Evening journal., 1914-11-19

published in order that the public
can sec how the Red Cross finds out
where the supplies are needed. and
also the assurance that all articles
get to their proper destination. and
are used only for the purpose they
are intended:
TRUTH ABOUT THE RED CROSS.
From the Boston Transcript.
To the Editor OF the Transcript:
Owing TO certain misstatements or
misunderstanding regarding Red
Cross relief matters ] desire 20 make
some corrections.
There Is a report that large
amount of money was paid by the
Red Cross for the chartering
OF the Red Cross ship The
ship was charatered for 60
days at the nominal cost of 81. At
the time that the offer of the Ameri-
can Red Cross to send surgeons, nur-
ses and supplies was gratefully ac-
cepted by all the countries involved
in the war the danger of attack or
of capture Of vessels belonging TO the
belligerent powers led TO such un-
certainty in their sailing that the in
ternational war relief boards Of the
American Red Cross deemed IL ad-
visable. even at somewhat greater
expense, to charter a ship, which by
special act of Congress was permitted
to fly the American flag and to re-
ceive temporary American registry.
BY this means and under the protec.
tion of the treaty Of The Hague the
Red Cross ship could proceed
promptly and safely on her mission
of mercy.
| The supplies she carried were des-
| perately needed. The shifting for
tunes Of war made the question OF
her ports Of landing uncertain. For
example. Il was first planned to land
the personnel and supplies for France
at Havre: shortly before the ship
sailed the French Government re-
: quested that she proceed TO Brest;
) upon her arrival at Falmouth these
instructions were changed to PAUL.
lac, the port of Bordeaux. as from
a there they could be more easily trans
h ported to the large hospitals, wher'
= there were thousands of sick anS
n wounded in need of aid
l. When one hears of men dying from
d tetanus because they have beer
e brought In with their wounds coverei
with straw, bound with wire. ther
comes a realization that prompt ac
ton, even al somewhat greater cos
IL is essential. The life of a man ma
~ hang upon a single bandage being o
n. hand when needed. In some case
IIe operations were being performe
,g without the ten cents worth {
4. chloroform that would have brougli
u the blessed Oblivion of anaesthetic:
TO II would be well worth while 70 ex
,e pend much more than the ten cent
to save a man the horrible SUFFERING
to be undergone without an anaes
: thetic.
> In regard 10 forwarding funds, thl
Red Cross forwards these prompt,
through our State Department TO Oul
embassies, and our embassies trans
nit them to the Red Cross societic:
OF other organizations for which they
have been designated. / may alsC
say that no permanent record oI
other contributions OF funds or SUP
plies. made through temporary com
mittees, Is kept. All funds of the
American Red Cross are annually au-
dited by the War Department A
report is then sent to the secretary
of war, who transmits it to Congress
which has It printed as a public docu-
ment and placed in the government
files.
The American Red Cross prefers &c
pay its personnel. thereby being alb.
solutely Independent in its selectiof
and having complete control of this
personnel. All nurses in their own
professional work receive 500 a
month. They come to the Red Cross
at $50 a month. The nurses now N
Europe are contributing over $4,000
a month out OF their salaries. II j.
also essential that both surgeons and
nurses receive some funds at theiI
Ii posts: otherwise it would be impos
sible for them 10 purchase even alb
solutely necessary clothing. Further.
more, any surgeon or any nurse /:
quite at liberty at any time 10 return
the full amount of the salary TO The
Red Cross and thereby be volunteers
III Through the State Department tn,
Red Cross obtains from our ambas
sadors direct information regarding
the needs of the Red Cross societies
and within the last few days We have
received dispatches from Servia. Rus
| sla. France. England and Austria re
N carding special needs. A larg'
| amount Of vaccine for typhoid inOcu
lation has Just been shipped 90 Aus
| tria. Drugs and various supplies o
that nature have lately been shippe,
TO Russia Within n few days a larg'
quantity Of supplies will be sent e
France. including such articles as 50i
pairs of blankets, absorbent cotton
gauze. bandages. etc To Servia OF
| November u will be sent rs add
tional surgeons and nurses togethe
with hospital supplies in the way o
chloroform. Iodine. gauze, absorben
cotton. bandages, surgical equipment
operating tables, etc. On Novembo
supplies of bandages, absorben
cotton, hospital garments, etc, viii
be sent to Germany and numbe
of boxes of clothing for the Belgial
refugees now being cared for in Hol
land.
The Red Cross has had given to
free Of charge by Mr.. Bush ware
house in Brooklyn that rents for $50
a month, and many other services ar
donated to the association. Further
more, the organization Of the Re-
Cross is permanent, and its regula
personnel IS employed on this relic
work without a penny of charge &
the relief funds.
Mabel L. Boardman.
Washington. d. c., Oct 81.
1