New Britain herald., 1915-12-27
HOLDING HOSPITAL SUPPLIES.

HOLDING HOSPITAL SUPPLIES.
 For fully fourteen months those fortunates who happen to be far re- moved from the terrible scene of actual warfare have been fed threc full meals a day on a diet consisting mainly of horrible atrocities com mitted against those things which hitherto humanity held as belongirg g to the realm of modern civilization. All hands who are participating in the colossal struggle abroad havc been at one time or other accused of violating the rules of law and the fundamental principles of humanity. down the ages as the greatest blot on the twentieth century's record. And now comes the grand climax. As if to return at one step into the utmost depths of savagery, Great Britain has refused to allow her enemies those essential things which are needed and intended solely for the care of the wounded. It was on Christmas day that the world learned the news tha+ the American Red Cross was trying in vain for permission to carry a ship load of hospital supplies from New York to the Central Powers, the ship ment to go by way of the North Sea. The principle objection was made against the supply of two thousand meters of rubber tubing and a like quantity of rubber sheeting which would go into Germany by way of the Netherlands, but which would be used solely for Teutonic hospital necessities all over southeastern Europe. The. American Red Cross gave it's word of honor to this effect, the rubber would not be used in any way as intuition of war. After it's hospital uses were over the rubbe, would be, destroyed. This was prom iSed.
 There is no gainsaying the fact that l rubber is not on the list of hospital supplies accepted by Great Britain, and Germany Also it has been de- clared contraband by the Triple AL | liance. Further, it is well known l contention that rubber has been sent ! to nations at war ostensibly for uses in military hospitals but in real 1 ity for service in more deadly work. 1 All that is true, as is the contention that Great Britain under the law can hold up any large shipment of rub Der to neutral country if she be- lieves this stuff will eventually find it's way into the territory of her enemies. That is the red tape end of 1 it, the iron clad legal side of the l case. But when it comes to a question l of humanity; no nation has ever yet stopped a shipment of rubber or any thing else that was going into the land of it's enemy for hospital uses 1 only. There are always means of l finding out whether this stuff is ro
 be used legitirlately. In this case the
 English government has the assur-
 ances of the American Red Cross l and there can be no cause for doubt l as to good faith. It has a guarantee
 from one of the greatest agencies ol
 practical humanity on earth It can.
 not refuse to give ear to the Ameri.
 can Red Cross, an organization thai does it's work under the pure emblem
 of white with the cross of red. There is no partisanship in the ranks of tho
 Red Cross. The doctors and nurses
 connected with that organization
 cater to all men alike. They are con | cerned not with the causes of tn,
 war, they are devoted to remedyins the. effects of the war. And the onl,
 way they can do this work is t, have the cooperation and help of tn.
 nations whose wounded sons the,
 are trying to aid. It is to be hoped ] there has been a mistake somewher,
 and that no nation in this day an
 generation will resort to barbarit
 that better belongs to primeval mar