Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-18


dom alike remained in blissful igno-
rance. The stream of misdirected relief
munitions continued unchecked.
Meanwhile, mems feet froze in the
trenches for lack of the socks they
might just as well have had, and
wounds became infected for want OF
the precious dressings that lay idle on
the docks at Havre. For neither
America nor France had the remotest
idea of what the other was about
complish the purpose of the one and
the relief of the other was not sup
plies: the supplies were ready to hand
What was most needed. and by the
same token most lacking. was mutual
cooperation.
Finally an American came to the
rescue. Myron T. Herrick. then ambas-
sador to France, took the initiative
which promptly resulted in bringing
order out of the chaos. He organized
the American Relief Clearing House OF
Paris.
He was seconded in the work by a
score of influential Americans whose
names rank high in the international
France. NJ. Raymond Poincare. lent his
patronage to the enterprise. Funds
for commencing work were immediate
ly secured by private subscription. The
American embassy was turned into
STAN headquarters.
Thus in very short space Of time
the fundamental details of organiza-
tion were completed. and before Mr.
Herrick's departure for America. in De-
cember. the clearing house was on a
solid business footing and its mission
of "centraliZing and controlling as far
as possible at Paris the receipt of all
relief from America destined for France
and her allies" was well under way.
Few of the thousands of Americans
whose timely generosity has brought
cheer to agonized millions in Europe
have any distinct notion of the dtmcul-
ties which beset the path of effective
money. food or clothing out of the
goodness of their hearts and placidly
take 1t for granted that their gifts will
shortly attain the end for which they
are designed.
OF how they are taken 5000 miles
over sea, received in faraway France,
engineered through the web of compli-
Gated customs regulations which bar
their entry at the port of arrival. tabu-
lated, reshipped over European freight
routes and finally deposited at the ex-
act spot where there Is most need for
them. be 1t in the white wards of one
or another great French military hos
pital or among the widowed tents OF
some remote little Serbian refugee
camp, the average American gfver
knows practically nothing.
These details have been enectiveiy
worked out by the organizers OF the
American Relief Clearing House. Their
achievements in expediting the move
men of American war relief are unique.
They constitute a revelation IN the
matter of efficient administration.
Originally five committees. one gen
eral executive committee and -FOUR ao-
visory, did the work. The executive
committee, which numbers In the
neighborhood of fifty Partisan Ameri-
cans, is, in reality. the clearing mousse.
Acting on the advice OF the four asso-
ciated committees which comprise as
tinguished representatives OF France,
Russia, Belgium, Serbia and Montene-
gro who carry on their work under the
patronage OF the rulers of their re-
spective countries, the executive com
mittee handles the administrative end
of the enterprise.
Once a week 1t meets the members OF
the French, Russian, Belgian and Ser
bo-Montenegrin contingents; confers
with them on the needs OF the coun-
tries they represent, and thus keeps in
almost immediate touch with the ter
ritories included within the scope OF
its activities.
Very recently, since Italy's entry
into the conflict, an Italian advisory
committee has been formed under the
patronage of King Victor Emmanuel.
and the clearing houses range Of activ.