
SO the President went from ward to
yard always asking each mans name
md saying something intimately per
ional. AS he left each room he turned
'or a moment and said
81 wish you boys as merry Christ
mas as is possible under the circum-
stances"
There was no cheering in reply, for
some of the men were in no condition
or cheering. There was no handclap-
ing. for most OF the men had at least
one hand in surgical appliances. But
here were genuine smiles of appre-
,iation.
Il. 1