The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-25
N. Y. MAN GAVE UP
NISH TO BULGARS
D. NJ. Dodd, Relief Worker,
Was Asked to Deal With
Invading Army.
BLINDED BY HARDSHIP

Douglass Merriweather Doh and his
brother. Elliott William Dold. sons Of
Dr.. william f. bold. who left on June
rs last to take charge Of an automobile
squad in connection with q relief expe-
dition which was sent out 70 aid the
Serbs, have returned to their homes In
Astoria still suffering from the effects Of
six months at the front In the Balkans.
Douglass. who is 81 years old, was
stricken blind from the hardships and
privations he endured. 1t was on ac-
count Of this that the two brothers left
and then to Rotterdam. where they took
the stea mship Rotterdam. They arrived
In New York Thursday.
In telling Of the entry OF the Bulgars
into Nish. Serbia's war capital, Douglass
bold said the men O. q Serbian regiment
killed their Colonel. swooped down on
Nish and began to loot the place. He
said this regiment terrorized h city.
Surrendered City.
1t was after his regiment left that the
remnant OF the population In the city,
fearing for Their homes and personal
safety. appealed to the Bishop OF N.sh
to induce bold to negotiate for the sur
render If the city to the invading Bull
CARS and ask for protection. h the
Bulgars were within a short distance Of
the city. Dold, accompanied by the
Bishop Of Nish and a throng Of young
women bearing garlands of flowers
started out to meet the invaders. A
big white flag WAS waved In front OF the
two men. An officer in command OF the
invading Bulgars rode forward and ac-
cepted the surrender OF the city at the
hands Of the American.
"In his speech" said DOld, the
Bishop kept referring to me, saying that
] was there al an American to give them
protection. The officer listened. and
when II came my turn to speak / did SO
through an Interpreter. ! showed my
passport n asked for protection Of the
city and the people. l also asked him
to protect the hospital stores that were
left over from the footing Serbians. After
I got through III bowed respectfully. and
/ must say his men behaved themselves
s%plendidly while in the city. A guard
was sent to protect the hospital stores
and there was no disorder until the Ger
mans began to arrive, n then pande-
| monium broke loose. Their onduc was
worse than that Of the Serbian mutt
| neers. Nothing was held sacred. De
struction and loot were on all sides. ]
heard Of one pima who, after being
UldltTeAteu, COTtlfIlltteu sultite.
We started in." continued Dold. "tc
| care for wounded and sick soldiers and
also for sick civilians. Many OF their
were starving and were also suffering
from a diet of green English walnuts
which had been their only rations unit
we supplied them with food. 1t Is need.
less to say they were in terrible physical
| condition. My duty took ME between
the first and second firing lines on tht
battle front and l found that many o.
the soldiers had scurvy.
In Charge Of supplies.
ION November 2 Sir Ralph Page
turned over TO me the Red Cross sup.
plies.
Before the Bulgars entered Nish Ser
ban wonen OF high standing. fearful FOL
themselves and families. asked me &c
marry them n give them and thei'
families the protection OF my American
passport. The strange request was made
in a crisis such as may never again be
witnessed In the history of the world.
The second week In November ! was
suddenly stricken stone blind. II was
probably caused by the exertions ! had
undergone and from the lack OF food and
rest. I had to be led around. l was
useless and In the way and made a re.
quest for permission to leave Nish and
return home. My clothing consisted OF
odds and ends picked up at hazard. Flo
funds / had "A quantity Of Serbian money
which was no good and $l25 In French
gold. Finally IA military automobile was
placed at my disposal and under the care
OF my brother William l started fol
home"
by proper treatment Mr.. Dold ex'
poets To have his eyesight restored.