Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-21
AUTO RELIC OF The WAR CITED
THREE Times FOR WORK IT DID

Resting peacefully among the relics
of tho war at National Headquarters
Of the American Red Cross, an old
Buick Ambulance stands on permanent
exhibit, as evidence of faithful SER
vice of the Allies.
1t has every right to be proud for it
served during the entire period of The
war from 1914 to 1918. Day after
day, month after month, it rushed
back and forth beween the first aid
stations near the front line trenches
and the clearing stations on the edge
of the zone OF fire.
The Buick stock chassis saw its
fist real service with the Norton
Harges Unit. Section Z according to
| the American Red Cross. This or
SANITATION was one of the early am
/ hulance units TO work with the French
army before the United States entered
the war. From 1914 to December 1917
he car. did magnificent work back Of
the French and British advanced
lines.
Toward the latter part Of 1917
when the first ambulance units were
replaced by organizations recruited in
this country, the Buick car was taken
over by an American army unit
In the great drive toward Paris in
the spring Of 1918. when the line was
pushed back in the Montididier sec
tor. the ambulance was captured.
It is believed that tho enemy made
use Of the car for a few months later.
when the Twenty-Scventh and Thirty
Second Divisions Of the American
army pushed forward, Americans
found the Buick in storage park,
shattered and wrecked They hauled
1t back. crippled as it was, to a point
of safety.
During its few months away from
the Americans, the ambulance appar-
entity had been in the battle zone,
subjected 10 the terrific fire of the AL
lies guns. Evidently a large she'll
exploded near the front of the car.
for when the Americans found it, the
radiator was completely demolished.
ana the right side Of the hood and
right fender We're badly wrecked.
Before leaving the ambulance for
re-carture by the advancing Ameri-
cans the enemy removed the tires and
in otherrways made the car useless for
service.
Eventually it found its way into the
garage at Pare De Princes. Paris. the
ultimate resting place of all cars after
hard service at the front And it was
probably here that a happy poilu,
sensing the ridiculous, labelled on the
car 'Nente' Cor sale).
The body Of the car is in itself an
interesting study. On the left side
can still be seen the Croiv de Guerre
with three stars. Each time the unit
70 which tho car was attached was
cited for meritorious service star
was added. Perhaps citation was
awarded for trying service under fire
or during a gas attack, but records
have not yet been discovered to show
Just how the citations were earned.
There IS considerable evidence OF
service under fire. the armor IN front
of the driving compartment and tho
BODY and sides bearing the marks of
Shrapnel and machine gun bullets.
The original body was similar to
those used on the early French am
balances 1t has been remodeled ana
repaired several times because of
damage. It's present peaked roof. no
doubt. is creation of the enemy as
the French car of this type had a
curved roof as indicated by narrow
strip which still remains over the
drivers seat.
The body alone weighed more than
the chassis was originally designed to
carry. And yet. it had accommodate
tons for II sitting cases" or five
"stretcher cases. with room for two
or three additional men on the drivers
seat. Ventilation was provided by
windows in front and doors on the
sides.
There is no record of the number of
different bodies this Buick chassis car
RED during the war, but because of
the nature of it's service. there surely
were many changes. The fact re-
mains, however, that the original
Buick valve-in-heaa motor ami chassis