The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-04-15
Colonel w. Lee Hart of Hospital
Unit Receives Present from
Town of Langres.
MAYOR PAYS A TRIBUTE
People Are Appreciative of the
kindnesses to French Soldiers
BY Americans at Rase Hos
pital 53.

York, S. c., April 14.-How the
people of Langes. France. desirous
of showing their appreciation of the
treatment given French soldiers and
the kindnesses accorded civilians by
the Americans at Base hospital So,
presented the commander with a
painting and decorated the Ameri-
can colors, a custom little known
here and one typically Gallic. is told
In recent letter from Lieutenant
Col, w. Lee Hart. the hospital COM
mander, to his mother, Mrs. G. w
S. Hart, of York. Impressive cere-
monies marked the comforting Of
these signal honors on the Ameri
cans. Miniature replicas OF the in
sigma used in decorating the colors
viii be made. and when approved by
General Pershng may be worn by
the members of the hospital unit.
The letter follows:
This hospital is situated on the
plateau near Langres. Since il was
established it has taken in quite a
number of French soldiers who were
evacuated by the Americans from the
front, Just the same as some of our
soldiers were evacuated by the
French. This was all in the game
and we did 1t as a part Of our duty.
THE people of Langres seem very
grateful to us for the way we treat
ed their soldiers. The mayor came
down and told me he would like to
publicly thank the personnel. This
was very glad to have him do.
Then he decided he would like to
present me with a painting OF the
arms of the city, which he had made
in oil. This put the matter off for
some days; then they decided to
decorate the colors. and so they had
to prepare the ribbon, another de-
lay.
At last the mayor sent me word
that he and the other municipal Off
cialS would arrive and make the pre-
sentation Sunday. AS the mud is
wv y " h'iN I'iV, ueClutu lIldl lne
best place for the ceremonies was
the Red Cross hut, which seats about
400. The personnel of the hos
pital unit-officers, nurses and en-
listed men, together with visitors,
occupied seats in the auditorium
The mayor and his party, myself and
STAFF (Which consisted of all the Of
GERS / have that can speak French)
went up on the stage.
II introduced the mayor and he
made speech, an official interpreta-
tion OF which 1 inclose. | did not
have the slightest idea Of what he
was saying. but he had an interpre-
ter who read the address in English
then made sreech. which Chap
lain Roach read in French for their
benefit. Then the mayor presented
me with the picture, making another
speech that did not understand:
but accepted it with a speech which
he could not understand, and so
evened the score. But with IL all he
seemed to be satisfied, and so was /.
"Then the colors came forward
halting about half way to the stage,
while the band played "The Marseil-
laise." They then came up on the
stage and the band played "The Star
Spargled Banner" Then the mayor
ti"d the decoration on. About this
TINE. with the music and other fea-
lures Of The affair, as YOU would nat
urally expect of any Frenchman, and
ron up to me and grabbed my hand.
shaking II vigorously and shouting
French all the time. did not know
what he was talking about, and 1t
was very hard to keep from laugh
ing / thought he was going to en-
brace me. but somehow or other he
fell down on the job when he came
to that.
"At last the affair was over and
after tour OF the hospital and re-
ception at the Nurses club they left
us I'm peace. was mighty glad
when II was over, platform stunts
are not my forte. / was pleased over
the affair. however. for the sake of
the nurses and men. who appreciat-
ed IL and are hooking forward 10
lrnnfinttah r,.,A \