The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-05-13

through Ties Amis des Soldats Ave
ugles" in the "Maison du Conval-
escense" in France, and by Miss Win
fired Holt of the Comite Franco
American pour les Avegules, of which
the Hon. Joseph H. Choate is presi-
dent. The B. F. B. permanent BLIND
relief war fund seeks to assist, Gesy
velop and enlarge these efforts.
The American bankers, business
men and philanthropists who are is
suing the appeal include Frank A
Vanderlip, president of the National
City Bank, August Belmont, the Hon.
Elihu Root, Vincent Astor, the Hon.
Robert Bacon, DR.. Nicholas Murray
Buler, U. S. Seator Thomas P. Gore,
the Hon. Myron T. Herrick, Otto H.
Kahn, Joseph Tfdener and George A.
Kessler.
These gentlemen and their asso-
ciates intend to organize an American
fund of sufficient proportions to con-
duct thoroughly through Europe, the
work which Mr.. Pearson, at st. Dun
STAINS, M. Rene Vallery- Radot
through Lies Amis des Soldats Ave
ugles," IN Paris, Miss Holt of tho
Comite, and kindred institutions are
now doing locally.
The first work of the fund will be
to enlarge and modernize all the
present blind institutions of Europe
by means of financial donations, as
well as assisting the work of Mr..
Pearson in England, M. Vallery- Radot
and Miss Holt in France. The fund
later intends to organize in various
European cities additional modern
equipped blind schools, blind work.
shops, blind employment exchanges
and agencies for concentrating
blind products, so that all this par
ticular class of war victims may be
saved from their present hopeless
and helpless situation, and may be
rendered self-supporting for life.
"Self-respecting, able-bodied, pass
ing daily through living death,
these thousands of blinded war vic
tins are being slowly killed, not by
their injuries, not by starvation, but
by the apparent permanent hopeless
ness of their situation. Six months
training on the other hand, will edu-
cate each one of them in some trade
not requiring sight. A single contri-
button of several hundred dollars will
go far to make one of these blinded
soldiers self-supporting for life," the
appeal states.
The appeal is being sent to one
hundred and twenty thousand peo-
pie of prominence throughout the
United States.
The patronage OF their majesties
the king and queen of Great Britain
and the queen mother, Alexandra, as
well as NJ. Raymond Poincare, presi-
dent of France, and King Albert and
Quen Elizabeth of Belgium, has beer
obtained for the distribution of the
appropriations from the fund in their
respective countries.
Among the ladies who are active
in the funds work in Europe anc
America are Lady (Arthur) Paget
Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney, Mrs. o
H. P. Belmont, Mrs. John Astor, Mrs
Peter Copper Hewitt, Mrs. George A
Kessler, Mrs. R. Valentine Webster
Acting as honorary treasurers, with
Mr.. Vanderlip, are Sir Edwad Hold
en-, chairman of the London City and
Midland Bank, and NJ. Georges Pal.
lain, governor general of the Bank
| of France.
Mr.. Pearson, the English newspap
er proprietor, who Is on the fund:
executive committee, is now living al
st. Dunstan's with one hundred and
thirty blinded soldiers and sailors C
whose rehabilitation he is devoting his
life.
This fund, although specifically or.
ganized to aid the blind of three ma,
tons, viii ultimately contribute bene.