The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-07-27
AMERICAN RED CROSS
WILL WITHDRAW HELP
organization Will Give Up Work
on Foreign Battlefields.
FUNDS ARE RUNNING LOW
"eheral Fund Collected for the Work
VIII Soon be Exhausted-Ser-
vice Long and Efficient.


Washington, July 25.-American
Red Cross doctors and nurses will
be withdrawn October l from tho
european battlefields because of lack
OF funds to maintain them at their
stations.
The two units in Belgium, where
the greatest need exists, may be con-
tinued, but the other IA detachments
VIII return to the United States. The
SERBIAN Sanitary Commission and
other work supported by special con-
trlbution will go on as long as those
contributions are available. but the
general fund collected in the United
States. amounting to $1,56O,OOO, will
be exhausted October 1.
THE American Red Cross by Oc-
tober 1 will have maintained its per-
sonnel in each country a year with
the exception of the Belgian units
and the sanitary commission" SAYS
the statement made public today by
Miss Mabel T. Boardman, chairman
of the Red Cross Relief Committee.
"The tour of duty required of each
surgeon and nurse does not exceed
six months so that a number have al
ready returned and substitutes been
sent. The cost of the Transportation
OF these surgeons and nurses makes
considerable financial demand upon
the Red Cross treasury. The monthly
payroll is also large item of expense
In view of these facts, and because
its funds are rapidly becoming ex-
hausted the American Red Cross has
decided by October 1 to withdraw the
personnel now in Europe; possibly
with the exception of the units in
Belgium. Much as it regrets this
necessity, it realizes that no Red
Cross of neutral country ever be-
fore rendered so long and extensive
service in the way of personnel to
nations negaged in war.
THE work of the American Red
Cross Sanitary Commission under
DR.. Richard p. Strong. for which the
Rockefeller Foundation has made
generous contributions, has been
most successful. The American min
lister at Bucharest reports to the
state department that the epidemic
of typhus has been suppressed"
The Red Cross, the report shows,
sent to the warning countries 367
persons engaged in humanitarian en-
hot
surgeons and 253 nurses while 43
were members of the Serbian Sani-
tary Commission. England, France,
Russia, Germany, Austro- Hungary,
Serbia and Belgium each received
one or more complete hospitals with,
doctors, nurses and other attendants,
and with all necessary supplies and
equipment. Thousands Of wounded
and sick have been cared for. Fjnan--
clai aid was sent also to hospitals
and other institutions in many coun-
tries and supplies of bandages and
drugs have been rushed to the war
zones by every steamer. The admin
'Strative expenses of this undertake
ing have already amounted to
S11,2S1, and this hase been paid by
the Red Cross itself, and not taken
from the fund contributed for relief.
This report shows that the Red
Cross has sent into the war zone al
most 100000 pounds OF cotton for
the hospitals, $4,000 yards of surgi-
cal gauZe, $4,000 yards of crinoline-
72,oOO assorted bandages, $4,000
yards of adhesive plaster, s,24O
stretchers, 1O,267 blankets and 10
motor ambulances for the Red Cross
personnel Besides great quantities
OF various kinds of anti-toxins and
vaccine, disinfectants, surgical in
struments and anaesthetics and med
icines, there were four army field
hospital outfits, so army hospital
tents and 80 field medical tents.