The Irish standard., 1919-04-12

to Paris where was assigned to du-
ties in the purchasing department.
After some time spent in this capacity
and after change in the head of this
department became necessary the
Murray, former comptroller of the u.
S. Treasury under Presidents Roose-
welt and Taft, as head of this i'm.
portant department of the service.
After performing these duties faith
fully and conscientiously the strain be.
came too great and l was compelled
to resign as head of this department
and also owing to climatic conditions
was forced to obtain permission to re-
turn to the United States.
Apart from the general duties of
my position at headquarters and when
the news had come that the marines
had distinguished themselves at the
battle of Chateau Thierry and learning
that those who had been severely
| wounded during this conflict were
| about to be sent to the hospital at
Neuilly and realizing the absolute ne.
cessity of our organization becoming
associated with the great work which
the Red Cross were so successfully &C.
comprising, 1 Immediately repaired. to
these hospitals and with Brother
James A. Kenny of East Liverpool,
Ohio, offered our assistance in any
way possible to the nurses and man.
agement of the Red Cross.
After assisting in every way posi-.
BILE we returned to our headquarters in
Paris and rendered a report to Charles
McDougal Pallen, then Director of
ISupplies for our Activities in France.
We suggested to him to Immediately
organize a hospital corps which would
be sufficiently large and which would
also be permanent one, whose duties
would be to assist in all of the hospi-
tails throughout France in caring for
the wounded and manned and to see
that our work was properly handled
and that the necessary supplies and
equipment would be at all times at
the disposal Of the brave young
American soldiers.
i Brother Kenny and myself returned
and as we entered one of the wards
in which several very seriously wound
ed soldiers were placed, we noticed
that many of them were carrying a
growth Of beard which to them was a
great discomfort. Before leaving for
the hospital we realized that some
; thing of this nature might develop so
we went fully equipped with safety
razors, toilet water, talcum powder,
comb and brushes, and we started i'm
mediately to fulfill this part Of our
mission and before we had finished
the writer had shaved fifteen of these
young men. They greatly appreciated
our kindness and from that day for.
ward this branch Of our service was
instituted and under the capable lead
ership Of Brother A. j. Thorpe of
Iowa, who had been commissioned to
act in this capacity, developed, and to-.
day is recognized through France as
one of the most beneficial, best
equipped and most thoroughly appre-
; ciated branches Of the K. of G.. over
seas activities.
Since returning to the U. S. through
the kindness of Chairman Mulligan
and Director of Overseas Activities,
Brother w. P. Larkin, it has been my
pleasure to continue in the service,
: acting in. several capacities at our
, headquarters, 461 Fourth Avenue, New
York City. It. has been my pleasure
, to have the honor of lecturing before
several large appreciative audiences
, who are anxious to learn something
of our extensive work at home and
!, abroad, from one who has labored
: amid the scenes and who therefore. is
( in q position to give the desired in.
l formation from an authentic source.