The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-10
CAMP PA|GN FOR OLD LINEN LAUNCHED
Eva Booth Wants It All Saved to Make Bandages
 for Wounded Soldiers

Miss Eva Booth, who will speak at the Seuthside Baptist church Sunday morn- ing, November 15, and at the Jefferson theatre Tn the evening. has originated what she calls an Old Linen campaign.
 Beginning this week, 25,oo0 officers and soldiers in the Salvation Army and as many friends and smypathizers with the movement, will gather old linen which will be shipped to New York where it will be sterilizled and converted into hendages for wounded soldiers at the front, or handkerchiefs to be used by the soldiers at the trenches A plant will be installed at headquarters of Dr. liar low Brooks, of New York, and other physicians who have volunteered their services
 The doctors will also direct the oper- ations of three or four hundred women and girls who will prepare the bandages end make handkerchefs. The scheme was originated and devised by Command CT Evangeline Booth, who directs the op- erations of the Salvation Army in the United States. In Birmingham, Staff Captain William s. Quirk will direct the new movement, which is known as the Blue Cross Society,""
 "As fast as the old linen is gathered in Birmingham. 1t will be shipped by Staff Captain Quirk and his associates to New York Every warker in the Blue Crossr will. little later be supplied with blue button on which will be engraved the letters O. L. C.. Commander Booth ex- pects by this method to gather all the old linen in tho United States
 She has communicated with the ambass- adors of the beliserant powers at Wash higton. asking them to corporate with the Salvation Army in it's new movement to aid the wounded and sick soldiers Ic is believed that they will facilitate the delivery of the linen. It is also expected that the steamship companies will carry the material to European ports, free of charge.
 To carry on an effective campaign of this character the country has been divid- eo into section and sub-dvided into dis tricts. Each of these will be under the command of an experienced officer who will be aided by church women, club women and society women. scores of whom have already informed Miss Booth that they will aid in the movement.
 Tear up your shirt" is the rallying cry suggested to Miss Booth by friend.
 ''The phraseology may not be of the most elegant kind" said the Salvation Army leader, but it is highly practical If the men who discard frayed shirts were to turn them over to us we would be able to supply handkerchiefs to near ly every man in the trenches. A handker- chief in the trenches, I am told, is lux ury. Many @ poor fellow who has spent days and nights before the enemys guns. las nothing to wipe away the secretion which testers on his face but the sleeve of tunc
 Many an old shirt is thrown upon the rubbish heap which could be made to serve a highly philantropic purpose. It is our purpose to make handkerchiefs for hundreds of thousands of men If the old linen for the purpose is available" Physicians say that old linen for wound dressing Is much to be preferred to the new article. It is softer. more pliable, and less likely to irrltate and inflame. It is the purpose of the Salvation Army to treat the material so thoroughly that all dan ger of communicating disease by it's use |
 will be obviated.'
 Miss Booth said the succor which the Salvation Army proposed to bring to the soldiers by this method will not be con fined to any special belligerent. It will be available to the German as well as the French, and the Russian will get his handkerchief If means can be found for getting it to him.
 There are enough linen shirts, linen ta- ble cloths. handkerchiefs, holsters and sheets discarded every month in the United States to make bandadges for ev- cry man who is likely to be wounded in the progress of this terrible war; said Miss Booth. 'Al that is needed in this campaign Is a little effort, a little practi- cal sympathy and little real fofethought. Instead of throwing away your discarded shirt. tear it in two and send it to us at 2 Steiner building