New-York tribune., 1918-01-11
Rurnania i'm Grip
OF Suffering and
Extreme Poverty
Relief Work Must Equal
That in Belgium To
Be Adequate
TAsscciated Press Corrcspandcnccl


JASSY. Rumania, Dec. 10.--Only
relief measures on scale equal to
those carried out in Belgium would
effectively meet the extreme poverty
and suffering in Rumania. Neverthc-
less the American Red Cross Commits
sion. which has been in Jassy since the
middle of September. although it has
not adequate means to cope fully with
the situation, is endeavoring to the
limit Of its capabilities to give relief
at least to the hospitals and the sick
with the handful Of supplies it has at
it's disposal.
The medical unit, consisting of thir-
teen American doctors and twelve
American nurses, is doing splendid
work at Roman, sixty miles from Jassy
and about forty-fvc miles from the
Austrian Rumanian front. where it has
established the first American hospital
with a capacity of 500 beds. The chief
diafficulty in carrying on the work has
been the problem of getting medical
supplies through Russia.
The British Red Cross has been Of
the greatest assistance to the Ameri
can commission, which came here vir-
tually empty handed and was disap-
pointed by the non-arrival of medical
supplies shipped from New York. In
this emergency tho British organiza-
ton, which had been operating in
Rumania more than year. turned over
to the commission the hospital in
Roman.
Dine With Queen Marie
Queen Marie of Rumania has taken
particular interest in the work of the
hospital and was invited to partakc of
Thanksgiving dinner with the Ameri-
can staff there. The staff itself has felt
the food privations which prevail in Ru-
mania. and the Thanksgiving dinner
was the first really substantial repast
that the doctors and nurses have had
since their arrival. The chairman and
the staff eat at army headquarters, and
have meat only three times week.
France has rendered Rumania medi-
cal and military relief on scale so
great that the common feeling here
is that this little kingdom would
scarcely exist to-day if it had not been
for the generosity of her French ally.
France reorganied and revived the Ru-
manian army. She now has here near
ly one thousand. officers who have been
teaching the Kumanian soldiers the
military tactics used on the Western
'front.'
France Most Esteemed
In medical relief the French govern.
ment has sent here more than eighty
doctors. Some of these died heroical-
ly in the typhus scourge Of last winter.
France undoubtedly stands first in the
affections of the Rumanians; then
comes the United States and England
French is spoken here almost as com
most the sole language in govern
ment and in social circles
In spite Of the grave possibility OF
Russia concluding separate peace
one of the Cabinet members has de-
clared that Rumania will stick with he,
; allies until the last and will neve,
make separate terms with Germany
The Rumanian. government naturall,
, takes a pessimistic view Of events ir
, Russia. If Russia. which has nearly
, 100000 troops assisting the Rumeni
ans in preventing further invasion by
the Central Powers, should conclude
separate peace, by no possibility coule
the Rumanan army, now numbering
little over 100000 hold the lin,
against the Germans.
Ready for Flight
I If this should happen and the Teu
= tonic forces as consequence shou!(
y take the remaining portions of Ru
4 mania, the Rumanian government ant
royal family would probably 20 to Eng
e land or France. or probably to Japan
: and conduct nominal administration
n from there simitr to the course fo.
|, lowed by Belgium and Serbia
, this territory the American Red Cros
e would probably work it's way down t.
Mcsopotamia by way of Persia or pos
c sibly. go to England or France Auto
S mobiles are kept at hand to take tn
y organization out at the first signs O
e real danger.