Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 136, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1918 — Bestow Praise Upon U. S. Hospital Units [ARTICLE]

Bestow Praise Upon U. S. Hospital Units

French and British Officials Commend Their Work in Picardy. SHELL GRAVES OF YANKEES Germans Deliberately Tear Up Cemetery—Basebail Teams Play in Their Gas Masks as an Innovation in Training. With the American Army in France. —The work of the American hospital units in Picardy has won high praise from both French and British officials. By the establishment of a non-trans-portable field hospital only a short distance from the front line, the first of its kind to be introduced, it has been possible to perform operations which seem to be little short of miraculous. Of 155 cases recently admitted, operations were performed on 118 men, and the mortality was only 30 per cent. The doctors say that had it not been for this hospital so near the scene of action the mortality undoubtedly would have been 80 or 90 per cent. This hospital is situated in a picturesque bit of country. It is surrounded by wild flowers. The principal building formerly was the country home of a French count, who now lives in the stable with the countess. It is said this hospital is one of the most complete in Europe. It is equipped with every necessity. Near the hospital is a cemetery in which nearly 100 Americans are buried. W’hen all is quiet along the front and the hospital attendants have some spare time they pick wild flowers and decorate the graves. Many aged French women also spend much time in this way. They say this is little enough for them to do to show their appreciation of what American mothers are doing for France. ' Shell American Cemetery. The Germans have been deliberately shelling an American cemetery near the front in Picardy. Recently one grave was torn up four times. It may be cited in contrast that the Americans in this sector a few days ago took a German prisoner who w’as mortally wounded. -He died and received a Christian funeral and burial in the American cemetery near the front. His grave was marked in the same' manner as the others. Except artillery activity, the American frent in Picardy has been quiet for several days. There are signs be-

hind the German lines of slight movements, but nothing further to indicate that the enemy is preparing to launch an attack here. The recent enemy air raids over French villages to the rear of our lines have only served to incense the Americans and make them more determined when they see women, children and old men needlessly killed by bombs, and the lives of American wounded andsick in the hospitals endangered. The Bavarian troops which have just arrived opposite the American sector, northwest of Tout suffered casualties of 50 per cent of their effectives while they were engaged in the north of France in the recent offensive, according to reliable information received today. Virtually all these losses were in killed and wounded, as the Bavarians, it is declared, lost only one man taken prisoner. Leaves of absence again are being granted in the American expeditionary forces to troops serving elsewhere than on the northern battlefronts of the Somme and Flanders. In the case of organizations which may leave for that zone all be automatically discontinued 'on receipt of orders to proceed northward. An innovation in training recently put in practice back of the American lines is to have the men while playing baseball in> their recreation periods wear their gas masks throughout the game, the Idea being to get them accustomed to breathing properly in these protective devices under all conditions; An exhibition game will be played with Hank Gowdy, the former Boston star, and other soldiers with big reputations on the baseball field participating. Gowdy, wearing his gas mask, will catch for one of the teams and all the other players will be similarly equipped.