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LUloVISITED WOUNDED YANKEESSamuel Gompers Writes of Trip toDartford Hospital in EnglandCoBy SAMUEL GOMPERS!I have just shaken hands with several hundred wounded Americans from the western front In every case 1 thanked the boys for what they haddone and gave them a few words of en-curagement and hope for the future. I told them that the American people are behind them with ail they possess. “Sure, they are.” was the invariablecomment, made with a broad smile that you couldn’t mistake for anything but American.A more cheerful lot of wounded menit would be hard to find. It is really marvelous, this American spirit.and commands an unequalled view ofthe country tor many miles. We approached it from the picturesque villagewhich lies at the base of the hill. A fair was in progress there and the place was alive with people.Maj K. II. Fiske, the commanding officer of the hospital, welcomed us with open arms. He comes from Brooklyn, and I had met him in New Vork. He was surrounded by groups of the most cheerful crowd of wounded men imaginable. I recognized some of them at once. One of them, John Delmonte. was a neighbor of our family in New York. 1 was able to give him first-hand information that all was well at home,and lie was very glad.Mtioi! Paioilpeapro$154Relt;i sur dietotini pli1 Felt Lump in Throatit was my first contact with wounded Americans. It was my first visit to a hospital in the war zone. 1 planned it before leaving the United States. The first thing I decided to do after arriving in England was to visit a crowd of our boys fresh from the fighting line, hear their stories, see how they were getting on and give them some words of cheer. Thanks to the American Red Cross, I had the good fortune to have this wish gratified three days after my arrival in England.Lon-Ourpro*-Lon-OurThrough Familiar ScenesWe drove out from the heart of don in United States army cars, American chauffeurs made good ress through the crowded streets, doners are well self-disciplined, route took us over the Waterloo Bridge to the south side of London, then through the southeastern part of the metropolis, where 1 recognized many landmarks of my boyhood days.The day before I had visited Ford St, Spitalflelds, and the house there where 1 first saw the light 68 years ago. Weran through Peckham road and pannedthe handsome building of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, which Iknew was there from correspondence back in Washington with its officers,but which I now saw for the first time.Once out of London we traveled over the mills of Kent and saw some of the prettiest of the English countryside. Hartford Hospital, now used exclusive!v by Americans, is on the top of a hillWell, 1 walked about ther* among the men. handing them cigarettes. American flags and comfort bags made by the women of America to be disposed of to our boys wherever they may be. Jt was a great experience and touched me very deeply. Every little while I could feel a lump come up in my throat. 1 just couldn’t help it.Americans I met from almost every State In the Union. And never before was I so proud to meet my countrymen. Our visit was quite unannounced, and the boys were surprised and pleased.The Red Cross had sent out with us a motor car full of things which we distributed. The cigarettes were from two shipments sent over here bv the people of Providence. R I. and by the Rotary club of Honolulu. Hawaii, and each package had a little card by which themen could acknowledge the gift. It.was a pleasure for me to hand thes.gilts to the men. They came fromAmerica and I thought of every one aea link between these soldiers and themothers, wives and sweethearts of America.It the Red Cross did nothing more than to distribute these things it would be worth while, I am a member of the Hod Cross in America, just like so many millions of other Americans. In the last drive I helped to raise some of that expect to raise rnv hi the next drive/ speak first-hand ofmen.] wc j on| fuij me1 pati thlt;ciicoatI nii m j teait (itodvVagiant fund, and I voice for it again 1^ shall be able to its work for ouraekElftaliWO’thepoiBO!BatriletlriiRivcen
Newspaper Details
Boston Daily Globe
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Tue, Oct 22, 1918
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 28 Sep 2019
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