Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-20
The Bieot's Logic.

What the Red Cross will do in this
war is about as much as mosquito
could do in a great battle.-~Hearst's
Boston American.
Up to this date the American Red
Cross has purchased 1880 pounds of
absorbent cotton, $500 pounds of non
absorbent cotton, 4S5,400 yards of alb
sorbent gauze, 10000 yards Of starched
eauze, 46,soo pounds of bandages, 20
surgical equipments of L. S. Army
standards. including meteorological
and sterilizing outfits, $500 pounds of
chloroforfn and ether, 10 cases of drugs
and chemicals, 40 gallons tincture
iodine, 5000 typhoid vaccine treatments,
and many cases of surgical supplies,
such as ligatures, rubb-r gloves, elm
ical thermometers, hypodermic sy-
ringes, extra instruments, adhesive
plaster, ice caps. disinfectants, vase
line, etc, most of which has already
been shipped to Europe. Scores of
DOAcS StTclSilSiSt
CT hospital garments, sheets. pillow
cases, blankets, towels, etc, have also
been sent. The Red Cross has for
warded some 1900 pairs of blankets for
Belgian refugees. For the American
Ambulance in Paris it has purchased
and shipped 264.44o pounds of absorb
ent cotton, 111,oo0 pounds of non
absorbent cotton, $1,000 yards of alb
sorbent gauze. $4,000 yards of starched
gauze, and 5000 stretchers.
America acted while the war zone
itself was practically paralyzed by the
horrors of war. The above listed is
but small part of what has been
accomplished. Is it mosquitoes part?
On the outbreak of the European
War the American Red Cross offered
TO the several countries involved sur
geons. trained nurses, surgical equip
ment. including meteorological and
sterillzing outfits and hospital sup
plies. This offer was gratefully ac-
cepted. AT that time the sailing of all
the ocean steamers was so uncertain
that at the suggestion of the Honor
able Robert Lansing. Counselor of the
State Department and chairman of
our Red Cross International Relief
Board, the War Department was
asked for the loan of an army tran
sport to carry the personnel and sup
Plies.
The pressure of the Government to
provide transportation for American
refugees was so great that the De-
partment was itself negotiating for
ships and reserving the transports for
such use, SO that this request could
not be granted. Congress, therefore,
passed a special act permitting the
Red Cross to charter ship, fly the Red
Cross and American flags, and to re-
ceive temporary American registry.
BY this means, and under the protec-
ton of the Treaty Of The Hague, the
Red Cross ship coulo proceed prompt
" and safely on her mission.
Through the press the American
Red Cross appealed for suitable ves-
sci. Only two Were offered, one by the
Hamburg American Line, the other
by the Austrian-American Line. The
former was accer ted. and chartered
for 60 days at the cost of $1.o0, The
war insurance on ship and cargo cost
$4,000. The vessel was differed by re-
tired American naval officers, and car
ried 15e surgeons and nurses, surgical
equipment and very large quantities of
hospital supplies for their own use and
for the use of the American Ambu-
lance Association in Paris. CThe Ser
Wan unit of Is went by a Greek
steamer.)
r M