Ambulance Volant,
France.
[LINK TO IMAGE]

“My Beloved Poilus”

Divonne-les-bains, France,
August 2, 1914.

Dear Mother:

The awful war we have all been dreading is upon us—France is Mobilizing. At five o’clock yesterday morning the tocsin sounded from the Mairie (village hall) and men, women, and children all flocked to hear the proclamation which the Mayor of the village read. It called upon all of military age—between twenty years and fifty years—to march at once, and inside of twenty-four hours five hundred men had gone, they knew not where. The bravery of these villagers—men and women—is remarkable, and not to be forgotten. No murmuring, no complaining,—just, “Ma Patrie,” tying up the little bundle—so little—and going; none left but old men, women and children.

We have started teaching the women and girls to make bandages, sponges, etc., for the hospital which will be needed here.

Divonne-Les-Bains, France.
August 23, 1914.

Your letter came yesterday—twenty days on the way—but I was fortunate to get it at all; so many of these poor people, whose nearest and dearest have gone to fight for their country, have had no word from them since they marched away, and they do not know where they are.