Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-20
SICK SOLDIER is LUCKY
To Be Transferred to Hospital Ship
Most Agreeable Fate in
Balkan Campaign.
ONLY CLEAN SPOT IN PENINSULA


Correspondence OF the Associated Press.)
Xxi. Dec. 1.-ouite the most agree
able fate that can overtake an allied
soldier in the Balkan campaign is to
be ill-or slightly wounded. Not that the
hospital facilities Of the ancient Turk
ish city are famous. or even adequate.
They are not. But there are four French
and one British hospital ships I'm the
roads OF SalonIki and they constitute
by far the most comfortable. not to
say the only sanitary spot in the Balkan
peninsula.
The French have been better prepared
from the very outset OF the present Bal
kan campaign In every detail OF military
organization than their British allies. No
better example of the thoroughness OF
ths preparation could be given than
the arrangements for caring for the sick
and wounded. Long before there was
actually any need for 1t and simultan-
eously with the landing of the first con-
tlngent Of French troops on Greek soil,
the French hospital ship Sphinx was ly-
ing ready in the harbor of saloniki. AS
the number Of troops disembarked in
creased. automatically more hospital
ships put in an appearance. First, the
Dugay Trouin, with its sheltered decks
and its high stern like the poop of a
Spanish galIeon. all porches and awnings
and lounging places for the convalcscent;
next this ship. the Charles Roux, with
its operating rooms, it's surgical clinics
and It's complete provision for the care
of the more seriously wounded; and fin
ally the Canada-all with full complement
OF nurses. surgeons, physicians, sisters
Of charity and ell the rest OF the para
phernaiia Of the aftermath of battle.
Comfortable Hospital ship.
In many ways the Charles Roux Is
the most interesting, especially as IL
Is the principal operating theater OF the
floating hospitals Of Saionilxi, and espe-
clally as the Surgeon Major, DR.. Heits-
Boyer, Is one Of the most distinguished
and best known surgeons in Paris. The
ship was converted from one of the larger
passenger steamers that In time Of peace
made the voyage from Marseilles to Al
ger. AS such, II Is roomy enough, for
not only have the saloons not required
az operating chambers been turned into
wards to add to the accommodations Of
| the cabins, but the great broad decks
have been glassed in. making the most
agreeable of sun-parlors IN which cots
are set In long rows 80 that the sick
and. wounded, in tho warmth of the after
noon sun. may lie quiet and look out
az the spendid view the Bay of Salonikl
affords.
Here, too, the convaiescent. propped up
with pillows, sheltered. excellently cared
for and competently nursed by volunteer
Frenchwomen who have passed the
necessary examinations and had the
requisite experience, gather strength
against the time when they may go back
and have another go at EN-" as the
''poiiu" In the next cot to the Associated
Press correspondent put It. Under such
circumstances the wounded soldier has
all tho advantages and none OF the draw
backs of "the Naples OF the orient" as It's
Inhabitants call Salonili. II his cot Is
on the south side of the ship, he has be-
fore him the snow-capped crests OF the
mountains Of Kalchis. those three fingers
Of land that stretch into the Aegean,
with convent-crowned Mount Athos tip
ping tho last finger. Or. TO the west,
confused with the clouds, he has the
peaks of Thessaly--Mount Olympus. the
home OF the gods OF ancient Greece, and
beyond, Mount Odessa; and perhaps even.
dim In the distance. Mount Pelion, both
of NEUROLOGICAL fame. The rare and
changing beauty OF the clouds above
/ these snow-coifed heights. the singular
ooloring OF the sunsets are joys to the
patients aboard the French hospital
ships In no wise lessened by the doors,
the noises and the discomforts OF life
ashore in Saloniki
/ On the other hand. should the patient
be placed on the north eide Of the ship.
the view Is no less attractive aioniki
itself. charming from a distance. strag-
Cling along the curving shore. mounting
the hill behind the town 10 the walled
citadel that caps It's crest.