The diamond drill., 1917-09-08
RED I'd CROSS INSTRUCTIONS.
Headquarters Of the Society Issues
Onicial Instructions on Work.

battle front In France In behalf OF
American soldiers, the soldiers OF their
allies, and OF the destitute civilians
devastated Belgium and Northern
France. Six million warm, knitted
woolen articles are needed TO help
them through the winter The ap-
peal has come TO the American Red
Cross at Washington. and IT specifies
1900 900 each OF sweaters, mufflers,
wristlets and socks.
The call is official. Major Grayson
N. p. Murphy OF General Pershing's
stan, the Red Cross Commissioner
for Europe, who know better per
haps than any other man just how
badly these things are needed, has
aabled for them. Here Is part OF
his message:
Last winter broke the record for
cold and misery among the people
here. We inexpressibly dread the
coming winter finding us without sup
plies TO meet the situation. We urge
you, on behalf OF our soldiers and
those OF our Allies, who will suffer
in their frozen trenches, and also
thousands of French and Belgian ref
ugees, 10 begin shipping at once l.
100000 each Of the warm knitted
woolen articles named They must
come before cold weather.
The entire people OF the land are
called upon to render this service to
The men in khaki and those strug-
Cling with them The hearts of the
people will be in the task because
thelr own are among those who need
the service.
Every county, every village, every
voting precinct, is sending of its best
10 fight for the country, and the wo
man who knits one of these garments
feels, with every stitch, that it may
be her own son, her own brother, or
one Of her dearest friends, who may
be kept more comfortable by her
work
From Director John j. O'Conncr Of
the Central Division OF the Red Cross
with headquarters at Chicago the
call went forth to 1851 chapters in
the Central States, urging the mem
bers TO answer the cry. The chap
ters called on the Red Cross Supply
Service for yarn, knitting needles
and full instructions for the knitting
In the meantime, knitting committees
were formed in the chapters, and vol
unteers called for.
The Supply Servise was forced TO
ask some chapters to buy their yarn
and needles in the local markets or
from whatever source they could
quickly get them The Supply Ser
vice had not on hand enough goods
10 fill such an unprecedented demand
on such short notice Washington
could not even supply, as rapidly as
they were needed, the printed instruc-
Hons for the knitting, and the news
papers were called on 10 print the
directions so that every knitter might
have copy
But the work must be hurried |
"rhey must come before cold wealth
er," csbled Major Murphy That
means that the entire 5000, 900 arti- !
cles must be completed in the short
@st possible time and sent to France |
The chapters were urged 10 use every
possible minute. and to call on every
woman and girl who can knit. weth-
er or not she Is Red Cross member.
and ask her to help in the work.
We in America. who "a yet can
scarcely realize that our country Is
at war have no conception OF the ter
rible need OF the millions OF people
In France and Belgium whose lands
are overrun by the Germans. Utter
ly penniless, with no possessions save
the ragged clothes on their backs. |
they suffered incredibly by tens OF
thousands last winter Now they face
another winter. weakened by the trials |
they have already undergone. and !
Is up to the Red Cross 10 keep them
from dying Of cold They are endur-
ing what military experts have |
pointed out Americans will be called |
on to endure II the Germans ever beat
the Allied armies and navies. and |
attack America on her own shores.
This call for knitted articles Is but |
one phase OF the work OF relief which |
the American Red Cross must carry
on. Washington has repeatedly warn.
ed the chapters that the knitting |
must not be permitted to stop or de
Law tho making nf anrrInnl .......ll--