Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-25
ISSUES STATEMENT TO
 NORWICH R. c. CHAPTER
Procedure to Be Followed in Relation
 to War Relief Societies.

Procedure to Be Followed in Relation
 to War Relief Societies.
 The Americar Red Cross. through it's general manager, Harvey D. Gibson, issued to the Norwich chapter and the throughout the United States a state- ment, setting forth the procedure the Red Cross will follow in relation to other war relief societies.
 The Red Cross will, from time to time, supply its chapters and socie- ties of which it may have record, the following information:
 1. Names of particular classes of articles most needed and the total amount required.
 g. Amount of each class of arti- cles which the different chapters or the different societies will be asked to produce.
 3. The time in which it is desired such articles shall be made and de- livered to the Red Cross
 Present needs are especially for knit ted articles, surgical dressings. hos pital garments and comfort Kits, Tn the order named.
 After expert study and consultation with physicians, surgeons and other relief societies, complete Standaru1zed directions for making the articles men toned have been prepared Standard patterns have been adopted for all hos pital garments required, and all pat tern companies will issue identical pat terms, which will be knowns as Red according to these patterns will be acceptable to the Red Cross.
 Until these new directions and pat terms are in the hands of Red Cross chapters, any of the above articles made by other societies will be ac- cepted by Red Cross chapters, if of fercd to them. handled on the same basis as Red Cross articles, and With out expense to such contributing so- ciety delivered to the nearest Red Cross supply station.
 The general policy of the Red Cross on this subject is set forth by Henry P. Davison. chairman of the War Council, in the following statement:
 "-Che Red Cross seeks to encourage the efforts of all relief organizations. It is hoped that all such organizations, which are manufacturing materials for hospital or other relief work among our allies in Europe, may become aux diaries of the Red Cross, thus avoid ing duplication. Such auxiliaries will retain their name and identity, the Red Cross WI assist them in making their work effective, and with such affilia ton the Red Cross will transport their materials to Ea~ope free of charge, and see to 1t that such materials are properly distributed.
 solicited contributions in kind. Some of the articles solicited have been necessary; others, while given in a spirit of a fine generosity, have not other articles have been sent to Europe which were not needed at all.
 Pressure upon shipping space has become very intense, and 1t Is abso- nothing be shipped abroad which is rot imperatively needed Ocean ship ping difficulties become greater each day the submarine warfare Is con- tinued. The Red Cross cannot pro- vide shipping arrangements for artf- c!es other than those which its investi- Eatiors in Europe show to be requir- ed there.
 "It is the hope that organizations which have devoted themselves mere Iy to collecting funds will, after hav- ing used their present funds according to the designation of the donors, di- vert Nthefr efforts to soliciting funds be utilized along lines for which experience acquired abroad shows a paramount need to exist.
 "The Red Cross has assumed .ad- of the War Relief Clear ing House in France, and will con- tinue it's functions. By reason of the great pressure on the French railways, it will be impossible for the War Re lief Clearing House to arrange free after September 1 for articles other than those which may be designated as essential in the pres
 
 'Jn the meantime, the American Red Cross has been cooperating success fully with the War Relief Clearing House in the United States in assist ing the various relief organizations to obtain the utmost possible space for shipping to Europe from American ports Everything offered thus far has been shipped abroad.
 'It should be understood. however, that the situation IS to relief organ izations which prevails now as com pared with that before the declaration of war by the United States, is wholly different. Prior to that time the American Red Cross had to be neu- tral. whereas, the various relief ofgan izations were under no such obligation With our entry into the war, the Red Cross became free to exert itself in any way which. within the scope of it's general activities. might aid our allies and allied peoples.
 "We earnestly hope that no one will feel that the Red Cross desires to do anything but help. The Red Cross is an American institution. chartered bv the United States government, and the president of the United States is it's president The organization be- longs to the American people, and seeks in this great world emergency to do nothing more and nothing less than to coordinate the generosity and the oI,sn