Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-02
BERLIN IS CROWDED
WITH WAR HOSPITALS
Estimated to Have HOO Instltu-
lions, Ranging From 400
to 600 Beds.
FULLY 10000 WOUNDED MEN
No Definite Figures Available, but
Estimates Are Made by Expert
cnced Army Surgeons ON Duty
Correspondent Sees Hospitals.

Correspondence OF Associated Prcss.l
BERLIN. December 25.--Herlln has
at present about LOO hospitals for the
wounded. the smallest accommoda ting
|; fo.'y cases. while the larger ones have
from 400 to 600 beds.
In all there are said TO be about
10000 wounded In Berlin hospitals. the
number being maintained fairly con-
slant. although the individual patients
are constantly changing. very large
proportion or the wounded. 1t is stated.
are soon discharged AS again fit for
duty. and return to the front. No
definite figures are available. but an
army surgeon who has had large cX-
perience both in the field and in the
base and reserve hospitals, estimated
that about 90 per cent Of the wounded
are returning or will return to duty,
only 80 per cent being permanently un-
fitted for military service.
The Associated Press correspondent
was taken through six OF the larger
Berlin hospitals. and found there many
of the wounded from the recent cam
paign against Warsaw and IvanEorod.
These men had had ii particularly try
ing experience. Many of them, wound =
ed before Ivangorod, for example. had
been transported in wagons for two
days before reaching the Russian rail-
roads. and had been another. two to
-FOUR days en- route over the Russian
railroads before reaching the German
railroads at Kattowitz, Silesia.
Thence TO Berlin the transport had
gone forward smoothly and comfort
ably In the wonderful German hospital
trains to Berlin, but the first part of
the Journey had been Il protracted
stage OF pain and discomfort. Never
theless. they were practically all in
good spirits. and in most cases making
rapid progress toward recovery.
Wounded lodged I'm tho Royal Con
servatory of Music, now converted into
n model hospital, have in their wards
pictures Of Van Dyke, Rubcns, Nelas-
quez and other old masters, the works
In the school gallery having been dis
tributed among the various rooms In
the School OF Applied Arts. now also
a hospital the wounded had before
them for study beautiful porcelain,
enameled curios and tapestries. In
one of the officers casinos, now con-
vertcG into hospital, another large
collection OF pictures of military sub
Jects confronted their on the walls.
Field hospitals are erected quickly.
visit was paid to new ''Barrack
hospital composed of wooden. trans
portable barracks. each holding thirty
men. In few days this hospital to
hold 200 had sprung up on Tempel-
hofer Field. hot and cold water had
been installed. heating service pro-
vided, a thoroughly modern operating
room equipped and II was figured that
in four days. If necessary, the entire
hospital could be taken to pieces and
placed on automobiles ready for ship
ment to any place required.
Little is said in the German papers
about sickness In the army There
has been considerable cnteric trouble,
but this is disappearing with the ad
vent of cold weather. The entire army
In, 4 bo bnl 4,
typhoid, the men assigned to service In
the east have, In addition, to be in
oculated against cholera. Pneumonia
IL is said. is comparatively not dan
ger. since the men In the trenches are
warmly clad, but other diseases of the
respiratory system are quite frequent.
Overstrain of the heart Is also fire.
Quent cause OF men being invalidcd
homo or sent to hospitals many re-
scrvists and volunteers breaking down
under the strain of hard campaigning.