The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-08
TELLS WORK OF SMITH COLL.EG UNIT OVERSEAS Miss Anna Ryan Draws Graphic Picture of
 Scenes Abroad. SPOKE AT MISS
 WLLMOT'S HOUSE Emphasizes Need of Co., operation of American
 Women.

Amusing and pathetic incidents of the great war were related by Miss Anna Ryan, who has just arrived from overseas where she has been doing canteen work for tLe past four years with the other members of the Smith College Unit, at a special Teeting at the home of Miss Sally Njilmot of sos Stratford avenue, yes terGay. Emphasizing the need and cooperation of the American women of education and intelligence at the present time in helping the sullen and depressed families of France re- construct their utterly devastated ans des"lated village, she told of her eX- pCriences with the French and Americans and of the present exist ing conditions in that badly misTeat- et country.
 Primitive conditions prevail in the majority of cases" declared Miss Ryan, bridges are broken; there are no means of transportation; the water is not fit to drink; homes are destroyed, with only the freplaces
 
 whatever, and the desolation existing in that part of France, the Somme sector, presents some of the saddest scenes of the war"
 The French need encouragement nov more than ever" added Miss Ryan, "and they look to the gay, lind American as they call us, for is."
 Miss Ryan stated that the best plan to follow now is to organize what she calls a "traveling store, '' from which the women of France could obtain their kitchen utensils, furniture and other household neces- sities with which to start their homes. As the French would not accept charity, a nominal sum would have 10 be charged for everything sold. Very important also is the bringing oyer of herd of COWS, and Miss Ryan dwelt the fact that the milk needed for the children is a great I-oblen-
 "The Smith Unit Is almost a na- ttonal thing over there," said Miss Ryan, "and the French have sucf great confidence in us. The can teen work has been wonderful thing over there The cantecn worker! and the Red Cross have blazed the trail and now our continued interest and support must not fail It would he very very tragic if we should fail then now. We can start thei schools, organize dispensaries, anG above everything else. help then come back to start all over again"
 She spoke of the wonderful surg cry that makes every soldier, no mat ter how badly muuLated he may be, 2 fit member of society, and of the re- markable courage displayed by thost unfortunate boy The great appre. cialon of the French for the Ameri cans, she stated is wonderful, and i is her belief that if any political trou ble sho Id arise between the two coantgi that the people of both na tiOEs would not be in accord with it
 The American and French soldier are the greatest friends. Neither un derstanding the other, they carry ol the most lengthy and enjoyable con Tcrsations," she related. "and the, laugh al one another's jokes with per feet understanding"
 Miss Ryan, who is graduate 0 Smith College and who has bee connected with Rosemary hall Greenwich, is very well known here For the past four years. she has bee with the Smith unit. doing cantee work over there, and is a splendi example of what American wome cen do. She has come here now t spread the message of appeal fo help. and after she has aroused tn American women 10 action, sne wi retern to France to resume he sulenaNd work