Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-01
DECLARE RUMAN|A
WILL "COME BACK
Great Future for the Country
Predicted by Y. M. c. A. Man
Who Has Been There.

Tight though she is in the clutch of
German peace, Rumania Is looking stead
fastly to the dawn of a brighter day.
The war has brought new ideas and new
ideals to the country and when real
peace comes this loyal ally, now cut off
from the rest Of the nations trying to
make the world safe for democracy, will
move surely forward as leader among
the Balkan States.
This is the view of William Henry
Morgan, Y. NJ. c. A. secretary who
recently arrived in London after long
perilous journey from Jassy. With fellow
secretaries and with members OF the
British and American Red Cross dele
CATIONS. Mr. Morgan came home by way
of Russia There is no choice of routes,
as Roumania is now almost entirely
surrounded by German arms.
Twice we were held up by Bolshevik
bands" Mr. Morgan said. In both
cases the leaders were of the brigand type.
There was nothing of the military about
them. Naturally We were triile ner-
vous, but they looked more ferocious
than they acted On the occasion of
our last hold-up, an officer in the party
gave the leader a smart dressing down
and this so cowed the fellow that We
we're allowed to go forward without
hindrance.
Later we met a Bolshevik of some
Importance who gave us pass that
carried us to our destination as swiftly
ana saely as one can travel in Russia
in this time oil conlusion.'
Mr.. Morgan built the first Y NJ. c. A.
hut in Rumania and was probably one o.
the last foreigners to talk personally with
Crown Prince Carol, who has been and is
a staunch friend of the Red Cross and
y. NJ. c. \.
The crown prince was very grateful
for what we had down in the country,
said MIR Morgan. He hated to see us
60. and he spoke sincerely, | am sure, OF
the time when we would come back TO
continue our work. In no country OUT
side of Russia is the opportunity for
service greater And In no country Is
the attitude of the people, from the roval
family down to the humblest soldier,
more responsive and more grateful. In
spite of all our handicaps, TO work with
the Runnanians has been real pleasure
THE regret of the crown prince at our
departure was shared by the Boy Scouts
of .Jassv. The scouts, the Roumanians
of tomorrow. arc fine bows, and credit
to the worldwide organization to which
they belong
THE original hut was named Oltul.
1t stood on a hill about three miles north
east of Jassy Prince Carol was its spon-
sor and gave military aid for its erection.
There were between 1000 and 10000
troops in camp nearby, and with them
il quickly became popular Within q
week after its opening Mr.. Morgan and
his staff realized that il was altogether
too small for the demand made upon IT..
MANY LOCAL NEEDS MET.
During the single month It was IN
operation" he explained, we served
more than 1900 soldiers day. We
first established a tea service, which
straightway became the talk OF the camp.
1t was something new. and the soldiers
took to it eagerly We served at FIVE
bonnie cup, or about half cent In our
money. We were averaging 5000 cups
a day when the Russian snash@lp made
the removal OF the troops TO the borders
of the country necessary.
The second hut, named the Prince
Mircea, in memory OF the queens son,
who died in Bucharest, was opened IN the
town of Jassy, where normal population
OF $4,000 has by the misfortunes OF war,
grown almost over night to 100000
This was also a small hut Work on 1t
was begun in October, 1917. DELAYS
In construction prevented opening until
late last December
There were no restaurants worthy oI
the name in Jassy, said Mr.. Morgan,
and in addition to our tea service, we
provided soup. bread and biscuits. We
had great trouble in getting supplies yet
0e never turned away anyone who was
hungry. and we had many such. There
was no fOod-control, so that many went
underfed. while others were almost as
we'll supplied as IN normal times. The
influx OF refugees into Jassv made condl-
tions worse there than in any other town
in the little country which the Germans
have left 10 the Rumanians.
I'VE also furnished a writing room IN
which the Boy Scouts wrote letters for
the soldiers Next door was building
gwen 70 the Y. NJ c. A. by the queen,
together with 80 beds. They were oo-
cupied every night and We could have
used many many more. We started
plans for recreation room, with phono-
graph. reading matter and indoor games,
but were unable TO carry them out fully
before we received notice TO leave
Three more huts were begun and two
were furnished. Neither was occupied
because of the new disposal of troops
necessitated by Russia detection. Both
were large huts, designed TO meet the
needs learned from experience. Lewellyn
Bullock, g Harvard graduate, who had
gone into Y NJ c. A. work, was on the
ground ready TO take charge Of one of
tn em.