White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-03-30
SEEKS PARENTS OF
VETS SHE NURSED
Countess Wants to Comfort
"Gold Star" Homes.

Ponca City, Okla.-Calling on the
mothers of American soldiers who
died in her hospital in France Is the
mission Of Countess Constance Hillyer
de Caen, who is now making a tour
of America for that purpose. She says
she is doing this to fulfill promise
to dying Americans who gave their all
to worldwide cause. Over 1900
American soldiers came under her
supervision during the World war
She expresses appreciation for the OPP
portunity to make tour of the Amer
lea that she came to know so we'll
through the soldiers who suffered in
her Country.
Miss de Caen Is in Ponca City at
the present time and will remain here
several weeks, visiting the mothers of
American Indians she saw die In
France. Her pilgrimage, as she calls
1t, is one Of mercy to the "gold star"
homes of America. 1t is infrequent
that the members of the ''gold STAR
homes are able to converse with some
one who was so near to their sons as
was this woman. She volunteered her
services to France when the war-torn
country most needed this kind of as
sistance.
Sons Did Not Return.
Her activity did not stop with the
signing of the armistice, but has car
ried on to the extent Of attempting to
reach fathers and mothers whose sons
did not return from cover there"
The countess has made six trips to
the United States in an effort to CON-
plete her mission and has renewed
friendships made with many wounded
veterans she aided in the war zone.
The countess talks very little about
her family and royal connection. She
Is descended on her fathers side from
some Of the oldest families of France,
and through her mother from Admiral
Sir James Hillyer of England. Her
paternal forebears were French gen.
erals, her grandfather, Gen. Charles
Count de Caen, defender Of Metz in
the war Of 1870. The countess was
born on the French island of Pondi-
cherry in the East Indies. AS child
she spent many years with her mother
in London, where her mother was an
intimate associate of Queen Victoria
So she speaks English fluently and
with very little accent.
Honored by Celebrities.
Letters from all over the United
States from American Legion post
commanders and auxiliary presidents
of every state that she has visited are
valued treasures of her pilgrimage.
Pictures with Mrs. Theodore Roose-
welt, jr., and many other distinguished
Americans are carried with her. Her
pride in the American soldier and
doughboy is constant.
1T was an easy matter to get in
touch with parents of boys who could
| tell us of themselves, but the Indians,
in whom / am especially interested at
this time, were unable, to make me
understand. I could not learn their
talk and I've forgotten some Of the
names they told me-" says the coun-
tess.
II bring message to the parents
from the dying soldier. During the
time that America participated in the
war, we cared for, and aided about
two thousand dying American soldiers.
We gave them the last comforts before
the last call. 1t is to the mothers and
relatives Of these boys that especial.
ly wish to speak,"
One hundred and fifty American In
dams died in the hospitals and were
given care by the society of which
the countess is the founder, the So
ciety which had for it's purpose keep
ing contact between the American
soldier and his home folks, and the
administration of little comforts to
them when they were confined to
French hospitals
"The French love America" says
Miss de Caen. "We love the memory
of your boys, and if you could see
the French people going to the graves
Of your dead and placing little floral
remembrances of love upon them, you
would realize that we hold dear the
memory of the boys and their help
to us in the war;"