Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-08
HAS PRAISE FOR
AMERICANS IN
NEAR EAST AID
Greek Prime Minister Speaks
of HerOism of Work
erS.
MEDALS ARE AWARDED
By PAXTON HIBBEN.

by IAA1ON HIDDEN.
SMYRNA. Asia Minor, Sept 6 Thy
mail) Back of the Greek front in Asia
Minor, where the great struggle of six
hundred years between Turk and Greek
Is being decided, one would say the
United States was engaged in the war
some way, from the number of American
flags that are to be seen everywhere.
On the Fourth Of July every Greek war
ship was dressed in honor of the day,
and the old Mississippi, now the Greek
Battleship Lemnos, had an American
flag as big as a tablecloth at her mast
head in honor o fthe fact that one few
there for many years before the white
and blue of Hellas.
Prime Minister Gounaris of Greece ex
pressed the feeling Of the Greeks for the
United States when he said to me;
| What I like about you Americans is
that when you start thing you go
through with it."
! He was speaking Of the American re-
lief work being carried on by the Near
East Relief throughout Asia Minor. back
of both the Turkish and Hellenic battle
/ fronts, of which he had personal evi
dence during his recent tour Of inspec-
ton of the Greek lines near Brussa.
AMERICAS RISK
LIVES IN WORK.
Last March during the active military
| operation between the Greek and KEN
alst armies" he went on, "the OPP
erations became much more extended
than had at first been contem-
plated. The result was that all the
available military hospital facilities were
soon exhausted. Everything possible had
to be taken over by the military for
hospital purposes, and there was nothing
left in which the Greek civil authorities
| ha of refugee
women and children who had fled from
the war zone into Nicomedia, Brussa,
| Mudania and other centers.
But the Americans of the Near East
Relief were equal to the occasion and
hundreds Of childrens lives were saved
by the energy and devotion Of those
| American women. At one time one OF
the Near East Relief buildings, by the
rapid shifting Of the two armies found
itself for a brief period between the lines,
subject to fire from both sides. But the
American workers were undismayed, and
went on with their work of mercy as Il
nothing unusual were happening.
~ personally know Of the work Of the
Near East Relief hospitals and orphan
ages back to the Greek front. and am
very glad 10 say that I know them 10
be admirable in every respect. The self
3
plays true heroism of the highest type
| II Is in recognition of this that his
majesty, King Constantine, has just
awarded the gold cross Of the order OF
the Redeemer Of Greece to DR.. James L.
Barton. chairman, and Edwin NJ. Bulk
/ ley, chairman OF the executive commit
tee and the silver cross Of the Order OF
the Redeemer to Charles Y. Vickrey. gen
eral secretary of the Near East Relief,
as a symbol Of the profound gratitude
OF the Hellenic people TO those Americans
who have given so generously Of their
| substance and of the work OF their
hands and their hearts to the rescue Of a
suffering people overseas"
INVITE RECIPIENTS
TO ATHENS.
The Queen Of Greece has written to Mr..
Vickrey, who Is on tour Of inspection of
the relief work. asking him to come to
Athens 10 receive the decorations In per
son, on his own behalf and that Of Dr..
Barton and Mr.. Bulkley.
Mr.. Yickrsy, DR.. Barton and Mr.
Bulkley have long been active IN relief
work In the Levant. The former two
were among the group that organized