Evening star., 1915-01-01
LARGEST CHARITY
IN WORLD HISTORY
Relief Work by American Peo-
pie in Countries Deyas-
tated by War.
MORE THAN $15,0W,0O0
ALREADY DISTRIBUTED
Thousand Committees Continue the
Collections-Great Additional Ac-
compishment by Red Gross.

CUuApuSuuCAt W AsSO SA0SS'
Dwarfing any other work of charity
the world has ever known is the relief
work that the American people during
the last few months have done in the
countries devastated by the European
war, While the greatest measure of
this relief has been turned into Bel
gium, where seven million women and
children are reported starving. contri-
buttons of money, food, clothing and
medical and surgical supplies have
gone to all Of the belligerent nations
and to others that have suffered by be-
ing on the border of the war field.
The people Of this country have re-
sponded to the cry for help from Bel
gium to the extent of about fifteen mil
lion dollars and more than one thou
sand committees are still at work in
every state in the Union, with score
of state governors directing the work.
This relief was organized under
central committee of which Cardinal
Gibbons is the honorary chairman and
the Belgian minister, Emmanuel Hay-
enith, Is chief executive The relief Is
sent through the American commission
in London. of which Herbert Hoover Is
chairman, organized under American
Ambassador Page and Brand Whitlock.
the American minister to Brussels. Th1s
commission has a working agreement
with six nations and is the only ave-
nue. through which food supplies can
be taken into Belgium without seizure
BY the German army of occupation.
About fifteen shiploads of supplies
have been thus sent from this country.
Work of Red Cross.
The American Red Cross has been
oordin 70.
lief work on account of the war There
are 1872 American surgeons and Red
Cross trained nurses now serving in
thirteen hospital units in the war zone.
These units are distributed two in Eng
land, two in Germany, two in Austria
Hungary, two in France, two In Rus
sia and three in Servia. Vast quantt-
ties of surgical supplies have been
sent on almost every steamer leaving
this country.
Besides this the Red Cross has sent
large quantities of supplies of clothing
and money into Belgium to help relieve
the distress. Last Saturday shipment
Of 127 large cases went to France.
Great assistance has been given to the
American Ambulance in Paris. The
American Ambulance Hospital fund has
grown to $250,00o, and motor ambu-
lances are being purchased to be ship
ped to the scenes of carnage. William
K. Vanderbilt has personally contrib
uted $4,000 to this cause.
The Red Cross has also assisted in
establishing and maintaining the Amer
lean Red Cross branch hospital at
Munich.
To December 10 the American Red
Cross had collected in cash $1,075, 900
for its European war relief work. and
had expended nearly all Of this for
goods in the United States which were
shipped where they were most needed
in the warning countries. But $4,000
NJ NJ 10 nnf IN a0h tN hA =
sufferers, as 1t Is impossible to pur-
chase supplies anywhere but in the
United States. This fund is but frac-
tion of the work of relief done by the
after the outbreak of the war the
Bush terminal in Brooklyn has been
the busiest place in the entire country
handling the trainloads of food. CLOTH
been shipped from all parts of the
country.
Christmas Ship Picturesque Feature.
One of the most picturesque features
of the war relief work was the sending
CT Christmas ship. freighted with
gifts of toys and warm clothing from
the children of this country to the chill
dren in the war-swept area. This
Christmas ship was a vessel of the
United States Navy. the collier Jason.
assigned for the work by the Sec
retary of the Navy. and sent with
the heartiest approval of the President.
Its cargo consisted of us carloads of
gifts, assorted into 10000 large export
cases. Messages from the rulers of
the belligerent nations have been re-
ceived expressing their thanks to the
children of this country for these gifts.
The children of Hawaii gave 1886 to
this gift shipload.
Other large humanitarian activities
have called for the best efforts of the
Red Cross during the year. Only re-
Gently $4,000 was sent to China to re-
lteve the famine there. The Red Cross
has also been called upon to show the
Chinese government how to prevent
the great devastating foods and an
American commission was sent to sur
rey and study the feld. This commits
s!on is soon to make Its report. This
VIII be one Of the largest movements
oS the kind ever conducted under the
auspices of the Red Cross.
Funds Sent to Mexico.
In Mexico the Red Cross has also
given great relief. Funds have re-
Gently been transmitted through Rear
Admiral Howard to relieve a threat
ened famine near Acapulco. on the
west coast, and an appeal has just been
issued on advice from Consul General
Hanna at Monterey that many in that
vicinity are facing starvation and are
in need of warm clothing.
At the occupation of Vera Cruz the
director of the Atlantic division,
Charles Jenkinson. established Red
Cross headquarters in Vera Cruz un-
der Gen. Funston. He had as chief
assistant DIR. A. r. Goodman, once the
chief surgeon of the National Railways
Of Mexico. Cooperating with the army
Medical Corps, this Red Cross branch
gave Vera Cruz the best housecleaning
II ever had. besides attending to many
cases of both Americans and Mexicans,
due to wounds, heat and disease.
In the Balkan war, early in the year,
the Red Cross extended large assist
ance, sending $4,000 in one shipment
into Bulgaria.
Large Sale of Seals.
One of the biggest short-time busi-
nesses in the country Is the sale of
Red Cross Christmas seals to finance