The Washington times., 1919-03-28
MAJOR BAYNE TELLS
|. OF WAR HARDSHIPS

Major Breckenridge Bayne. we'll
laown Washington surgeon, who spens
two years in Rumania as a prisoner O.
the German army and who was givea
up as dead BY Washington friends
during the period OF his captivity.
writes that he Is once more in RI
mania and gives a description OF the
hardships in that war-torn country
attendant upon the reconstruction
period. His letter, to Col. Elisha
Theall. who is now in this city, FOL.
lows:
II have not received a line from
home, which shows how difficult Il Is
70 get mail out here. / arrived here
on January q. Ny trip was certainly
diversified enough: although rough at
times was always interesting. In Paris
they wanted me to go ahead OF the
ships and arrange details, 80 mappeG
out my route, and although some said
IL was impossible 70 get through. an,i
ali offered suggestions as to different
ways. STUCK to my own plans which
had learned from the experiences o.
my previous trip out here. and here
am. II you care to get q map and
trace my trip it is as follows:
4aNM AnAD 8n0H8A9Ems
Leaving Paris by train and going
to Italy, ran Immediately into mid
winter, heavy snow, but wonderful
scenery on the way. to Rome. / was
intensely interested in the old build
ings, etc, but only remained three
days, and from there went to Tarento
in the south OF Italy. There / took
q submarine chaser and after two
days arrived in Pyreus. near Athens.
Greece. Left Athens and went 70 Sa,-
loniki. which probably has the most
mixed and conglomerate mass OF hu-
manity collected in a small area OF
any place on earth. From SaIonflSi ]
caught a motor lorrey carrying sup
plies and went TO Seres, spending moeg
Of the night In the station and leaving
early In the morning. Out OF the next
two weeks l spent one night IN bed,
travelling through Greece, Macedonia.
and Bulgaria in a box car, finally ar
riving at Raustchalt, Bulgaria: cross
ed the Danube just south OF Buchar-
est, where 1 caught a French IorEey
and motOFed to Bucharest Have not
seen bath tub for month, and
made the acquaintance, OF friendly
coOties, which reminded me that vas
back in the Balkans.
OAAC A-LluS q lot from WAL ana A.
though it was cold, rough going, snow,
5leet. and poor food, one becomes con-
tent with little. No one here knew
was coming, and I appeared as a
ghost, but received a wonderful re-
ceptiOn. I have had tea and luncheon
with the King and Queen Of Rumauia-
They were very kind TO me. 50 that
The past two years that I spent here
alone, when the times were very gray.
seemed TO be appreciated. and, In
Iced, it is recomDense.
4 Miserable WInter.
This has been a winter of great
and until recently has been
Intensely. cold with much snow. There
has been little food and clothing. and
no firewood for heating
purposes. Until last week I have
lad a fire in my room only three
lines. The allowance Of food Is "a
luarter OF a small loaf day.
"This period OF reconstruction. the
aftermath Of war, is particularly
lard here We are cut on from the
world as the Danube is frozen and
iothing has been able 70 come Ia
through that quarter. and the enemy
ad previously stripped the country.
low patient are the peasautsi They
ave gotten to an apathetic eondi-
ion, knowing il is impossible to SUI
er more, and when death is so common
/ is unnOticed. l cannot depict some
hings 1 have seen, but maybe scTue
ay shall write a book.
These days lack the excitement OF
hose in war time, but the suffering
worse except for the wounded.
Il shall close now because any de-
cription Of the misery and detaft re-
arding conditions Of dead animals
/ the streets is so revolving that !
hall not write about them.
u have seen all 1 want Of var and
8 after effects, and I shall be glad
/, be back home. As soon as We
ave done our work here / shall re-
irn, which will be before you know
:"