L. SPICER by L. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 19, 1912

L. SPICER

By L. Spicer

From the Field of Battle

UNDOUBTEDLY our brethren and sisters everywhere have been thinking about our workers at the front during the past few weeks. We are glad to be able to report that from the last letters received, all are safe. Of one native brother in Greece, however, all traces have been lost, and no news has been received from him for some time. We trust he is safe, and pray that the Lord may protect him and all our people in these countries. The following extract from a letter from Brother F. Scior, one of our workers in Greece, written from Salonica, will no doubt be of great interest to all our people:—

“My heart was saddened to-day to see the conditions here in the town. In consequence of the great army of soldiers (about 100,000) who have now entered the town, all food has risen to enormous prices. Bread is literally not to be had any more, and our flour is now all used up, so we have absolutely no means of procuring bread. We do not fear any serious famine here, as the harbor can hardly be closed, since the town has already been given over to the Greeks, and the ships have begun their usual traffic again. To-day (November 10) was a great day; the Greeks celebrated the freedom of Macedonia, their mother country, as they call it in their paper. So they really consider Macedonia their own. Great joy is apparent among the Greeks; they weep for joy, so the newspaper says.

“There are about thirty thousand to thirty-five thousand Greeks in the town, but the Bulgarians are more numerous in Macedonia. I can not write much concerning the progress of the war, for we hear very little from the front. As soon as the Turks saw that things were not going well with them, they simply forbade the issuing of any newspaper; but we guessed pretty well what was the matter, for during the first few days of the troubles, the newspapers published great descriptions of Turkish victories over the Montenegrins, Servians, and Bulgarians. But suddenly these reports ceased, and I could only see how they were gathering enormous armies together. About ten days ago the booming of cannons startled us, and we saw fugitive Turkish families in ox-wagons, and we then knew what was wrong. The unrest grew from day to day. We were afraid of two things—a battle in Salonica and a massacre by the fanatical Turks. But at the same time foreign war-ships—English, French, Austrian, and Italian—appeared in the harbor, and we were a little easier in mind.

“Day after day passed, and nothing important seemed to happen. At last we learned the truth—that the Turkish army had been practically destroyed. It took a few days to hand over the town and make treaties with the remaining Turks; but at last, yesterday, Sabbath evening, the Greeks marched in and took possession. I noticed exact discipline on the part of the Greeks. As I rode to-day from the town to my house (I live in a suburb now), I met the remainder of the Turks. It made me sad to see them, half-starved, ragged, wet to the skin. Who will give them dry clothes? It has been raining for some days, and the soldiers have to spend day and night in their wet clothes.”