Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-01-11
RED CROSS FOR Beers.
Committee to Aid
Work In South Africa.
MONEY Is VERY MUCH NEEDED.

| Sick and wounded NithIn the bcer
| Lines Greatly In Need of Attention.
Plenty Of Nurses. but Few Sur
Eeons-An Supplies VIII Be Sent
Free by Steamer.
Red Cross succor for the wounded
and sick within the lines of the Beers
| is urgently needed. America has been
| appealed 10 for help. and the American
! committee TO aid Red Cross work in
| South Africa has been formed. 1t in
| turn has appointed subcommittee in
| many parts of the country. and those
who would send the means of help
must give. and give quickly, if they
would accomplish their objects.
This call for help has not come from
within the British lines. for the Brit
ish army has gone into the field well
supplied with everything 10 care for
those disabled by wounds or disease.
| 1t has been sent forth on behalf of the
Beers of the TTansvaal and of the Or
ange Free State and of the British
wounded prisoners within their lines.
| all of whom are declared to be but in
differently supplied with even the mere
necessities in such cases and TO be
short particularly of surgeons medi-
cines, surgical appliances and special
food for the sick.
The first suggestion for the forma-
ton of the American committee to get
aid for the Red Cross within the Boer
lines came from an Englishman, a
friend of Treasurer Tunis q. Bergen.
about n month ago. He said he had
knowledge not only that there was a
great shortage of the needed supplies
within the Transvaal and Orange Free
state. but that the large number of
English wounded who were falling
into the hands of the Beers was adding
much to the troubles there.
Already the committee had cabled to
Holland between $1,000 and $1,000.
which was in hand and sOrely needed
for fitting out ambulances. and its sub
committees in several places have no.
tilted il that they either have sums
ready to forward. some of which are
almost as large. or that they have sent
the money on direct TO the Netherlands
Red Cross.
1t is money that is wanted most at
this time Mr.. Bergen says. The ques
ton Of what was needed and how to
get supplies TO the front was one of
the first that the committee had to get
settled. 1t was found that to send
supplies direct from here could be
done only ut a great disadvantage and
that as the Netherlands Red Cross
was already in the field ii would be
better 10 send all aid to that OrganiZa
ton, thus insuring Il prompt and eff
cient carrying out of the purpose. This
is what is being done. Whatever is
needed in the way of manufactured
articles. which includes all drugs. med
icines and surgical appliances as well
as Injuries for sick people. are bought
in Europe and forwarded by the most
direct lines TO the Portuguese port 1T
Delagoa Bay and from there sent to
the front in the Transvaal. Natal and
the Orange Free State. OF nurses, it
is said there are plenty to he found
among the BOer women. but there is Il
great scarcity of surgeons. and many
of these are being pressed forward
from Europe. \ number here have
signitied their willingness TO go to the
front in South Africa. but the commit
tee has as yet seen no way of accept
ing their services.
Baron Van HardenbrOok has sent Il
communication to the American COM
mittee. in which he says:
we wish IL to be distinctly under
stood that all the help we send goes
under the broad flag of the Red Cross
and is meant for relief To all who need
il in the Boer republics, no matter
whether il be Transvaal or Orange
Free State. I" =" The needs are great,
and the gifts in money are specially
welcome, as they enable us TO send out
fortnightIy or monthly the necessary
supplementary provisions, surgical and
nutritious. All manner of help is, in |
this case. Of the utmost importance |
and will be gratefully acknowledged"
Besides the work which is being done |
through tie committee ard its subcOm- |
mittees. many contributions are being |
gathered by independent bodies or are |
sent by the donors direct to the treas |
urer Of the Netherlands Red Cross, all |
aiding toward the common humani- |
tartan purpose.
While the immediate needs within |
the BOer lines may best be met by con- |
tributions of money, gifts of clothing |
and supplies will be equally welcome |
for later relief, and these are being |
gathered by some of the branch Organi- |
cations. These will be sent by the CEN |
trail committee 10 the headquarters of |
the Netherlands Red Cross and from |
there they will be forwarded free of |
charge by steamer to the Beers by way |
of the Portuguese ports.