Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-25
VOLUNTEERS WORK
UNDER RED CROSS
Mobilization of Civilian Actiyi-
ties in Preparing War Hos
pitaI Equipment.
ONE UNIT NEAR COMPLETION

The people OF Washington are
modifying in preparedness for the hu
manitarian activities of war, under
Red Cross guidance and supervision.
Many large organizations are volun-
teering for service with the Red cross
when and as needed.
More than 1000 active workers In
the National Capital are now busy daily
in preparing equipment for the first
base hospital provided by Washington
people. This consists Of all that is re-
quired for $50 patients and costs about
$1,000. 1t is designed to receive pa
tients from the field.
The first of these base hospital units
is nearing completion and is expected
TO be ready to report for service the
middle of April. Work on a second one
will be begun Immediately.
All by Volunteer Workers.
This work is all being done under the
volunteer aid committee OF the District
of Columbia Red Cross. 1t co-ordinates
the efforts of the United Service women
from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
of many club women and other Or
Eanizations, as well as the activities
share to make the rigorS OF war DIT
easier for the defenders of the nation.
Miss Mabel T. Boardman is chairman
of this committee; MIS- Larz amer
son and Mrs. Gibson Fahnestock. vice
chairmen; Mrs. Theodore North NC
Laughlin. secretary. and Howard ,.
Reside. treasurer.
The Wadsworth House, 1oo1 Massa-
chusetts avenue. is the concentration
camp for this preparedness moplllza-
ton There have been located the mead
quarters of all the activities OF the DIS
trict of Columbia Chapter or the Amer
lean Red Cross which occupies the
entire first and second floors.
Chairmen of Committees.
Chairmen of committees in charge of
particular branches of this work are:
Hospital garments, linen and clothing
committee-Mrs. A. G. McCEntock.
Surgical dressings and bandages-Mrs.
e. C. Glover. jr. Comfort-Mrs. Randall
Hagner. Motor-Mrs J. Borden Harri-
man. Clerical and office work-Miss 8.
NJ. Osborne OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES +. T.
Poe Publicity-Mrs. J. c: OLaugh1n.
Purchasins-Mrs. T. W. Richards. .,.+
Among the large organizations that
have enrolled for service when called
upon are:
Several chapters of the D. A. r, Ma
tional Society of Colonial DANES, WON,
N-II L
Daughters Of the Confederacy, Womans
Relief Corps, Federation of women
Clubs, Army and Navy League. WASH
ington Council Jewish Women, JUNIOR
Evening Clinic, Spanish War Veterans
Auxiliary, and several private schoois.
Why the Red Cross Acts.
In describing the equipment OF Red
Cross base hospital units, and why
they are purchased by Red Cross chap
tiers or by patriotic individuals rather
than by the government, Col j. H.
Kean, Medical Corps, u. S. A, director
general of the military relief for the
Red Cross. and Surgeon T. w. Richards.
the naval representative, made this
statement:
the standard regulation medical de-
partment equipment prescribed by the
government. theoretically, 1t is un-
doubtedly the duty of the government
to furnish this equipment; but, In TACT.
it has never been done in time of
peace, and after war has begun the
difficulties in the way of purchasing
such equipment promptly and Of sufh-
insuperable. Great delays are IN
evitable in the equipment of every
department of large armies and navies
during war.
Inc most logical anu wen iouhuSu
theories do not equip hospitals or re-
lieve the sufferings of wounded men.
Therefore. until the departments con-
cerned obtain from Congress suffi-
Gent appropriations to accomplish the
equipment of base hospitals in time of
peace and provide the at present much
needed storehouses for such equipment.
1t will be a necessity for Red Cross
units to be equipped by private
benevolence if they desire to be ready
to relieve the su1erings of our soldiers
and sailors when the calamity of war
comes"