Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-17
OUR BOYS
in
OUR COuNTRY'S SERVICE

StSlll.lS VI SiiS "a ~ -AehS >SA'AN
close. Nichy seems just as active as
ever. during the periods OF time when
the men are at liberty the streets are
flied with men in khaki. The work
continues. a few thousand men more or
less, seems to make little difference
here everything has 10 be done in ms
ures running. over tens o. thousands.
There have been the usual thronss
at the many performances given fer 'he
men at the Red Cross theatre plays.
vaudeville. concerts. the popular anna
teur nights and the ever interesting
moving pictures on which TO fall back
upon when there is not something Co
ing in which the men can be used TO
take part and thus keep them happy
and out of mischief.
On Wednesday. December 18th. how
ever. Vichy. had the unusual pleasure oil
witnessing the presentation Of Distin-
guist.ed Service Crosses to two men
who were lere as patients. Sgt. Byron
w. Hamilton. Co. NJ. i6Sth Inf. and Pvt.
James L. Clark, 18th Co. 5th Marines.
l. was thrilling sight when Col Wal
ter u. Weob. the commanding officer OF
the Base Centre with his staff and three
French officers stood in front Of the
grand stand filed with people and Col
John N. Swan escorted the two men to
Col. Webb while the band played THE
Star Spaagled Banner and over 500
convalescent men, corp men, officers
and others stood watching the proceed
ngs. 1t. Col. Edward C. Elicit. COM
manding officer OF Base Hospital No.
lis read the names of the men and their
citations. II was indeed a thrilling
sight never TO be forgotten. and in the
review which followed, the crowd
showed it's pride i'll our men by the
hearty cheers with which each detach-
ment was greeted.
For the Christmas season great prep
ara,ions were made the Red Cross per-
sonnet literally worked day and night
to accomplish he tremendous task
which was before them. OF stockings
alone. for the patients and enlisted men.
there were 1900, and before these were
all packed with the Christmas cheer
which each conta ined. II meant q great
deal OF work. But that is characteristic
of Nichy. No one who has not bear
here and actually seen what an enor-
NOUS amount Of work there is TO do.
can have any conception of the magni-
tude of the work, figures convey little
information in thee days when We
talk OF billions instead Of millions. The
Red Cross chaplain who has recently
come here to stay had heard great
deal about the wonderful work Of this
centre, he was slated for base hospi-
tai work at Eichy when he came over il
July but went into evacuation hospital
work instead, at the request OF the SEN
Tor chaplain, and one DAYS actual eX-
perlen e at this centre gave him far
better idea or what was being done here
than months of time in which he was
continually hearing about the work.
During the week before Christmas.
load after load of Christmas greens, CO.
dar, holly and mistietoe, with many
dozens OF Christmas trees came in, and
the hotels and courtyards were deco
rated most attract!vely. On the eve
Ming OF the 2tth many Of the buildings
had their celebration ana carols were
sung around the brilliantly l!shte 4
tres.
Christmas Gay started in with mid
night masses at the two Roman Catho-
lie churches. st. Louis and St. Blaize,
then a celebration OF the Holy Com
munion a. coo \. " in the bail room
OF the Casino, carol singing in the park
at 500 A. II. these had been rehearsed
in the theatre on two afternoons b.
the Red Cross chapiain). the carols
were repeated in some OF the hotels for
the benefit Of bed patients. second
celebration Of the Holy. Communion in
service in the Casino at 200 2. NJ. with
service in the theatre at 1CO0 a. NJ.
masses at the Roman Catholic churches
throughout the morning, turkey dinner
Tor all at noon. an evening prayer
service in the Casino at3.O1 2. NJ, with
shows all day long and i'll the evening
at the theatre; not a moment in the
day. in which there was not something
to interest the different tastes of the
men. The living pictures at the thea
tire. reproductions Of paintings and war
posters. was an especially attractive
item. The Red Cross chaplain wen
about the wards to visit the bed pa.
tients and there was no limit to tn,
extravaganza of expression which the
men made for the Red Cross and til.
splendid Christmas festival which it az
given to them. Fortunately we ha,
wonderful weather, il seemed as il we
were favored in every way.
Many Of the returned American pris-
oners in Germany. some few thousan j..
in all. have come here to Tichy and
they tell most interesting stories OF
their experiences: those who have no,
been wounded and arc able to go abou
the streets have been the centres o.
groups of men who have listened eager
~ TO what they have had to tell
Nichy is spoken OF As the largest has.
hospital centre in France how large ano
how important, no one can understand
until he has been here and has seen tn,
work. The greatest possible prais.
should be given and is given to the Rec
Cross for its activities here and the
centre is for.uhate in having a compe