New Britain herald., 1917-05-03
SUPPLIES GODSEND
 WORD FROM FRANCE
Surgical Dressings Make Attend
 anCe on Wounded Easier

anCe on M0unQeQ EaSler
 Extract from letter from Miss Alice
 Fitzgerald from 13 General Hospital
 B. E. F. France to Dr. Cushing. ! Dr. Harvey Cushing is at the head
 of the Harvard Medical school. and
 he is also In charge of the first Red
 Cross base hospital to be established
 in Boston. The quotation follows: l February g, 1917. l I had . most interesting four months at Casualty Clearing Station on the Somme. I wish ! could begin to describe our experiences there. The work one accomplishes Is tn- credible in such a hospital and the fact that I. single handed. with only orderlies to help mo could admit and 1 evacuate 100 patients every forty- eight hours during Q rush does not seem possible unless one has done 1t. It meant the handling of 200. all of them, nearly. with wounds, many with multiple wounds, and all the nursing done on stretchers. The wards were all in tents and we lived in Bell tents until December when they put up some of the new Nissen huts for us. The huts were noise proof and shrapnel proof, which was great advantage, but fearfully cold. as the breezes blew in from all directions and I could see the grass grow under our floor.
 We were situated in a very 'shot'' place with the enemy on three sides and with German shells passing over our heads and air fighters and anti air craft guns Joining in, sleep was out of the question, in moonlight nights, particularly.
 IA German bomb dropped about. 25 yards from our tent, but that was the closest call had. and 1t was close enough for comfort.
 From there had leave and found that needed 1t badly. and spent it resting and trying to regain few 0f the many pounds I had lost on the Somme.
 The supplies from the Surgical Dressings Committee were a godsend at the c. c. S. In all the rush, l never, had to stop and fold and cut gauge.
 During the month of February the surgical dressings committee have sent S62 cases containing 435.532 dressings to the Allies. To France went 2s7 cases with 30s. .137 dressings To England 50 cases with 10o.966 dressings. To Italy cases with g. o3s dressings. ro Belgium 2 cases 2.244 dressings, and to Greece 15 cases with Fl, ,156 dressings.
 In answer to. her letter of inquiry to the War Relief Clearing House in New York Mrs. Mead has received the following from its secretary: "I am in receipt of your letter and I beg to advise you that none of your cases have been forwarded on any of the boats which have been lost"
 The head nurse of the Association des Danes Franchises. attached to the French Red Cross. says: 'The case that you have had the goodness to send to my hospital arrived in ex- cellent condition. All it's sterlized con. tents was Of the greatest service te us, especially at time when our lack of coal made us doubt our ability tt steriiize our dressings ourselves. Mort than ever are our hearts united wit1 you. and send you from afar oul Esincere and cordial sympathy" l A volunteer worker writes: '' hav' been two months home on leave. as l needed a rest for bit. My nursinl sister at No. 23, who has full charg I now of the Salle des Operations, write l me of the arrival of the dressing from your kind Committee of tn Peter Bent Brigham. I have sent ol all the papers and trust they hay lbeen acknowledged by her, or som I officer in charge of these gifts.
 hope that the thanks so gratefully du
 by me and your committee have nc been delayed in transmission by m
 absence. The last four months be
 fore my leave at No. 23 do nc
 know how we could have existe T without your gifts of gauge dressing as we were run SO very low by tn
 Service de Sante. who had at ths time far more than they could cop with and our brave allies. the Frenc
 soldiers, were in great need from tn rush at the Somme. whence a our cases came. wish could. even a small way. tell you, and you magnificent people. what you hay done, and when T think of individus
 cases feel until see you, as hop
 to do. and tell you with my persona thanks, can but leave all to you imagination and sympathetic patienc and faith in our gratitude, thoug our thanks sounds poor"
 The chairman of the New Britai committee Is Mrs. H. B. Humasol l; POI Vine street. The work is cor
 tinuing with enthusiasm. Volunteer
 are always welcome.
 TO EXTEND OARRANzA's POwET