El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-10
RELIEF WORK
BRINGS QUEER
EXPERIENCES
Red Cross Nurses and War
Workers Live in Car
In Bulgaria.
TRADE STORES FOR
FOOD ON JOURNEY

| CALONIKL Greece, May 1O.-LIeut.
- A S Bedeu. in charge OF the
( American Red Cross relief stations in
Macedonia and Bulgaria, gives some
| interesting human interest" details
on the life led by the American Red
Cross nurses and field workers dur
| ing the repatriation OF Greeks de-
ported into Bulgaria during the war.
I'VE came into Bulgaria on a Ger
man freight car" says Lieut. Bedeu
Z in his report This, Red Cross car
was the first car OF the first train
that ran from Series to Saloniki after
the armistice, and It was with the
Red Cross from the time we entered
Bulgaria until we returned to Greece.
1t was used to distribute the per-
sonnet at the stations beyond xanthi
and carried three women and four
men, part Of whom occupied the car
for six days The furniture consisted
Of personal baggage, including blan-
ket rolls, a charcoal brazier and one
sack Of charcoal and rations for the
personnel
"On the trip out OF Bulgaria greater
comfort was sought and secured The
party consisted Of one woman and
four men The car left Tyrnovo-
Siemen, Bulgaria, and went straight
10 Athens. At TyrnovO the car was
fitted up as a home the walls COW
cred with blankets 10 insure warmth
and the Women's apartment curtained
of at one end with a blanket
@RattIinE Good Bed
we had one iron bed, two camp
cots and one Red Cross man slept on
crates OF biscuit tins. the bed being
demountable 10 furnish five chairs by
day. The Red Cross man turned over
frequently in the night, bringing dis
cord from THE tins, but despite our
protests at his noisy mode OF sleeping
bed
"Firewood was obtainable along the
route and We were able TO use our
WoodstOve after cutting a hole in the
side Of the car for the stOvepipe- Cup
boards were nailed 70 the side Of the
car for eating utensils. a packing case
OF food supplies acted as a kitchen Ia
bic and a second packing case served
admirably for a dining table which
was placed between the beds so that
the latter could serve as chairs
Liquid food proved our only Diff
ficulty. It was impossible TO boil even
half an inch Of water on the stove
when the car was in motion The
continual iOlting OF the car. hour after
hour, certainly strained our tempers
Wneu We were thirsty
Surgical shirts were the only avail
able material for towels, tablecloth
and cooking apron We had a real
American coffee grinder The coffee ]
beans were put in a clean sock and
one OF the men. to the tune Of yam I
kee Doodle would crush the beans /
with a hammer.
sugar for Chicken.
when chicken was wanted for din :
ner one Of the party would so out 1
with half a cup OF sugar in hand, ]
wander about the village until he saw !
q likely chicken. which he would /
thereupon seize. The native woman /
who made the most outcry was pre-
sumed TO be the owner and usually /
was very glad to accept the half cup I
of sugar in exchange Our much I
maligned ration Of bully beef proved /
to be most acceptable, as Miss John
son discovered one OF the 81 varieties
Of serving It.
"Bartering was the order OF the day
at all stations. A slice Of bread would |
secure three shines. fill a large water
Jar or secure the carriage Of supplies.
During our last afternoon in Dedea-
catch, on the Aegean sea- we had the
use Of a horse and wagon all after
noon in order to return borrowed fur
niture for the payment OF one tin
Of bully beef
''The fame OF American Red Cross
relief stations spread throughout Bull
garia to such an extent that other
Red Cross workers and British and
generals. sought US out in passing to
secure a canteen OF hot tea OF to
replenish their depleted rations-"