Evening star., 1943-03-31
BY RITA HUME.

ALGIERS, March 16 Delayed
P}-So this is North Africa?
To nine Red Cross girls who piled
out of a G. I. truck into the dusty
streets of Oran, even in this first
glimpse, it was a fantastic place.
We were so busy staring at 4he
curiously mixed population that for
a moment we did not realize that We
were being stared at ourselves.
They Wanted to Talk.
Then American soldiers rushed
up:
Say. are you really an American
girl? Boy, oh boy! A gal who can
speak English.
Look, would you mind just talk
ing to us? It's been months since
we've talked with gal from home
1t was like that when we arrived
In January and it's been that way
ever since. 2
We came to operate club mobiles
for the Red Cross, to carry canteen
supplies, recreation equipment and
programs to soldiers at the African
front. Nine of us represented all
sections of the United States.
There were Mary Sternberg and
Berna Johnson of Washington, D.
c.: Natalie Gould of Manteo, N. c.;
Betty Doubleday of Tryon, N. c.;
Peggy Roblee of Providence, r. l.;
Barbara Campbell of Palm Beach,
~ Of Tiro
Kans.; Hope Southerland of New
York City. and myself.
All Had Special Training.
All of us had gone into special
training at Red Cross headquarters
in Washington, just five weeks
before.
We arrived at Oran in time for the
opening of three new Red Cross
clubs. In addition to the jam
packed information center, once an
auto showroom, were the new En-
pire Club, complete with theater,
lounge rooms and library, the
nurses club and a recreation center
for officers.
After a short time, field supervi-
sors assigned us to Red Cross cen
ters. Barbara Campbell and Peggy
Roblee went to Casablanca. Hope
Southerland, Jean Luther and Verna
johnson stayed in Oran and the
rest, including myself, flew to AL
giers.
The six-story Red Cross club in
Algiers is the focal point for every
American soldier, WAAC and sailor
stationed in or near the city. 1t
also is headquarters for the Red
Cross activities along the entire At
rican front.
At the informa ton desk, Kay Par
sons a brunette from Toledo, Ohio,
was besieged by soldiers asking ques-
tions. The men wanted rides back
to their bivouacs or information on
theaters. restaurants ond locations
of Army centers throughout town.
They came to inquire about sleeping
accommodations or to leave mes
sages for friends. The thing that
impressed me most was their desire
just to talk to an American girl.
Where Are You From?
where are you from?" is the most
frequent question from one Ameri-
can to another.
At night, when a dance and
vaudeville show are going on in the
auditorium, the foyer is crowded.
Wednesday night. G. I. dances and
unit dances on other nights provide
plenty of exercise for the Red Cross
lasses. Attractive French girls are
invited but dancing with them is
not like talking with girl from
home.
You dance with boys who were
doing parachute tricks over Tunisia
last week. Or with fellows who were
living in foxholes day before yester-
day To all of them Red Cross head
quarters is home. It's frequent
sight to see bus load of men each
carrying a towel and soap draw up
in front of the building. They've
come to the only place in town
where they can get an American
shower.
They usually arrange to stay for a
snackbar meal and we'll they might.
William Kiel of Milwaukee, club di-
rector, serves 1900 men twice a Gay
in the large snack bar restaurant
on the third floor. Coffee, chocolate,
orange juice and American ham
burgers are soldier favorites.
5000 Visitors in Day.
AS many as 5000 people visit the
building in a single day The club
is strictly devoted to enlisted men
and sailors but generals, sheiks,
famous actresses and such celebrities
as Archbishop Spellman have visited
the club.
Every spare minute of Red
Cross girls time is filled with extra
curricular activities. There is a
flyers rest home near Algiers. Red
Cross girls were asked to provide
recreation, so out we went one
Saturday afternoon, six Red Cross
.,,-lr ol,