Perhaps this story of high hope, of keen suspense, of alternating optimism and despair is not worth the space here given to its relation. It is, however, a tale of a gallant fight in which the Red Cross won many friends and made no enemies. Shall it fare better in Congress another year? Who so faint hearted as to doubt?
Vivid Glimpses of the American Red Cross in Turkey
Following are several illuminating extracts from reports recently received from the fields of Red Cross activity in Turkey. The American Red Cross has been extremely fortunate in the character of its representation in this work. Some of those whose services have been particularly noteworthy are mentioned in the statement below by Mr. G. Bie Ravndal, American Consul General at Constantinople, who is also secretary of the Red Cross Chapter in Constantinople. The composite picture of widely extended and many-sided activity presented by these brief reports conveys an impression of magnitude and importance which must gratify every American who takes pride in the achievements of his fellow countrymen.—Editor Red Cross Magazine.
Fighting the Cholera at San Stefano
By G. Bie Ravndal,
American Consul General, Secretary Red Cross Chapter.
Our Chapter was just withdrawing from the earthquake stricken coast of the sea of Marmora, where, owing to the generosity of charitable Americans, acting through the American National Red Cross, it had been enabled to furnish medical and other timely aid, as described in my report of October, 1912, when the wardogs were let loose in the Balkans, and then began the initial scenes of that terrible drama which, during the winter, has monopolized the attention of the world.
Hardly had the curtain fallen after the first battles, which followed each other in swift, unrelenting succession, before the cholera began its fearful ravages, competing with the shrapnel in deadly work.
Thousands of families, mostly women, children and old men, fled before the onrush of soldiers from the north. Their suffering on the trail baffles all description.
No feature of the catastrophe proved more heartrending than the condition of affairs in the San-Stefano cholera camp, in which masses of sick and wounded soldiers were thrown together after the battles of Louleh Bourgas and Wisa. It is gratifying to be able to report the fact that it was Hoffman Philip, secretary of the American Embassy in Constantinople; Major Clyde Sinclair Ford, of the Medical Corps of the United States Army, and Frederick Moore, of the Associated Press, who taking their lives in their hands, first undertook the heroic work of organizing relief in this place of horror. They were nobly assisted by Reverend Dr. Frew, of the Scotch Mission in Constantinople, by two Swiss ladies, residents of San-Stefano, Miss Alt and Mrs. Schneider, and also by Hon. Maurice Baring, of London. The details of the relief furnished by our Chapter in the San-Stefano cholera camp have been described in letters by Mrs. W. W. Rockhill, wife of the American Ambassador at Constantinople, and I shall not attempt to add to the information submitted by her, as at the time under report I was in the United States. Mrs. Rockhill has taken a leading part in the relief work instituted by the Constantinople Chapter in the present emergencies, and the Chapter is deeply grateful to her. Ultimately the San-Stefano situation was taken in hand by the Red Crescent.