Durazzo, Albania. The queer little town of Durazzo, whose beautiful natural harbor might be made the best on the Adriatic by the opening of the marshy isthmus which connects the small peninsula of Durazzo with the mainland. Durazzo holds first place in the commercial life of Albania. In ancient times it was the leading port on the eastern shore of the Adriatic and it is generally believed that it will resume its former prestige if the projected Durazzo-Monastir railway lines are constructed. At this port American relief workers arrived shortly after the Armistice for the American Red Cross had offered to aid the thousands of Albanian families who were in pitiable distress after years of continued warfare. Distinguished army and government officials of both Albania and Italy met them and expressed their gratitude to the people of the United States

Progress of Balkan Architecture. The typical peasants home in the mountains of Montenegro. It illustrates well the lack of progress that has existed for hundreds of years in this part of Europe. The house is a one-room affair built by the family and consists of loose stones with a grass roof. American doctors and nurses sent to Montenegro by the Red Cross to battle against the increasing epidemics found these living conditions to be one of the chief causes of disease which has fifty percent of the population in its grip

Albanians in their own land. Although Albanians are considered the world's greatest 'gun totors' they are not at heart so war like or the indeseriminate sic brigands that they are frequently reputed to be. Owing to its geographical location and the permission of the Turkish government, when in control of this Balkan state, to defend its own borders, the Albanian natives carried on a mildly intensive border warfare for many years, and always went armed. American Red Cross workers who have spent months in Albania, where since the war and its drain on all industried resources distress had become proverbial, declare that any foreigner there is treated with greatest respect and courtesy if he is under the 'Besse', or in other words there on good faith. Although women frequently carry guns it is generally known that the Albanian's regard for the sacredness of his women kind is such that any one accompanied by a woman may go wherever he chooses and be entirely uninterfered with

Large factory near Dubno by artillery fire. The area around Dubno, one of the strongest fortressess on the old Russian line of defense, was the Russo-Austrian front for nine months during 1915, and most of the buildings were destroyed and the fields covered with trenches and wire entanglements. The Interallied Medical Commission sent by the League of Red Cross Societies to study the typhus situation in Poland found typhus, relapsing fever and disentry prevalent in this area. The situation is complicated by the over crowding of the inhabitants due to the destruction of a majority of the dwellings. Drugs, clothing and hospital equipment are almost entirely lacking, and outside assistance is needed by the local authorities to deal effectively with the situation

West side Water front in Salonica. The busiest and most modern spot in this great Near East port. Half a dozen American motor trucks in the service of the American Red Cross give this picture an unusual view of Salonica. They are lined up before this one of the Red Cross' eight warehouses for transportation of relief supplies to thousands of destitute people in Serbia and other parts of the Balkans. So crowded in this town in caring for its added refugee population and the needs of the Allied Army that the Red Cross had to share this particular warehouse with a French Army restaurant

The Only Railroad in Albania. This is the Tirana Durazzo Express which like the Toonerville Trolley "meets all Boats". It is a narrow guage military line built by the Austrians during their occupation of the country. When they evacuated they destroyed all locomotives and the road was considered useless. Upon the arrival of the American Red Cross with relief supplies for the country, the American workers suggested real horsepower for the line, and this is the result. Many tons of Red Cross supplies have been carried over this line and it affords some relief to weary travellers in the country

ARC in North Russia. The Archangel Cathedral, just across the corner from the ARC headquarters in the center of the city. The picture gives a good idea of the distance which in Russian churches, frequently seperates the bell tower of a church from the church building proper. The bell tower is shown at the extreme edge of the picture. The photograph is taken from the entrance of the Red Cross headquaters, and shows how the back of the church is turned towards the main street, as the front of a Russian church always faces due west, without regard to the street line, and the result is that they are almost always at an odd-looking angle when seen from the street. On the great rear walls fo the church are painted in a primative way certain scenes from Biblical narrative. The church has five towers of peculiar shape but typically Russian character

Durazzo, Albania. The queer little town of Durazzo, whose beautiful natural harbor might be made the best on the Adriatic by the opening of the marshy isthmus which connects the small peninsula of Durazzo with the mainland. Durazzo holds first place in the commercial life of Albania. In ancient times it was the leading port on the eastern shore of the Adriatic and it is generally believed that it will resume its former prestige if the projected Durazzo-Monastir railway lines are constructed. At this port American relief workers arrived shortly after the Armistice for the American Red Cross had offered to aid the thousands of Albanian families who were in pitiable distress after years of continued warfare. Distinguished army and government officials of both Albania and Italy met them and expressed their gratitude to the people of the United States

description

Summary

Title, date and notes from Red Cross caption card.
Photographer name or source of original from caption card or negative sleeve: Paris Office.
Data: T.T. & C. Group title: General. Albania.
Gift; American National Red Cross 1944 and 1952.
General information about the American National Red Cross photograph collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.anrc
Temp note: Batch 25

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