Albuquerque morning journal., 1915-12-18
HOSPITAL SHIPS
ARE INVITING To
WAR WEARY MEN
Most Agreeable Fate for Sol
dierS of Allies in Balkan
Campaign Is to Be Taken
I'll or Slightly Wounded.
lA..ocIated Pres. corre.pondencel

=
Aboard the French Hospital ship
Charles RouX. Harbor Of SalonikL
%ov. s0-Quite the most agreeable
fate that can oyertake am allied sol
dier in the Balkan campaign is to be
in-or slightly wounded Not that
the hospital facilities of the ancient
Turkish city are famous, on even ade-
uuate. They are not But there are
four French and one British hospital
ship in the roads OF Salonik and
they constitute hY far the most COM
Portable net 20 say the only sanitary
spot i'm the Balkan peninsula.
The French have been better pre-
pared from the very outset of the
present Balkan campaign in every de-
tail Of military organization than their
British allies. No better example Of
the thoroughness Of this preparation
could be given than the arrangements
Tor caring for the sick and wounded.
Long before there was actually amy
need for it and simultaneously with
the landing of the first contingent Of
French troops on Greek soil. the
French hospital ship sphinx was NJ
ing ready i'm the harbor of SalonlkL
AS the number of troops disembWked
increased. automatically more hospi-
tai ships put in an appearance. First
the Dugay Trouin. with its sheltered
decks ana its high stern like the poop
OF a Spanish galleon. all porches and
awnings and lounging places for the
convalescent; next this ship the
Charles Roux, with its operating
rooms, its surgical clinics ana its
complete provision for the care Of the
more seriously wounded; and finally
the Canada-all with FUN complement
of nurses. surgeons, physicians sis
ters Of charity and all the rest of the
paraphernalia Of the aftermath of
battle,
Interesting Hospital.
Iu many ways the Charles RouN is
the most interesting, especially AIS it'll
is the principal operating theater of
the floating hospitals of Saloniki, and
especially as the Surgeon Major Dr.
Hcitz-Boyer is one of the most dis
tnguishcd and best known surgeons
iu Paris. The ship was converted
from one of the larger passenger
steamers that i'm time of peace made
the voyage from Marselles TO Alger
As such, it is roomy enough, for not
only have the saloons not required as
operating chambers been turned into
wards to add to the accommodations
of the cabins, but the great broad
decks have been glasscd Inn, making
the most agreeable of sun parlors Jpn
which cots are set in long rows so
that the sick and wounded, i'm the
warmth Of the afternoon sun may lie
quiet and look out at the splendid
view the bay Of Salonnl affords
Here. too. the convalescent. prop
ped up with pillows sheltered, excel
lcntly cared for and competently
nursod by volunteer French women
who have passed the necessary exam
nations ANA had the requisite expert
encc, gather strength agaiust the time
when they may go back and have
another go at en- as the "poilu' I'm
the next cot to the Associated Press
correspondent put IL. Under such
circumstances the wounded soldier
has all the advantages and none OF
the drawbacks of "the Naples of the
Orient" as its inhabitants call salon
iEL If his cot is ON the south side
of the ship, he has before him the
now snowgcapped CrCsts OF the noun
tains of Kalchis those three fingers
Of land that stretch into the AEGEAN,
with convent-crowncd Mt Athos tip-