The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-06-29
WORK OF RED CROSS
Society Will Undertake Two Important
Lines Of Service.

Cross, has received the following com
munication from national headquarters
Washington, regarding proposed relief
work in connection with the calling of
the national guard to the colors:
The American Red Cross, Washing
ton, d. c.. June %, 1916:
In consequence of the calling out OF |
the national guard for the protection
of our southwestern international |
boundary, it becomes the duty OF the |
American Red Cross to undertake two
important lines of service.
First. The Red Cross will collect, |
forward and distribute suitable arti- |
cles for the soldiers in the camps. |
Every chapter of the Red Cross is eX- |
pected to make immediate arrange
ments to receive and forward supplies. !
Before it becomes necessary to actual |
ly begin shipments, full instructions |
will be sent to every chapter. 1t may
be stated at this time that it is the in |
tention of the Red Cross to establish |
receiving and distributing depots in
San Antonio and El Paso. Competent
persons will be in charge of these de- |
pots, and supplies sent them will be
distributed in the camps in accord with
such rules and regulations as may be
prescribed by the military authorities
1T is also probable that intermediate
depots will be established in number
of important centers, into which sup
plies will be collected from certain
districts, to be assorted, classified,
packed, and sent forward Definite am
nouncements concerning these dopots
will shortly follow
In connection with this work it is
essential that chapters observe the
following:
"(a). Supplies cannot be accepted
which are intended to be forwarded
separately to designated individuals.
Those who wish to send packages to
particular persons are to be advised to
employ the parcel post or express ser
vice. Supplies intended for designated
companies or regiments may be ac-
cepted for forwarding by chapters,
with the understanding that if such de-
livery is found to be impractcable
these supplies may be donated to
other troops.
"(b). Supplies accepted by chap
tiers for shipment should fall within
the following approved list: Reading
matter, games comfort bags (See A.
R. c.. 1l5), pajamas, cotton socks
medium weight, large Sizes, towels,
pipes and smoking tobacco, cigarettes,
aInctrfa fame lto hocnitoI.l cbouipo
gum, chocolate in tin boxes, hard can.
dies, George Washington coffee, eyap-
| grated cream and canned fruits and
other delicaces in tins.
Many articles will be offered for
forwarding which for sanitary and
other reasons cannot be accepted. Per
ishable, heavy, or bulky articles and
articles Of food and drink which are
| harmful should not be accepted. Il is
necessary that the instructions of the
military authorities be observed in all
these matters, as they are responsible
Tor the health and welfare Of the
soldiers in camp.
Chapters are advised to secure
rooms in which to receive, assert, and
pack supplies. These doubtless may
be obtained free Of charge from patro-
tic owners of vacant buildings or store
rooms.
Second: The subject Of the care
of destitute families of soldiers is now
| under consideration by the Red Cross
and an announcement of policies and
| plans in that connection will be made
at an early date
Every chapter which has not al
| ready divided its work into two sec
tions. namely, section on military re-
lief and section on civilian relief,
should do so at once. Each section
should have at its head an active
chairman and n suitable committee.
and each section should appoint such
special committees as the work re-
quires.
"Thc section on military relief
should have charge of the chapter
work of making collecting, and for.
wardng supplies which are intended
for the use and comfort of the sol
dierc
"The section on civilian relief should
| have charge or the work IN hchali or
the families of soldiers If work of this
character is undertaken.
THE executive committee Of the
chapter should continue in general
control of all the work OF the chapter
OF every kind, should settle all matters
of policy, and should have the custody
of all funds, paying them out for prop
er purposes and under suitable rules
and safeguards. New questions of
policy should be referred to the direc-
tor-general of civilian relief at Wash
ington.
Chapters are urged to exercise a
thoroughly cooperative and cordial
spirit toward other organizations and
agencies which desire to participate
in this work 1t ought to be possible
for the Red Cross, through its unusual
facilities and its relation to the gov
eminent. to be of the greatest service
to all organized groups Of citizens in
terested in this humane and patriotic
|