Evening star., 1915-03-28

headed respectively by Drs. Ethan
Flagg Butler and Ernest p. Magruder
of Washington, were sent to Serbia in
November. They were placed at Gev-
CELIA by the Serbian authorities.
Wounded Serbians Pour In.
"Gevgelia is a town of about 1000
inhabitants on a railroad operating be-
tween Nish, Serbia, and Saloniki,
Greece. The water supply there Is
very poor and the means of disposing
of refuse and Of protecting food arc
very Anticipated. The Americans set to
work at oSce improving the unhealthy
conditions much possible, and
arranging for the isolation of con-
tagious cases. An indication of the
need of resourcefulness Is obtained
from the fact that they converted a
tobacco factory into a hospital, where
they soon had 1.300 wounded Serbians
right FROM the filth laden trenches.
and many of them wearing old and in
lection hardened dressings.
Unable to obtain vitally needed
equipment for the promotion Of sani-
tation from Serbian sources. in view of
the war conditions. the Americans soon
had many cases of typhus and typhoid
on their hands with the percentage of
deaths among their patients running
cause OF diseases. Then their efforts TO
care for their patients became handi-
capped more and more as one by one
the Americans themselves were taken
down with typhus
The gravity of the situation in Gev-
CELIA only became known at America n
Red Cross headquarters few weeks
ago, when il was learned that three Of
the nurses and one of the surgeons had
typhus. Some time prior to this a sup
MI 81 f.1 of c.4J nd
gical relief supplies was sent by Red
Cross headquarters to the American
contingent. this shipment consisting of
seventeen cases, in which, among other
things. were three sterilizing outfits
several hundred tetanus antitoxin
syringes. u nunnber Of Iiters of typhoid
antitoxin and five hundred pounds Of
chloroform.
nouncement that DIR. James T.. Donneliy
of Brooklyn, one of the assistants OF
DR. Butler in unit two, had died Feb
ruary ." as result of typhus, sac
riticing himself, as have other heroe.
IN the medical profession, for the cause
of humanity. and leaving a wife and
| little child to survive him. American
Red Cross headquarters lost no time
| IN cabling DIR. Butler, who was In gen
| eral charge, that as fast as the sick
moved to Saloniki that they be taken
there and no expense be spared In
caring for them. The condition of a
number of the nurses and surgeons II
this time is such to forbid an at
tempt at removing them, but a few arc
| conyalescipg now at SaIoniki and per-
+, hips by April ! the entire party will be
, in the Grecian city. Last reports by
| bic say All arc improving.
With a fortitude and bravery that
| is most admirable. DIR. Butler, who
l with others of his force had been for
| tunate enough up to that time to with
| stand the conditions aud to. retain their
| health. wrote from Saloniki. under date
| Of February 8, Of conditions. without
| SO much as limiting that those who had
| escaped typhus and typhoid wanted q
| change Of station. He had gone tc
| SaIoniki on a brief errand-to procure
| certain essentials for his tobacco fac
| tory hospital. His chief concern was
| for the welfare Of his patients, and that
| any additional surgeons and nurses
| " ho might be sent to Serbia by the Red
| Cross be informed fully Of the situation