New Britain herald., 1917-12-13
new BRITAIN ASKED
TO HELP HALIFAX
F. S. Chamberlain Will Receive
Red Cross Contributions

New Britain is to be asked to do
its share toward alleviating the suffer-
ing of the homeless and destitute in
Halifax and contributions of money
for the relief of the destitute families
there, and also for the reconstruction
of their homes, will be received by
the American Red Cross through it's
division headquarters and chapter Of
fees, it was announced today. Fred
er1ck S. Chamberlain, at his office in
the New Britain National bank
building, will receive any local con-
tributions to this fund.
Through the press the authorities
OF Halifax have appealed to the people
of Canada for $25,O00,o00. This
amount, 1t is said, will be needed to
care for the sufferers and rebuild
their homes. The Red Cross is not
making an Independent appeal but it
wants TO cooperate in every way in
helping the people Of Halifax get
back to their feet again. The Red
Cross relief committee has been in
Halifax since Saturday morning, 1t
has intimate and cordial relations
with the responsible government Of
f1cials and their citizens committee
in charge.
In order that the best results may
be achieved through the elimination
of wasteful efforts and duplication,
the Red Cross offers itself as an agent
for the American people in forward
ing and administering funds for the
Halifax sufferers. 1t is highly desir-
able to use a single responsible chan
mel through which American gifts
may be sent and accounted for and
administered to the best advantage.
A telegram from Eliot Wadsworth,
of the Red Cross War Council, and
Harvey D. Gibson. general manager
of the Red Cross, describes the man.
ner in which contributions for Hall
fax relief will be handled. The tele-
gram, addressed to Ethan Allen, man.
ager Of the Atlantic division, reads in
part as follows:
1.-THE American Red Cross has made
abundant contribution of blankets.
hospital equipment, new clothing.
medical supplies, surgical dressings,
glass and other materials which were
urgently needed and will pay for these
supplies out of it's own funds.
New Britain has sent staff of
one hundred doctors, $50 nurses and
SO social workers, all carefully Sc
lected and organized into a working
unit. All those in responsible posi-
tons in Halifax advise that the per-
sonnet and material now there, or on
the way, will fully meet the present
temporary needs.
Therefore the Red Cross offices
should not accept supplies of any
kind except such as may be later
specifically requested through Red
Cross channels, nor should old
clothes be taken under any circum-
stances.
The most helpful gift now is
money. to be expended by responsible
committees in charge. All Red Cross
offices should accept such contrlbu-
tons and concentrate them at Red
Cross Headquarters in Washington.
They will be forwarded at once ana
an accountig made Of their USE"
According to a telegram received
bv the Red Cross from the chairman
of the Red Cross committee in Hall
fax the supply Of sweaters and blank
cts already shipped is more than suttl-
cient to provide for every one In the
| city. The telegram reads:
KINDLY send word broadcast that
blankets, sweaters, doctors and nurses
should not be sent now, till present
| congestion is relieved. Every build
| ing is at least partly wrecked and all
work is done under difficulties. Size
of problem should be known soon.
| NV estimate now is 1900 or more
J dead; perhaps 5000 severely wound
ed and besides these, 5000 Or possibly
| more homeless, but not severely
! wounded.
| BLANKETS and sweaters are now In
sight for more than every one In the
city, including the big majority OF the
city who are not in need.
"It is inexpressibly sad here. bu
situation soon will be well in hand l.
| allowed to work itself out by those
| already here and if shipment is made
only of such goods and people as art
found to be needed and are special!
asked for.
| "(Signed)
JOHN MOORs."