This chapter is made up of excerpts from letters and diaries written
by men in the Field Service, which, in one way or another, have found
their way into Mr. Andrew's office. They are presented as a series of
snapshot views taken by men in the course of daily work and no attempt
has been made to weave them into a connected narrative.
[Illustration]
_Our Ambulances_
A word about the structure of the small motor ambulances as perfected
by our experience during the war. Upon the chassis as received from
the States is built a strong, light ambulance body of tough wood and
canvas. The design provides for the utmost economy of space, and
although the cubical contents are perhaps not more than half of that
of the body of an ordinary ambulance of the kind constructed to carry
four stretchers, the typical cars of the American Ambulance can carry
three. Two stretchers stand on the floor of the car and the third is
supported under the roof by a simple and ingenious contrivance designed
by one of the Section leaders to meet the special needs of the service.
When not in use this mechanism folds up and rests flat against the
sides of the ambulance, and with a couple of seats added, which can be
fixed in position immediately, the car is transformed in a moment into
an ambulance for four sitting cases. In addition to these room has been
found, by means of specially constructed seats placed by the driver,
for three more sitters, making a total of three lying and three sitting
cases for each trip. In emergency as many as ten wounded men have
been carried at one time, the inside of the car being crowded to its
capacity, and the foot-plates and mud-guards serving as extra seats.
An ambulance loaded like this is an interesting sight. The driver
seems almost buried under his freight; he has not an inch of room
more than is necessary for the control of his car. Covered with mud,
blood-stained, with startlingly white bandages against their tanned
skin; with puttees loose and torn, heavy boots, shapeless uniforms
gray from exposure, and with patient, suffering faces still bearing
the shock and horror of bombardment, the wounded roll slowly from the
_postes de secours_ to shelter and care, shivering, maybe, in the cold
and grayness of dawn, but always with a hand to help each other and a
word of thanks to the driver.