El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-29
.FREIBU46 MADE
HOSPITAL CITY
IN FOUR DAYS
War Quickly Changes Baden
Resort Into a Retreat
For Wounded.
SCHOOLS ALL USE
TO HOUSE WOUNDED

TREIBURG, Baden, Germany, May
II 2s.-Few towns or cities in Ger
l. many have changed as materially
and noticeably on account Of the war
as Freiburg, one time Mecca Of Ameri-
can tourists bent on visiting the beau
tiful black forest.
From a quiet, peaceful little city.
well equipped with schools. It has be
Gene a city of hospitals TO Whlch scores
% the wounded are brought daily from
the west front, especially from nearby
Alsace. The Red Cross flag floats over
scores Of buildings that once were euu-
cationaI Institutions, theaters and
amusement resorts
University Now Public school.
Children now 90 TO the famous Uni
versity Of Freiburg for their lessons
because their own school DulioinSs
now are used to house the wounded
German and French soldiers Fully a
dozen school buildings have been RED
uisitioned for hospital work, all OF
them being administered by the Ger
man Red Cross in. contradistinction 70
the regular hospitals Of the city In
addition, every available amusement
hall and theater is serving the same
purpose. IN the auditorium. the gal
lery and even on the stage Of the
famous old "Festhalle" soldiers now
lie or, convalescing. stroll in the ad-
joining garden that formerly was filled
nightly at least with devotees OF
BGcchus.
The Red Cross workers in Freiburg
are proud Of what they have accom-
plished for the present quarters for
wounded soldiers were set up and ready
four days before the war began. before
mobilization even was complete
The Turkish-Italian war, one Red
Cross matrOn explained, taught the
German Red Cross that il must be
ready for emergencies Consequently
there was on hand a vast number OF
gray painted iron beds, bed linen.
blankets, stretchers and supplies Of all
kinds.
Everyone Helped.
When the war started everyone IN
Freiburg turned to and helped The
scholars in the high schools in one day
succeeded in getting their benches and
seats out Of the way and in storage
In another "a hours they had cleaned
the old buildings from cellar to garnet
ana on the third day had carried in
the hospital apparatus It needed only
one additional day to put everything in
order and stand by for the first con-
signmenr Of wounded
For nine months the fighting has
never been very remote from Freiburg,
and IL has consequently been a constant
hospital center Street cars run over
lrto Alsace. gather up loads Of wound
ed and bring them back The official
report Of a great battle. even though
II spells victory Tor the German arms,
IS almost invariably the precursor OF a
bis batch Of wounded soldiers, often
German, though sometimes French or
English.
The chemical Laboratories in the high
schools Of ''gymnasia" have been found
readily adaptable for operating rooms
Most OF them have water facilities
which are invaluable, and most Of them
are light and airy
The ordinary recitation rooms are
used for the most part for the soldiers,
and the smaller rooms. one-time offices
OF instructors, are available 1Or off
GERS Almost the only serious changes
that have been necessary lave been
the installation Of bath rooms
Wounded Are SightSeers.
Freiburg follows the example Of Lu-
beck and other German cities in giving
its soldiers a good opportunity to see
the town before leaving. either for the
front again or for home. Parties OF
sightseeing soldiers many OF them
crippled. are always to be seen about
the streets Of the beautiful little black
forest city
The first thing one sees in approach
ing Freiburg and the last thing as one
leaves. is the great Red Cross banner,
flying over building after building,
suggesting instantly the title Of City
OF Hospitals