WITH THE A. E. F. IN FRANCE
inhabitants numbered approximately 40,000, whereas a conservative estimate of the permanent population located in St. Nazaire and its environs during the war, was 85,000.
Just west of the city a large camp accommodating 12,000 soldiers was built. This was only used for concentration purposes, however, for both the American and British troops. The Americans later built numerous camps about the city, holding from 400 to 2000 men each. Montoir, a near-by point, should properly be included in the St. Nazaire area.
Besides the camps, the following hospitals were located at St. Nazaire: Base Hospital No. 101; Camp Hospital No. 11; Field Hospital No, 44; Evacuation Ambulance Company No. 22; Mobile Ambulance Company No. 44; Base Dispensary; Medical Detachment Embarkation Camp. The personnel of these various hospitals totaled 95 officers, 759 men and 106 nurses.
When the War Relief Depot was first opened regular Christian Science services were held on Sunday and Wednesday. Later, in order to accommodate soldiers coming from outlying camps, two services were held on Sunday. The meetings were conducted entirely by the men, who assumed the duties of readers, pianist and soloist. The readers were elected for a period of two months. The congregation represented many different branches of the service, sailors, marines, soldiers, Y. M. C. A. workers, nurses, all military distinctions being laid aside when one entered the room. There was a very good attendance, averaging, our Worker says, about thirty.
The literature distribution work grew by leaps and
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