The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-12-04
Red Cross Bureau Handles
Thousands Of Letters Daily.
MISSING men ARE SOUGHT.

Pathetic Appeals From Parents and
Wives of Soldiers-Has Staff OF 200
Voluntary Workers - international
HEADQUARTERS For the Red Cross Are
Located In Geneva.
The international committee for the
Red Cross, whose headquarters are at
Geneva, Switzerland, has inaugurated
its second half century Of activity by
the creation of service of which the
very development indicates is abso-
lutte necessity.
The central committee of the Red
Grass has become an official mediator
between the prisoners ct the d1Herent
belligerent nations and their families
Whether they be of French, German
Belgian, British, Russian. Austrian or
Servian nationality, there are every
where families who are nMous Tor
their dear ones, and to IL a all must
be extended a helping hand.
The international bureau was start
ed modestly in the Rue dAthenee with
a voluntary staff of six persons. AS
soon as its existence became known
the incoming mail increased in ap-
palling fashion, and the committee saw
itself obliged to ask the administration
of the city of Geneva to place more
spacious premises at its disposal. Re-
Gently the renovated Museum Rath
was consequently turned over to the
committee whose staff of voluntary
workers has actually been increased to
$50 persons
Letters Keep Pouring In.
Even this army of helpers cannot
keep pace with the inpouring work.
which includes now daily from $50 to
300 verbal inquiries, 10000 to 10000
letters and 1000 to 5000 kilograms.
The bureau sends every day 400 to
500 letters with information to the
families of the prisoners; also 400 to
800 money orders. 1t forwards from
1000 to 5000 letters and 200 to 300
money orders. with a total of about
1000 francs to 5000 francs.
All inquiries for information are en-
tered and classified in alphabetical Or
der. An official request for particulars
is then sent to the country which de-
tains the prisoner, and as soon as the
answer arrives the same is forwarded
to the family concerned
Gustave Ador, one of the most dis
tinguished politicians and orators In
Switzerland, is the president Of the
international committee Of the Red
Cross.
An official of the International Red
Cross, who requested that his name be
not used. brought with him copies Of
letters that had been received In Ge-
neva from the sorrowing relatives Of
men in the ranks. The letters tell
their own pathetic story. Here is one
from the young wife of French ter
ritorial:
Factory Of Little Bronzes and Of Fancy
Jewelry.
Paris. Oct 2 1914
Sir-I address myself to your generosity
II you can send me some news of my
husband, whose last letter is dated the
22d of August. Since then l am indeed
desolate and do not know what has be-
come Of him.
This is how have addressed my letters
since that time: III. Leon -, soldier OF
the Bicycle Squad. Third Territorials, near
Maubeuge Depot Cambria
Thank you for your trouble. monsieur
and in hope Of having your reply accept
with all my thanks my respectful saluta.
tons II you can send him any news
tell him that his little son John, who Is
nine months old. is always good and does
his mathis. He prays for his father ana
sends him a big kiss
(Signed) -
From a Soldiers Father.