ENGLISH NURSE FROM BULGARIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 98, 18 January 1918, Page 3

ENGLISH NURSE FROM BULGARIA

'medal from THE ENEMY.' Sister Hilda Hawley, latn of the British Red Cross and. St. John Ambulance; and a member of the 'American mission for the Balkans, recently returned to. England' after spending two years as a prisoner in Bulgaria. Her devoted work as a nurse in Monastir and Sofia justly wod her the respect of all. She owes her repatriation to the Queen of Bulgaria, who died in September, and who was deeply touched by the work this unconquerable and unselfish litlin Englishwoman did for all the sick and wounded, irrespective of nationality. All the time she was in Bulgaria she insisted on wearing her little British flag, and .the i Bulgarians have given her their Distinguished Service' Medal to wear beside 1 it, so much" did .her spirit impress them. Sister Hawley was in Monastir all the time it was being bombed and shelled by' our aeroplanes and guns. Having spent the last.twelve months or so ■ 'in Sofia and Samakoff, and having lived: 011 the same food as the population, slie Was able to give an account of conditions of life there. She says that Bulgaria is undoubtedly better off for food than any of her allies. -The average requirements of Bulgarians in the ■way of food are much more modest than those of the Germans or Austrians.. The working man or peasant is quite content if he can get rvebread and beans, and now and again some cheese. Last year the Bulgarians made the mistake of letting the Ger-

mans take away too much food, and the unequal distribution at home and poor transport organisation increased the ■ difficulties. In the coining year, under a new Food Controller, the Bulgarians think that they are not likely to hare any great need for anxiety about food. They will begin to give Germany and Austria food only after they have supplied their own needs. No "love is lost between the Bulgarians' and Germans, says Miss Hawley.