The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-09-27
SUFFERING IN BALKANS.
General Miles Reports Thousands OF
Wounded unaided-vivid Picture
Of inhumanity and crueities Of
War.

4
War.
IF we have reached a higher. mo-
bier and more humane civilization,
trust it may be demonstrated by a
prompt response to the cry of dis
tress that now comes to us from un-
happy Bulgaria. In these words.
Lieut.. General Nelson A. Miles, of
the United States army, who recent
| ly returned from Europe, where he
| beheld inconceiyab1e misery. appeals
TO his fellow countrymen through the
| American Red Cross to relieve the
suffering of uncared-for wounded sol
dlers and the despair of helpless and
homeless women and children.
| The communication which the
American Red Cross received from
General Miles Is as follows:
AS charter member of the Amer
lean Red Cross, I feel it duty
again to call attention to the appall-
ing destruction of life in the Bal
kans. the desolation OF large dis.
tricts of country and the terrible con-
dition of the wounded, especially in
the territory of Bulgaria, from
whence have just returned. During
the war with Turkey. the losses in
killed and wounded were unpre.
cedented. The Montenegro army
lost TWENTY-FIVE per cent Of the men
engaged, while the Bulgarian army
lost $4,000 men. It is not necessary
here, or now. to say who was respon-
sihle for this war. Those who are
responsible for wars and railroad
disasters are not the ones who suf-
fer. It is sufficient to say that one
OF the most desperate and destructive
wars of modern times has been
fought within the last few months.
leaving whole districts OF country
devastated. Every home and har-
vest field burned or DESTROYED.
AT the capital OF Bulgaria the
railroad officials reported that $4,000
disabled men have been received. |
saw general and field hospitals all
overcroWded with wounded men, and
in one field there were four thousand
wounded men without shelter from
the sun or rain. The highest mil
itary officials reported over 100000
garian army, and 1t Is reasonable to
say an equal number was disabled In
the opposing armies Every LADY at
the national capital, including her
majesty the queen, was acting as
nurse to relieve the suffering.
II saw more than 15e, 900 refugees
who had fled from the cruel aIroei-
ties Of the INVADER. IN one group Of
these, twenty-five babies died IN
single night from exposure and star,
vation. Many OF the poor wounded
country has been taken by f0geiga
powers, and their families, those that
are alive, are wandering half starved
among the refugees. These facts
give you picture of the influmanity
and cruelties Of war. Those who
suffer are often In NO way RESPONSE
BILE. The reports of atrocities have
been exaggerated. though some have
been committed under the desperate
excitement OF fierce warfare.
.'If we have reached higher, no.
bier and more humane civilization,
trust 1t may be demonstrated by
prompt response to the cry Of dis
tress that now comes to us from uIl.
happy Bulgaria. No more urgent
cause was ever presented than the
present. and no more urgent appeal
was ever made to the generous hui
name spirit of America than the
one now made to send aid to the
American Red Cross at Washington
to be forwarded to her majesty the
queen of Bulgaria, who is at the
head Of the Red Cross OF that coun-
try.
Though their sufferings were not
great and their means OF relief
more ample, would also recommend
that a part, say one-fourth, be sent
to the Red Cross Of servia.
With great respect,
Very sincerely yours,
NELSON A. MILES,
Lieut.. General United States Army"