Putnam patriot., 1916-03-03
RELIEF WORK FOR
 FRANCE AND ALLIES
Need Continues To Be Pressing
Shoes and Stockings for French Children
 Required

The Hartford Relief Committee for France and her allies, of which Mrs. James r. Andrews Is chairman, has been actively at work since last sep. tenn Der in shipping to France hospital supplies and gifts for soldiers, and clothing for French and Belgian refu gees.
 Among tbe different organizations to which these contributions have been sent, is the American Belgian Com mtttce organized by the Comtesse ae Bcmptinee, which has hrada in Paris The gifts have ine.aaea a quantity Of underwear and soi5iefs' gll packages. aud the New York Hines Of sunday, in an account of Ame de Hemptaeea 5 work, speaks & follows of lae distribution Of . recent saipmenl:
 nTbc committee Was able last week to help forty a4e Belgian soldiers who had come haek with only their worn uniforms left In one Of the commit tees boxes WAS some good underwear for men md 4 nice lot Of liltle Christ mas packages, all tied with bright rib- bons and containing the necessary things for the toiiet-sOaps, comn, toothbrush and powder, and hand kefchief. Tn another box were pipes. Fonty.fiye Of these packages were giv- en to the men vino were returning to the front. When the packages were given there were great cries Of aVive AmencnW and one man, when he came up 10 receive his gifts, Said, with tears in his eyes, sAhi you Americans can never realize what you have done Tor us and how deep our gratitude is
 The thouRhtfuness of some.of those who have sent things for distribution Is remarkable. as also is the care win which they have brushed, cleaned and mended their Hifts. In suit of clothes given to an ex-soldlef he found new handkerchief neatly folded m the'pocket.
 The soldiers of Belgium are not per. nitled to ask for anything from any one, even now, bnt voluntary gifts are most thankfully received"
 These fofty-flve packages were sent from Hartford. The Hartford com mitlee has received during the past week, number Of interesting letters from soldiers who have received these articles, all expressing most grateful appreciation of the gifts.
 The need in France among the Bel gian refugees and the French who have been driven from the invaded parts of Ffance is greater thnn ever, and a bulletin received a few days ago from the American Relief Clearing House in Paris, gives the following statement of conditions:
 "rhe oflicial list of refugees In France by departments in October, 1915, show. ed total of s5s, ,799, of which one | fourth, or about 2l5,000 are under i6 years of age. This number has now unquestionably been increased by the return of children from the enemy is country by way of Switzerland. IL is safe to say that there are at least l75,. GOO refugee children In France, unde 10 years of age.
 The existing charity colonies require warm clothing, underwear, and above | all, shoes and stockings. It has been suggested that perhaps some of the societies in the United States might like to make a speciality of providing shoes and stockings for French refugee | children
 The local committee forwards all goods through the American War Re. lief Clearing House In New York, and all cases are aek know ledged promptly on their receipt In Paris, by officials of the clearing house there. A supply of | cut.out garments Is kept al the com. mittee's room, No. l04 in the Hartford National Bank building, for those ho desire to assist In this part of the work, and gifts of money an clothing, especially for children, are solicited, Checks may be made payable 10 Mrs. ]. II. Greene, treasurer, No. ll3 Wood land street. Hartford Courant.