The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-07
OF PUBLIC URGED IN
 USE 0F FACE MASKS
Influenza Situation Can Be Managed by Taking Pre- cautionary Measure, Dr.
 Bowling States

In a statement made last night pr. Bowling, health officer strongly urges the general use of the gauge mask, and points out the fact that should the clos ing of public places be enforced the or der would include the compulsory wear fing of face masks, but that if the pub lie will adopt this precautionary meas ure, such q step will hardly be neces- sary.
 We are sincere in the request to the people to maintain general protection by the use of face masks" said pr. Dowling and we believe. that more effective pro tection can be afforded the public by the constant use of masks than could be afforded by the closing down of en- terprises. In the event a situation should arise, thereby necessitating the closing of various enterprises, the compulsory wearing of face masks would accompany the compulsory order of nonassembly of people in public places, but if enough masks are worn, no occasion for either will be necessary
 The reports from the schools to the health department yesterday showed decrease of only A per cent of the chil- dren absent from school over that of the same day last year, these figures being based upon the information received from 20 of the largest schools in the city. In some schools there has been steady increase in attendance since the reopen ing of schools, and the records of two of the largest schools obtained yesterday showed notable increase in attendance over that of Thursday.
 ''The Retail Merchants association has given it's indorsement to the wearing of face masks, not only in order to pre- serve the efficiency of their forces, but to aid in the protection of their cus- toners. Furthermore, they have planned meeting to be held this morning for the purpose of taking steps toward the universal wearing of masks among their employees.
 "As all church services Sunday are to be held under the auspices of the Red Cross, an earnest request is made that the spirit of the Red Cross be upheld. Therefore as before stated, every per son will be expected to wear masks.
 All mothers are requested and urged to see that their children wear masks to school and the teachers will see that they are worn within the school room.
 The health department has placed a series of placards at the Country club, these placards calling the attention of the attendants to the importance of wear ing gauge masks. Also large quantity of the masks were placed at the club by the city health department to be sold at nominal prices.
 "The influenza situation can be man. aged. as before stated, only through the cooperation of the public, and it is with in the power of the people to avoid the necessity. of old-time restrictions in ad- dition to compulsory mask-wearing. The health department will buy 1000 properly made guaze masks in lots of hundred, paying for these the sum of 10 cents each.'
 There were 13S new cases of influenza reported to the department of health yesterday and eight burial permits issued for deaths from influenza or pneumonia A parade of boys from the Industrial school was a feature on downtown busi- ness streets yesterday and they all wore masks and carried banners admonshing others to do likewise and avoid the flu"