THE DAY of days to those brought up in the United States, especially those belonging to families cherishing New England traditions. Other nations have their National Fêtes, their Memorial Days, and Christmas, but Thanksgiving is our own special day and its meaning, is not appreciated by those unacquainted with its origin. To the small boy and the turkey it means stuffing, although the latter gets all that is coming to him sometime before the small boy arrives at the festivities. To the older members of the family it means "home" and "reunion" and that is why we wish to express our deep appreciation of the successful efforts of our efficient nurse and cheery co-worker, Miss Besselle Austin, who did so much to make this a real Thanksgiving at rue Raynouard.

In the afternoon there were "secrets" going on. The music and reading room was closed and on the door this notice: "Room closed--- Floor Drying", which was very suggestive and the dining room was also closed against the four o'clock tea imbibers. When we came in to dinner the tables were decorated with roses and vines as in the old days of rue Raynouard when new sections of volunteers were about to take the field and were given banquets and wished godspeed with wine and ceremony.

It might not be kind to those at the front to name all the good things we had to eat --- if the famine comes we will be well fortified.

After our banquet there were no speeches, but the floor that was drying was wonderfully fit for the dancing which lasted until midnight with intermission for refreshments which were all that could be desired. There were invited guests that made the dancing more of a general enjoyment, and all in all it was another red-letter day to add to the list of Thanksgivings past.

To Miss Austin, and all who co-operated with her in planning and arranging this fete, we bring our sincere appreciation and hearty thanks.

The Twenty Francs for the Best Section Notes has been awarded to Mr. M. E. McDowell, S. S. U. 14 in "Bulletin" No. 21, and we wish to express our sincere appreciation to all those who have submitted so-many excellent articles to this contest.

The Prize for the Best Sketch has been awarded to Mr. Howard S. Ramsdell for the sketch following.

The remarkable "come-back" pulled by a Frenchman on being bawled out by an ambulance driver for "hogging" the road: "Aw, go to hell!"

ROBERT ALDEN REASER, S. S. U. 32.

Section 16 has a few notes.

The Section now consists of three members who came out with the Section in April, eight who joined in the early fall, two Allentown men, and eleven Section 70 men. Our Lieutenant is Bruce McClure, formerly of Section 10 and sometime Sous-chef of Section 33.

Shouts of enthusiasm emanated from the throats of our Section 70 members upon their reading the latest communication concerning the Buffalo. It will be the last is the prediction.

Editor, you may put the next note in your joke column if you wish and mail me the thirty franc prize.

It may amuse Section 26 to know that Buffalos aren't the only things Section 70 has to offer. One of them pulled this bit of Bull at the poste yesterday. He informed several Frenchmen that he had been in two wars ; this one and the Mexican War!!

If Section 19 has not yet found its "Seven, strong, etc." Allentown men, they might possibly find a clue at Camp Mailly where we saw and nearly adopted them while we were en repos.

W. E. POWERS, S. S. U. 16.

Did we celebrate? Well I reckon ! Oh man ! Such a feed ! We were not in very good condition for the big "game" because we had been training on stews but nevertheless we had the old pep so we got along wonderfully. The feed recalled memories of former Thanksgivings but I doubt very much if we ever had any better time or even better feed back in "God's country". As to the grub, oh boy, just listen! Nice juicy turkeys stuffed with chestnuts, beef steak with mushrooms and brown gravy, oysters in the shell salad (made by our own lieutenant), pumpkin pie, dates and figs, nuts of all kinds, coffee, wine and champagne. How does that sound?

After the banquet, our eloquent story teller "Bob" Davis, appointed himself toast-master and began to announce the speakers. Lieutenant Laurent was the first speaker but he said that if he spoke French we would not understand him and that he could not speak enough English to make a speech. However he gave us a even very good substitute for one. He entertained us by card tricks and by eating burning candles. We then drank a toast to Lieutenant Ware, our absent American Lieutenant, wishing him a speedy recovery and a safe return to the Section. Then the Maréchal des Logis was called upon for a speech. He said that his French would not be understood and that he was mighty glad he could not speak English. When Freddie Wallace, our First Sergeant was called to the floor, he modestly said that he would make even much better plumber than a speaker so he would relinquish the floor to time more brilliant speakers of the evening. Sergeant George Lebon then spoke a few words which we shall all remember. He said that he hoped at the end of the war to see every smiling face that was before him that night. Short speeches were made by M. Dixie, Barnum, Heiden, Etter and Goodale. Haley and Miner, the Mutt and Jeff from Wisconsin, modestly declined to speak.

After the speeches, Les Gardner, our musical marvel, returned from a post and then the fun began. A sketch entitled, "The Queen of the Harem " was presented by Gardner and Lebon and proved a hit from start to finish, it is too bad that such talent as George possesses has never been developed! We then had a good old fashioned barn dance. Corporal Maslund bared his wonderful white chest and rolled up his sleeves displaying his shapely white arms. He was the "belle" of the evening without a doubt. A feature dance was then put on by Lebon and Heiden and proved to be a scream. We then got out our Allentown song sheets and had quite a song fest.

We ended the evening by drinking a toast to France and America and by singing the Marseillaise and the Star Spangled Banner. We then proceeded to bed, unanimously declaring the day a huge success. Some of the boys were unlucky enough to draw posts on the eventful day but we saved them a portion of the big eats. We fell asleep with the rumble of guns in our ears but we had no thought of them for we had almost forgotten that we were out at the front and really taking part in the huge struggle that is going on.

"Big Ben" GOODALE, S. S. U., 33.

Under the flickering lights of the low boarded room, the air blue with tobacco smoke and the small stove in the centre of the place radiating a damp warmth, the splotch of green velvet stands out with emerald-like distinctness Around the table seated on the wooden benches, or else standing, are the players. At the end of the table, slightly elevated, stands time small roulette wheel, and behind it, ready to spin it a slender gentlemen addressed as "Willie".

At the end of the table, a stack of coppers, silver and bills before him, his hair slightly towseled, his deep-set face rugged and attentive, and his unlighted cigar, the butt much chewed, rolling around in the corner of his mouth, sits the banker, known", as some one has put it, "Familiarly to his friends as "Cliff Davis" but to his enemies as "Squink". Beside him sits the owner of the joint, Tedford. It is now that Mr. Squink Davis gets into action.

"Are all bets placed, gentlemen. Five more reds ou thirty-two. There the gentlemen are covering zero. The house is sure to get stuck any way it comes. Place your bets high, gentlemen, and sleep in the streets. Foolish Philander places three on the middle twelve. Pop, are you in on this? They are riding the middle gentlemen, and the bank will certainly be dinked if she comes up. Are the bets all placed, gentlemen? Brother Dormir Elmore covers all the numbers in the middle with five. All right, turn the crank Willie. She's off in a cloud of heifer dust. All bets are off."

The little pellet spins round and round, and comes...

"Five on the red", Willie cries.

"Pay me".

"Pay El-more!"

"I'm covered on that for six".

Mr. Squink Davis' face looks a bit anxious as he says:

"Take it easy, gentlemen. All bets will be honestly paid if we have the money. The house is dinked every where on Bear Creek except on the middle. That's paid. Thir-ty chips to Brother Dormir. Foolish Philander loses. Rake them in, now pay off these lit-tle piker bets down here. I'll have to pay this bet in coppers. Good God, Tedford, thirty pounds of copper go across the table.

I don't want all that copper, give me something else " says one winner.

"You will be paid in time coin of time realm or none at all", says Mr. Davis resolutely as he shoves the copper across the table.

"Don't fool with the wheel, Willie, or you might bawl up the gentlemen's systems, and the house would lose, and always address the gentlemen as "Mister". Willie, this is a high class joint. Pop wants to buy twenty chips. They are paid for. Count them carefully. Place our bets, gentlemen. place them high and sleep in the streets".

A tough Western gambling hell, you say? Not at all ---merely the new attraction in the Camp of S. S. U. 18. And did I forget to mention that the sky limit is 50 centimes? Oh yes, hell has certainly broken loose in Section 18.. The miniature wheel and outfit is the property of La Veuve Amusement Company, organized by Mr. Edward Samuels, Jr. late of the Racquet Club, Philadelphia, Pa., L. & H. B. Warren and Hon. Cyrus Weller. After the opening night of the Company on which cigars and refreshments were served free to all comers, the Company, having paid for the wheel, put in a proposition of auctioning it off each day. The wheel sold high the first day --- and lost, and ever since la Veuve Amusement Company has had trouble in disposing of it even at low rates. It has varied since. Mr. Davis, of immortal fame as tout and croupier for the game, played the hoard and lost and then. with Mr. Donaldson, also loser, bought it, ran it and lost. Mr. Davis then offered twenty-five francs for the privilege of taking the wheel out and splitting it up, but La Veuve Amusement Company refusing, he has since spent his time "crouping '', where he furnishes an attraction that lures them from far and near, Gentlemen.

It is certainly exciting. The players play all night and win a dime or lose a nickel. The Amusement Company offered to insure the wheel against loss, but their rates being even higher than the compulsory government insurance, the offer has so far been refused.

However out of its rental fees the Amusement Company is very liberal, and has put up two prizes of five francs each for the winners, single, and double, the horse-shoe throwing contest. Hickory Corners has nothing on us, by Heck! The Amusement Company. it may he added, is planning on extending its operations to other fields.

Section 18 was sorry to have missed its scheduled Thanksgiving Football with Section 26, but the latter Section changed pastures before the scheduled date. We have encountered and passed "How about you", with various men from Section 14, Section 15, Section 17 and Section 26.

Our Thanksgiving dinner made anything that the Puritan fathers gave thanks for look pale. There was literally everything from soup to nuts; turkey, chestnut dressing, fancy mashed potatoes, celery, petits pois, real American bread, asparagus, apple pie fancy and a la brandy, creamed chocolate, beaucoup de product of Rheims, coffee demitasse, in a large cup, cigars, the kind munition manufacturers smoke at home, (compliments, Mr. Davis) and ten packages of Sweet Caporals and Piedmonts for each man, the gift of the New-York Sun (which we hereby gratefully acknowledge) made up the pourquoi of the thankfulness. Joe, our cook, of Waldorf-Astoria and Blackstone fame, outdid himself. He never put up such a meal at the Waldorf-Astoria even when Pierpont Morgan was throwing a big dinner on the money from the Trinity Church collection plate.

Now that the long-hoped for militarisation of our service has taken place, we are getting, as the immortal poet put it:

"A taste of all the rules and pegs
They use to sit upon our friends of
Allentown, the hard boiled eggs".

Mr. James Irwin, Chauncey McCormick's Chicago Office candidate, and second-class sergeant of the Section, has returned from Sandricourt. Mr. Irwin has carefully explained the manner in which the government ties itself up in a knot of red tape. We also learn that in the future we are to be called "Men», a thing which we are quite grateful for after all the you-know-what that the New-York Herald has been spreading about the Service. (Subscriptions for the Paris edition Chicago Tribune solicited.)

In fact as a result of all the military flub-dub that has been floating around Camp, two new verses have been added to the song which begins:

"We came to France
To drive an ambulance
And not to shove a truck
Or ........................................

You know the rest. They are unmorally immortal pieces of literature --- folk song, in fact, and as such can only be communicated by word of mouth.

Dick Goss according, to stove reports, is helping food production in France by planting an extensive crop of wild oats. Croix de Guerre Burton has returned from permission after holding up the whole procession by taking two extra days. Dan Spencer has returned from Paris with a collection of post cards and marraines which make the Vie Parisienne pale with purity. George Gardere has just returned from permission spent with his "grandmother" . Grandmother my foot!

Thank you, that's about all for today as far as Section notes go. Turn the crank, Willie, she's off in a cloud of heifer dust.

R.A.D. S. S U, 18.

The following thirteen members of the Transport Branch of the American Field Service have received commissions in the Transport Division of the Quartermaster's Corps :

Captain, P. K. Potter.

Second Lieutenants:

Dougherty, T. H. Dunham, D. Bangs, E. G. Browne, A.S. Browning, R. A. Caesar, C. U.

Daly, F. J. France, R. Kennedy, H. P. McCall, C. H Percy, D. B. Sisson, W. C.

Amis de la France.

Under this title "Friend of France" has been translated by Firmin Roz with a preface by the French Ambassador to the United States, Jules J. Jusserand.

Published by Plon-Nourrit & Cie, Paris.

Nineteen hundred and sixty eight graduates or students of American Universities have been Members of the American Field Service, representing one hundred different colleges or universities.

Aux Armées, le 15 novembre 1917

Le 1st Lieutenant commandant la S. S. F. 32,

Je vous rends compte que les citations suivantes viennent de parvenir à la Section aux dates et sous les numéros ci-après:

«Du 3 octobre au 5 novembre 1917, sous le commandement du Sous-Lieutenant Miossec et du Chef Adjoint Vosburg, a fait l'admiration de tous, pour la rapidité des évacuations des blessés effectuées de jour et de nuit, malgré les difficultés extrêmes du terrain, sur des routes fortement battues par l'artillerie. »

SALTER, Thomas, Conducteur.

«Conducteur volontaire Américain, d'une grande bravoure. Le 10 octobre 1917, au cours d’une évacuation, sa voiture auto-sanitaire s'étant renversée dans un trou, n'a pas hésité, bien que blessé lui-même, à dégager aussitôt tous les blessés pour les charger ensuite sur une autre voiture.»

HOFFMAN, P. H., Conducteur.

«Venu volontairement des Etats-Unis pour servir sur le front français. A fait preuve du plus grand courage et du plus magnifique sang-froid en allant chercher les blessés sous un intense bombardement. A provoqué l'admiration de tous, par son dévouement et son mépris du danger.»

PAYNTER , Edward, Conducteur.

«Venu volontairement des Etats-Unis pour servir sur le front français. A fait preuve du plus grand courage et du plus magnifique sang-froid en allant chercher des blessés sous un intense bombardement. A provoqué l'admiration de tous par son dévouement et son mépris du danger.»

BARRETT, Gurnee H., 20e E. T. R M, de la 37e division.

« Conducteur volontaire Américain, d'un courage calme et réfléchi. Dans la nuit du 10 octobre 1917, n'a pas hésité à franchir quatre fois de suite une zone violemment bombardée, pour assurer l'évacuation des blessés,»

LYONS, Joseph, 20e E. T. R. M.

«Conducteur volontaire Américain, courageux et plein d'entrain. Le 7 octobre, surpris sur une route par un tir de barrage, au cours d'une évacuation, n'a pas hésité à continuer sa mission le plus rapidement possible, assurant ainsi le transport des blessés dans de bonnes conditions,»

LAMONT, Robert Patterson, conducteur à la section-groupe T.U. 133.

«Conducteur d'un courage et d'une abnégation admirables. Le 7 octobre 1917 a assuré dans les conditions les plus difficiles un transport de matériel à proximité des premières lignes. Grièvement atteint par l'explosion d'un obus qui lui a enlevé la main gauche, a fait l'admiration de ses chefs et de ses camarades par son calme et son énergie, donnant à tous un exemple remarquable de haute valeur morale. »

Au G Q. G., le 26 novembre 1917.

RICE, Philip S., Conducteur à la S. S. U. 1

«A toujours donne l'exemple du plus grand courage et de dévouement dans les circonstances les plus pénibles, lors des évacuations des blessés pendant les attaques d'août et septembre1917, devant Verdun.»

Le conducteur volontaire Américain BURTON, Benjamin Nove, de la section-groupe T.M.U. 133 .

«Volontaire Américain affecté à une section du transport automobile. Le 8 octobre 1917, a donné un bel exemple de courage et de sang-froid, en contribuant à dépanner deux camions sous un violent bombardement qui fit deux victimes à ses côtés. »

Le conducteur volontaire Américain HOPE, Herbert Hartley, de la section-groupe T. M. U., 133.

« Volontaire Américain, affecté à une section de transport automobile. Le 8 octobre 1917, a donne un bel exemple de courage et de sang-froid, en contribuant à dépanner deux camions, sous un violent bombardement qui fit deux victimes à ses côtés.»

Section No. I already cited once to the order of the Service de Santé, and twice to the order of the Corps d'Armée has received its fourth citation, this time to the Ordre de l'Armée, for its work near Verdun during August, 1917, as follows

Section Sanitaire Américaine n° 1.

«Sous la direction du Sous-Lieutenant Reymond, James et du Commandant Stevenson, Yorke, s'est vaillamment comportée au cours de l'offensive devant Verdun, en août 1917, faisant l'admiration de tous par sa crânerie et son zèle, en dépit du bombardement incessant des routes, par gros obus asphyxiants; n'a pas interrompu son service malgré des pertes sensibles. »

All men whose mail matter is now being sent to 21 rue Raynouard are warned that the Field Service Post office is shortly to be closed. "21 rue Raynouard" will automatically cease to be a forwarding address in France.

By order of the Postal Authorities of the U.S.A.A.S. S all enlisted men must furnish their families and friends, by letter or cable, with their proper military address in France.

Men who have left Sections of the Field Service should instruct the Maréchal de logis of their old Section to forward mail to the proper address

For enlisted men the military address of U.S.A.A.S. Sections is::

John Doe
S. S. U...
Convois Autos
Par B. C. M.
FRANCE.

(Signed) Thomas S. BOSWORTH,
Sergeant U. S.A.A.S.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30.

Thirty-five letters are required to spell the one word, which, in German, is the equivalent of the four-letter English "tank" or "land ship ", which has worked such havoc in the present war. The German word, as it appears in official dispatches received here, is Schutsengrabenvernichtungautomobile, which, freely translated, is "A machine for suppressing shooting-trenches."

(Exchange.)

Sir. George R. Young of the Boston Office arrived on the "Chicago" and is at 21, rue Raynouard.

Mr. Lanning McFarland from the Chicago Office who spent a few weeks at rue Raynouard has gone to Salonica as secretary to Col. Ryan of the American Red Cross.

We hear indirectly that Section 8 has t newspaper. We would consider it a courtesy to be entered on the "exchange list".

Dr. Weeks is returning to America, and Frank J. Taylor, formerly of Section 10 is collecting material for the history of the American Field Service.

Mr. Way Spaulding of S. S. U. 29 who was wounded on November 24th is now at the American Red Cross Military Hospital N° 1.

Mr. William Valentine Macdonald and Mr. Edward Paynter McMurtrie of the Staff have returned to America.

James Wyley Harle, Jr. has been appointed Sergeant of Section 650 U. S. A. A. S.

We regret very much that Mr. Arthur Douglas Dodge will no longer be found at rue Raynouard. He has left the Staff to join his brother in the American Distributing Service.

Mr. Dodge joined the Field Service in April 1916 and left with Section 8. He was soon appointed Sous-chef of the Section and later Cdt. Adjoint, receiving the Croix de Guerre in April 1917. In May he entered the Officers Training School and in July was called in from the Section to join Mr. Andrew's Staff.

The "Bulletin" wishes to take this opportunity to wish "bonne chance au citoyen Dodge".

The photographer, Mr. O, King, who took a view of the Château from the garden has had same mounted as a Christmas card. These are on sale here, price Frs. 1.50 and if any one wants to send them as a souvenir to their friends at home they can send their orders to the office of the "Bulletin" where they will have prompt attention.

Any of the men who have been photographed with their car can get any number of copies desired, at Frs. 1.50 and have them forwarded to any address. In ordering state plainly the number of the car, as this is the only record the photographer keeps. Some few photos are on hand of the cars in Sections 65, 66 and 68. Others would requite from one to two weeks to get them printed.

We wish to make the "Bulletin" for December 22nd a special Christmas number and the Editor urgently requests that all who have contributed at any time to kindly send something special for this number, and that those who have not yet favored us with any items, will draw upon that store of latent talent which surely lurks in the soul of every ambulancier, or camionneur.

If all enter into the Christmas spirit and bring something to the general fund of enjoyment, even at a little sacrifice of time and with some efforts, it will add to the general enjoyment.

To All To Whom these PRESENTS May Come:

GREETING!

Christmas in France, boys, far away from the loved ones at home. But remember, it's the last Christmas we will ever spend over here unless we come back après la guerre. You've all heard this February stuff, of course, and some of you, no doubt believe it. We do anyway. And since it is for most of us our first, last and only Christmas in this land of mud, Pinard and éclats,

Therefore, Be it-Resolved that :

1. It's going to be a right merry one.

2. We're not. going to keep all our Christmas joy to ourselves, but we're going to try to distribute a little of it to the poilus who may not have the things that we have.

3. On Christmas Day an armistice shall be declared, and on that day we shall desist from that most famous of all wartime sports, viz and namely, crabbing the post office.

Witness our hand and seal this blank day of blank in the city of blank, county of blank, state of blank---minds blank also

Section 65.

Dear Ed

Herewith please find a humble contribution of a Franco-American species for the Field Service Bulletin's "Christmas Tree". I never gave Santa Claus much credit as a French scholar, so perhaps he won't be too hard on the foreign portion of this effort.

Very merrily yours,

G. H. B. --- S. S. U. 32

MILITARIZED !!!

My dear Ed.,

Your Christmas appeal is irresistable. It draws forth this quite spontaneous response even as the mail wagon attracts a hungry-eyed cluster of would-be recipients, despite the fact that but one item of importance awaits announcement. This being that the leadership of Section 14 has changed hands. Lieutenant Allan H. Muhr has left to take charge of the reorganized spare parts department and his successor is Lieutenant J.-B. Fletcher, formerly of Section 4. And hereafter it is Corporal Dudgeon, if, you please, military commander and stern rigiditarian, (nice word), recent graduate of Sandricourt and the original little busy-bee of the bunch. Aside from the cold statement of these facts, this shallow line of chatter has small raison d'être.

For we have an "artist ", but he labors under the delusion that his output is worthy of pecuniary recompense; we have a poet, but his entire time is taken up by his forthcoming "wollum"; we have a literary man but at the present time he is sunning his frame in Nice. All of these complications lead to this contribution, instead, of an inspired Gem from one of the Temperaments ; (note the facile emulation of George Ade).

There is, as some of the communiques read, nothing to report on our secteur of the front. The major topics of interest would seem to be the fact that our brindle cat, after an injudicious overindulgence in some canned clams, has suffered from a severe attack of the pepsilol, and that Section Fourteen has taken up an indefinite hibernation in an isolated village, a squatty, squalid place that was half burned by the departing Germans after the battle of the Marne. The utter heartlessness of the "destroying Huns" is revealed in the fact that they elected to destroy only half of the town instead of ridding France entirely of such an eyesore.

Four members of the original See Section 14 have rejoined us after harrowing experiences with mountain trails and 300 kilometer runs and Greek music halls in Salonique; Strong, Honans, Fox and Rogers, all of California.

There is such a variety of temperaments and zoological specimens in this little band, to state it cruelly, that it is difficult to refrain from uttering personal causticisms. I wonder, Ed. my dear fel, (see, real familiar like), I wonder if, every section isn't the possessor of the steel-nerved individual who has the most hair-raising experiences every time he ventures forth with Tin Liz, and who greatly overestimates the interest of others in said experiences when he rolls out his tireless recital of them ? Hasn't every section its temperance exponent who assiduously avoids pinard and cigarettes but has an ungovernable passion for petits gâteaux, its parlor, serpent with the Ritz and Reisenweber's and Frances White continually on his tongue's tip, its lavender story-teller whose stock of anecdotes flourishes most conspicuously in the Pullman smoker, or its long-armed artist with a thorough mastery of that greatest of all indoor calisthenics, the wicked lunge for the fodder pan? Don't all the sections possess a collection of embryonic hirsute growths, hopeful, pathetic things that can perhaps be recognized under the charitable appelation of moustaches? Does every section have its hard egg, its carping crab, its military oracle, its musical sleeper, its heavy lover ? This is enough, my dear Ed., to furnish you food for thought.

In closing, may I express the heartiest good wishes of Section 14 and the hope that this shall be for you the merriest Christmas and the happiest new year that Paris can afford you, which is saying a good deal.

S. V. C.

Howard S. RAMSDELL, S. S. U. 19.

---

Dear Editor,

At last Section 28 feels constrained to lift the veil of modesty and expose to the public some of her just claims to fame.

On September seventeenth, eleven of the original section were sworn into the U. S. Army. At the same time our Chef William H. Wallace accepted a commission in Aviation and his place is filled by Lieutenant Archie B. Gile. There have been nine individual citations for the croix de guerre.

There are many things of which the section is justly proud. Among the French and American personnel we possess ninety three briquets, and the latest report shows one to be working. Our collection of "Bosche" fighting paraphernalia ranges from a "dumdum" to a 420 mm, and is second only to that at the Invalides. The beauty of the collection is its portability --- three ambulances and the White truck hold the entire stock. Then, also, we have the fastest dog in France. If you don't believe it, call him and see how fast he runs. To our knowledge we are the only section having a real Field Marshall in its midst.

We have started the study of English in our division also. At least we've made a start for we can tell any poilu that we don't give essence away and he understands. Some say they see the blue cloud coming from our mouths and think it's a gas attack --- but its only good old Anglo Saxon.

In athletics we're without a peer. Sections 68 and 19 had important engagements at the front on Thanksgiving Day when we invited them to do battle. We suspect that news leaked out of our Cornell fullback.

While 28 can't boast of working in gas attacks, of miraculous escapes from "Bosche" 732 mms., of bombs falling in our midst, we can boast of our excellent record to date. At our last inspection we were told that we had "the most cleanly and businesslike section in the field".

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our fellow sections.

Yours,

Twenty-eight.

---

Lavender has been made a Corporal.

Thru the efforts of Lieut. MacPherson and Top Sergeant Rie, two turkeys were secured for Thanksgiving. The men at poste had their share of the viands. The menu was as follows

Jenny treated the section to "The Cremation of Sam McGee". Frank Royce gave a short talk on Fulton.

Dennis Nash has been appointed clerk of the section.

At an exciting moment on post "Bob" Scholle went over the top. It took fourteen Frenchmen to lift the car out of the ditch.

Soloman Garden of Alabama has been added to the section. He has been unanimously christened "Dixie".

Jenny wins thirty-five to one. Can you beat it? Think of the odds. Think also of writing thirty-five letters to one of the fair sex and receiving---one.

As we entered the dining room yesterday, which also serves the cook as a bed room, we noticed a new comforter on his downy couch --- a soft emotional thing. He admits he got it from the proprietress of the salle à manger and we happen to know that his material assets are nil and that he does not speak any French. How do they get that way?

Bertie Lavender and Lengthy Ed. Shaw made known thru the medium of the press that they desired a Marraine. Lately replies have flooded our bureau and it is believed that Messrs. Lengthy and Bertie will answer the most promising epistles, requesting either photos or --- bank books.

Phil Heraty recently received a cake of rare and delicious flavor from his mater and upon passing it around was asked by one of our merry punsters whether it was from a blonde or brunette. Phil came right back with from a gray, me boy, from a gray.

Lieut. MacPherson has been under the weather with a bad cold for almost two weeks.

Maxwell Smith was recently evacuated, to B..... The Doctor put on his billet --- that his malady was "fatigue général." As we understand that, there is a charming American nurse at B.... we wonder how long Maxwell will be fatigué?

A lot of Christmas packages are on their way here and we wish that you could enjoy them with us.

A very Merry Christmas from.

Section 19.

Emblem S. S. U. 19

Not a whole lot doing. We expect to spend a very pleasant Christmas if we don't get any more Christmas cards with that trite greeting : "Peace on earth, good will towards men". Mistletoe is in abundance near here, but it is about as much use as coal without a stove.

We were supposed to play football with 28 on Turkey Day, but a couple of our men were on permission so we saved them humiliation --- or ourselves.

We have no emblem to fight about and can't claim any special records, except we have a couple of men we nominate for the all-American eating team. No food of any calibre barred.

We have already begun to receive beaucoup Christmas boxes, all marked with the "Do not open until Yuletide," tag. To date our presents include three mauve-colored embroidered face towels, twenty-seven religious books, two boxes of Sweet Caporals, six copies of Wilson's speech on "Making the World Safe for the Democrats", one copy of "How to Live in the Trenches", and three sachet powdered handkerchiefs and we expect some young German police dogs on Christmas day.

Merry Christmas !

K. A. W.

---

To Seventeen have been added eight new men, six from Allentown and two former Field Service men, and we live in the somewhat sanguinary hope that there will soon be work enough for all. At present we are enjoying a sort of unofficial repos.

In connection with this recent insignia argument, the flashes of the wit of which so often lit up the pages of the "Bulletin", we wish to state modestly that we have an insignia which we believe to be absolutely unique. In the centre of an oblong of white on the sides of the cars, an X, a V and double I, chastely grouped behind an S. S. U.

Henri, the mascot, failed to harmonize temperamentally with the gang. He left. We mourn our loss.

Thanksgiving was celebrated with the customary gorgeousness that endears it to our native land. Most of us were not very enthusiastic at the evening revitaillement. But it sure makes a splendid digestive memory.

The present centre of excitement is discussion of the probable advent of the paymaster. Some of the more pessimistic claim that he wants to save the influx of kopeks for Christmas so that everybody may have a present. It's a fruitful field for speculation.

And so the work goes gaily on,

The Christmas Dream of an Ambulance- Driver

One of the fine views enjoyed by Section Nine in their present location.

During recent weeks many letters have come from Field Service men scattered through the different branches of the American army in France expressing the hope that the organisation may be kept alive and various suggestions have been made looking to that end. As we cannot have an "Assemblée Générale" of the former members at the present time the columns of the BULLETIN offer the most available forum for the discussion. of these suggestions. Here are some of the proposals about which. we should like to have an expression of opinion.

1. It has been proposed that an unconspicuous badge be designed to be worn by the men who served as volunteers in any branch of the Field Service and we should like to know what is thought of this proposal, and if the idea be approved, we should like to have suggestions as to the badge. Should it be a button, or a medal, a pin or a ribbon, or what should be its character?

2. The wish has frequently been expressed that 21, rue Raynouard, should if possible be kept as a meeting place and a kind of home for all of the former members of the Field Service now in France no matter to what service they may now be attached. The men who used to be associated in ambulance or transport sections but who now are engaged in the army ambulance service, the quartermaster's corps or the engineering corps, or in the artillery, infantry, cavalry, camouflage, or who may be serving as chaplains, aviateurs, marines, doctors, or what-not, would be able to meet each other here when on leave and renew old acquaintances and exchange subsequent experiences. We should be glad to know whether such a plan would meet a general desire and would justify the expenditure of effort and money involved and if the plan is judged to be worth developing, we should be glad to have suggestions as to ways in which it might be in made successful. As announced elsewhere in this number it is intended to keep the store at 21, rue Raynouard open and to make purchases here for men at the front. It is within the range of possibility to serve meals, and to offer lodging at low and reasonables rates. Doubtless also funds could be found to re-equip the living rooms, and make them attractive and home-like as they were in the early days of the service with writing rooms, game rooms, musical instruments, books and papers. We should like to know the feeling and desires of our old members in regard to such a plan, and should welcome all suggestions.

3. It is a generally expressed opinion that after the war the former volunteers of the American Field Service should be definitely associated in an organisation in America but this is a matter not requiring immediate discussion which will work itself out "quand la guerre sera finie".

There is at this office a Sheepskin Coat that a Frenchman kindly lent to a Service man to wear to Paris. The coat was immediately returned but has been sent back here as lacking proper address. Please try and locate the owner as we may want to borrow something else and also the gentleman may need his coat.

The American Field Service Store is still open for purchases from all former members of the Service and a Purchasing Department, in charge of Madame Grimbert, has been opened through which all former members of the Service, who may find it convenient, may obtain whatever articles they may need from Paris. Payment can be made either by keeping a deposit with the Field Service and drawing upon it or providing the money by postal order upon notification of the price of the article which will be forwarded immediately upon, receipt of the money.

All communications should be addressed to:

Manager of the Store,
American Field Service
21, rue Raynouard, Paris.

The following is a list or articles at present on hand with prices :

"Merry Christmas!"

The New Year is the time the business world takes account of stock. Incidentally the clerks who count and measure the stock wish that New Year's Day came only once a century.

From a business standpoint the "Bulletin" has only gains to record. A year ago it was nothing, it had nothing. Born on the Fourth of July it feels proud to have reached its present grand position where it is a welcome visitor to the soldiers at the front and also to many of the elite of the U. S. A. Yet, it only shines by reflected light, and it never forgets that the bright minds of our enlisted men and their real interest in its welfare, gives to the American Field Service Bulletin its only real value. Therefore, to each and every one of its readers and its contributors, the Bulletin expresses its deep appreciation and wishes to each and all a Very Happy New Year and that we may all know how to win out of hardships, toil and pain the compensations of endurance, strength, patience and fortitude.

On Christmas eve 157 members of the Field Service dined together in the old home at 21 rue Raynouard. The walls and ceiling were thickly hung with holly and Christmas greens. Candles gleamed on Xmas trees in a miniature forest in the three East rooms. Logs blazed in the fire places. There were turkeys and champagne and a procession of flaming plum puddings brought in when the lights went out. There were little gifts for every one and much good fellowship and the evening ended with songs. Some one remarked that it was a" good old war after all".

It was a reunion such as we hope will be many times repeated in the years to come, of the men of the old Field Service who came to France as volunteers long before their country could or would lend her support. There were representatives of the earliest days of the Field Service, some who entered more than three years ago and many whose enlistments began in 1915, men who had served in the battle at Hartmanns in December 1915, men who had served at Verdun in the great days of March 1916, men who had served in Champagne and on the Somme and men who had served with the Field Service in Albania and Servia. Practically all are now in one or another branch of the United States Army. Some are serving in the artillery, others in the infantry, many in aviation, the engineering corps, the ambulance service and the quartermaster's corps but the Field Service is still their alma mater, and 21 rue Raynouard will, we hope, as long as the war lasts, remain their home in France.

On Christmas 1915 we were called upon to mourn the loss of Richard Hall who had been killed by a shell the night before at Hartmannsweilerkopf. On Christmas 1916, Howard Lines of section 1, who had died the day before, was buried at La Grange aux Bois. This year happily the holiday was free from any bad news.

Who knows where we shall all be another Christmas? Perhaps the war will be only a memory, 21 rue Raynouard closed, and the men of the old Field Service will be reunited on the other side of the great pond.

Among those present were noted : Wilfred H. Brehant, T. M. 526 C ; John Wooldredge S S. U. 30 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; Alfred Machado Whitman S. S. U. 9 & Bureau des Autos, A. F. S. S. R. Hodges, Chief General Office, A. F. S. ; Arthur Beringer Lidbury, Bureau des Autos, A. F S. ; Paul L. Cartier, Staff, Chief Clerk, A. F. S. ; Joe Boyer, Bureau des Autos, A. F. S.; John H. Boyd, Bureau des Autos, A. F. S. ; Powel Fenton, S. S. U. 3 --- Air Service; R. T. W. Moss S. S. U. 2, Chief Repair Park, A. F. S. ; J. M. Walker S. S. U. 3 — Artillery; George R. Young, Staff, A. F. S. ; A. Piatt Andrew, Inspector General, U. S. A. A. S. ; W. K. B. Emerson, Jr. S. S. U. 3 --Artillery ; H. Dudley Hale, S. S. U. 3--- Artillery ; Lovering Hill, S. S. U. 3--- Artillery ; S. Galatti, S. S. U. 3, Assistant Inspector ----- U. S. A. A. S. ; Bertram L. Willcox, S. S. U. 19--- A. R. C. ; Robert Vance, S. S. U. 14 --- U. S. A. A. S. Noyes Reynolds, T. M. 397 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; Thomas Shaw Bosworth, S. S. U. 1,--- U. S. A. A. S. ; Mitchell E. Northrop, S. S U. 4--- U. S. A A.S. ; James W. Harle, Jr. S. S. U. 2, 1 and 10 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; Robert Bouchet, O. S. A. ; Louis Grimbert, Headquarters, A. F. S. ; E. R. Schoen, S. S. U. 18 ---Aviation ; Lawrence J. Moran, S. S. U. 71 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; Harold Hines, S. S. U. 13 ---U. S. A. A. S. ; Raymond Harper, S. S. U. 2 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; A. T. Miles, S. S. U. 8 ---U. S. A. A. S. ; Thomas R. Tarrant, T. M. 526 A --- Aviation; Anthony H. Manley, T. M. 526 A ---Aviation ; Warren W. Hamilton, T. M. 526 C ---A. R. C. ; Philip A. Embury, T. M. 133 ---Aviation ; Harold C. Hiis, S. S. U. 17 --- A. R. C.; Blake E. Clark, S. S. U. 68 ; David J. Post, Jr. S. S. U. 9; Roswell P. Bagley, T. M. 184 ---Aviation ; Lawrence B. Cahill, Jr. T. M. 526 B. --- Aviation ; Charles W. Baher, T. M. 184 --- Aviation; Percy T. Peterson, T. M. 133 --- Aviation ; W. M. Farr, T. M. 184 --- Aviation ; Leon H. Donahue, S. S. U. 66 ; Albert Mayoh, T. M. 397 --- Aviation Headquarters; Peter F. Monahan, S. S. U. 16 --- Air Service ; Harry B. Harter, S. S. U. 70 --Air Service; Charles R. Chase, S. S. U. 70---U. S. A. A. S.; Kenneth Austin Harvey, S. S. U. 70 ---U. S. A. A. S. ; C. S. Davis, S S. U. 70 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; C. L. Youmans, T. M. 184 H--- Aviation ; F. A. Grady, T. M. 184 H --- Aviation ; Roger Winship, T. M. 184 H --- Aviation ; Harold G. Meissner, S. S. U. 70 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; Marshall G. Penfield, S. S. U. 70--- U. S. A. A. S. ; Willis E. Penfield, S. S. U. 70 --- U. S. A. A. S; Walter S. Peterson, S S. U. 3 & 65 --- Aviation ; Lawrence G. Fisher, S. S. U.3 & 65 --- Italian Ambulance ; William F. Corry, S. S. U. 13 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; R. A. Neynaber, S. S. U. 69 --- Aviation L. of C. ; R. M. Hamilton, S. S. U. 69---Aviation L. of C. ; John S. McCampbell, S S. U. 69 --- Aviation L. of C. ; Louis E. Timson, S. S. U. 13--- U. S. A. A. S.; W. Parmenter Hunt, S. S. U. 13 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; R. Randolph Ball, S. S. U. 69 --- Aviation ; A. C. Phillips. S. S. U. 13--- U S. A. A. S. ; Scott Russell, S. S. U. 8 & 3; E. S. Ingham, T. M. 397 & 526 --- A. R. C. ; Robert Hyman, T. M. 242---A. R. C. ; Joseph A. Coughlin, S. S. U. 9--- A. R C. ; John T. Kip, T. M. 526 --- A. R.C. ; L. D. Higgins, T. M. 133---Aviation Signal Corps ; G. Houlston, T. M. 210 --- Q. M. C.; J. T. Bell, T. M. 184 --- Q. M. C. ; William B. Gilmore, S. S. U. 2 --- 1st. Lieut. Field Artillery U. S. R. ; William Ernest Resor, T. M. 133 ---A. R. C. ; Coburn Herndon, T. M. 133 ---U. S..Q M. C. ; Maurice L. Hanavan, T. M. 155--- U. S. A. Q. M.C.; Joseph C. MacDonald, S. S. U. 16 --- Aviation ; Walter Forth McCreight, T. M. 184 ---Aviation L. of C. ; Dominic D. Rich, S. S. U. 15 --- Air Service ; C. Upton Shreve, S. S. U. 4 , William A. Pearl, S. S. U. 1 ; Herbert T. McNerney, S. S. U. 9 --- A. R. C. ; J. M. Murdock, T. M. 133---A. R. C. ;J. K. Wells, S. S. U. 70 --- U. S. A. A. S. ; W. C. Towle, S. S. U. 70---U. S.A.A. S.; Robert C. Wells, S. S. U. 70---U. S. A. A. S.; Raymond Weeks, Staff, A. F. S.

Whoever writes the best letter to the Editor of the Bulletin in answer to this letter from a little South Carolina girl, will get a box of candy, as it is not possible to find the 19 year old Ambulance Driver to whom this was sent.

"How far a little candy sends delight
So shines a good deed in a naughty world."

A little girl "Somewhere in South Carolina " read in the Ladies Home Journal the story of the nineteen year old ambulance driver (near Verdun) with great interest and took to heart his need for something along the candy line.

Without delay she writes:

"With this letter I am today mailing a little bit of sweets, have no idea that it reaches you but am taking a shot any way toward you --- If this reaches you, just let me know and I will see that you will want for nothing along candy line."

"I want to say that I am a member of the "Red Cross"--- and am doing my bit but will do personal bits too, if I can. Now, will you let me know your wants and any other favor that you would like for this little South Carolina girl to do, although I am a working girl I never fail to do favors.

"I pray every day and night for "Peace" and all our boys' safe return to enjoy home life once again.

"I have four. fine, good Christian brothers that may leave home at any time for France too, and I know some other mothers and sisters will do the same favors for them."

May I take up part of a column in your publication in the interests of the history of the American Field Service, for which we are gathering copy now? We need the co-operation of all the men in the sections to make this book one of the best records of Americans’ pre-war activities.

The history is to be the story of the American Field Service up to the time it was taken over by the United States Army, and will be told by the members themselves. The history of each section is being written by a man in the unit.

The main purpose, of this letter, Mr. Editor, is to make a plea for photos, illustrations, poems, essays, and accounts of exciting events, such as you have often printed in your columns. In addition to making this book a complete record of the service, we want it to be the medium through which the life of the men in the ambulance work is pictured in the most interesting way possible.

We have no doubt that among your readers there are men with interesting photos which show the life at the cantonement, at the postes, or on the roads, others who are skillful with the pen or pencil on the drawing board and who will send us sketches for the book, and still others who have written poems and prose that ought to be in the American Field Service History.

Will you please ask these boys to write to Frank J. Taylor, 21, rue Raynouard, Paris, and tell him what they will do. Tell them, please, that if they have to go to expenses to get exceptional good material, the history will reimburse them.

Thank you for your help in calling the attention of the boys to the request for material. We feel confident that they will do all they can for the book. Judging by the way copy is coming in, the history should be one of the most valuable and interesting war-books America will have, and one our men in the service will be proud to have, as a record of what their Service did in the great war for democracy.

             MINISTÈRE
         DE L'ARMEMENT
                ET DES
FABRICATIONS DE GUERRE
        Cabinet du Ministre
                   ----
           N° 67,013 1/SA

Paris, le 12 décembre 1917.

Je reçois vos deux lettres des 5 et 6 novembre, par lesquelles vous offrez au Service Automobile de l'Armée Française, au nom de l’American Field Service, les deux sections sanitaires que cette Association avait envoyées à l'Armée d'Orient, ainsi que les pièces détachées et les deux châssis mis à la disposition des élèves officiers de Meaux.

Je vous remercie infiniment de votre offre généreuse et tiens à vous exprimer tous mes regrets que les circonstances actuelles ne vous permettent plus de collaborer avec l’Armée Française comme par le passé.

Je vous prie d'adresser à tous vos collaborateurs, en même temps que l'expression de notre profonde reconnaissance, nos remerciements les plus vifs pour l'aide efficace que votre organisation nous a apportée, ainsi que pour l'offre que vous nous faites aujourd'hui en son nom.

Je veux associer à ces remerciements les généreux donateurs, et en particulier les grandes Universités d'Harvard, d'Yale et les collèges américains dont le concours vous a permis de poursuivre votre oeuvre.

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur l'Inspecteur Général, l'assurance de ma haute considération.

Monsieur Piatt Inspecteur Général du
Service Automobile Américain aux Armées Françaises.