Milford chronicle., 1917-08-10
RED CROSS COMBINES
With NATIONAL S. D. c.

Ever since the Red cross war
Council was appointed by President
Wilson earnest efforts have been
made to secure effective cooperation
with the Red Cross by all the allied
war relief organizations. The first
important fruit Of these efforts is the
establishment Of a working plan of
cooperation with the National Sur
glcal Dressings Committee. Henry
P. Dawson, chairman of the Red
Cross War Council, has authorized
the following statement:
The Red Cross is very much graf
flied to be able to announce that the
National Surgical Dressings Commit
tee, one of the most important Of the
relief organizations called into being
by the European War. has become an
auxiliary of the American Red Cross.
This arrangement was projected after
lprotracted negotiation between Mrs.
Mary Hatch Willard, the organizer
and chairman of the Surgical Dress
ings Committee, and Judge Robert s.
LOvett, chairman of the Red Cross
Committee on Cooperation.
1T is believed that this is the pre-
cursor of arrangements to be made
whereby other war relief organiza-
tions may become allies of the Red
Cross and join with it in carrying a
practical message Of aid and relief to
those Of our own people and our allies
who may be sick, wounded and sut-
.erlng because of this war.
THE National Surgical Dressings
Committee has done marvellous
work. 1t has made and forwarded
over 100000 surgical dressings for
use in over 1900 hospitals on the con-
tinent of Europe Its aim has been
to prepare dressings with special re-
ference to the particular needs in diff
ferent localities. and its work has
been handled with great efficiency and
with splendid spirit. The committee
has about $4,000 working members in
different parts of the United States.
"The arrangement with the Red
Cross provides that the Surgical
Dressings Committee shall retain its
name and organization, and carry on
its present work in the United States
as a national auxiliary of the Red
AAOHEs II ulhF 6OAAGAL AuAAuo IA 10
own name, but not solicitation shall
be made in the name Of the Red Cross
unless all the proceeds therefrom are
turned over to the Red Cross Organi-
zation. The committee will give full
reports concerning its activities and
finances to the Red Cross.
THE Red Cross wilt seek to perfect
the standards of materials sent
abroad, and will disseminate among
all Chapters and organizations doing
relief work information as to the pa
ture and quantity of materials and
supplies most needed at the front.
THE French section of this COM
mittee will become the Surgical
Dressings Service Department of the
American National Red Cross. It will
administer in France all the surgical
dressings work of the Red Cross, and
will be in charge Of Mrs. C. K. Aus
tin, heretofore director IN Paris of the
French section of the Surgical Dress
ings Committee.
THE Red Cross seeks to encourage
the efforts of all relief organizations.
It is hoped that all such organizations
which are manufacturing materials
for hospitals or other relief work
among our allies in Europe, may be-
come auxiliaries of the Red Cross.
thus avoiding duplication. Such aux
iliaries will retain their name and
identity the Red Cross will assist
them in making their work effective,
and with such afiliation the Red
Cross will transport their materials
to Europe free of charge, and see to it
that such materials are properly dis
tributed.
Many war relief organizations
have solicited contributions in kind.
Some of the articles solicited have
been necessary; others, while given
in a spirit of fine generosity, have
not necessarily bee nOf great bene-
fit. Yet all articles have been sent to
Europe which were not needed at all.
1T is the hope that organizations
which have devoted themselves mere
ly to collecting funds Will, after hav-
ing used their present funds accord
ing to the designation Of the donors,
divert their efforts to soliciting funds
which may be utilized along lines for
which experience acquired abroad
shows a paramount need to exist.
auII rOun CDAuGC