The Elbert County tribune., 1920-02-06
WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
Commission to Albania.
MAJOR C, A. BOSTON

| Lear OlhS.
You have possibly never heard
OF the town from which l write to-
night, but as for that, few in Amer
lea know very much about this re-
gion. the outpost of Europe.
Am on my way back to Tuana,
Albania, from Belgrade, the capital
of old Serbia and now the capital of
the New United Kingdom of Yugo
Slavia. Left Scutari, Albania,
December 9th by water across the
Lake of Scutari, landing at Ryeka,
Montenegro (now part of Yugo Slav-
fa), thence by camion to Podogontza
at which point was forced to spend
a few days in a hospital, for minor
repairs. then to Cattaro on the Adri-
attic. This is across very beauti
full region. Great black mountains
which are just now covered with
snow. Just before reaching Gait
arc, one crosses Mt. Tovyen rising
to an altitude of 5.425 feet. from
which heighth it is almost sheer
drop to the ca. A wonderful sight.
the many inlets and arms of the
sea and the little city, viewed from
mile above From Cattaro to
Zelemeka by water, at which point
one reaches the only railroad on the
Adriatic coast. The only railroad
on a thousand miles of coast line.
And such railroad Road-bed
well constructed by rolling stock
that In America would long ago have
been discarded. Window lights out.
No heat and no light. One wraps
up as best one can, lights his can
die and makes the best of it, which
Is not good now as the country is
OF snow and it is quite cold.
At Sevavyo there is or was five
| feet of snow and the day l left Bel
\ grade there was on the streets some
twelve inches and still showing.
| Belgrade is quite an interesting
\ city of some 100000 population
| Slavic is spoken there and through
out Yugo Slavia, however, a great
many speak French and German
so one can get along. AS for Sla.
vic. it is the same as Russian, anc
impossible, or nearly so for one e
learn l have learned to speak
| French and German and can get 4
long fairly well in Italian, so hay,
little difficulty. And in this melt
ing pot of the world, one has meet
of several languages. For instanc,
am writing this in restaurant
having before me tea and rum a
the Austrians take it. At the sam,
| table is an Albanian, at the frs
table to the left a Russian and {
! French officer taking Turkish cof
I fee. Then scattered about ar,
Serbian andR oumanian officers ant
| native civilians, intermixed with +;
| lew Turks. AT a mixed table tn,
conversation is usually in French
| From Fuana, Albania, l do no
know where I will go. Am taking
over new work. that of Director o
bania and suppose it will carry M
about in the securing Of supplies.
| Have not heard from you folks il
many months. perhaps, because !
takes mail three months to reach Ill
from America Life is as if VI
were on a South Sea Island.
Am feeling very fit Have, be
lieve gained in weight since leavin,
California some two years ago, 81
you see this wandering about agree
with me.
1t is, dear folks, nearly Christ
mas again A regular white ole
time Christmas as to weather here
but more than that l cannot say
Can send you nothing more this
Christmas other than my well wishe;
l as l have no money and the C r. A
has no money. This, l regret but
cannot help, but can send you both
my sincere good wishes for a hap
| py Christmas, Stefan Bozic, in the
language of far away Slavia. Love
from George.