Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 181, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1918 — “OUR BOYS” SMILE AS THEY GO INTO BATTLE [ARTICLE]

“OUR BOYS” SMILE AS THEY GO INTO BATTLE

Spirit of American Soldiers in France Described by Red Cross Worker. CHEERFUL AND CONFIDENT Each Believes If He Doesn’t Get Into Action on Time Fight Will Be Lost—What American Women Are Doing. South Bend, Ind. —Kathryn Carlisle, daughter of Charles A. Carlisle of this city, has been In France for a long time doing Red Cross work. She has written a most Interesting and thrilling letter to her parents, a letter that should stimulate Red Cross work throughout the world and give to our soldiers in the trenches, on the firing lines and In camp, their mothers, sisters, sweethearts and friends at home fresh hope and assurance that the American women are doing magnificent work in their behalf. Here Is what Miss Kathryn says: I wish everyone at home, particularly the loved ones of our fighting men, could see “our boys” as they go Into battle. It’s the proudest moment of life and the grandest. Oh! how brave and splendid they are, with a smile on their lips. “Good-by.” “We will see you soon again.” We feed from four to five thousand some days. Our canteen Is always crowded. Of course that compliment is our greatest reward. We all try and want to do for “our boys” the very best. They come and go at all hours of the day and night. Our Red Cross canteen Is never closed. All of “our boys” on this line of communication stop and rest and have their meals and refreshments at this Red Cross canteen. Want to Push on. We always know, among the very first, when a big drive is on, and then we never seem to sleep. Nobody wants to. “Our boys” don’t even care to stop long and rest; they want to push on. Everyone of these blessed men feel that If he fails to get there on time and at the very second when called Into action the fight will be lost, and it will. Here is a toast one of our brave officers left with us. It expresses the attitude of “our boys” to us perhaps better than any word of mine: “To our women, who sent us forth with courage In their hearts and tears In their eyes. “To our women at home who are sacrificing all that we may win. “To our women over here who give their own Ilves that we may live. “God bless them, and damn the man that does not respect them and the coward that does not protect them. “Our boys” mean every word expressed, and no woman was ever more thoughtfully considered and protected than we of the American Red Cross who serve “our boys” at the front.

Over 5,000 American trucks, all heavily laden, have passed our front door in this last big drive. Every man in charge came In for rest and refreshment and a little chat with one of hls native tongue, then with the smile of the soldiers and a wave of the hand In farewell, “Good-by until we meet again.” After every battle and at Intervals we see “our boys” coming back. Blood soaked, weary, but oh! how brave, “our boys,” with bayonet and shell wounds will tell you quickly and firmly, “I am all O. K,” “I can wait,” “Look after Jim there,” or “Look after this lad; he’s gassed.” The pity'and the brutality of that horrible gas! Get Best of Care. Every American father and mother can rest in full assurance that If their boy cotnes in anywhere along the line the most thoughtful, considerate and efficient care is given to him Immediately. “Our boys,” of course, come first, but In behalf of humanity, and the love of Christ, we never say or do anything to a wounded enemy, and we see them by the hundreds, that anyone could criticize. The American Red Cross is here for service, and it renders the best, day and night, to everyone that comes. While It’s work, hard work, and work all the time, we get a lot of It, and the sun shines just as brightly over here on the firing line as at home. Every day Is a new one and its ups and downs fill up the time.

A splendid general came in the other day and he was a sight. His clothes were white with dust and hls face black for want of a shave. - The canteen was packed—it was one of our busy day§. The general wanted to shave and wash up before eating, and the only spot vacant and available was the small private dressing room used exclusively by we American women. We excluded all the women, put the general in our private dressing room, with hot and cold water, and on the outside of the door we wrote a note and pinned it up, reading: “BEWARE—GirIs stay out. The general is shaving." When our guest finished and came out. he saw the sign, and doubtless read it with amusement, because he wrote just below it, as follows: “Girls, your guest has finished. Many thanks to God’s greatest gift to man — an American woman.” And then he signed hls name, and that is one of our choice souvenirs.