not one patient suffered the loss
of his sight. A great deal of good was also done by the Sisters and the
chaplain in bringing back neglectful soldiers to their religious duty.

On several occasions air raids threatened the town, but as the Italian
aviation force was superior to that of the enemy, no injury was done,
although earlier in the year Vicenza had suffered severe bombardments.

As the work increased a second hospital was opened for Italians for
medical cases exclusively. Besides Italian and American soldiers,
British soldiers were also treated at the base hospital.

The signing of the armistice was joyfully celebrated in Vicenza, and so
keenly did the Italian people recognize that the ending of the war was
largely due to America, it was a common occurrence for American soldiers
to be caught up and carried in triumph through the streets by the
emotional Italians.

As their work grew lighter, leaves of absence were given the
hard-working Sisters and nurses. During one of these the Sisters visited
Rome, and had the happiness of assisting at the Mass of the Holy Father
and receiving Holy Communion from him. Later they were received in
private audience by the Pope. The Sisters had also the pleasure of
visiting the mother-house of their Order in Paris. It was while there
they were ordered to proceed to Genoa for embarkation.

They sailed from Genoa March 21 for Marseilles, where they were joined
by several American officers and nurses who had served in France,
arriving in New York April 4.

While they were the only Sisters with the A. E. F., still they found
everywhere abroad Sisters doing their share of work. One band of Italian
Sisters of Charity walked sixty-five miles with a retreating force. They
were in the war since its beginning. This is not only true of the
Italian Sisters, but also of the French and Belgian, and presumably of
those in the enemy countries. The American Sisters were glad of the
opportunity to give their service in this war, in which their country
was engaged, as they have done their part in the other wars of the
Republic.

[Illustration: SEVENTH DIVISION TROOPS BOARDING LEVIATHAN AT HOBOKEN.]

I had made known to good Bishop Hayes my decided preference for a combat
force, and have always felt he favored me, for, on July 30, the
message from the War Department came: "Report at once to Officer
Commanding Seventh Division, Camp Merritt, New Jersey."

Good Father Dinneen, the Bishop's