The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-01-09
PRIVATE BELLINGER WRITES.
Continued from column /, page A.

to do we'll upon my return to civil
life, nevertheless, / wish it distinctly
understood that l neither deserve nor
desire the least consideration for hav-
ing been in the army, and | shall new
er advance that fact as a reason for
desired success professionally or
otherwise. l claim no part in win
ming the war, have not contributed
enc iota toward that end and have
not smelt gun powder. | have tried
to do what l have been told to do,
but my duties have not been of such
q nature as to even tend to bear upon
the final outcome, and my work has
amounted to nothing so far as the
victory is concerned when compared
to the sufferings, privations and
dangers of those gallant lads at the
front who have endured the horrors
and pangs of an earthly hell. The
greater part of my time in France
has been spent in this comfortable
building, seated on an easy chair,
with a desk, typewriter, law books
and office supplies around me, far out
of danger, 200 miles from the front,
with never even {. sound of the dis
tant rumbling of the cannon in the
artillery to bespeak the reminder
that while | was here in absolute
safety and comparative comfort 9TH
ers of my comrades were there bleed
Ing and dying by the thousands.
Here. also, I have been stationed
within a stones throw of the largest
hospital center in the world, with
beds for 100000 patients, a force of
over 1000 trained nurses and more
than 800 of the worlds most skilled
physicians and specialists, fully
equipped with the most modern appli-
ances known to medical science, for
the treatment of all sickness, dis
ease and wounds, and during my
only illness, that of an attack of
Spanish influenza, I had the advan-
tage of immediate and perfect care.
Thus, I repeat, that I merit no share
of praise in the victory, but the full
credit must be awarded where the
credit is due, to those ~forbearing
and heroic fellows at the front who
day in and day out have cheerfully
and uniinchingly offered their all
upon the altar of their country,
thousands of them making the su-
preme sacrifice. And 1 have heard
hundreds of American soldiers over
here express their opinion on the
war, but not one have I heard who
failed to be enthused with his work
nor to be convinced that he was es-
pousing a righteous cause. Sons of
an unconquered people, their cause
was not to be denied, and Americas
representatives at the front had but
to feel that they were the sponsors
of a just cause and to realize as an
inspiration memories of the gallant
deeds of their forefathers to spur
them on to the end of a sure and
speedy victory. And so, thanks to
our fighters on the front and in the
trenches, above all earthly powers,
again Americas position. on a great
question has been indicated, the
cause Of the free peoples of the earth
reigns supreme, and once more the
Star Spangled Banner energies from
a bloody conflict enshrined in glory
and triumph. The records of their
illustrious courage and Immortal
deeds of valor at Chateau Thierry,
Belleau Woods. the Argonne, st.
Mihiel and Verdun will forever adorn
the most brilliant pages of American
history. And while l am bestoWing
this all too feeble tribute upon our
warriors who have borne the brunt
of Americas stand in the struggle,
may I not also as a slight measure
of personal appreciation pin a little
bouquet upon an organization of
faithful men and noble women who
back home and over here have in
cessantly toiled, toiled, toiled in the
common cause until that organiza-
ton has now advanced to the state
of an institution? l refer to the
American Red Cross and its glori-
Gus work. 1t has been a Godsend.
In America, in France, in England,
in Italy, in Belgium, in Servia, in all
hospitals, along all battle fronts, in
h%orrifying mammoth shell holes, in
muddy, Shiny trenches and dugouts
teerning with coolies and drenched in
human blood at every hour of the
day and night the members were go
ing about their noble. work faith
f,,11u and ch~eerfnl1y ministering I'M