NURSES IN SERBIA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2747, 15 April 1916, Page 11

NURSES IN SERBIA

HARDSHIPS BY THE WAY. . For 'several!' days past parties ,of British nurses and doctors from Serbia.) have been .arriving in. Zurich via' Austria on their way to England, writes a correspondent from Zurich on February 15, in the "Daily Mail." ' Last night a party of 33 arrived, chiefly members of the "Second British Fanners'" Ambulancej'so called because they were organised, and sent to Serbia with the contributions to the .Serbian Relief Fuhd subscribed by British farmers. There wero four men in the party,. the cliief, 'Dr. Parsons, the secretary, Mr. Grsy, and two orderlies; the other 29 wore young women. - The latter, despite all hardships.and'the fatigue of two nights, in coming from' Vienna,; were bright of eye and cheek, and plainly over-joyed at the good English welcome they received. . Their appearance as they walked through the station with their small— small —bundles ivas inspiring. During-. 12 years on the Continent I have never seen Englishwomen worse dressed —and have never admired my countrywomen more. Some of their blouses were made from men's Crimean shirts, with fancy patterns, others were cut out from blankets,, as, too, were; some of the skirts. Some . wore boots .patched with leather from their handbags—leather _ h/iving out completely in Serbia. '

The; Second British Farmers' liospital in Belgrade was bombarded several times, and was moVed to the interior with retreating Serbian army, but bping. left behind with their wounded the staff were captured by the Austrians,[ aad passed on by slow stages to Vienna. '

Nurse' Florence Clifton, who had been dangerously wounded, told me that on the day of their leaving Belgrade they tramped 18 miles and slept at night ill the open fields. , The Serbians then gave them two ox-wagons, under which the party slept on the succeeding nights." .. ' . "On the second day I was walking alone," said Nurse Clifton, "when shots were fired close ahead. Mr. Stone, one of our party, advised the women to get under the carts. I was doing bo, when I was struck by a bullet that passed through both of my lungs and my left arm.' I fell down, thinking my ( end had come. ' Our doctors were on Ahead, but a Serbian doctor had me carried back two miles on a stretcher to a field hospital. Next morning eight Serbians soldiers carried nie on a stretcher to Rashka, where my wound was attended to. At Rashka a bomb from an aeroplane fell on the hospital in. which I was placed, and killed a patient in the room next to where I lay.

"From there I was taken on' a stretcher and afterwards-on a motorcar to Possewitz, where I added pneumonia to my other troubles, but we had to go on, ■ and I was taken in an oxwagon to Mitrovitza, following our unit that was trying to get away with the Serbian army to Albania. "There was a blizzard most of this stage. ' We travelled for 28 hours with only three hours' rest for the oxen, in sleet and slush and snow. . At Mitrovitza Dr. lies was waiting for nie l —l was nearly dead by this time. Dr. lies. Dr. M'Millan, and Sister Bambritlge stayed with me, and so did the Rev. — Rogers. Next day there was an air raid over Mitrovitza, and there was a battle outside the town. The Austrians entered at two o'clock in the morning. All the Serbians had* retreated, and we were prisoners of war." .The party remained at Mitrovitza_ for five weeks, and afer many privations in travelling reached Belgrade, whence they were sent to Vienna. Ladies! ' Buy your Silk' Hose from Herb. Price. He has just opened up a. -new tango of • Black Silk Hose, which can't be beaten.—Advt. Don't make the mistake that "SYDAL" is csponsivo to use. It is unlike all other preparations for the skin in that it is entirely free from greaso or fat in any form. A veTy small quantity is nsed .each time, and a Jar will last soveral months. Is. 6d. spent on a Jar of "SYDAL" is well spent.—Advt. Our winter jerseys for hoys are here, all shades for boys from 2 years up, 2s. 3d. to Bs. Gil. Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners