CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2691, 10 February 1916, Page 3

CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY

N.Z. WOMEN DOCTORS,

A story of thrilling interest is told by the refugeo English nurses from Serbia, who, According to a correspondent writing from London on December 31, had just reached that city after a terrible journey across mountains 7000 feet high, into Montenegro. They also wore able to say something as to what ovents 'have been befalling Dr. Jessie Scott, of Auckland, and Dr. Mary Blair, of Wellington. Dr. Scott, who, it is presumed, is a prisoner in the 'hands of the Austrians in Kruzevatz, left New Zealand to join one of the Scottish Women's Hospital units, at Laz-arevatz, where she was in charge of a small hospital near the railway station, an annexe to the main hospital. When t'he Austrians were within a few hours of the town these hospitals were evacuated, and' doctors and nurses left by the last train for Kruzevatz. The last train, for which the party waited seventeen hours, was entirely composed of cattle trucks, and into those half the little town was crammed for a most uncomfortable journey. After three miserable days they reached Krozevatz, to find at first that thero was no place where thoy could shelter. At last they were taken to a hospital, where most of the party were crammed into a single room, in which t'hoy slept, lived, and did their cooking. Tho doctors worked at the hospital, treating over 500 cases in three weeks. At the end of that time the women were advised to take the desperate journey to Montenegro, and, influenced very largely by the fact that food had be'eome very scarce, most of them set out. Several of the doctors, however, remained behind, among them Dr. Elsie Inglis, who is responsible for the establishment of all the Scottish Women's Hospitals, and Dr. Jessie Scott decided! to remain with her. Probably by this time they are caring for prisoners. Another of the Scottish Women's units had gone forward with the British troops from Salonika, and afterwards accompanied their retreat. This was the junit of Dr. Mary Blair (Wellington). Previous to this advance she had reported that valuable work could bo done by her party in or near Salonika until such time as tliey were able to proceed up country to join their respective units. The Serbian authorities highly approved Dr. Mary Blair's suggestion, and said they would be grateful for such assistance as she and her helpers were able to give. The British Consul and the representatives of the British Red Cross medical missions supported' this course. The latest news received in London is that Dr. Mary Blair has now gone to Ajaccio, in Corsica, where the French I- Government has established a colony for Serbian women and children refugees. Dr. Blair is to have charge of the hospital. Already the Scottish women here . have sent her out great quantities of - supplies. They hope that when it is possible to return to Serbia Dr. Blair will take a new hospital unit back -with her. The French Government has made arrangements to give refuge to between two and three thousand.

; A TRIBUTE TO THE NURSES

A NAPIER SOLDIER'S LETTER. A Napier man, who was a member of a machine-gun section at Gallipoli and who succeeded dodging shot and shell only to bo hit badly by dysentery, as so many others were, pays a mosl worthy to be recorded and glowing tribute to the nurses. In a letter to a friend ho says;— I was very bad at first, and was unconscious in Alexandria where I was taken to No. 15 General Hospital uhdei the. care of a New Zealand nurse named ' Sister Foot, to whose kindly care and attention I believe, I owe my life. Our Government's idea of not sonding young nurses to the front is splendid, as they have them all in hospitals near the front, and it is there that all the very bad cases are sent, and when one is really ill ho wants a good experienced, ; motherly person to attend to him. It is very cruel the work the poor women ' have to do. They are going eyes out night and day. When one is better the ' young nurses are very nice and sweet, of course. After a fortnight in Alexandria I was well enough to be moved, and came in the hospital ship Asturias to Southampton. Wo had a grand trip over, aud I was fairly well on arrival, and went into the American Women's War Hospital at Paiguton, in South Devon. This is the garden country of England, and the country about there is the most glorious I have ever dreamt of. I was under the impression that there wasn't •wintry or scenery in England, and it made me absolutely gape to see the glory of it. Miles and miles of wonderful cultivation was the whole story of the journey from Southampton to Devon, a distance of nearly 300 miles. Contrary to expectations there were no signs anywhere of fuss or panic or excitement. The arrangements of everything were perfect, and worked quietly and smoothly. There was a touch of quiet sadness and dignity about everything and everybody. At all the stations and along the route people cheered s the hospital train. _ Old men raised their hats in a quiet simple manner and old women shouted "God bless you, boys, God bless you!" Little toddlers waved and called out to us, and at all the stations people simply poured fruit and sweets and cakes and things into lis. It all seemed heaven to me, and everything looked so orderly and peaceful. The quaint old houses with their air of age and dignity were another pleasing feature of the scenery. The hospital was a splendid old house standing amongst glorious grounds. It is run by wealthy American women, and the doctors and sisters were all American, although there were some English Rea Cross nurses aa assistants. Volun-' tary workers, most of them. Everything was very up-to-date and good, and it is little wonder that after a month there I was fit for furlough. The visitors to the hospital were kindness itself and gave one' all sorts of nice things—fruit and cream and eggs and sweets —took us for drives and all manner of things. —