The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-08-15


The first Yank wounded to reach a
base hospital from the upset German
drive with the acclaim Of many mar
/ vellous bells cherished in medieval his
tory.
A motorcycle whirled up. The mes
senger dashed to the directress Of the
|canteen. !" A train of American wound
ed is coming in, in about half an hour, =
he said. Colonel would like
to know if you could give them some
coffee before they get up town."
'1Glad to- she decided with some
alacrity.
AT once the canteen wheels were in
motion. The girls who were on day
duty and had already gone to their
rooms were sent for. Large marmites
Of steaming coffee, always kept in air
tight boxes for emergencies, were carr
ried out along the tracks with the aid
of Yank railway men and convoy
i drivers, who after q shower bath and
dinner were restored to energy in spite
/ Women Of the French Red Cross, Of
ten helped by the Americans, came
over to offer their services, headed by
a French count in brown overalls.
Convaleseent British Tommies volun-
teered to pass bread.
The train was late, very late; but
II
women would have been ready for it.
The quiet way they went about their
great preparations was astounding.
In the meantime, the torrid day was
/ followed by a sudden GOODNESS, with
greenish clouds coming in the sky.
Abruptly a great black funnel-shaped
cloud descended slowly; like a large
ship putting into port Then we had
! wind-more wind than I have ever
known since I left Kansas A small
cyclone tore through France, uprooting
trees, unroofng buildings, and doing
some damage to temporary structures
of the American forces at various de-
pots. 1t was during the more north
ern visitation of this storm that
Franco-American troops made their
surprise counter attacks and started
rolling the Germans backwards.
There was not much rain in the wake
, eff the wind. We were soon pacing the
platform at the little station awaiting
the train Of our wounded countrymen.
The changing wind had cut US off from
the thrumpetting echoes Of the front.
We ceased to speculate on the drive
Ill our interest in the ambulance train.
At the first distant squeaking Of the
French whistle of the train, the bells
began Ginning, from churches, monas-
teries, public buildings, schools Then
two headlights, like an automobile s..
But surely this could be no train of
wounded. It was more like an ex-
cursion train reaching gay resort.
Passengers were cheering, laughing
, and joking. However, when our eyes
were able to penetrate the dim blue
ness Of the cars we saw the double
deck stretcher beds and heads, arms
and legs swathed in bandages.
Some of the boys crowded to the
windows, helping to pass coffee and
bread to those who could not get up.
"What S the matter with me?' re-
peated one brown fighter from Mil
waukee whose shoulder was heavily
wrapper. ooh, somebody threw kit
chen stove and tried to stop it.
"Me? I got a little gas, said a
Yank from Austin, Texas, carelessly
swinging leg outside the car window.
II didn t feel bad, just little uneasy
as If had ate something that didn It
agree with me. They said I would feel
much worse in three or four days. I
tried to insist on sticking with my
crowd until I was properly sick, but
] the Cap n got sore; said was insub-
ordinate under fire; so I beat it..
climbed up on the car steps to
} talk with man in an upper stretcher
Z who twisted his head most uncomfort-
: ably to see what was going on outside
! Ny head is all can move,' he
: smiled. Some heine tried to make a
! sieve out of men but I beat him to
it and made nothing out Of him. Say,
have you got the official dope yetR''
So we were not even to get the news
, from those who were in the great bat
tie. In fifteen minutes they were be-
! ing tenderly lifted out of ambulances
: into the big base hospital. Their
! clothes were taken from them in the
receiving ward. Then they had a COM
forting bath. After that they were as
: signed to heavenly beds, in rooms load
ed with flowers, looked over by Ameri-
: can doctors and nurses, and adequately
| supplied with fruit, cigarettes candy
and games. These extra unnecessaries