AMERICA'S PART IN THE WAR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14285, 30 April 1917, Page 6

AMERICA'S PART IN THE WAR

AMBULANCE WORK IN FRANCE

In an interview with a representative of the Sydney Telegraph, Lieutenant dune said that it was not generally known how closely the , people 'ot America were, interested m ithe war. "The battalion, to which I was attached,' he said, "was largely composed of men of independent means—barristers, accountants, an<i members of other professions, to /whom military duty must have meant a big financial sacrifice 1 . It was to me a 'great eye-opener to see the deep interest with which Americans followed the progress of <the war. The unit I was m could have been, filled over and over again, and I think it only fair to say tliat Australians generally do not appreciate to the full extent America's sentiment as far aa this great war if concerned. I have seen enough to assure me that many months before that natior decided upon entering into the conflict thero were many thousands ready and Avilling to take up arms as cur allies. "To give some idea, of the readiness of American's to take part m the fight," continued Lieuteant Cltuie, "the whole scheme w aass s voluntary, and I was tbe only 'foreigner' m the company. TheAmericans have two big hospitals m France, which were established and are maintained by Americans— -one at Neuilly Sior-Seine and the other at Juilly Sur-Marne. The hospital at the former place accomodates 600 patients., and at the latter 400." Lieut. t Clune went, on to state that the Americans had between 400 and 500 ambulancesi working at the front m France, besides m Salonica. In October last another corps of 60 was being formed to go to Russia. Talking of aviation matter's, Lieutenant Clune said that there .were 60 American boys m France learning to fly, under the tuition of French aviators. Hospital trains liad been presented to the French Government by tlie States, which may be taken aa tending to the belief that America was m war from the start. In one case a goods siding at a railway station was converted into an up-to-date hospital, with a fullyequipped operating theatre. "As is generally known, the American nation contributed generously to the unfortunate people of Belgium 50,000,000 dollars, but probably little is knQwn," continued Lieutenant Clune, "of the great work thaA has been done and is still being done by Americans m the firing line. The Vanderbilts and Rothschilds are interested m the work. "At the time of (the big Verdun attack the American Ambulance handled no fewer than 5000 cases weekly, and since its operations commenced the ambulance has handld 750,000. At the battle of ■the Marae they started one taxi-cab, and the French Government appreciated the work to such an extent that some of those associated with the scheme were presented with , the insignia of the legion of Honor and other decorations. At the opening, of a £20,000* Glaxo factory at Matamata, Mr F. J. Nathan offered the suppliers 2s per pound for butter-fat for next season's supply — a record price, • **