Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-26
IN ROUMAN|A
LOOK UP TO AMERICANS
Secretary Of Req Gross Mission Was
First That Some h.>-manians
Had Ever Seen.
VISIT MADEs JOYOUS FETE
Banquet Hall With Orchestra and
Piano at Army Outpost on Car
pathian Peak-Omcers Expecting
Great Things Of United States.
fBy Associates, press,

LONDON, June 26.-The United States
is honored and loved by the Roumanian
above all other nations OF tho world
with the possible exception of France
TO the simple Roumanian peasant ard
soldier America Is the real land CT
promise. and the American Is pictured
as 4 sort OF superman. wealthy. capa-
bic, energetic and efficient and. above
all. animated by the loftiest and most
altruistic ideals.
Tho secretary OF tho American Red
Cross mission. who visited the Rou-
mantan front in the snow-clad Car
pathian Mountains late in the winter.
was the first American that thousands
OF Roumanian soldiers had ever seen.
and they showed most astonishing
curiosity and interest in him. The;
was more than fricndlincss IN their
salute. not directed SO much to the
Individual as to the great nation over
seas which he was supposed - typify
and represent. Even the officers re-
fused to treat their visitors as al ord:-
Larry guest.
The Red Cross secretary. at the time
nf his visit. had been living In Jassy
for several months on the rather hum
bic fare which was evcrybody's lot in
a country where there was no abund-
ance. and he expected no special dis
pensation regarding food while with
the army. But the army insisted that
this visitor from the great new ally
must be treated with special favor and
his visit made a real fete
1t was after nightfall when the Red
Cross representative reached little
observation post on top OF mountain.
The colonel in charge OF the post a;
once te!ephoned across range o. Hills
to the general commanding this par
ticular army group. Half an hour later
the general appeared and invited tn.
American to dine with him. lie ed
the way down a corridor and ushcred
the visitor into large dining room,
brilliantly lighted and profusely deco
rated with American flags and bun.-
ing.
AT the tables $50 Roumanian and
French officers awaited the arrival OF
the general and his guest. As the !at.
ter entered the room an orchestra In
the corner OF the room played This
Star-SpanGled Banner" and the officers
rose and stood at attention until tho
music had finished. Then they Joined
IN cheer, which concluded with Ira
iasca. America" LonS live AmericaD
The unexpected appearance OF a
room large enough to be used as
hanqueting hall, with a real orchestra
and piano, Al an army outpost on the
Peak OF the Carpathian Mountains was
startling enough TO seem like a page
from fairy tale. Moreover, the menu
provided for this dinner Americain"
was the most elaborate that the Red
Cross man had eaten since he arrived
in Roumania several months before
The piano. which was only one OF nine
instruments in the orchestra. had been
by the Roumanians from the
Germans in the battle OF Rackitash
The Roumanian officers at this time
were expecting great things OF the
United States. Most Of these cxpecta-
lions were destined to disappointment,
later. but at that time difficulties of
distance and transportation were re-
Garded by tho Roumanians as scarcely
operative in the case OF the great and
ingenious American people.
Nothing is Impossible TO the Amer
leans. said Roumanian officer In his
speech at the Carpathian banquet in
honor OF the Red Cross representative