The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-08


woodrow Wilson, as president of the
Red Cross, made public today at the
! society's headquarters. ut is for you
to- decide" writes the president
/ whether the most prosperous nation
in the world will allow its national re-
lief organization to keep up it's work
or withdraw from a field where there
exists the greatest need ever recorded
in history
Accompanying the letter is state
ment to the public setting forth that
/, from August 6, 1914, to September 80.
| 1916. the Red Cross received and dis
bursed for European war relief $2,-
144,S6S.17, Of which supplies used in
! Allied countries represented $1,121,-
/ 766.25. and supplies for the Central
Nations $34s,6SS.48.
The Presidents letter reads:
Another winter closes around the
| great European struggle and, with the
cold, there comes greater need among
soldiers in the fighting line and in the
| hospitals. and. still more among the
1 women and children in ruined homes
] or in exile.
/ This country, at peace, blessed
! with prosperity, can hardly imagine
the needs, but it can help to meet
4 them.
! "Of great Importance among the
agencies which have expressed our
! sympathy with suffering humanity
among the belligerent nations has
! been the American Red Cross. This
4 organization of our countrymen has
brought relief to every nation in the
Great War.
"Its skilled workers have cared for
/ the wounded of every army, have gone
n1ofn a n
| plains to bring help to, thousands of
! prisoners, have fought disease in pes
tilence-ridden Serbia, and have
brought hope to countless non-comba-
tants, women and children.
i wherever these Red Cross men
! and women go, they are carrying the
/ MESSAGE that Americans cannot resist
without seeking to relieve such suf-
fering.
/ ~Organized. persistent work, like
THAT conducted by our American Red
Y, Cross. requires a great deal of money.
Since the beginning of the war,
i money has come to us from men and
women in all walks of life. We have
/ received checks in five figures and
pennies wrapped in smudged enve-
lopes.
What we have done with the
money Is IO1Q IN the cCOmpdHy Ing
statement.
But now our funds are well nigh
exhausted. We find ourselves at the
point where activities must be seri-
ously curtailed and we must turn away
from the heart breaking appeals
brought by every European mail un-
less by your contribution you help US
to continue.
"It is for you to decide whether the
most prosperous nation in the world
will allow its national relief organiza-
ton to keep up its work or Withdraw
| from a field where there exists the
/ greatest need ever recorded in his
! tory.
I'VE leave the decision in your
hands, confident of its outcome.
(Sigr1ed) WOODROW WILSON,
President, American Red Cross"
Subscribe for suffering Human
ity
Should you designate your gift for
the Allied Powers or the Central
Powers, for any one nation or pur-
pose, il, will go in full as you direct.
subscriptions undesignated will go
in full where the American Red Cross
Cross in it's judgment can accomplish
the greatest good"
The statement of what the Ameri-
can Red Cross has accomplished in
European war relief signed by VIM.
Howard Taft, chairman of the execu-
tive committee says in part:
From August 6, 1914 to September
80, 1915. the American Red Cross
received contributions for European
War Relief amounting to $2,144,96$17
and disbursed $2,007,5S4.62, leaving a
balance on September 80, of $137,-
1885. Since that time additional
amounts have been received and other
expenditures made.
''Of the money received $412,63504
was designated for certain purposes
and scrupulously used therefore. The
estimated value OF supplies donated
during this period is $978,3O9.54.
Beyond these bare figures there is
a background of devoted and self
sacrificing work by over 400 doctors,
nurses, sanitarians, and other repre-
sentatives sent into the war zone. They
have cheerfully borne hardship, ill
ness, and danger to bring to those in
need the relief made possible by thu
combination Of their skill with these
great gifts.
I'm accord ance with the poIic5 an
nouneed at the outbreak of the war,
there have been 70 deductions from
the dUOVS UoHd&lOHS 10 meet me 40
-ninistrative expenses Of the Washing
ton Office of the American Red Cross.
This has been a severe drain on the
general funds Of the society, and here
after a deduction which is authorized
by the society Of not exceeding per
cent, will be made to cover unusual
adm: illustrative expenses incurred ON
account Of the European work.
During the first months of the
War, the Red Cross devoted itself
entirely to military relief. IT'S great
est work involved the sending Of hos
r,itai units, each consisting Of three
surs cons and twelve nurses, to Aus
tria-Hungary. Belgium. England,
/ France, Germany. Russia and Serbia.
For the first terrible year of the war.
while the resource Of the belliger-
ent nations were being taxed far be-
yond capacity, these doctors and
nurses worked among the wounded,
operating military hospitals of over
three hundred beds each. The mill
tary authorities of each country uti1-
lied these units to their fullest ex-
tent, and often In emergency. far
beyond their normal capacities
The approximate cost OF these
sixteen expenditions was sa52,o00.
This does not include the constant
stream of hospital supplies sent for
their use.