WOMEN PROVE THEIR VALUE IN WAR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 12

WOMEN PROVE THEIR VALUE IN WAR.

— 1— TV HARDSHIPS OF IN THE BALKANS. Laughed at when it mado its publlo appearance last Easter, tho Women's Bick and Convoy Corps lias now 1 ' more than, justified its claim to useful, servico in time of war by tho action of a party of its members in tho Balkans (says tho "Daily News and Loader"). Mrs. St. Clair Stobart, the president}: who recently returned to England from'/ the 6ceno of tho strugglo between Cross and Crescent, has somo thrilling stories'to toll of hardships borno without a murmur, by tho sixteen women—doctors, .surgeons, and nurses—who laboured among tho wounded in Kirk ICilisso. Some of tho party paid'-their own expenses, between them they collcotcd from their friends for equipment. Their travelling exponsos were paid.by tie Committee of tho Balkan War Relief Fund. Hardships began with "tho journey to Kirk Kilisse. "For seven days and seven nights wo travelled ill ox-wagoM," 6aid Mrs. Stobart to a "Daily' News and Lender" representative. "Tlicy were our only habitation. But our greatest difficulty was food, for tho villages had been burned, and :at Jninboli, wiicro wc had anticipated replenishing our provisions, wo found tho soldiers had taken everything but two loaves and two tins of sardines. But at another place wo roftbod a lion-roost, and roasted tlio result—half a dozen fowls. Never did we enjoy a men! so much! Arrived at Kirlc Kilisse, Mrs. Stobart found three houses, which were immediately converted into a hospital. ''Within three hours," sho' said, "our hospital'wan a going concern, and within thirty our first batch of wounded soldiers had arrived. During the'seven weeks we wero there 729 soldiers woro attended to, and of these only ono died. Somo of the oases wero heart-breaking—men marred almost out of all semblanoo to humanity. "Wo had rtooins with straw mattresses and no other furniture, but wo made benches and tables .out of.'packing-cases and stuck candles into bottles." Tho cooking was rather a formidable task, but three ladies in the ldtchcn did all tho cooking for 110 peoplo. They had to skin and proparo. sheep and bullocks.' There was no milk and no butter, and nothing but ,tho ooarsest black bread. Mrs. Stobart speaks in terms of the highest praise of tho kindness of tho Queen of Bulgaria, who presented each, member of tho pnrty with her signed portrait, and of the courtesy and delicacy of feeling of tho Bulgarian soldiorß. Thirty of tho men presented lior with a pathetic poem of gratitude.