Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross

while a party of officers came aboard. The Arabella was flying the American flag and the Red Cross flag, but the English officer courteously

ave you come to a

the sick and helpless, whatever uniform they chance to wear, will receive our b

er nodded

rous unless you have our maps to guide you. I will furnish your pilot with a diagram, provided yo

the formalities were concluded

know, but the boats are often mere tubs and the fittings of the simplest description. The wounded who come under your care will indeed be fortunate. It is wonderfu

ng afterward, for he proved more gener

an armored cruiser. The first officer having vised the ship's papers, they were spared the delay of another search and after a brief examination w

fields between there and Calais and full instructions how to proceed safely. This officer, who spoke excelle

latest news? We have driven them back to the Aisne and are holding the enemy well in check. Antwerp is under siege, to be sure,

roceed directly to Ost

Belgium is free of the invaders, you will find work enough to occ

s before finally receiving permission to proceed. The delay was galling but had to be endured until the infinite maze of red tape was

vised by representatives of both the English and French navies,

found Calais in a state of intense excitement. The streets were filled with British and French soldiery, with whom were mingled groups of

n Englishman they found in the lob

at the boy's fists involuntarily doubled; then he turned his back and walked away. A bystan

duction?" he asked young Jones. "But I'll an

think so?" inquired

ng place over in Belgium, but it's said the bombardment of Antwerp began yesterday and it's impossible

ing thrilling in

ed Jones, almos

a typical B

ter to fight than to eat our hearts out by watching and waiting. W

ng women, many of whom had frightened children clinging to their skirts, passed groups of old men and boys who were visibly trembling with trepidation and stood aside for ranks of brisk soldiery who marched with an ale

t conference was hel

firmly entrenched and it's going to be a long, hard fight. Antwerp is being bombarded, and although it's a powerful fortress, the general opinion is that it c

is: Shall we disembark our ambulances and run them across to Arras, beginning our work behind the French trenches, or go on to Dunkirk, where we are li

side of the question. Uncle John continued to favor the trenches, as the safest position for his girls to work; but th

ium," said Beth, "that I would take more pleasure in h

e remaining force is with King Albert in Antwerp. If the place falls they will either be made prisoners by the Germans or they may escape into Holland, where their fighting days w

ad just received reports that Antwerp was in flames and the greater part of the city already demolished by the huge forty-two-centimetr

le to assist them. After the matt

e whole angle of the war. Strange portents are in the air; no one knows what will happen

d little to say during the various interviews his observations were shrewd and co

are being sent here. The Sisters of Mercy and the regular French Red Cross force seem very competent to handle the situation, and there are two government hospital ships already anchored in this port. We would only be butting in to offer our services. But down

stance for a wounded man

octor, "but the ro

se swinging c

us to be doing something. "Couldn't

answered Mr. Merrick, "and from my impressions of the i

hy

with a laugh. "But we might ask the commandant to r

ity had surrendered, the Belgian army had made good its escape an

hey were also told that the commandant was very busy but would try to see them presently. T

ly. "The Germans will make a dash to capture both Dunkirk and Calais, and al

French?" aske

our allies, the English, to support us. Their General French is now at Dunkirk,

good at Antwerp, it

not misunderstand me; I admire the English private-the fighting man-exceedingly. Were

he orderly if he knew of a good chauffeur to drive their ambulanc

erly re

t may be the general will consent to spare you one of them. Y

o direct Red Cross workers or advise them. They were needed everywhere; everywhere they would be welcome. And now, he regretted

hat they could ill afford to spare one from the service. A desperate situation now faced the Allies in Flanders. Ca

ffice the orderly

of the slightest use to them. All the good chauffeurs had been

Belgian," sugg

Dunkirk. It is only a little way, through a good channel, and you will be as safe there as at Calais. For, if Dunkirk falls, Calais will fall with it. From there, moreover,

l, s

most good, Dunkirk is your logical station. If you are merely

ext visited one of the hospitals, where an overworked but friendly English surgeon volunteere

r chauffeur. On the morning of October eleventh they left Calais and proceeded slowly along the buoyed channel that is the on

n entirely different atmosphere. No excitement, no terror was visible anywhere. The people

businesslike air pervaded the place, with an entire lack of confusion. Most of the Belgians were reservists who were waiting to secure uniforms and arms. They crowded all the hotels, cafés and inns and seemed as merry and light-hearted as if no news of their king's

uniforms and caps, and it was almost pathetic to note the deference with which all those war

ench doctor in a delicate operation. Patsy stood by to watch this surgery, her face white and drawn, for this was her first experie