The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-04-12

But Four Have Contracted the Ter
rible Disease.
NEW YORK, April l2.--Of the con-
tingent OF six. doctors and l. nurses
sent to Servia by the American Red
Cross society since the European war
began, all but four have contracted tv-
plus, the disease they were combat
ting. according to Dr. NJ p Lane of
New Orleans, Red Cross doctor who
arrived yesterday on the steamship
Finland from Mediterranean ports
DR.. Lane was accompanied by two Red
Cross nurses, Miss Margaret Tullos and
Miss Glare Sensher. They were order
ed home by DIR. Ernest p. Magruder,
head of the Servian contingent, who
has since died, to reeuperate after they
had themselves been confined to the
hospitals, victims Of the seourge.
lit is impossible to convey in words
the condition of Seryia. - said Dr.
Lane When we arrived we found
the country in the grip Of an epidem-
ie Of reeurrent fever with a high per-
cent? &c Of fatilitv. Following the re-
! current fever came the scourge of ~
| Plus, brought into Syria evidently BY
| Austrian prisoners. The local phys
leans, reinforced by medical attaches
of the various missionary societies.
were utterly unable to combat it. and
in almost an incredibly short length
of time the disease was spread through
! the entire country.
Deaths We're so numerous that 1t
was hard to find means to dispose of
! the bodies, cremation being the only So
/ luton of the problem. In one dav dur
ing the second week in February $50
| deaths We're reported from typhus in
the city OF Nish alene Over the en-
tire country it is safe to say that not
less than two Que of every 100 people
including Servians and prisoners Of
war have died and the death rate Is
/ rapidly increasing.
. 1t viii require strenuous efforts to
meet the contingency aud successfully
combat it. Surgeons are not needed as
badly as are trained nurses who are
willing to work. Sterlizing apparatus
and disinfectants are Imperative 1t
: IS almost impossible to obtain pure
water for drinking purposes and the
disease is being spread through filth
and yermin.
When we left servia. DIR. Maoruder
vas well and the news of his death
first reached me today on my arrival
here. As he babe us goodbv he told
me he had just received word that DR..
Ethan Butler had been stricken and
: was in the hospital
Rev. II, ID. McClanahan. a mission
airy of the United Presbyterian church
located at Cairo, Egypt, was also a
passenger. He said that missionaries
and foreigenrs in Egypt felt no alarm
over war conditions. The government
had matters under full control, he
said, and every protection was being
accorded.
Comdr, Edward MeCauler, United
States navy, naval attache to the
American embassy at Constantinople,
and recently in command of the gun
boat Scorpion on duty in Turkish wat
ers, was on the Finland. He said he
turned over his command to Lieut.
Comdr. w. T. Brieker, March IL, Lieut..
Bricker afterward being drowned by
the oyerturning of his cutter. Comdr.
| McCauley said that when he left Tur-
key no apprehension was apparent in
Constantinople as to possible danger
to foreigners ambassador Morgen-
thau and the American flag were high
| ly respected, he said, and aside from
| some excitement over the activities Oh
the allied fleets attempting to force
the Dardanelles, matters were no diff
!; ferent than they have been since the
war started. Comdr MeCauley is to
go to Washington to report to the see
rotary of the navy.
Officers of the Finland said that nc
hostile warships or submarines were
sighted during the voyage. From the
time they left Gibraltar they were in
almost constant wireless communion
ton with some warship of the allied
fleet until they arrived at New York
The river Thames at London is
from quarter to a half mile wide,
but bears on its bosom more com
[merce than any other stream in the