The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-09-20
COMFORT KITS MUST
STAND SERVICE WEAR
They Must Also Be Made To
Carry Masculine Com
forts.

HaK million practical circulars on
the making fcomfort kits and bags
were issued today by the American
Red Cross. The circulars can be OBJ
tanned on Application at any Red Cross
Chapter. A million comfort kits are
| to be made at once for the men OF our
army and navy. A million more will
| be made for the Russian Revolution
airy army, as pledge of cheer to the
allied armies on the eastern front.
| The Red Cross is to be under no ey-
pense for these kits, all being provid-
ed as gifts from the women who wish
to make them.
! Miss Florence Marshall, director of
the Woman's Bureau, announced that
the circular embodied the suggestion
of the War department, of General
Pershng and of Major Grayson NJ. p.
Murphy as to what the men wanted.
Three types of kits are suggested, a
simple bag with drawing string, and
two with pockets, one for the trenches
and one suitable for hospital use.
Anything similar will be gladly well
coined. The kits are to be made of
plain khaki. Colored cretonne has
not ben advised because it is danger
ously visible when carried by troops
at the front.
The circular is illustrated with dia-
grams of each type of bag. 1t lists
the personal equipment given to each
enlisted man by the War department,
III order that women may not dupli-
cate these articles in filling the COM
fort kits. But it also notes that the
regular outfit of any soldier is liable
to be lost or destroyed and that addi-
toinal supplies even of his necessities
may be welcome to him at the front.
The Red Cross Commissioner in
France has advised about comfort
kits as follows:
They should contain pipe and to-
bacco pouch, heavy socks, handker-
chiefs, wash cloths and soap, mouth
organ or game, pencil, writing paper
or pad. and envelopes, and If not too
expensive, single-bladed knife and
spoon.
They should have, if possible, an
American flag sewed on the outside"
Materials for making the kits can
be procured by the Chapter from the
Red Cross Division Supply Service.
individuals may purchase their mate
rails from the Chapters or from local
retail stores. Certain articles, like
the combination knives and spoons.
may be had from the Division Supply
Service.
The suggestion for hospital kits de-
scribes the making of souvenir
pocket, where the invalided soldier
may store his little collection of treas
ures which more often than not in
cludes scrap of shell or the bullet
that brought him to the hospital. No
playing cards are to be included in the
kits that go to Russia, and mouth-or-
gans or knives and scissors for the
hospital kits.
A list Of additional articles is sug-
gested that may be added if indfvid-
uals desire to have their bags partic-
ularly full of plums for the man "out
there" Blotting paper, chewing gum,
chocolate if wrapped in tin foiD,
corn plasters, collapsible cups, COM
pressed tea tablets, compressed malt
! ed milk tablets, scrapbook containing
good story or jokes, gaiter laces (kha-
XII COLOR, carriers, knife 1.-TWO bladed,
such as boy scouts use), marbles, nail
/ brush, nail file, pinball with pins, puz-
zles. scissors (folding in sheath), wa
ter tight match box, postcards, shoe
laces (black for Navy, khaki colored
for the ARMY, slippers Especially
for hospital kit, talcum powder, tape
(white, black or khaki coloredD, toll
ct paper
Completed articles should be sent,
II possible, to the nearest Red Cross
! Chapter. When this cannot be done,
they should be sent directly to the
Red Cross Division Supply Service in
the nearest of the following cities:
Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
! Washington, Atlanta, New Orleans,
st. Louis, Cleveland, Chicago, Mime
apolis, Denver, San Francisco, Seat
tie.