The Washington times., 1919-09-17
4WOMEN ENDEARED
TOALL 1ST DIVISION
Y. N. C. A. and Salvation Army
Workers Win HonOrS
and Praise.

There are four members Of the
First Division dear in the hearts OF
every man jack soldier in the fight
ing unit, from General McGlachlin
down to the last private in the rear
rank.
They are women, American women,
and through their grit and their
sticktoitiveness they won a place in
the estimation of the doughboys held
by very few of the "girls from home
attached to combat units abroad.
Miss Gertrude Ely, Y. NJ. c. A; Miss
z. c. Van Norden, Salvation Army;
Miss Mary n. Arrowsmith, Y. N. c. A,
and Miss Ethel Terrence, Y. NJ. c. A.
are the names OF the four workers
with the First Division. and what
they did is now a matter OF docu-
mentary record at the War Depart
ment-
First woman TO Cross Rhine.
Miss Gertrude Ely, a resident Of
New York city, was the first woman
to cross the Rhine with the American
army of occupation. She marched at
the head Of the column just behind
Brig. Gen. Frank Parker and his Of
ficers with the Eighteenth Infantry
when the First crossed the pontOOn
bridge at Coblenz to begin its long
watch on the Rhine.
The nature Of her work is shown in
the citation Of Marshal Petain. who
bestowed on her the Croix de Guerre
Of France. "She is a splendid exam
pie OF the devotion Of the American
woman" IL read.
Attached to one OF the best regi-
ments at the front during the cam
-. -,
tor, giving her moral and material
help to the soldiers during the hour
or difficulty" Miss Ely was attached
to the Eighteenth infantry.
Miss E. Cora Van Norden is ire
daughter OF a New York banker. She
gave up her social career and entered
the Salvation Army twelve years
ago, and was among the FIRST Ameri-
can women to go abroad. She also
served with the Eighteenth infantry
and won decorations from France,
Serbia. and Greece. She wears, in
addition, the Saloniki ribbon and the
Victory ribbon with several stars. and
bears the distinguished record Of be-
ing the most decorated woman"
Made 10000 DOughnuts.
Miss Arrowsmith is one Of the
women who won her way to the sol
dier's heart through his-weI.
with rolled up sleeves and hour on her
nose. she helped make 10000 dough
nuts and distribute them to the men
of the First division. She was called
home In January and was surprised
not long ago TO receive a CroiX de
Guerre and a citation from General
Petain. "She showed a great spirit
Of abnegation when in danger" said
the citation, "and rendered high serv-
ices which have been appreciated in
the sectors of Montdidier and Ar
gOnne. giving her best care to the
wounded OF the divisional hospitals.
which were under violent fire"
Miss Ethel Terrence, who was at
tached T. the Twenty-sixth Infantry.
won additional fame when she walk
ed into Germany with the doughboys
and refused 8 proffered seat in an
with the regimentaI com
mander. "I'll stick with the men,
thank you," she said, and stick she
did, hiking along in the mud until
her shoes were worn so thin they re-
quired patching by the regimentaI
cobbler during a halt And at the
end OF the days march, when the
soldiers were recuperating for the
hike on the morrow. Miss Terrence
could be found bending over a boil
ing pot OF chocolate, and serving il
long after the majority OF the men
themselves had rolled In their blank
cts and were sleeping the deep sleep
OF fatigue.